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a woman in a white shirt with heart-shaped polka dots holds a pink puppet with a blue dress talking to a young girl wearing a beige t-shirt; a man in a navy windblazer with the University of Illinois orange block-I logo sits in front of double green doors on an urban stoop next to a pink puppet wearing a teal dress
Leslie Carrara-Rudolph by Bebeto Matthews/AP • Paul Rudolph courtesy himself

The 21st Show

Copy of Abby Cadabby’s puppeteer is married to a guy from Normal, Illinois. Here’s how they got to Sesame Street.

He's a Normal, Illinois native who went to U. of I. and ended up writing music for Sesame Street.

She's the puppeteer behind Abby Cadabby — and she just won an Emmy for it.

They also happen to be married.

Composer Paul Rudolph and puppeteer Leslie Carrara-Rudolph joined The 21st Show to talk about what makes Abby special, how to write music for Muppets, making instruments from found objects, and how puppetry can reach children who've been through tough times.

Illinois Arts Council Agency

These programs are partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.