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[[Image:Johntb&w.jpeg|thumb|300px|John Tartaglia.]]
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[[Image:JohnT.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[Image:TartagliaErnie.jpg|thumb|300px|Tartaglia and Ernie at [[Sesame Street 35th Anniversay Gala|Sesame Street Workshop's 35th Anniversary Celebration Gala]].]]
 
[[Image:GoboFraggle&JohnTartaglia-(2013).jpg|thumb|300px|Performing Gobo Fraggle in 2013.]]
   
'''John Tartaglia''' (b. February 16, 1978) is a puppeteer and actor whose career started on ''[[Sesame Street]]'', subsequently leading to [[Broadway]] stardom and a Tony-award for originating the roles of Princeton and Rod in ''[[Avenue Q]]'', off- and on-Broadway, and in the short-lived Las Vegas production.
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'''John Tartaglia''' (b. February 16, 1978) is a puppeteer and actor whose professional career started on ''[[Sesame Street]]'', subsequently leading to [[Broadway]] stardom and a Tony-award for originating the roles of Princeton and Rod in ''[[Avenue Q]]'', off- and on-Broadway, and in the short-lived Las Vegas production.
  +
__TOC__
 
As a teenager, Tartaglia danced as [[Cookie Monster]] and [[Oscar the Grouch]] at [[Sesame Place]]. He subsequently began on ''Sesame Street'' at the age of 16, performing background characters and assisting.<ref name="season36presskit">[https://web.archive.org/web/20051222011131/http://www.sesameworkshop.org:80/press_kit/index.php Season 36 Press Kit] (archived)</ref> Tartaglia was a regular puppeteer for the series through [[Season 35 (2004)|Season 35]], though he has returned occasionally for different projects. His later roles included [[Brandeis|Brandeis the dog]] in [[Episode 4307]], [[Birdie]] in the resource video ''[[Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce]]'', and various characters for "[[Elmo the Musical]]." He has also lent his vocals to inserts, such as "[[Brothers and Sisters]]" with [[Stephanie D'Abruzzo]] {{first|4056}}.
   
  +
Tartaglia's production company, Gables Grove Productions, has produced several stage shows; including live versions of ''[[Sid the Science Kid]]'' and ''[[Dinosaur Train]]'', and ''[[Sesame Place stage shows#Elmo the Musical - Live! at Sesame Place (2014-present)|Elmo the Musical Live!]]'' for Sesame Place.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190721101745/http://gablesgroveproductions.com/ Gables Grove Productions - official site] (archived)</ref> Tartaglia has also collaborated with [[The Jim Henson Company|the Henson Company]] on the live shows ''[[Jim Henson's Musical World]]'' (which he conceived, directed and hosted) and ''[[Jim Henson's Inspired Silliness]]'', and on the [[PBS]] series ''[[Splash and Bubbles]]''.
He began on ''[[Sesame Street]]'' at the age of 16, performing background characters and assisting. Tartaglia has continued to puppeteer for ''Sesame Street'' occasionally after [[Season 35 (2004)|Season 35]]. He performed more major roles during [[Season 43 (2012-2013)|Season 43]], such as [[Brandeis|Brandeis the dog]] in [[Episode 4307]], [[Birdie]] in the resource video ''[[Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce]]'', and various characters for "[[Elmo the Musical]]." He has also lent his vocals to inserts, such as "[[Brothers and Sisters]]" with [[Stephanie D'Abruzzo]] {{eka|4056}}.
 
   
  +
Tartaglia took over the role of [[Gobo Fraggle]] in 2013, starting with promos for [[The Hub]] and continuing through subsequent live appearances. In 2020, he scripted and executive-produced the ''[[Fraggle Rock]]'' spin-off ''[[Fraggle Rock: Rock On!]]''. In addition to reprising Gobo for the series, Tartaglia puppeteered [[Boober Fraggle|Boober]] and [[Uncle Traveling Matt]] (to [[Dave Goelz]]'s voice), and [[Wembley Fraggle|Wembley]] (voiced by [[Frankie Cordero]]).<ref>[https://youtu.be/xufERVFlkuY?t=600 Museum of the Moving Image - "Jim Henson's World: Fraggle Rock Rocks On!" livestream] (May 23, 2020)</ref>
Other stage credits include Pinocchio and the Magic Mirror in ''Shrek'' on Broadway and Lumiere in the Broadway production of ''[[Beauty and the Beast]]''. He also portrayed the role of The Genie in ''[[Aladdin]]'', a new stage production of [[Disney]]'s movie musical in the 2012 St. Louis production, and direct ''Because of Winn-Dixie'', a new production with a real dog on stage. Tartaglia also currently hosts ''Sunday Funday'' on [[Sirius XM]] On Broadway (Channel 72).
 
