Julie Andrews has a new children’s television series on Netflix called Julie’s Greenroom where she teaches a group of puppet children known as “greenies” about the performing arts. If that wasn’t already good enough news for you, one of the show’s characters is gender-neutral.
The students are racially diverse and include Hank, a piano-playing prodigy who uses a wheelchair and Riley, who is gender-neutral.
“If pressed we’d say she’s a girl, but maybe not forever,” said Andrews’ daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, who created the show with her mother. “We wanted to be diverse as possible.”
Aside from the greenies the series will feature celebrity guest stars such as Tituss Burgess, Chris Colfer, Idina Menzel and Carol Burnett.
“This project represents the fulfillment of a long held dream to educate children about the wonder of the arts,” Andrews said in a statement announcing the show.
I am here for this.
It has an episode where Spike, the black boy, is encouraged to write even though he insists that “no one” like him is a writer (the phrasing makes it very clear that it is a racial issue). And then the next episode is about the boys learning that ballet isn’t just for girls, and Hank learns that he can still dance, even in the chair.
Plus there’s music every episode and theater/exercise warm ups for kids! And all the puppets are by the Henson Company! My favorite so far is Fizz! She’s a precious girl who is never mocked for asking questions, is in fact encouraged to explore things. Plus, their overarching plot is putting on a musical about an Ogre that takes away “all the arts”. It’s a simply WONDERFUL series.
(via ukulelecrow)