Today The Jim Henson Company announced that it had hired John Tartaglia as the Creative Supervisor of Fraggle Rock. In this new role, Tartaglia will be overseeing the Emmy-winning Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (currently streaming on Apple TV+), and initiatives across consumer products, social media, live shows, podcasts, and location-based entertainment. He will also be developing and producing new television and live show projects for the The Jim Henson Company. Halle Stanford, President of Television, to whom Tartaglia reports, made the announcement.
“John has been an essential part of the recent success of Fraggle Rock not only as an Executive Producer, and star performer of Gobo and Sprocket, but also as the property’s number one fan. In his new role, he is committed to growing the Fraggle franchise into a change-the-world phenomenon.” said Stanford. “John is a multi-talent superstar with his thirty plus years in the industry as a creator, producer, writer, director, and puppeteer. We are thrilled he has joined The Jim Henson Company’s team and is bringing with him his great imagination, big heart, and innovative ideas.”
“Discovering Fraggle Rock as a child sparked in me a love of creativity and joy, and it is honestly the reason I became a puppeteer,” said Tartaglia. “It has been so professionally fulfilling and exciting to be part of the Henson legacy over these last several years and this Company feels like a creative home. It is a real dream come true to be part of Fraggle Rock, and ‘Pass It On’ to a new generation of Fraggle fans.”
John Tartaglia is a creator, producer, writer, director, and puppeteer who has also been a collaborator with The Jim Henson Company in recent years. One of the collaborations has had him as the executive producer, writer, director, and puppeteer for Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock. He performs Gobo Fraggle, Sprocket, and other characters on the series that is set to premiere its second season on March 29th on Apple TV+. He also has worked on other projects like Splash and Bubbles for PBS KIDS. For this he served as creator, executive producer, writer, and also is an Emmy-nominated puppeteer. He also has worked on developing projects like The Kissing Hand and Monster Jam. Tartaglia has produced, written, and directed several live shows for The Jim Henson Company as well. This includes Jim Henson’s Inspired Silliness for Princess Cruises as well as Sid the Science Kid Live, and Dinosaur Train Live. If that isn’t enough, he also been a puppeter on multiple projects at The Jim Henson Company including Word Party, Julie’s Greenroom, Slumberkins, Happytime Murders, and the live show Puppet Up! – Uncensored.
What do you think of John Tartaglia overseeing the Fraggles? Have you seen the recent projects that have been created by The Jim Henson Company with the Fraggles? What was your favorite? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