   
 
Other stage credits include playing Pinocchio and the Magic Mirror in ''Shrek'' on Broadway and Lumiere in the Broadway production of ''[[Beauty and the Beast]]''. He also portrayed the role of the Genie in a 2012 St. Louis production of [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]]'s ''[[Aladdin]]'' and directed ''Because of Winn-Dixie'', with a real dog on stage. Tartaglia hosts ''Sunday Funday'' on [[Sirius XM]] On Broadway (Channel 72).
Tartaglia also had his own [[Disney Channel]] TV series, ''Johnny and the Sprites'', where he starred on-camera opposite puppets played by veteran ''Sesame'' Muppeteers. He discussed the experience in a TV Guide interview:
 
{{quote|It is funny because we'd give the humans and celebrities a hard time when they came on [Sesame Street], when they were talking to the puppet and they'd look at the puppeteer and at the monitor that the puppeteers watch to perform. My first two days of shooting were really weird. I kept looking at Leslie [Carrara-Rudolph], who performs Ginger, and I'm like, "What am I doing? I know better than that!" It is challenging at first, but the puppeteers we have on the show are the best of the best, and they always make me believe that they are real. It doesn't take much to believe for a little while that you are talking to these real creatures.<ref name="tvguide">[[TV Guide]] - [http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Interviews-Features/Article/default.aspx?posting=%7BBEEC1FEA-EBEC-4825-89C0-6F446D0C0F7F%7D "Avenue Q's John Tartaglia Sings a New (Kid-friendlier!) Tune" by Angel Cohn, January 12, 2007]
 
</ref>}}
 
   
 
Tartaglia had his own [[Disney Channel]] TV series, ''Johnny and the Sprites'', where he starred on-camera opposite puppets played by veteran ''Sesame'' Muppeteers. He discussed the experience in a TV Guide interview:
==Official bio==
 
 
{{quote|It is funny because we'd give the humans and celebrities a hard time when they came on [Sesame Street], when they were talking to the puppet and they'd look at the puppeteer and at the monitor that the puppeteers watch to perform. My first two days of shooting were really weird. I kept looking at Leslie [Carrara-Rudolph], who performs Ginger, and I'm like, "What am I doing? I know better than that!" It is challenging at first, but the puppeteers we have on the show are the best of the best, and they always make me believe that they are real. It doesn't take much to believe for a little while that you are talking to these real creatures.<ref name="tvguide">[[TV Guide]] - "Avenue Q's John Tartaglia Sings a New (Kid-friendlier!) Tune" by Angel Cohn, January 12, 2007</ref>}}
:from sesameworkshop.org:
 
{{quote|John Tartaglia has been a Muppeteer with ''Sesame Street'' for the past nine seasons, starting at age 16. On ''Sesame Street'', he performs [[Alfred Duck]], and a host of other Muppets ranging from penguins to sheep. Tartaglia is also part of the "[[Elmo's World]]" team of computer-graphic puppeteers. Recently, he had the honor of playing the Muppet, [[Tingo]], in ''[[Sesame English]]'', which airs internationally. He also played the part of [[DJ 2]] in ''[[Animal Jam]]'', a new [[The Jim Henson Company|Jim Henson Company]] series airing on Discovery Kids! Tartaglia's work can also be seen in ''[[The Book of Pooh]]'', ''[[Bear in the Big Blue House]]'', ''[[Between the Lions]]'', and ''[[Dog City (series)|Dog City]]''. An accomplished musical theater performer, he spent his teenage years dancing as [[Cookie Monster]] and [[Oscar the Grouch]] at [[Sesame Place]] in Langhorne, PA, and was recently on Broadway in ''[[Avenue Q]]'', the acclaimed hit musical, playing the role of Princeton (the lead) and Rod.}}
 
