The sound of music can be heard throughout the halls of Netflix today as they announced that they’re teaming up with musical film legend Julie Andrews and puppet legend Jim Henson Co. for a new preschool show called Julie’s Greenroom. Julie’s Greenroom will be a fun, musical show designed to introduce kids and the performers of tomorrow to the wonderful, creative and inspiring world of the arts. According to E! News, Andrews will play Ms. Julie, the director of an arts school called the Wellspring Center for the Performing Arts. Netflix also released a promotional video for the show [below].
It has been over fifty years since Julie Andrews made us all laugh, sing and try to fly up a chimney in the Disney classic Mary Poppins, but Andrews, now 80, has not lost any of her warmth and charm. She is also very well known for her role in the classic film adaptation of the Rogers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music. It is certainly a treat for children across the globe to have a positive presence like hers encouraging them in their creative endeavors.
Joining Julie Andrews in the show, Jim Henson Co. have created a new cast of puppet friends who will be known as the Greenies. Although, as Hillary Busis of Vanity Fair notes, these Greenies will not be considered muppets, but simply their own brand of playful, adorable puppets. Along with the Greenies, Andrews’ character on the show will have an assistant, played by Giullian Yao Gioiello, who previously had a recurring role on The Carrie Diaries for CW. Much like other Jim Henson Co. productions, the show will also feature a glamorous slate of stars as guest stars, including Alec Baldwin, Idina Menzel, Josh Groban, Sara Bareilles and Ellie Kemper.
When asked why she wanted to create a show like Julie’s Greenroom, Andrews told USA Today, “Over the years, because of those wonderful movies, it sort of evolved, this passion to communicate to children the wonder of it all. And this is really lovely culmination of all that I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” The Jim Henson Co. is similarly enthusiastic about the new partnership. E! News reports that Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company, said in a statement, “The best of the best have joined together to bring Julie’s Greenroom to Netflix. 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.”
Andrews created Julie’s Greenroom with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, as well as Judy Rothman-Rofe, who boasts several credits in children’s television, including The Adventures of Madeline. Bill Sherman, who won a Tony in 2008 for In the Heights, will be the show’s composer. As Deadline reports, the series began shooting in early May, and the first season of thirteen episodes will premiere on Netflix in early 2017.