Beverly Hills, Calif., June 2, 2016 - Netflix, the world’s
leading Internet TV network, announced today that award-winning actress Julie
Andrews will star in Julie’s Greenroom, a new
preschool show from The Jim Henson Company that features an all-new puppet cast
of kids learning about the performing arts. The series will be available
exclusively to Netflix members globally in early 2017.
Andrews, who created
the series with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton and Judy Rothman-Rofė, will
executive produce and star as Ms. Julie - the director of the Wellspring Center
for the Performing Arts in which she teaches performing arts workshops in the
theatre and its “Greenroom.”
Ms. Julie and her
devoted assistant Gus (Giullian Yao Gioiello) bring the performing arts to a
new generation of kids known as the “Greenies,” played by original puppet
characters built by the renowned Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. The Greenies are a
diverse group of kids who are mesmerized by all that the arts and creativity
has to offer. Over the course of the season, with Ms. Julie’s guidance and
inspiration from the visiting guest artists, the kids create an entirely
original new show, that is a mashup of all the performing arts including mime,
music, dance, improv, circus arts, voice and more.
Most episodes will
feature an original song and every episode will feature a guest star who
engages the kids in a specific area of the performing arts. The incredible
array of confirmed guest stars will include Alec Baldwin, Sara Bareilles,
Joshua Bell, Tituss Burgess, Carol Burnett, Chris Colfer, Robert Fairchild,
Josh Groban, David Hyde Pierce, Bill Erwin, Ellie Kemper, Idina Menzel, Tiler
Peck, and Stomp.
Ms. Andrews commented
that “this project represents the fulfilment of a long held dream to educate
children about the wonder of the arts. I am thrilled to be partnering with my
daughter and long time coauthor, Emma, to bring this show to life along with
our co-creator, Judy Rothman-Rofė. We could not be more honored to be working
with the extraordinary Jim Henson Company. We are equally delighted to be
premiering as a Netflix original production.”
“It’s been an
incredible treat to work with Julie on this project,” said Andy Yeatman,
Director of Global Kids Content at Netflix. “This show is all about awakening
children's interest in the performing arts while introducing a new era of
puppets to the viewers.”
“The best of the best
have joined together to bring Julie’s Greenroom to Netflix,” said Lisa Henson,
CEO of The Jim Henson Company. “Our award-winning director, Tony-nominated
puppeteers, Broadway composer, and accomplished guest artists, led by the
incomparable Julie Andrews, together will inspire kids to explore, appreciate
and celebrate all forms of performing arts.”
Julie’s Greenroom began shooting this May in Long Island, New York. The thirteen
30-minute episodes will premiere globally on Netflix in early 2017. Julie’s
Greenroom is a Netflix Original produced by The Jim Henson Company and is
executive produced by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton and Steve Sauer, and
Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford for the The Jim Henson Company. Emmy Award®
winning actor and writer Joey Mazzarino is co-producer and director, Tom
Keniston is producer, and Emmy Award® winner Bill Sherman joins the series as
composer.