   
 
==Muppet Credits==
 
==Muppet Credits==
 
* ''[[Sesame Street]]'': [[Alfred Duck]], [[Phoebe]], [[Pipe Organ]], [[The Great Quackini]], [[the Martians]], [[Trey]], [[Brandeis]]
[[Image:TartagliaErnie.jpg|thumb|300px|Tartaglia and Ernie at [[Sesame Street 35th Anniversay Gala|Sesame Street Workshop's 35th Anniversary Celebration Gala]].]]
 
[[Image:GoboFraggle&JohnTartaglia-(2013).jpg|thumb|300px|Performing Gobo Fraggle in 2013.]]
 
* ''[[Sesame Street]]'': [[Alfred Duck]], [[Phoebe]], [[Pipe Organ]], [[Trey]], [[the Martians]], [[Brandeis]]
 
 
* ''[[The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss]]'': Bird, Delivery Man
 
* ''[[The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss]]'': Bird, Delivery Man
 
* ''[[Animal Jam]]'': [[DJ 2]]
 
* ''[[Animal Jam]]'': [[DJ 2]]
* ''[[Play With Me Sesame]]'': [[Ernie]] (season 2 and select part of [[Play With Me Sesame (website)|website]])
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* ''[[Play with Me Sesame]]'': [[Ernie]] (season 2 and select part of [[Play With Me Sesame (website)|website]])
 
* ''[[Sesame English]]'': [[Tingo]]
 
* ''[[Sesame English]]'': [[Tingo]]
 
* ''[[Music Works Wonders]]'': [[Hoots the Owl]] (puppetry only)
 
* ''[[Music Works Wonders]]'': [[Hoots the Owl]] (puppetry only)
 
* ''[[Elmo's Musical Adventure: Peter and the Wolf|Peter and the Wolf]]'': Muppet Performer, [[:File:Bso-cameos.jpg|Cameo]] as an audience member
 
* ''[[Elmo's Musical Adventure: Peter and the Wolf|Peter and the Wolf]]'': Muppet Performer, [[:File:Bso-cameos.jpg|Cameo]] as an audience member
* ''[[Dog City]]'': Additional Puppeteer
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* ''[[Dog City (series)|Dog City]]'': Additional Puppeteer
 
* ''[[Bear in the Big Blue House]]'': Additional Puppeteer
 
* ''[[Bear in the Big Blue House]]'': Additional Puppeteer
 
* ''[[A Is for Asthma]]'': Additional Puppeteer
 
* ''[[A Is for Asthma]]'': Additional Puppeteer
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* ''[[Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce]]'': [[Birdie]]
 
* ''[[Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce]]'': [[Birdie]]
 
* [[The Hub|Fraggle Rock-A-Thon]] promos: [[Gobo Fraggle]]
 
* [[The Hub|Fraggle Rock-A-Thon]] promos: [[Gobo Fraggle]]
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* ''[[Fraggle Rock: Rock On!]]'': Gobo Fraggle; Wembley, Boober, Uncle Traveling Matt (puppetry only)
   
==Trivia==
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==Notes==
 
[[File:Young_john_tartaglia.jpg|thumb|300px|Tartaglia in his youth, with a [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] and [[Red Fraggle]] doll, as seen on the ''[[Being Elmo]]'' DVD.]]
 
[[File:Young_john_tartaglia.jpg|thumb|300px|Tartaglia in his youth, with a [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] and [[Red Fraggle]] doll, as seen on the ''[[Being Elmo]]'' DVD.]]
 
* According to [[The MuppetCast]] episode #41, Tartaglia's biggest inspiration in performing was [[Richard Hunt]].
 
