Tell us about yourself and how your career led you to work in children’s television.

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. When I was younger, I was always drawing, painting, building with Legos, reading comic books, and watching cartoons. Lots and lots of cartoons. Now that I think about it, this description applies to me today! The only difference is now I have a degree in Television and Film and 15 years of experience in children’s television.

After I graduated from college, I moved to Australia and attended Sydney Film School, which is where I discovered my love of producing. I liked being involved in every step of the production.

I moved back to Chicago and started working at a company that produced a series for Nick Toons called Edgar and Ellen and that’s when I realized—hey, wait a minute! I could work on the one thing that I love the most - cartoons!

From there, I moved to Boston and worked at WGBH on shows like Martha Speaks and Arthur. Eventually, I knew I would end up back in Chicago. I was lucky enough to connect with Spiffy Pictures and have loved my job every day since working on shows like Nature Cat and Donkey Hodie.

What was your favorite TV show when you were growing up?

I’ve never had just one favorite. I loved Woody Woodpecker, Inspector Gadget, Tiny Toons, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Ducktales, Fraggle Rock, The Smurfs, Muppet Babies…pretty much any show that made me laugh. I would come home from school, get my snack of Chef Boyardee Ravioli or Spaghetti O’s and my patented dessert of peanut butter with a handful of chocolate chips all covered in a heaping spoonful of powdered sugar, and plop myself right in front of the TV. How is it that I only got my first cavity when I was in my 20s?

When I was really little, I loved Sesame Street, Lamb Chop’s Play-Along, and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (which started my obsession with factories).

Describe your role on Donkey Hodie.

As a supervising producer, I oversee production from the idea of a show all the way to getting the show ready to air. I work closely with the head writer, director, crew, and the post-production team to help keep them on track and support them along the way. It takes a lot of people to make Donkey Hodie, and I’m lucky to work with so many creative and smart people.

The coolest part of my job is that it’s both creative and strategic. I spend most of my days planning and problem solving with a lot of creativity throughout. I love seeing the final finished episodes knowing all the work that went into it and that I was part of making it happen. It’s really motivating to know that the shows I have helped make are seen all over the world.

What is your favorite episode of Donkey Hodie?

“Donkey’s Bad Day” is hands down my favorite episode from start to finish. The “Cheer Yourself Up” song truly works! I’m happy to get that song stuck in my head any day.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I love spending my free time with my partner, Maggie, and my family and friends. Also, lots of hours are spent snuggling my cat, Aussie, and watching TV. I love exploring new places, especially restaurants, and going to the movies.

Pittsburgh, PA, March 16, 2022 – Fred Rogers Productions, the award-winning children’s educational media organization behind Emmy®-winning PBS KIDS series, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, has partnered with Warner Music Group’s Arts Music division to release the music from Donkey Hodie, the hit preschool series on PBS KIDS. The series is inspired by the funny, quirky side of children’s television pioneer Fred Rogers and showcases reimagined music and characters from the beloved Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. “Here Comes Donkey Hodie” will be available on all digital platforms on April 8. The new release is available for presave now and will be available to pre-order starting March 18 with two songs, “Donkey Hodie (Theme Song)” and “You’ve Got to Do It,” also available to stream on March 18. Series music director, Grammy®, Emmy® and Tony® Award-winning composer Bill Sherman (In the Heights, Hamilton, Sesame Street), produced the album.

“We are very excited to bring the joyful music of Donkey Hodie to kids and families everywhere,” said Matt Shiels, Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs, Fred Rogers Productions. “Warner Music Group’s Arts Music division and Bill Sherman have been instrumental in helping to reinforce the can-do spirit of the series while furthering the music and positive messages of Fred Rogers for today’s generation of young listeners.”

“There is so much to love about these songs and so much love in them. Not only do they encourage kids to be persistent, curious, and creative, but they sound amazing and are full of joy,” said Andrea Craig, Senior Vice President, Warner Music Group’s Arts Music division. “Donkey Hodie songs are really for all of us who try every day to do hard things, and grown-ups will love them, too. It’s a privilege to work alongside the team at Fred Rogers Productions to bring them to the world.”

Donkey Hodie prioritizes music as an integral part of the series’ storytelling, just as Fred Rogers did in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. It is an honor to build upon his legacy and to have the opportunity to incorporate new ideas, voices, and a variety of musical genres to create a seamless sound that is distinctly ours,” said Sherman. “I am thrilled to collaborate with Fred Rogers Productions and Warner Music Group’s Arts Music division to make the music of Donkey Hodie available to kids everywhere.”

The new album features 16 tracks, including the series theme song as well as three original Fred Rogers songs from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood – “You’ve Got to Do It,” “Today is New,” and “I Like to Take My Time” – with new compositions and arrangements by Sherman for Donkey Hodie. Adam Rudman and David Rudman, Co-Founders of Spiffy Pictures, which produces Donkey Hodie with Fred Rogers Productions, also penned the lyrics to several songs, including “Let’s Imagine” and “Art Show Today” (David Rudman) and “Feeling Groovy” (Adam Rudman). Numbers on the album are performed by the cast of the series including Haley Jenkins (Donkey Hodie), Frankie Cordero (Purple Panda), Stephanie D’Abruzzo (Duck Duck, Harriett Elizabeth Cow), and David Rudman (Bob Dog, Grampy Hodie).

The news of the album coincides with the rollout of new Donkey Hodie episodes, premiering every Friday in March on PBS KIDS and featuring a song from the new release.

“Here Comes Donkey Hodie” was produced by Sherman, and all songs were mixed by Tyler Hartman, except the Donkey Hodie theme song, which was mixed by Greg Wells. The album was mastered by Matthew Agoglia of The Ranch Mastering, NY.

During the first 20 days of its May 2021 premiere, Donkey Hodie content generated 32.6 million streams, the most for any PBS KIDS series launch in the past five years. On-air, the series posted the highest Kids 2-8 ratings and reach of any PBS KIDS series during its premiere week, reaching 2.7 million TV viewers.* More recently, Donkey Hodie was the #2 PBS KIDS series with Kids 2-8 and also reached 2.4 million parents of young children in January 2022.**

Donkey Hodie is an imaginative puppet series following the adventures of Donkey Hodie, an enthusiastic and charming go-getter who takes on each day with curiosity and resilience, and her pals Purple Panda, Duck Duck, and Bob Dog. Set in the whimsical land of Someplace Else, the social-emotional series is designed to empower children ages 3-5 to dream big and overcome obstacles in their own lives, to work hard and persevere in the face of failure, to be resourceful and discover they can solve problems on their own—and to laugh themselves silly along the way. Donkey Hodie is produced by Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures. The series is created by Adam Rudman and David Rudman of Spiffy Pictures and developed by Ellen Doherty, Chief Creative Officer of Fred Rogers Productions. Executive Producers are Doherty, Adam Rudman, and David Rudman.

*Source: Nielsen NPOWER L+7, 5/3-5/9/2021, R&F, Std wk unif, 1+ min.]
** Source: Nielsen National Toolbox NTI Broadcast months, GAA%, Reach% (75% Uni, 1+ Qual.).

About Warner Music Group’s Arts Music
Since its launch in 2017, Warner Music Group’s Arts Music division has rapidly expanded their Kids & Family content, partnering with Sesame Workshop, Mattel, Skyship Entertainment for Super Simple Songs, Fred Rogers Productions for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Build-A-Bear Workshop, and Cloudco Entertainment for Holly Hobbie. Arts Music is also the home of the Warner Classics and Erato labels for classical music and Sh KBoom/Ghostlight Records for musical theater.

About Fred Rogers Productions
Fred Rogers Productions was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program and extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health while supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly-rated children’s series, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, and Through the Woods, have earned 30 Emmy® Awards among other important honors. Newly launched in 2021 on PBS KIDS is Donkey Hodie, the innovative puppet series inspired by characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood; and most recently Alma’s Way, an animated series created by Sonia Manzano, known to generations of children and adults as “Maria” on Sesame Street. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
# # #

Press contacts:
Grand Communications (for Fred Rogers Productions)

Alison Grand
212-584-1133; Alison@grandcommunications.com

Laura Liebeck
845-440-7974; Laura@grandcommunications.com

Tell us about yourself and how your career led you to work in children’s television.

I’m a third generation New Yorker, born and raised in Flushing, Queens. I grew up within a one-mile radius of most of my extended family, so there was a lot of loud, rambunctious family time. But being with them is where I learned about the importance and impact of storytelling and shared experiences. Nothing can silence a dinner of 18 like a good story that will make you cry or laugh until your stomach hurts.

My love of children’s television started when I saw my younger cousins pretending to be their favorite characters. Watching them explore the world through fantasy led me to a Master’s Degree in Child Development. And from there I got a job as the Research and Executive Assistant for the show Dora the Explorer. The first time I went to on-site story testing and witnessed a preschooler dance and sing along with the screen, I knew I was exactly where I belonged.

What was your favorite TV show when you were growing up?

I grew up with one tv in the house and no cable. Being the youngest, I watched whatever anyone else was watching. My favorites ranged from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to MacGyver (the original version), but the show that stood out the most was Captain Planet. At the time, there wasn’t another animated series that had a character that looked like me, so I studied Gi’s every move and lived fantastically through her adventures of saving the planet. Of course, whenever my friends and I would play Planeteers, I always insisted on being “Water!”

Describe your role on Alma’s Way.

As the Story Editor, I get to spend my day diving into the amazing mind and life of Alma and all the characters that make up her world! One of the most fun parts of my job is getting to listen to the stories of Creator/EP, Sonia Manzano. Many of our story ideas and episodic themes come from experiences in Sonia’s actual life! I also work closely with our Head Writer/Co-EP, Jorge Aguirre, and the wonderful and talented writers that help tell Alma’s stories. Together we come up with story ideas, which then get written into scripts. In my role, I make sure every detail stays true to Sonia’s vision and to the voice and world of Alma.

What is your favorite episode of Alma’s Way?

This is a hard one! There’s something in every story that makes me smile and laugh. If I haaave to choose…the stories that make New York City come to life and make the city feel like its own character in the series are so special to me. Stories like “Lost in the Bronx” and “Singing on the 6 Train” showcase so many of the things I love about New York City, and they make me excited to share Alma’s experience of growing up in the Bronx with kids everywhere.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I will take any opportunity I can to be outdoors. I love to camp, hike, climb, and snowboard. If it involves trees, water, mountains, or fresh air – I’m in! Recently, I also started to play tennis and have been taking advantage of the public courts in my neighborhood.

Fred Rogers Productions, the award-winning children’s entertainment company behind the well-loved, Emmy®-winning PBS KIDS series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Odd Squad, and Peg + Cat as well as the newest hits, Donkey Hodie and Alma’s Way, has named Aleya Crable Jennings Director of Corporate Sponsorships and Individual Giving. Jennings, who reports to company President and CEO Paul Siefken, will direct corporate and individual fundraising efforts to help Fred Rogers Productions continue to realize its education and social missions.

“Aleya is an accomplished professional with extensive experience orchestrating multifaceted campaigns and innovative solutions for clients,” said Siefken. “I’m looking forward to working with her to build upon our relationships with corporate sponsors and donors in support of our work for children and families.”

“I’m so excited to be part of the ‘Neighborhood,’” said Jennings. “I’ve long admired Fred Rogers Productions for its quality programming that has been such an important part of children’s lives for generations. I’m thrilled to join the organization and help ensure that its programming and community outreach initiatives continue to serve kids and families everywhere.”

In her new role, Jennings is responsible for both corporate sponsorships and individual giving programs. She will assist Siefken in developing and implementing a comprehensive corporate sponsorship strategy as well as cultivate and manage ongoing donor relationships, among other duties.

Prior to joining Fred Rogers Productions, Jennings was Associate Vice President, Group Account Director at Gatesman, a fully integrated, independent marketing communications agency. Before that, she was a senior marketing specialist at PNC, a financial services company. The award-winning Pittsburgh resident was among the 2021 40 Under 40 by Pittsburgh Magazine and the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project (PUMP), an organization that aims to make Pittsburgh a dynamic and diverse community; and she was inducted into the 2019 40 Under 40 Who’s Next: Communicators class by Pittsburgh newsletter The Incline.

Jennings holds a Master of Arts in Women and Gender Studies from DePaul University, Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communication from Roosevelt University, and Bachelor of Science in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

About Fred Rogers Productions
Fred Rogers Productions was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program and extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health while supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly-rated children’s series, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, and Through the Woods, have earned 30 Emmy® Awards among other important honors. Newly launched in 2021 on PBS KIDS is Donkey Hodie, the innovative puppet series inspired by characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood; and most recently Alma’s Way, an animated series created by Sonia Manzano, known to generations of children and adults as “Maria” on Sesame Street. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

# # #

Press contacts:
Grand Communications (for Fred Rogers Productions) Alison Grand
212-584-1133; Alison@grandcommunications.com

Laura Liebeck
845-440-7974; Laura@grandcommunications.com

Tell us about yourself and how your career led you to work in children’s television.

While in Ireland this past October, I reconnected with a cousin I hadn't seen in nearly a decade. Sometime between big belly laughs he composed himself and asked, "What do you do now anyway?"

"I work in children's television."

"Of course you do," he said to me, hot off the heels of my answer. This is the most common response. Growing up my interests were disciplines in the arts and humanities. I knew a lot of my favorite shows when I was a kid were made in Toronto (or Canada), so I sensed it was a possible career path, but didn't know how to go about it. After my post-secondary pursuits, then a few jobs after that, it dawned on me that animation was where I should be. My first month at a studio, a producer said to me, "You've found your people," and I'd say she was right.

What was your favorite TV show when you were growing up?

I don't think I ever had just one, but I was glued to YTV and MuchMusic as a youngster. I have a fondness for the spooky kids' shows like Are You Afraid of the Dark? or Goosebumps, but Sailor Moon was incredibly influential. I still think of myself as an honorary meatball head!

Describe your role on Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

As the production manager, I am a schedule artist and information mover. It is my job and the job of my production coordinators to support the artists, and ensure that the artists in each department have what they need when they need it.

What is your favorite episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood?

Back when I was in grade one, we had one supply teacher show up with a guitar, which turned into a very fun day of sing-alongs. When I saw Mr. Malik start a dance circle for the kids in “Daniel’s Substitute Teacher,” I felt like I was transported back to sitting on the mat singing along to a guitar.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

My big fandom is RuPaul’s Drag Race, which I watch like other people watch sports. Prior to COVID, I was a volunteer at the Art Gallery of Ontario, but since lockdowns began in 2020, I've taken to abstract painting to fill that creative void. Reading is a big pastime for me. I have a deep respect for long-form journalism, but also magical realism. Though, as a Pisces, I can happily daydream to pass the time.

Watch Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood daily on PBS KIDS or stream anytime at pbskids.org/video.

Tell us a about yourself and how your career led you to work in children’s television.

Children's television wasn't really on my radar when I graduated from film school, but I definitely grew up a little glued to the TV and could recall most of the influential shows and movies that shaped my imagination as a child.

I started working at Sinking Ship Entertainment back in September of 2018 as an Office Production Assistant and graduated all the way up to Associate Producer with the company. During that time, I was on two seasons of Odd Squad and would always catch myself saying, "Wow, if I was a kid, this would blow my mind!" It was my mid-20s and it was still blowing my mind! The sets were out of this world, the props were so cool, and the costumes were wildly imaginative. It was a great experience to be a part of a hugely colorful children's TV show that has such a strong impact on kids.

What was your favorite television show growing up?

I was OBSESSED with Sabrina the Teenage Witch, both the animated series as well as the Melissa Joan Hart live-action series so much so that I binge-watched it again in high school. I also really loved The Proud Family, That's So Raven, Boy Meets World, Smart Kid, Codename: Kids Next Door, Scooby Doo, Courage the Cowardly Dog, and Detective Conan & Captain Tsubasa/Captain Majid—two Japanese anime shows that came to the Middle East dubbed in Arabic. A real wide variety of things!

What goes into your role for an episode of Odd Squad?

On my first season of Odd Squad, I was a 2nd Assistant Production Coordinator working in the production team before I got a chance to step up as the 1st Assistant Production Coordinator. I had a variety of tasks that included setting up accommodations for our American cast members, first passes at contracts, writing up our day-to-day production schedule for meetings, ordering equipment, and paperwork.

My second season was a bit different. I had taken a strong interest in joining the art department and got the opportunity to be the art department coordinator. It was a bit different from working in production, as it focused solely on the needs of the art department. I got the chance to learn a lot about how our Odd Squad graphics went from concept to print, how different print materials affect the quality of the look, how certain roles in the sets, props, and construction teams operate. I was also lucky to have had the chance to show off some of my own arts and crafts skills and had one of my projects featured as set dec pieces in an episode! This was such a gratifying moment personally because Odd Squad has such colorful and imaginative art going into it and, even though it was a small creation, I did get to be a part of it.

What is your favorite episode you have worked on?

I would say it's a tie between the New York episode and the episode that featured my artwork. I had just become 1st Assistant Production Coordinator during the filming of the New York episode, and it was a massive challenge for me to step right into it. Fortunately, the people on my team were incredibly supportive and together we were able to assist our production coordinator in New York remotely.

What are your hobbies, etc. when you’re not working?

In the last few years, I had really gotten into fitness and have been practicing Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing) and yoga as well as long-distance running. It is difficult to keep up while working in production, but I try my best to keep consistent with it.

I also love art and fashion and love to dedicate my free time to sketching and spending hours browsing through thrift stores for unique pieces.

Tune in to four new episodes of Odd Squad on PBS KIDS’ special New Year’s Eve Family Movie Night, December 31 on the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel.

In its annual round-up of Best TV Shows, Common Sense Media recognized Alma’s Way, FRP’s new preschool animated series on PBS KIDS. CSM praised the series’ strong social-emotional curriculum that encourages kids to pause and think when they're facing a tricky situation. They also call Alma—the determined 6-year-old from the Bronx—a great role model who is very relatable to preschoolers. Read more of their review here.

