2018 - Fred Rogers Productions

Posted on November 29, 2018October 30, 2019 by Brooke Wehrle

How did you become an animator and director?

Visual arts runs in my family from my Dad being a goldsmith to my grandparents being architects and illustrators so a big part of me thinks that it was written in the cards. My parents say that I would come home from school and before I could have a snack, or tell them how my day went, I had to go up to my room and draw a picture of something that was stuck in my brain that needed to come out. I had always said “I am going to be an artist” growing up. I remember seeing the movie Beauty and the Beast, and that is the moment that I really felt like animation was where I wanted to go in my career. I would spend hours trying to recreate the Candlestick!!!

I earned my BFA Honours before heading to Vancouver to get my Animation degree. From there I worked my way up in all areas of animation, including storyboarding, design, rigging, animation, and animation directing before becoming director, which I love more than anything-mostly because you get to touch all stages of the creative process.

What was your favorite TV show when you were growing up?

I only had one channel growing up so that really dictated what I was watching! When I was very little I was one of (what I think) the lucky kids and had kindergarten in the afternoon, which meant I could watch Sesame Street and Mr. Dressup (Canada’s version of Mister Rogers) before school. When I got a little older, my go-to shows were The Smurfs, He-Man, Degrassi, The Raccoons, and sometimes I could get a very fuzzy version of Wonder Woman if the weather was good!

What is your favorite episode of Through The Woods?

How am I supposed to pick??? I love so much about Through the Woods -- if you hit pause at any given moment in any episode I will love it. It looks like a storybook come to life! Marie [Thorhauge] did such an excellent job coming up with the look of the show. I will forever be “Team Wolfie.” I think my favorite episode is “A Snowy Morning,” followed closely by “Fairies & Fireflies.” In “Snowy Morning,” I can just feel the cold. I love the absolute silence of winter when the world is covered in snow, only being interrupted by the crunching snow under your feet or the sound of a bird in the distance, and I thought Rider running through the woods captured that perfectly. I see deer often on my drive into the studio and am reminded every time about this episode. The colors in “Fairies & Fireflies” are brilliant. I love being outside when the sun is setting and have seen many fireflies with their “lights coming out of their bottom.” (giggle)

How has making the show changed the way you engage with nature and the outdoors?

I was lucky enough to have been raised in a small village surrounded by the woods. Most of my childhood was spent on what was called “The Nature Trail,” which was trails through the woods surrounded by a large creek. I definitely drew on this particular area of Midhurst for reference during this season. Rider and I would have for sure explored this area together.

I spent a lot of time camping and exploring the outdoors growing up and worked in a Provincial park in high school and university, which continued to hone my love of nature. I still think of Algonquin Park as a second home and to this day spend several weekends every summer canoeing though the lakes.

Since “Through the Woods,” I do find myself examining more nature, and when I see an animal outside, I wonder how Rider and Wolfie would engage with them. I am confident that that Wolfie would manage to avoid a skunk, but would still think it was pretty cool. I don’t think that Ellen (Doherty, the creator and executive producer) gets bored of me texting her lines from the show when I see any animal that Rider has visited in the show!

‘Peg +Cat LIVE!: The Big Dog Problem’ Hits the Road in 2019!

November 9, 2018

‘PEG + CAT LIVE!: THE BIG DOG PROBLEM,’ FIRST TOURING PRODUCTION BASED ON FRED ROGERS PRODUCTIONS’ EMMY-WINNING PBS KIDS SERIES, HITS THE ROAD IN 2019!

Meet Our Neighbors: J. Walter Hawkes, Composer for Peg + Cat

January 29, 2019

Just in time for the national tour of Peg + Cat Live!, meet J. Walter Hawkes, the Emmy-winning composer for Peg + Cat, one of our animated series on PBS KIDS.

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Posted on November 9, 2018October 30, 2019 by Brooke Wehrle

New Stage Show Brings Musical, Math-Fueled Interactive Fun to Preschoolers Across the U.S.!