* According to [[The MuppetCast]] episode #41, Tartaglia's biggest inspiration in performing was [[Richard Hunt]].
  +
* Tartaglia says Ernie is his favorite ''Sesame'' character. "I was really honored to do Ernie for one season of Play with Me Sesame. Jim Henson was my hero, and the reason I am here now. So to actually have his character and to work with it and that voice and to make that relationship happen with Bert, I was just really honored. You feel like you are a part of history."<ref name="tvguide" />
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* Tartaglia says [[Ernie]] is his favorite ''Sesame'' character. "I was really honored to do Ernie for one season of Play with Me Sesame. Jim Henson was my hero, and the reason I am here now. So to actually have his character and to work with it and that voice and to make that relationship happen with Bert, I was just really honored. You feel like you are a part of history."<ref name="tvguide" />
* On November 21, 2006, Tartaglia assumed the role of Lumiere in the [[Broadway]] stage version of [[Disney]]'s ''Beauty and the Beast''.
 
  +
* In 1990, TV series ''[[The Mickey Mouse Club|MMC]]'' had a contest to meet [[Jim Henson]] and the other ''[[Muppet*Vision 3D]]'' puppeteers while they were filming. Producers say John lost to Joe Apel, due to the fact Apel was close to Los Angeles. {{cite}}
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* In 1990, TV series ''[[The Mickey Mouse Club|MMC]]'' had a contest to meet [[Jim Henson]] and the other ''[[Muppet*Vision 3D]]'' puppeteers while they were filming. Producers say Tartaglia lost to Joe Apel, due to the fact Apel was close to Los Angeles.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/157465031632357/permalink/543036756408514/ Poll comment], Muppet Guys Talking private Facebook group, April 26, 2020</ref>
  +
 
* An interview with Tartaglia was included as a bonus feature for the ''[[Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey]]'' DVD.
 
* An interview with Tartaglia was included as a bonus feature for the ''[[Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey]]'' DVD.
   
  +
* Tartaglia choreographed the Muppet dances for "[[A New Way to Walk]]" with [[Destiny's Child]].<ref>John Tartaglia on ''Seth Speaks'' on [[SiriusXM Satellite Radio]], July 10, 2020.</ref>
==External links==
 
  +
* [http://www.toughpigs.com/john-tartaglia-part-1/ Tough Pigs Interview, part 1] [http://www.toughpigs.com/john-tartaglia-part-2/ part 2]
 
  +
==See also==
* [http://disney.go.com/disneychannel/playhouse/johnny "Johnny and the Sprites" on Disney Channel]
 
  +
*[[John Tartaglia Cameos]]
*[http://www.americantheatrewing.org/downstagecenter/detail/stephanie_dabruzzo_and_john_tartaglia Stephanie D'Abruzzo and John Tartaglia] [http://www.americantheatrewing.org/downstagecenter/ Downstage Center] interview at [http://www.americantheatrewing.org/ American Theatre Wing]
 
*[http://mouseclubhouse.com/Interviews/john-tartaglia/john-tartaglia-beast&shrek.htm John Tartaglia interview] at Mouse Clubhouse
 
*[http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=105225 Internet Broadway Database]
 
*[http://imdb.com/name/nm1437776/ IMDb]
 
   
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
 
<references />
 
<references />
  +
 
==External links==
 
* [http://www.toughpigs.com/john-tartaglia/ Tough Pigs Interview]
 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051024042738/http://disney.go.com/disneychannel/playhouse/johnny/ "Johnny and the Sprites" on Disney Channel] (archived)
  +
*[https://soundcloud.com/american-theatre-wing/episode4 Stephanie D'Abruzzo and John Tartaglia interview at American Theatre Wing]
 
*[http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=105225 Internet Broadway Database]
 
*[http://imdb.com/name/nm1437776/ IMDb]
   
 
{{wikipedia}}
 
{{wikipedia}}
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__NOWYSIWYG__
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tartaglia, John}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tartaglia, John}}
 
[[Category:Muppet Performers]]
 
[[Category:Muppet Performers]]
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[[Category:Animated Voice Actors]]
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[[Category:Directors]]
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[[Category:Writers]]
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[[Category:Producers]]

Revision as of 12:30, 30 September 2020

File:JohnT.jpg
TartagliaErnie

Tartaglia and Ernie at Sesame Street Workshop's 35th Anniversary Celebration Gala.

