Advertisement

Julie Andrews to star in pre-school program 'Julie's Greenroom' for Netflix

By Karen Butler
David Bohnett and Julie Andrews arrive for the formal Artist's Dinner honoring the recipients of the 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors hosted by U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on December 5, 2015. Pool photo by Ron Sachs/UPI
David Bohnett and Julie Andrews arrive for the formal Artist's Dinner honoring the recipients of the 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors hosted by U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on December 5, 2015. Pool photo by Ron Sachs/UPI | License Photo

BEVERLY HILLS , Calif., June 2 (UPI) -- Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music icon Julie Andrews will star in Julie's Greenroom, a half-hour, pre-school show from The Jim Henson Company, set to debut in early 2017.

The 13-episode, Netflix series will feature a puppet cast of kids learning about the performing arts.

Advertisement

Andrews created the series with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton and Judy Rothman-RofÄ—. She will executive produce and star as Ms. Julie, the director of the Wellspring Center for the Performing Arts where she teaches workshops in the theater and its "Greenroom."

The subscription streaming service said most episodes will include an original song and every episode will feature a guest star who engages the kids in a specific area of the performing arts. Among the guest stars lined up are 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 and Tiler Peck.

"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 co-author, Emma, to bring this show to life along with our co-creator, Judy Rothman-RofÄ—," Andrews said in a statement. "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."

Advertisement

"It's been such an incredible treat to work with Julie on this project," added 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," remarked 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."

Latest Headlines