Leslie Carrara-Rudolph is a multi-faceted entertainer, puppeteer, voice-over artist, writer and creator. She is best known for performing Abby Cadabby on “Sesame Street,” for which she has received five Emmy nominations for Best Performer in a Children’s Series. She was recently nominated for an Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting for her character Bubbles on the Jim Henson Company’s “Splash and Bubbles.” She is taking a break from children’s theatre to perform cabaret!
1. NiteLife Exchange (NLE) – Is your career in cabaret something you’d like to extend as a longer-term commitment?
Leslie Carrara-Rudolph (LCR) – Yes, definitely. I am so grateful to the Laurie Beechman Theatre for asking me to play in their world. I love being able to sing — in my own voice — and take the audience on a weird and whimsical joy ride with stories, music and share some unexpected guests. It’s like a party for me, a “Carol Burnett Show” fantasy I am living out — only on the outside of my head and with real people in the room, not just my dog Newhart sitting on the couch wondering, “What just happened?”.
2. NLE – What’s your main motivator now – what’s driving you?
LCR – What’s driving me to do the adult cabaret? The first thing is that I promised my pop that I would sing more. My family has always been supportive of my overactive imagination and the fact that I jump in and out of characters. But my pop especially just wanted me to wear a dress, sing and try not to make any faces. So I am doing this for my pop and all of the other family and friends I have who are watching from above. I know that sounds a bit mushy, but the question was “What drives me?”. It’s the joy I feel inside knowing I am following my heart and how grateful I am to still be on earth doing the things I love and spreading joy. I learned early how precious life is every moment. That’s why I say “yes” to any opportunity to play with the world and entertain the young and “young at heart.” The second thing that drives me is that I LOVE LOVE LOVE theatre and how live performance makes everyone in the room an instant community. No devices, unplugged, just pure laughter, tears and breath in the moment. One of my characters, Granny Dot, says: “We’ll always have this moment.” I think that is a driving force, knowing I get to make a moment that I hope leaves a lasting memory/smile on the hearts of those who were “in the room where it happened.” (LOL I am so obsessed with Hamilton — and so is Lolly, one of my unexpected guests.)
3. NLE – What’s your recipe for staying positive and focused?
LCR – I remain grateful and I don’t allow any ego to mess with my intention to spread joy. It’s not about me; it’s through me. I am sharing a collection of stories and ideas I think people will enjoy and will lift them up in unexpected ways. It’s like a kid show for adults. My friend said the show is sort of like Mary Poppins meets Monty Python and that is truly it. So I stay focused on the goal of hoping people leave the show having felt so many things they say to themselves, “What just happened?” I do have another trick: I have little things I do during the show that make me giggle and force me not to take myself so seriously.
4. NLE – Based on your Bachelor’s degree in Child Development through the Arts and your many different skills and talents, what do you see your most positive influence of children’s growth and perceptions through your art?
LCR – Thank you for asking me this. I designed my major because I have been through and have witnessed how the arts can change people’s lives in a way that helps them overcome challenges and also shines a light on their truth. My life is dedicated to championing individuality through the arts. I have written several shows that are geared to helping kids navigate life creatively and help them to love themselves and become warriors for the underdog.
Shows- Wake Up Your Weird, Leslie and Lolly Make Stuff Up, The Oz in You, “Lolly’s Radio Playdate.” Everything I write, draw, puppeteer or even twist out of pipe cleaners has been a “show beats tell” approach to life. The arts are how we collaborate with our spirits and that is all I want to do. I want to let everyone know that they have incredible creative gifts and help them use their powers for good. I do outreach, volunteer in my community, go to schools and every day try and walk my talk. If you reach just one person that is enough of an influence for me.
5. NLE – If someone narrated your life, who would you want to be the narrator? Why?
LCR – Wow, that is the hardest question. It would have to be my mama, the most loving person in the world, or my friend Weno or Lili or my husband Paul Rudolph. They really know me. They are a witness to my history and have seen me at my worst and my best, but if I had to pick a fancy person, it would be Chita Rivera. I consider her my fairy godmother and she understands what it means to be a gypsy. She knows me, my truth and my heart. Chita is most likely my spirit animal if it’s not my dog, Newhart.
6. NLE – What are your personal and career goals into the future?
LCR – I am working on some kids’ books/comic books I would like to get out there. I am hoping to get some of the songs I’ve written made into videos this year. Lolly Lardpop, my sidekick, has been on me about that. She is envious of all the time I get to spend with Abby Cadabby on “Sesame Street” (which I love and want to keep doing). By the way, I highly recommend Lolly’s Milano cookie video. The big goal is to have a tricked-out whimsical art truck that so I can literally drive the arts into neighborhoods, outreach centers, schools and communities. To someday have “Lolly’s Radio Playdate,” currently a podcast on iTunes, get to the next step and be like “Prairie Home Companion” on the radio/webcast. We would do a live show with our band, The Red Hot Lemonheads, and highlight special guests. Also, I know it sounds cliché, but maybe one day get to be on a Broadway stage even it’s for a “moment”.
Leslie says:
“One of the best things about getting to do this cabaret is working with incredibly talented Michael Hicks. He elevated the performance not only with his talent, but, as a human, he keeps me focused on the love and joy of it all. Abby Judd, who lights and does sound for the show, is a total force of brilliance. This is all under what keeps you positive. Kenny Bell and Michael Kirk Lane and the whole team at the Beechman are pure joy, and it’s their support and energy that adds to the evening. The best part of this cabaret experience is getting to know these amazing people who are my flight attendants when we take off for the joy ride.”
Leslie Carrara-Rudolph returns to The Laurie Beechman on January 28 and February 27 at 7 PM.
For tickets, click here.
The Laurie Beechman
407 West 42nd Street
Downstairs at the West Bank Café
New York, NY 10036
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