Muppets in Moscow
Books | Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts
4.1
Natasha Lance Rogoff
FINALIST - 2023 PUSHKIN HOUSE BOOK PRIZE “A gem of a book! A must read for anyone looking to understand Russia better!”— Clarissa Ward, CNN chief international correspondent and author of On All FrontsAfter the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the timing appeared perfect to bring Sesame Street to millions of children living in the former Soviet Union. With the Muppets envisioned as ideal ambassadors of Western values, no one anticipated just how challenging and dangerous this would prove to be.In Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia, Natasha Lance Rogoff brings this gripping tale to life. Amidst bombings, assassinations, and a military takeover of the production office, Lance Rogoff and the talented Moscow team of artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers, and puppeteers remained determined to bring laughter, learning, and a new way of seeing the world to children in Russia, Ukraine and across the former Soviet empire. With a sharp wit and compassion for her colleagues, Lance Rogoff observes how cultural clashes colored nearly every aspect of the production—from the show’s educational framework to writing comedy to the new Russian Muppets themselves—despite the team’s common goal.Brimming with insight and nuance, Muppets in Moscow skillfully explores the post-Soviet societal tensions that continue to thwart the Russian people’s efforts to create a better future for their country. More than just a story of a children’s show, this book provides a valuable perspective of Russia’s people, their culture, and their complicated relationship with the West that remains relevant even today.
AD
Buy now:
More Details:
Author
Natasha Lance Rogoff
Pages
302
Publisher
Rowman & Littlefield
Published Date
2022-10-17
ISBN
153816129X 9781538161296
Community ReviewsSee all
"A highly engaging and immersive recount of the production of Ulitsa Sezam, Lance-Rogoff tells a comedic and tragic history of the hardships and successes of the Russian production for Sesame Street. I highly recommend this book to everyone, regardless of their investment in the Jim Henson creations (admittedly, mine was scant prior to reading the book)"
Nathan Quincy
"“Nothing in Russia is ever over” he says “It all keeps repeating itself, like an infinite circle”<br/><br/>This is my first nonfiction read of the year (trying to make more time for nonfiction) and Muppets In Moscow is setting a high bar already for 2023. This is exactly what I want from a nonfiction story, were you learn something and it reads like a fiction novel. <br/><br/>Natasha Rogoff (author and executive producer on Ulitsa Sezam) does a fantastic job of intertwining her personal experiences working on the production, her interactions with Sesame Street corporate entities, and the volatile background of Russian Politics in a post-USSR world.<br/><br/>The thing this book does is show the genuine love that Russians have for their country, that as Americans we have painted them as the evil people, when in reality they are just like us where they have no control over what their government does. This comes through even more when Natasha gets to the part of the production where they hire younger writers and producers, who go through training with The Children’s Workshop (Sesame Street parent company). They come away from it with wanting to show Russian children what they were not shown in their childhoods, that they can make a change for the better. <br/><br/>While Ulitsa Sezam ran till 2010 and ultimately failed in its goal to show Russian children how to be more open and accepting because of things out of their control (Putin’s rise to power, etc) it still left a impact, which is shown in the epilogue that Natasha added on. <br/><br/>This book is heartwarming at times and heartbreaking at others. It really shows how much people put of themselves into any production of art."
C C
Cody Crumley