GoboFraggle&JohnTartaglia-(2013)

Performing Gobo Fraggle in 2013.

John Tartaglia (b. February 16, 1978) is a puppeteer and actor whose professional career started on Sesame Street, subsequently leading to Broadway stardom and a Tony-award for originating the roles of Princeton and Rod in Avenue Q, off- and on-Broadway, and in the short-lived Las Vegas production.

As a teenager, Tartaglia danced as Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch at Sesame Place. He subsequently began on Sesame Street at the age of 16, performing background characters and assisting.[1] Tartaglia was a regular puppeteer for the series through Season 35, though he has returned occasionally for different projects. His later roles included Brandeis the dog in Episode 4307, Birdie in the resource video Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce, and various characters for "Elmo the Musical." He has also lent his vocals to inserts, such as "Brothers and Sisters" with Stephanie D'Abruzzo (First: Episode 4056).

Tartaglia's production company, Gables Grove Productions, has produced several stage shows; including live versions of Sid the Science Kid and Dinosaur Train, and Elmo the Musical Live! for Sesame Place.[2] Tartaglia has also collaborated with the Henson Company on the live shows Jim Henson's Musical World (which he conceived, directed and hosted) and Jim Henson's Inspired Silliness, and on the PBS series Splash and Bubbles.

Tartaglia took over the role of Gobo Fraggle in 2013, starting with promos for The Hub and continuing through subsequent live appearances. In 2020, he scripted and executive-produced the Fraggle Rock spin-off Fraggle Rock: Rock On!. In addition to reprising Gobo for the series, Tartaglia puppeteered Boober and Uncle Traveling Matt (to Dave Goelz's voice), and Wembley (voiced by Frankie Cordero).[3]

Other stage credits include playing Pinocchio and the Magic Mirror in Shrek on Broadway and Lumiere in the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast. He also portrayed the role of the Genie in a 2012 St. Louis production of Disney's Aladdin and directed Because of Winn-Dixie, with a real dog on stage. Tartaglia hosts Sunday Funday on Sirius XM On Broadway (Channel 72).

Tartaglia had his own Disney Channel TV series, Johnny and the Sprites, where he starred on-camera opposite puppets played by veteran Sesame Muppeteers. He discussed the experience in a TV Guide interview:

It is funny because we'd give the humans and celebrities a hard time when they came on [Sesame Street], when they were talking to the puppet and they'd look at the puppeteer and at the monitor that the puppeteers watch to perform. My first two days of shooting were really weird. I kept looking at Leslie [Carrara-Rudolph], who performs Ginger, and I'm like, "What am I doing? I know better than that!" It is challenging at first, but the puppeteers we have on the show are the best of the best, and they always make me believe that they are real. It doesn't take much to believe for a little while that you are talking to these real creatures.[4]

Muppet Credits

Notes

Young john tartaglia

Tartaglia in his youth, with a Kermit and Red Fraggle doll, as seen on the Being Elmo DVD.

  • Tartaglia says Ernie is his favorite Sesame character. "I was really honored to do Ernie for one season of Play with Me Sesame. Jim Henson was my hero, and the reason I am here now. So to actually have his character and to work with it and that voice and to make that relationship happen with Bert, I was just really honored. You feel like you are a part of history."[4]
  • In 1990, TV series MMC had a contest to meet Jim Henson and the other Muppet*Vision 3D puppeteers while they were filming. Producers say Tartaglia lost to Joe Apel, due to the fact Apel was close to Los Angeles.[5]

See also

Sources

  1. Season 36 Press Kit (archived)
  2. Gables Grove Productions - official site (archived)
  3. Museum of the Moving Image - "Jim Henson's World: Fraggle Rock Rocks On!" livestream (May 23, 2020)
  4. 4.0 4.1 TV Guide - "Avenue Q's John Tartaglia Sings a New (Kid-friendlier!) Tune" by Angel Cohn, January 12, 2007
  5. Poll comment, Muppet Guys Talking private Facebook group, April 26, 2020
  6. John Tartaglia on Seth Speaks on SiriusXM Satellite Radio, July 10, 2020.

External links

Wikipedia has an article related to: