Alison Bartlett O'Reilly (Gina) has been a Sesame Street cast member for 17 years. Ms. Bartlett began acting at the age of 12 in John Guare's production of Landscape of The Body directed by Gary Sinise. Her other theatre credits include the role of Donna, on Broadway, in David Rabe's Hurly Burly directed by Mike Nichols, Off Broadway in Second Stage's production of Jersey City directed by Risa Bramon in which she starred as Magaly, and Ubu Repertory Theatre's Family Portrait directed by Shirley Kaplan. Her television credits include guest leads on Law & Order, NYPD Blue, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Sopranos, Queens Supreme, Sesame Street (Emmy Award), ABC's Afterschool Special "It's Only Rock & Roll" in which she received an Emmy nomination and also met her husband, actor/director/writer, Harry O'Reilly. A lifelong New Yorker, Ms. Bartlett resides in New York City with her husband and their three children.
Desiree Casado (Gabi) is now in her 12th season with Sesame Street. Desiree plays the daughter of Maria and Luis. Her film credits include I Like it Like That, for which she was cast after her very first audition at the age of seven. Other films that followed were Bed of Roses, Joe's Apartment, Wishful Thinking and Gloria. She has also appeared in various commercials. Desiree loves to dance, especially Hip Hop, and is currently taking Ballet. Last summer she was featured in her first starring role in the independent film Juicy.
Emilio Delgado (Luis) can easily claim one of the longest running parts for a Latino actor in a continuing series as "Luis" on Sesame Street, since the show's third season. He began his career in the Emmy Award winning Cancion De La Raza, followed by a memorable performance in the acclaimed I Will Fight No More Forever, and Ruben Castillo on the popular Lou Grant series. He also appeared on Cosby and Law and Order. He was Artistic Director of the Barrio Theatre Ensemble of East LA and a company member of Inner City Repertory and Group Repertory playing a multitude of roles. On Broadway, he understudied Raúl Julia in the musical Two Gentlemen of Verona. Film credits include Follow That Bird and The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. Recent NY Theatre credits are A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, Shakespeare Company of New Jersey; Boxing 2000, NY City Players; Floating Home, Hudson Exploited Theatre Co.; The San Diego Street Padres, INTAR; and the award winning Dismiss All The Poets, NY Fringe Festival. Emilio is a recipient of the Impact Award from the National Hispanic Media Coalition and has been honored numerous times by the National Academy of Arts and Sciences for his work on Sesame Street. A talented singer and musician, he performs to sold-out audiences nationwide as "Luis," and if you stay up past your bedtime, you might catch him on reruns of Quincy, Policy Story and Hawaii-5-O!
Olamide Faison (Miles) whose name means "one who brings honor to his family" in the Yoruba language, is a native New Yorker. This is Olamide's third season as Miles on Sesame Street. As an actor/singer/musician, Olamide has worked in television, film and commercials. He is the lead singer and the guitarist for the Universal/Motown group Imajin. Olamide is the youngest brother of Donald Faison who stars in the NBC hit series Scrubs.
Bill Irwin (Mr. Noodle) was the playwright-in-residence at The Signature Theatre in New York for 2003-2004. He was last seen starring opposite Sally Field in the 2002 Tony Award winning play The Goat or Who is Sylvia? by Edward Albee. He has developed original theatre works, and has been an associate artist with the Roundabout Theatre. His Broadway résumé includes Fool Moon, Largely New York, The Regard of Flight, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, and 5-6-7-8 Dance! His film credits include Igby Goes Down, The Laramie Project, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Illuminata, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Stepping Out, My Blue Heaven, Scenes from a Mall, Hot Shots, A New Life, Silent Tongue, Eight Men Out and I. As the original Mr. Noodle, Irwin continues to delight children in "Elmo's World."
Michael Jeter (Mr. Noodle) brought a unique combination of emotion and humor to every character he played, whether it was an assistant football coach (his Emmy-winning role in Evening Shade), a terminally ill vacationer (his Tony-winning role in Grand Hotel) or a condemned prisoner (his unforgettable performance in The Green Mile). As Mr. Noodle's brother, also named Mr. Noodle, Jeter helps "Elmo's World" viewers understand concepts through a hilarious process of trial-and-error, embodying the fun of exploration and discovery while letting children know that it is okay to make mistakes.
Loretta Long (Susan) has been with Sesame Street since its first season. Before that, she appeared on the public television program Soul, and in summer stock productions of Guys and Dolls, Milk and Honey and Sweet Charity. She is a distinguished former schoolteacher with a doctoral degree from the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Long is a published author, visiting scholar and educational consultant. She plays Susan, Gordon's wife and Miles' mother. Over the years, her character has evolved from housewife to nurse to working mother.
Sonia Manzano (Maria) Sonia is a first-generation American of Latino descent. Born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, she has become an influential and positive role model for millions of children since the 1970's, when she was offered an opportunity to join the ethnically expanding production of Sesame Street. After ten years as an actress, Sonia began writing scripts for the series and has shared thirteen Emmy awards to date as part of the Sesame Street writing staff. She recently had the pleasure of writing for the Peabody Award winning children's series, Little Bill, for Nickelodeon. Sonia also wrote a parenting column for the Sesame Workshop website called "Talking Outloud." The firm Simon and Schuster published her first picture book No Dogs Allowed! in 2004, and she is a contributer to Marlo Thomas' book Thanks & Giving: All Year Long. Sonia has recieved awards from the Association of Hispanic Arts, The Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Washington DC, The National Hispanic Media Coalition, The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families and was twice nominated for an Emmy award as "Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series." She is the proud recipient of the 2002 Hispanic Heritage Award for education and is a 2003 inductee into the Miami Children's Hospital Hall of Fame. Sonia is currently performing in the 2003 Drama Desk Award winning play, The Exonerated. Ms. Manzano resides in New York City with her husband and daughter.
Bob McGrath (Bob) is an original cast member of Sesame Street. An accomplished singer with six children's albums to his credit, he performs family pop concerts and has appeared with more than 100 symphony orchestras in the U.S. and Canada. McGrath has authored eight books including Uh-Oh Gotta Go (on potty training) and Oops, Excuse Me Please (on manners). He co-authored an educational music curriculum book for Warner Bros. called Music For Fun, used by teachers from kindergarten to second grade. His rhythm band set produced by Rhythm Band Instruments is a Parent's Choice Award winner. He has a recording company called Bob's Kids Music, which encompasses his six albums. The Baby Record and Sing Me a Story have won both Parents Choice Awards and The Children's Music Web Award 2002. Bob's most recent project, Curriculum Connections with Educational Activities, is a professional development video and CD for teachers of Pre-K - 1st Grade, using music to develop six literacy skills. As an advocate for children, Bob has participated for over 30 years in telethons and other fundraising events and was recently honored as a lifetime member by the Variety Children's Charity in British Columbia. He was also recently inducted into the 2002 Silver Circle of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He is the recipient of the American Eagle Award by the National Music Council and the Fame Award by the National Association of Music Educators for furthering the cause of music education. He has been chairperson of National UNICEF Day, hosted World Children's Day at the United Nations and served as host and artistic director for the International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap for over 15 years. On Sesame Street, he plays a music teacher who lives in an apartment over the Mail It Shop and Hooper's Store. You can visit Bob at www.bobmcgrath.com.
Alan Muraoka (Alan) joined the Sesame Street ensemble six seasons ago. His stage credits include the Broadway productions of Miss Saigon, The King and I, My Favorite Year, Shogun and Mail, as well as the national tours of Miss Saigon, M. Butterfly and Anything Goes. This year Muraoka will be appearing in the Broadway revival of Pacific Overtures, for the Roundabout Theater Company, and filming Sesame Street at the same time. Muraoka has appeared on numerous network television programs and made his film debut in It Could Happen to You. Currently he can be seen in Day of Independence, a short film by Academy Award-winning director Chris Tashima. As a director, his 1998 production of Falsettoland for the National Asian American Theater Company received high praise from The New York Times. This year he has directed 3 shows, John Tartaglia Ad Liberty at Joe's Pub, Empty-Handed for Musicals Tonight, and Ann Harada's Broadway Spotlight at the ARS/Nova. A UCLA graduate, Muraoka received a musical theater performance scholarship underwritten by Carol Burnett. He is also active with many Asian American organizations and this year he was honored with the Inspiration Award from APEX, a mentoring organization in New York City. His character on Sesame Street is the proprietor of Hooper's Store, which was recently redesigned to reflect a more authentic urban candy store. For more information, please visit his website at : www.alanmuraoka.net
Roscoe Orman (Gordon) is an accomplished actor whose credits extend to television, stage, and screen. He studied at New York's Circle-In-The-Square Theatre School and The Manhattan School of Music and made his acting debut with the Next Stage Theatre Company in 1962. He toured for two years with the Free Southern Theater and was an original member of the New Lafayette Theatre Company where he perfomed in many plays including Whose Got His Own, The Duplex and The Fabulous Miss Marie. Orman has worked extensively on the New York stage with the Negro Ensemble Company, New York Shakespeare Festival, Manhattan Theatre Club, New Federal Theatre, and American Place Theatre, where in 1993 he enjoyed critical success in the title role The Confessions of Stepin Fetchit. He appeared as Gabriel in the 1988 Broadway production of Fences. Orman's film credits include the title role in Willie Dynamite, F/X, Striking Distance, New Jersey Drive, Drive-By, and Full Court Press, and on television he has been seen on such shows as Sanford and Son, Kojak, All My Children, Law And Order, Sex In The City, and Cosby. He has also narrated such TV documentaries as Langston Hughes:The Dreamkeeper for PBS, Children's Health and Heritage Of The Black West on Discovery Channel, and U.S. Presidents on the History Channel. The 2004 season marks Orman's 31st as Gordon, a science teacher who is married to Susan and the father of Miles.
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