Sonia Manzano

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

In her one-and-a-half-hour Archive interview, Sonia Manzano talks about her role as "Maria" on the classic children series Sesame Street, which she had played continuously for the entire 35-year run of the show up to the time of the interview. She describes her audition for the show, a typical production week and important milestones for her character including her marriage to "Luis" and the birth of their daughter. She describes her prominence as a role model for Latinos on television, as a result of the popularity of the series. She also talks about key creative talent from the series including: Jim Henson and puppeteer Fran Brill, as well as performers Bob McGrath, Emilio Delgado, Loretta Long, Matt Robinson, Will Lee, Roscoe Orman, Linda Bove, Kevin Clash and Caroll Spinney. Karen Herman conducted the interview on July 15, 2004 at the Sesame Workshop in New York, NY.

"When I was a kid, there was a lot of chaos going on around me and I did find a certain comfort in television sometimes. I hope I can be remembered as the person who created a moment of safety for a child watching."  

People Talking About ...
Sonia Manzano
Highlights
Sonia Manzano on TV she watched as a child and how that influenced her
Sonia Manzano on the natural aging of her character "Maria" on Sesame Street
Sonia Manzano on the first piece she wrote for Sesame Street
Sonia Manzano on the legacy of Sesame Street
Sonia Manzano on how she would like to be remembered
Full Interview

Chapter 1
On her early years growing up in New York and her own experiences with learning and racism
On her interest in performing and being cast in the original production of Godspell
On her audition for Sesame Street and her realization about what the show was meant to be

Chapter 2
On her Sesame Street character "Maria" and how she began to write for the show
On important stories and themes covered on Sesame Street
On her Sesame Street colleagues Will Lee and Matt Robinson

Chapter 3
On the cast of Sesame Street
On the set, Muppets, and puppeteers on Sesame Street
On her favorite moments on Sesame Street and the legacy of creator Joan Ganz Cooney

Chapter 4
On the importance of continuing to perform
On her advice to aspiring writers, the legacy of her character and Sesame Street, and how she'd like to be remembered
Shows

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Sonia Manzano on the number of Emmys she's won for writing

Sesame Street

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Sonia Manzano on seeing Sesame Street for the first time in college
Sonia Manzano on her audition for Sesame Street with Jon Stone and his philosophy about her role
Sonia Manzano on the natural aging and incorporation of her feminism in the character "Maria" on Sesame Street
Sonia Manzano on why there weren't many female and ethnic Muppet characters on Sesame Street
Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street executive producer Dulcy Singer
Sonia Manzano on "Maria's" marriage and motherhood storylines on Sesame Street; on how her own daughter was briefly in the cast
Sonia Manzano on executive producer Dulcy Singer's fight to make a show which would address the death of "Mr. Hooper" (following actor Will Lee's death)
Sonia Manzano on the research and script of "Farewell, Mr. Hooper," which addressed the death of regular character "Mr. Hooper"
Sonia Manzano ("Maria") on Caroll Spinney's performance as "Big Bird" in the episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper," which addressed the death of regular character "Mr. Hooper"
Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street castmate Will Lee ("Mr. Hooper")
Sonia Manzano on working on the set of Sesame Street
Sonia Manzano on the Muppets being the heart of Sesame Street and the legacy of Jim Henson
Sonia Manzano on working with the Muppets and their puppeteers on Sesame Street
Sonia Manzano on her favorite Sesame Street moments
Sonia Manzano on the legacy of Sesame Street

Sesame Street: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

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Sonia Manzano on executive producer Dulcy Singer's fight to make a show which would address the death of "Mr. Hooper" (following actor Will Lee's death)
Sonia Manzano ("Maria") on the research and script of "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"
Sonia Manzano ("Maria") on Caroll Spinney's performance as "Big Bird" in the episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"
Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street castmate Will Lee ("Mr. Hooper")
Topics

Classic TV series episodes

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Sonia Manzano on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)

Diversity in Television

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Sonia Manzano on the difficulty for an Hispanic actor to find non-stereotypical roles

Historic Events and Social Change

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Sonia Manzano on the difficulty for an Hispanic actor to find non-stereotypical roles

Underrepresented Voices

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Sonia Manzano on being cast on Sesame Street
Sonia Manzano on watching TV as a child and not seeing "herself" depicted in the media
Sonia Manzano on writing Sesame Street stories on cultural change
Sonia Manzano on the difficulty for an Hispanic actor to find non-stereotypical roles

We Cried

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Sonia Manzano on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)
Sonia Manzano on the death of Muppet creator Jim Henson

Women

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Sonia Manzano on adding aspects of feminism to her character on Sesame Street
Professions

Actress

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Sonia Manzano on being cast on Sesame Street
Sonia Manzano on the power of being on stage

Performers

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Sonia Manzano on being cast on Sesame Street

Puppeteer

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Sonia Manzano on why there weren't many female and ethnic Muppet characters on Sesame Street
Sonia Manzano on working with the Muppeteers on Sesame Street

Writers

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Sonia Manzano on writing for children on Sesame Street
Sonia Manzano on her advice to writers
Genres

Children's Programming

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Sonia Manzano on being cast on Sesame Street
Sonia Manzano on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)
Sonia Manzano on how children react to Sesame Street
Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street creator Joan Ganz Cooney
Sonia Manzano on the legacy of Sesame Street
People

Linda Bove

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Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Linda Bove

Fran Brill

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Sonia Manzano on working with puppeteer Fran Brill on Sesame Street

Ruth Buzzi

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Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Ruth Buzzi

Kevin Clash

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Sonia Manzano on working with Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash on Sesame Street

Joan Ganz Cooney

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Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street creator Joan Ganz Cooney

Emilio Delgado

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Sonia Manzano on her first impressions of Emilio Delgado on Sesame Street
Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Emilio Delgado

Jose Ferrer

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Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street guest Jose Ferrer being unable to contain himself when working with Elmo

Jim Henson

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Sonia Manzano on the Muppets being the heart of Sesame Street and the legacy of Jim Henson

Will Lee

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Sonia Manzano on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983) and her memories of working with actor Will Lee

Loretta Long

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Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Loretta Long

Bob McGrath

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Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Bob McGrath

Roscoe Orman

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Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Roscoe Orman

Carmen Osbahr

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Sonia Manzano on working with Elmo puppeteer Carmen Osbahr on Sesame Street

Frank Oz

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Sonia Manzano on working with puppeteer Frank Oz on Sesame Street

Matt Robinson

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Sonia Manzano on Matt Robinson creating the Roosevelt Franklin Sesame Street Muppet
Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Matt Robinson

Dulcy Singer

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Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street executive producer Dulcy Singer

Caroll Spinney

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Sonia Manzano on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)
Sonia Manzano on working with puppeteer Caroll Spinney on Sesame Street

Jon Stone

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Sonia Manzano on her audition for Sesame Street with Jon Stone and his philosophy about her role

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