New York, NY, September 5, 2018 – Families nationwide will be totally freaking out when

Peg + Cat heads to the stage for the FIRST TIME EVER! “Peg + Cat LIVE!: The Big Dog Problem,” an exciting new musical production from Fred Rogers Productions, the Brad Simon Organization, and Bay Area Children’s Theatre, will bring all the toe-tapping musical, math-themed fun from the multiple Emmy-winning PBS KIDS series to fans throughout the U.S. beginning February 2019. With an original story written by series co-creators Jennifer Oxley (Little Bill, The Wonder Pets!) and Billy Aronson (Rent, Postcards from Buster), the stage show promises a totally awesome time for young “problem solvers” as they embark on an interactive adventure with their favorite characters from the series, including Peg, Cat, Ramone, Big Dog, Pig, Mermaid, and more, to solve a REALLY BIG problem. Tickets are now available for pre-order. For additional information and a complete list of tour dates and ticket links, visit https://pegpluscatlive.com.

“We’re delighted to work with the Brad Simon Organization and Bay Area Children’s Theatre to bring Peg + Cat to life on stage for the very first time,” said Paul Siefken, President and CEO, Fred Rogers Productions. “With this new live production, preschoolers and their families will get to engage with their favorite characters and stories from the popular series in a whole new way, while honing their early math skills all along the way.”

“We are thrilled to offer this entertaining and educational production from the Bay Area Children’s Theatre and Fred Rogers Productions to performing arts centers and their audiences,” said Brad Simon, President of the Brad Simon Organization. “The creative team has developed a theatrical experience that is sure to engage thousands of Peg + Cat fans.”

In Peg + Cat LIVE!: The Big Dog Problem, based on the popular episode, Peg’s mom asks Peg and Cat to mail some really important letters. But on their way, they come face-to-face with a REALLY BIG PROBLEM – a really big dog! They’ll need math – bar graphs, size comparison, position words, fair sharing, and a whole lot of counting, plus some help from one another and the audience to solve it! The vibrant full-scale production features larger-than-life puppets, light-up math facts that pop up all over the stage, and fan-favorite songs from the series, enhanced for the live stage experience!

Following select performances of Peg + Cat LIVE!: The Big Dog Problem, Purdue University will be conducting a first-of-its-kind nationwide study that will test the basic math skills pre-reading children learn after attending the live show. To help make the study possible, Dr. Amanda Mayes, Manager of Education in Purdue Convocations, will be collaborating with Dr. Laura Bofferding and Dr. Signe Kastberg in the math education department at Purdue University as well as the Brad Simon Organization, Bay Area Children’s Theatre, and Fred Rogers Productions.

Peg + Cat, now in its fifth year on PBS KIDS, has earned six Daytime Emmy® Awards, including for “Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Program,” “Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Program,” and “Outstanding Music Direction and Composition.”

The hit series follows the adorable, spirited Peg and her loyal sidekick Cat, as they embark on a host of hilarious, musical adventures, learning foundational math concepts along the way. Each episode features engaging stories in which Peg and Cat encounter a problem that requires them to use math and problem-solving skills to move the story forward. The series provides young viewers with new ways to experience math and highlights its importance in a variety of everyday situations.

Peg + Cat is co-created and executive produced by Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson of 100 Chickens Productions and produced by Fred Rogers Productions for PBS KIDS. Kevin Morrison of Fred Rogers Productions and Vince Commisso of production partner 9 Story Media Group also serve as executive producers.

Peg + Cat LIVE! – Tour Dates (Additional dates to be announced soon.):

About PBS KIDS

PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers children ages 2-8 the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital media and community-based programs. PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support the entire ecosystem in which children learn, including their teachers, parents and community. Provided by stations, the free PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream is available to more than 95% of U.S. TV households. Kidscreen- and Webby Award-winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including digital games and streaming video. PBS KIDS offers mobile apps to help support young children’s learning, including the PBS KIDS Video app, which is available on a variety of mobile devices and on platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Chromecast. PBS KIDS also offers parent and teacher resources to support children’s learning anytime and anywhere. For more information on PBS KIDS content and initiatives supporting school readiness and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Fred Rogers Productions

The company was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it not only created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program, but also extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health and supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly-rated, award-winning children’s series include Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, and Through the Woods. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Brad Simon Organization

The Brad Simon Organization is the leading North American booking agency specializing in live branded entertainment for family audiences. Current and past tour highlights include: Peg + Cat Live!, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live!, Wild Kratts Live!, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Odd Squad Live!, Dinosaur Train Live!, Sid The Science Kid Live!, Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live!, Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure, Clifford The Big Red Dog Live!, Scholastic’s The Magic School Bus Live!, John Tartaglia’s “ImaginOcean”, Berenstain Bears Live, The Magic Tree House: The Musical, and Mad Science Presents: “CSI LIVE!” and “Star Trek Live!”. www.bsoinc.com

