Sonia Manzano

Performer

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In her one-and-a-half-hour interview, Sonia Manzano talks about her role as "Maria" on the classic children's 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.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"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."

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Highlights

Sonia Manzano on TV she watched as a child and how that influenced her

03:33

Sonia Manzano on the natural aging of her character "Maria" on Sesame Street

00:58

Sonia Manzano on the first piece she wrote for Sesame Street

03:26

Sonia Manzano on the legacy of Sesame Street

00:30

Sonia Manzano on how she would like to be remembered

00:48

Full Interview

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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)

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

00:48

Sesame Street

Sonia Manzano on seeing Sesame Street for the first time in college

01:02

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

03:45

Sonia Manzano on the natural aging and incorporation of her feminism in the character "Maria" on Sesame Street

01:56

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

01:27

Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street executive producer Dulcy Singer

03:04

Sonia Manzano on "Maria's" marriage and motherhood storylines on Sesame Street; on how her own daughter was briefly in the cast

08:32

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)

01:03

Sonia Manzano on the research and script of "Farewell, Mr. Hooper," which addressed the death of regular character "Mr. Hooper"

01:24

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"

00:51

Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street castmate Will Lee ("Mr. Hooper")

01:16

Sonia Manzano on working on the set of Sesame Street

03:01

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

03:02

Sonia Manzano on working with the Muppets and their puppeteers on Sesame Street

07:42

Sonia Manzano on her favorite Sesame Street moments

01:45

Sonia Manzano on the legacy of Sesame Street

00:39

Sesame Street: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

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)

01:03

Sonia Manzano ("Maria") on the research and script of "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

01:24

Sonia Manzano ("Maria") on Caroll Spinney's performance as "Big Bird" in the episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

00:51

Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street castmate Will Lee ("Mr. Hooper")

01:16

Topics

Classic TV Series Episodes

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

03:08

Historic Events and Social Change

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

01:13

Representation on Television

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

01:13

Underrepresented Voices

Sonia Manzano on being cast on Sesame Street

04:13

Sonia Manzano on watching TV as a child and not seeing "herself" depicted in the media

01:48

Sonia Manzano on writing Sesame Street stories on cultural change

03:04

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

01:13

We Cried

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

03:08

Sonia Manzano on the death of Muppet creator Jim Henson

01:37

Women

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

02:28

Professions

Actress

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Sonia Manzano on being cast on Sesame Street

04:15

Sonia Manzano on the power of being on stage

00:26

Performers

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Sonia Manzano on being cast on Sesame Street

04:15

Puppeteer

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

01:27

Sonia Manzano on working with the Muppeteers on Sesame Street

07:42

Writers

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Sonia Manzano on writing for children on Sesame Street

02:29

Sonia Manzano on her advice to writers

01:00

Genres

Children's Programming

Sonia Manzano on being cast on Sesame Street

04:13

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

03:08

Sonia Manzano on how children react to Sesame Street

03:18

Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street creator Joan Ganz Cooney

01:24

Sonia Manzano on the legacy of Sesame Street

00:39

People

Bob McGrath

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Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Bob McGrath

00:47

Carmen Osbahr

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

02:51

Caroll Spinney

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

03:08

Sonia Manzano on working with puppeteer Caroll Spinney on Sesame Street

00:23

Dulcy Singer

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Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street executive producer Dulcy Singer

03:04

Emilio Delgado

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

00:21

Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Emilio Delgado

01:27

Fran Brill

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Sonia Manzano on working with puppeteer Fran Brill on Sesame Street

00:44

Frank Oz

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Sonia Manzano on working with puppeteer Frank Oz on Sesame Street

00:41

Jim Henson

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

03:02

Joan Ganz Cooney

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Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street creator Joan Ganz Cooney

01:24

Jon Stone

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

04:13

Jose Ferrer

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

01:03

Kevin Clash

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

01:48

Linda Bove

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Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Linda Bove

00:27

Loretta Long

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Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Loretta Long

00:28

Matt Robinson

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

00:42

Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Matt Robinson

00:32

Roscoe Orman

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Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Roscoe Orman

02:43

Ruth Buzzi

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Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Ruth Buzzi

00:36

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

04:28