Netflix has announced that Mary Poppins herself Julie Andrews will star in “Julie’s Greenroom,” a new preschool show with puppets from The Jim Henson Company that will feature “an all-new puppet cast of kids learning about the performing arts.”
Andrews created the series with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Judy Rothman-Rofė. Andrews 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.’” The series will “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 of the 13, 30-minute episodes will feature an original song and all will feature a guest star who introduces the kids to a specific area of the performing arts. Confirmed guest stars include Sara Bareilles, Carol Burnett, Ellie Kemper, and Idina Menzel.
“This project represents the fulfillment of a long held dream to educate children about the wonder of the arts,” Andrews said in a statement. “I am thrilled to be partnering with my daughter and long time co-author, 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.”
“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 and the episodes will premiere on Netflix in early 2017. Check out the video announcement below.