You can watch Alma’s Way daily on PBS KIDS or stream episodes anytime on the PBS KIDS Video Player in English and Spanish!

 

 

Alma’s Way

Alma’s Nochebuena/Three Kings Day Do-Over: December 13, 15, 18, 21, 24, & January 2

  • PBS KIDS 24/7 Channel: December 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, & 24

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

Daniel’s Winter Adventure/Neighborhood Nutcracker: December 1, 8, & 24

  • PBS KIDS 24/7 Channel: December 1, 24, & 26

Snowflake Day!: December 1, 13, & 23

  • PBS KIDS 24/7 Channel: December 7, 15, 17, 18, 19, & 24

A Snowy Day: December 29

  • PBS KIDS 24/7 Channel: December 10, 12, & 22

Odd Squad

Reindeer Games: December 1, 14, 20, & 24

  • PBS KIDS 24/7 Channel: December 1, 9, 14, 17, 18, 19, 23, 25, & 26

Peg + Cat (PBS KIDS 24/7 Channel)

Peg + Cat + Holidays: December 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 18, 22, 24, & 25

The Christmas Problem: December 3, 14, & 23

The Hanukkah Problem: December 6

Tell us about yourself and what led you to be a puppeteer.
Sure! I grew up between Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois, where my younger sister, Alina, and I kept busy with many art, music, and theater programs. I’ve been a fan of puppetry for as long I could remember–I’d wake up at the crack of dawn to catch reruns of The Muppet Show and was fascinated by how these characters were performed. I wanted to be a part of it!

My parents had always supported my early love of theater, VHS filmmaking, and my lifelong dream to work as a puppeteer for television. My Dad, who discovered performing later in life (he began working as a clown/magician in 1989), took me to check out the book, “Of Muppets and Men” from our local library, and the librarian happened to be a member of the Chicagoland Puppetry Guild. We immediately joined, attended many meetings, events, and festivals for years, along with this incredibly supportive group of puppeteers.

While in high school, I met David and Adam Rudman at their Spiffy Pictures office–also in Illinois–I shared some of the puppets I had been building, and they shared some of the projects they were developing at the time. We kept in touch, and I eventually started working on pilots and TV shows with them during my summer breaks from college.

What was your favorite television show growing up?
Television was very limited in our household- when it was on, the TV was usually tuned to PBS. Some favorite shows were Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Sesame Street, and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. I feel super grateful to be working for two of those shows right now! I never would have imagined that I’d be living in my hometown while working on a puppet series from Fred Rogers Productions–it’s almost too specific for me to have dreamt up what now feels like a dream come true!

What’s one of your favorite–or most unexpected–things about playing Purple Panda so far?
I love playing around with Panda’s physicality. As a puppet, he’s a single, solid piece of foam. His head, neck, and body all blend together into a huge bean-like shape. It’s been fun using that limitation to inform the way he walks and moves, while also working with our assist puppeteers to also make him very flexible and agile. Panda dancing is one of my favorite things to perform. I also love playing with his stillness–he’s a sensitive guy who often enjoys the quieter moments.

How are you like Purple Panda, and how are you different?
Like Purple Panda, I tend to be a calmer person in general. Unlike myself, Purple Panda is an excellent dancer.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?
When I’m not traveling for work or working on Donkey Hodie, I love spending as much time with my family as possible. My wife Marea and I have two daughters–Zora is 3 years old, and Zella is 1. Together, we enjoy doing many of the things I loved doing throughout my life–traveling, playing music, art projects, nature and museum trips, and spending time with our extended family.

What is your favorite nod to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in the new series?
As a kid, my eyes were always drawn to the multi-colored stones that were painted on the floor of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Our amazing Art Department on Donkey Hodie created 3D versions of these stones–I love seeing that they now cover the paths of the endless, beautiful rolling hills of Someplace Else!

What’s your preferred way to start the day–Golden Crunchdoodles or Flying Flapjacks?!
I like both! Like Panda, I sometimes have trouble deciding. So, I like to crush up my Golden Crunchdoodles and sprinkle them into the batter before the Flying Flapjacks fly!

Watch Donkey Hodie daily on PBS KIDS or stream anytime at pbskids.org/video.

HBO Max has acquired rights to the first two seasons of Odd Squad for Latin America.

“We are thrilled to be adding the well-known Odd Squad to our offering on HBO Max. It is a clever, funny and fast paced show with a fabulous cast – a much loved series all around,” said Jessica Bishop, Director of Acquisitions, WarnerMedia Kids & Family Latin America.

Odd Squad was created by Tim McKeon and Adam Peltzman and is co-produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment and Fred Rogers Productions for PBS KIDS.

Read the full story from Deadline.