Stephanie D'Abruzzo

Stephanie D'Abruzzo.

Stephanie D'Abruzzo (b. December 7, 1971) has been a Sesame Street puppeteer since 1993. In that time she has performed a myriad of background characters, and recorded vocals for a number of songs, including "Sing" (EKA: Episode 3981) and "Brothers and Sisters" (EKA: Episode 4056). Her major characters of note have included Elizabeth, a loud but cheerful little girl; Lulu, a curious monster (whom D'Abruzzo helped to develop); and most recently in Season 34, Baby Bear's little sister, Curly Bear.

D'Abruzzo has performed and voiced nearly 200 characters for various projects including Oobi, (playing Uma and Inka), Bear in the Big Blue House, Donna's Day, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, Binyah Binyah!, The Puzzle Place, Rory's Place (for which she co-wrote a pair of episodes with husband Craig Shemin), Sheep in the Big City and The Book of Pooh (playing the inquisitive bird Kessie).

Despite her extensive work with the Muppets, D'Abruzzo first gained greater recognition as an original cast member of the puppet musical Avenue Q where she originated the characters of Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut. Her performance garnered her a 2004 Tony nomination, a Theatre World Award, a special Outer Critics Circle Award (for Outstanding Ensemble and Puppet Artistry), as well as a 2003 Drama Desk nomination for the show's Off-Broadway run. In December of 2005, D'Abruzzo ended her run with the project after more than two and a half years to pursue roles in I Love You Because, and worked with Bobby Lopez again on the studio album for the Walt Disney World stage show Finding Nemo: the Musical (as Sheldon and Deb). Her previous stage credits include Skitch Henderson's New Faces of 2004 at Carnegie Hall, Carnival and Chess.

D'Abruzzo's television credits outside of her work as a puppeteer include an appearance on the musical episode of Scrubs and as a commentator on I Love the 70s: Volume 2.

Muppet Credits

• Sesame Street: Curly Bear, Googel, Lulu, Elizabeth, Super Grover's Mommy, Marion, Diva D'Abruzzo, Kate Pierson caricature, Madlenka, Mrs. Turow, Mimsy, Miss Vicki, Sadie Schwartzbaum, "house of twigs" Pig in Episode 4145.

• The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss: Admiral Abigail Breeze, Annie DeLoo, Backup Singer, Bunny, The Cheese, Civil Servant #4, Daisy, Dolores Nooly, Elise, Eskimo Kid, Fiona Phish, Goofy Gargaloof, Green-Tufted Sneel, Happy Announcer, Heather Tidbiddle, Iguana From Xanadu, Jane Kangaroo, Lady from "Up With Folks", Little Cat B, Lulu, Ma Blozzit, Mandy, Max, Megan Mullally, Mom Jalloo, Morton's Yellow Friend, Mrs. Dorfman, Nola Nicola Raphaella Miraldo, Poodle That Doodles, Sally Spingel Spungel Sporn, Sarah Hall-Small, Space Creature, Sue Snue, Tallullah, The Travel Poohbah

• The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland: Grizzy, Pesties

• Elmo's Magic Cookbook: Jean the Genie

• Bert and Ernie's Word Play: Flo

• Kids' Favorite Country Songs: Monica the Harmonica, Mousey

• MasterCard commercial

• Carnival: Puppeteer

Cameos

• see Miscellaneous Cameos

Sources

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