About Bay Area Children’s Theatre

Established in 2004, Bay Area Children’s Theatre (BACT) is the largest company devoted to Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) in California and one of the three leading TYA companies on the West Coast. BACT serves more than 115,000 children and adults in the San Francisco Bay Area each year with productions that are inspired by children’s literature and specially designed to engage young audiences; a theatre education program in 15 communities; and an outreach program for schools that coordinates artist residencies with student matinees of BACT’s main stage shows. BACT commissions and develops new work to expand the TYA canon—28 new plays to date—and it sends a show on tour each year to reach young audiences throughout the nation—most recently, its award-winning original production of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site the Musical. A 501(c)(3) non-profit, BACT aims to inspire young audiences with imaginative productions, introduce children of all backgrounds to the excitement of live theatre, and create an engaging, entertaining, and educational environment in which children and their families can explore and enjoy the arts.

# # #

Press contact:
Alison Grand, Grand Communications (for Fred Rogers Productions, Peg + Cat)
212.584.1133, alison@grandcommunications.com

Dream Big Pittsburgh: Heroes

November 7, 2018

There is no more genuine source of dreams and shared possibilities in our community than our children.

Meet Our Neighbors: Meeka Stuart, Director of Through The Woods

November 29, 2018

Get to know Meeka Stuart, Director of Through The Woods, our newest Emmy-winning show, available exclusively on Curious World.

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Posted on November 7, 2018October 30, 2019 by Brooke Wehrle

There is no more genuine source of dreams and shared possibilities in our community than our children. With their unique and imaginative perspective on the world, they can encourage us all to do better.

With support from The Heinz Endowments, we gathered a group of real kids from a wide range of Pittsburgh neighborhoods last year to talk about kindness and respect and heroes, and to tell us – in their own words – what it means to call our city their home. (Pittsburghers will recognize the whimsical Randyland as one of the locations in the videos.)

In light of the recent acts of violence in Squirrel Hill, we’re inspired to share these videos. Here, the kids discuss their heroes. We hope these videos spark conversations and actions that will ultimately shape the Pittsburgh of the future.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/299502446

Dream Big Pittsburgh: Respect

November 2, 2018

There is no more genuine source of dreams and shared possibilities in our community than our children.

‘Peg +Cat LIVE!: The Big Dog Problem’ Hits the Road in 2019!

November 9, 2018

‘PEG + CAT LIVE!: THE BIG DOG PROBLEM,’ FIRST TOURING PRODUCTION BASED ON FRED ROGERS PRODUCTIONS’ EMMY-WINNING PBS KIDS SERIES, HITS THE ROAD IN 2019!

More News

Posted on November 2, 2018October 30, 2019 by Brooke Wehrle

In light of the recent acts of violence in Squirrel Hill, we’re inspired to share these videos. Here, the kids discuss what it means to show respect. We hope these videos spark conversations and actions that will ultimately shape the Pittsburgh of the future.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/298646423

Meet Our Neighbors: Christine Toye, Costume Designer for Odd Squad

October 30, 2018

Just in time for Halloween, meet Christine Toye, the Emmy-winning costume designer behind Odd Squad, our live-action series on PBS KIDS.

Dream Big Pittsburgh: Heroes

November 7, 2018

There is no more genuine source of dreams and shared possibilities in our community than our children.

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Posted on October 30, 2018October 30, 2019 by Brooke Wehrle

How did you become a costume designer?

I became a costume designer by happenstance! I wanted to be a sound engineer, but out of college the only positions available in theater were in costuming. I’d always sewn, having been taught by my mother, and was interested in fashion and design, so working with costume and design just came naturally. I was always putting together wild outfits as a kid/teen, ah who am I kidding, as an adult as well. I taught myself to sketch and express my ideas, and I was already a fabulous shopper as evident by my vast personal wardrobe, so it all came together along with hard work and learning from other costumers with more experience.

What was your favorite television show when you were growing up?

I had a few – during the daytime I’d watch Days of our Lives (my mother used to joke she thought I would become a dramatic actress). At night, I was a HUGE fan of The X-Files, Unsolved Mysteries and Star Trek: The Next Generation. I have always had a fascination with drama and fantasy looks.

What are the steps that go into making a costume?

Lots of steps go into the making of a costume, and it usually repeats the same format every time. I start with cues from the character descriptions and actions in the script. I then interpret what I’ve read and present a design through sketches, reference images and fabric swatches.

After executives and directors approve the looks, there are two paths – one down the route of building it from scratch, which would then be taken on by my cutter, who creates the patterns for the garments from my sketches. We measure the actor, buy the fabrics and notions. Sometimes we make a mock up – this is a way to figure out fit, drape and overall look of the costume using muslin (an inexpensive cotton), as the “real” fabrics tend to be pricier and we don’t want to be wasteful. After a fitting or two, the garments (if required) get broken down before the final product makes it to camera.

If it’s not a build, then it’s a store purchase, and I’ll set out shopping. Sometimes, we have to alter a purchased garment so that it fits within the overall design of the show. We might tea dye it, or remove pockets or make it look worn using paint.

What is your favorite costume that you’ve made for Odd Squad?

A favorite Odd Squad costume, isn’t that like asking who your favorite child is!? Lady Bread was one of my favorites because the only direction I was given was, “she has bread for hands”. Using the inspiration of Marie Antoinette, I set out to create a regal bread basket look. Around the corner from our studio was a fabulous bakery, where I purchased $35 of fresh bread to make her look. I cut the slices in half, dried and lacquered them, and then applied them to the crinoline base. Big loaves were hollowed out to make room for the actor's hands. Over twelve yards of fabric are in her skirt, which was in line with the excessively elaborate nature of the 18th century way of dressing royalty.

What are you going to be for Halloween?

I’ll be honest with you – everyday is basically Halloween, so I usually don’t dress up myself. I love to see what the everyday person comes up with using cardboard, paint, found objects and balloons. One year, someone covered themselves in balloons to make up the chemical compound of the influenza! Another year, I saw a group of people as Mario Kart characters with cardboard cars and balloons hanging above them, representing their lives! It’s a day of the year for the general population to express themselves creatively through costume, whereas I am so fortunate to be able to call that my day job.

Tragedy in Squirrel Hill

October 29, 2018

Everyone at Fred Rogers Productions is devastated by the tragedy at Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood that Fred Rogers called home for many years.

Dream Big Pittsburgh: Respect

November 2, 2018

There is no more genuine source of dreams and shared possibilities in our community than our children.

More News

Posted on October 29, 2018October 30, 2019 by Brooke Wehrle

Everyone at Fred Rogers Productions is devastated by the tragedy at Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood that Fred Rogers called home for many years. We offer our deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones and whose world has been upended.

The importance of community is even more evident at times of tragedy and though this terrible event took place in our home city of Pittsburgh, we know it also deeply affects our neighbors around the country and the world.

Posted on May 7, 2018October 30, 2019 by Brooke Wehrle

Pittsburgh, PA, May 7, 2018 – It’s a beautiful new day in the Neighborhood! The Fred Rogers Company, the celebrated children’s entertainment company founded by children’s TV pioneer Fred Rogers nearly five decades ago and now home to multiple award-winning series loved by children and families around the world, has rebranded to Fred Rogers Productions. The change is designed to better reflect the company’s expanding catalog of programs, which today encompasses top-rated multiplatform PBS KIDS series such as Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, and Odd Squad as well as popular apps, games, and more. Along with the new name is a refreshed logo featuring an image of Daniel Tiger to more clearly connect the company with its signature property. The rebrand was done in partnership with The Possibility Shop and SJI Associates.

“The name change helps position us for continued growth in all areas of children’s entertainment production, while reflecting the company’s deep roots in social-emotional learning and our iconic namesake,” said Paul Siefken, President and CEO of Fred Rogers Productions. “We remain committed to inspiring a lifetime of learning in children and to earning the trust of their parents and caregivers every day.”

One of the most trusted names in children’s media, the company has a sterling reputation as a producer of children’s educational and entertaining media. Beginning with Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, its first original series since the iconic Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which revolutionized television as an early learning tool, the company’s mission continues to be reaching young children, families and educators in innovative, effective ways by harnessing the power of media. Building on its 50-year history of success with exceptional programming for every platform, the company and its programs have earned numerous prestigious awards and honors, including 23 Daytime Emmys, multiple Parents’ Choice Gold Awards, a host of Common Sense Media Awards, and, most recently, an Institutional Peabody Award, among other accolades.

In March 2018 alone, the company’s programs reached more than 7 million kids ages 2-8 and garnered more than 50 million views through streaming video. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, a top PBS KIDS show among preschoolers and moms, accounts for nearly 500 million video streams per year, and its mobile apps have been downloaded more than 2 million times.

Stats for the company’s other hit shows are also impressive: Peg + Cat, the animated math and problem-solving series, racks up an average of 145 million video streams per year*; and Odd Squad, the live-action problem-solving PBS KIDS series, averages over 27 million streams digitally** per month.

Source: * Google Analytics 01/14 – 12/17, **Google Analytics 01/15 – 03/18

Four Honors from the Parents’ Choice Foundation

February 12, 2018

All four of The Fred Rogers' Company's current productions -- Odd Squad, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, and Through the Woods -- have been awarded by the Parents' Choice Foundation with their prestigious Gold Award.

Tragedy in Squirrel Hill

October 29, 2018

Everyone at Fred Rogers Productions is devastated by the tragedy at Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood that Fred Rogers called home for many years.

More News

Posted on February 12, 2018October 30, 2019 by Brooke Wehrle

We are thrilled to share this opportunity with our partners and collaborators at Out of the Blue Enterprises, 9 Story Media, 100 Chickens Productions, Sinking Ship Entertainment, Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt and Curious World.

Designed to help parents and caregivers of all achievements and backgrounds make informed decisions about which new products are right for their children, the Parents' Choice Awards is the nation's oldest nonprofit program created to recognize quality children's media. The program honors the best material for children: books, toys, music and storytelling, magazines, software, videogames, television and websites.

Parents' Choice Foundation's panels of educators, scientists, performing artists, librarians, parents, and even kids identify the very best products for children of different ages and backgrounds, and of varied skill and interest levels.

MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE Premieres March 2018 on PBS

January 22, 2018

New Star-Studded One-Hour Special Is a Heartfelt Tribute to the Beloved Children’s Television Series That Turns 50 This Year

The Fred Rogers Company Rebrands to Fred Rogers Productions

May 7, 2018

Trailblazing Children’s Entertainment Company Introduces New Name; Positions Itself for Continued Strategic Growth.

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Posted on January 22, 2018October 30, 2019 by Brooke Wehrle

MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE, a celebrity-filled, hour-long special that premieres on PBS stations in March 2018 (check local listings), celebrates Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the pioneering PBS series that premiered nationally 50 years ago and became an iconic and enduring landmark in the world of children’s television and beyond. Cast members from the groundbreaking series share their personal perspectives and insights in this new production, which pays tribute to television’s longest-running children’s series, still broadcast on many PBS stations today. The program also features interviews with numerous celebrities who have been influenced and inspired by Fred Rogers, a modest man who always said, “I am not a teacher, I simply help children learn.”

Judd Apatow, Joyce DiDonato, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Kratt, John Lithgow, Yo-Yo Ma and son Nicholas Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Sarah Silverman, Esperanza Spalding and Caroll Spinney reveal their favorite memories from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, while Joe Negri (“Handyman Negri”), David Newell (“Mr. McFeely”) and Joanne Rogers, Fred’s widow, share their personal stories. Also featured are performances from the archives by Tony Bennett, The Empire Brass Quintet, Hillary Hahn, Margaret Hamilton, Yo-Yo Ma and Nicholas, Wynton Marsalis and Perlman.

The nearly 900 episodes created by Fred Rogers encompass topics that resonate to this day with adults and children alike. Favorite segments, such as a visit with Koko the Gorilla, Big Bird’s appearance in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe as well as trips to the Crayola Factory and the Radio Flyer Wagon Company, are highlighted.

MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE is produced by JoAnn Young (JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala, Oscar Hammerstein: Out of My Dreams) and John Paulson (JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala and A Raisin in the Sun Revisited). Ellen Doherty and Kevin Morrison of The Fred Rogers Company are executive producers.

PBS special programming invites viewers to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. Viewer contributions are an important source of funding, making PBS programs possible. PBS and public television stations offer all Americans from every walk of life the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content.

Underwriters: Public Television Viewers and PBS
Producer/Presenting Station: The Fred Rogers Company/TPT

U.S. Postal Service Provides a Sneak Peek at Select 2018 Stamps

December 13, 2017

"Forever" our favorite neighbor, we're so excited that Fred is listed among these iconic cultural figures. Read on for more information about the full 2018 lineup.

Four Honors from the Parents’ Choice Foundation

February 12, 2018

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