Johnny and the Sprites

Johnny and the Sprites is an American musical television show aimed for preschoolers that aired every weekend on the "Playhouse Disney" block on Disney Channel. The show was created by, produced by, and starred John Tartaglia (most famous for his work on Avenue Q). The show's theme song was written by Stephen Schwartz. Each episode of the show features a musical number, many of which are written by various notable Broadway composers such as Gary Adler, Bobby Lopez, Laurence O'Keefe, Michael Patrick Walker, and others. The Sprites and all of the other creatures that inhabit Johnny's world were designed by Michael Schupbach. The set was designed by Laura Brock. In 2011, the theme song was re-written and sung By Relient K for Disney Junior - Live on Stage! The series premiered on October 9, 2005 with five 5-minute-long shorts, which continually played on Disney Channel's programming. However, due to extremely positive audience reaction, the show was renewed for half-hour shows in 2007. The current episodes can also be viewed on the Disney Channel's official website. The show was then renewed for a second season of half-hour episodes, which were filmed in fall 2007 at Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, New York City. The second season premiered on January 19, 2008. The show follows Johnny T (Tartaglia), a songwriter who moves into a house given to him by his great-uncle. There, he discovers little magical creatures (brought to life through puppetry) called "sprites," who introduce him to their fantasy world. In return, Johnny shows the sprites, named Ginger (Leslie Carrara-Rudolph), Basil (Tim Lagasse), Lily (Carmen Osbahr) and Root (Heather Asch) what it is to be human, teaching them (and the viewer) an important lesson through song, dance, and entertainment. In October 2007, Disney-MGM Studios presented a live version of the show as part of the Playhouse Disney in Concert shows. In the Spanish dubbed version of the program, Johnny's voice is dubbed by the host of Playhouse Disney Latin America, Diego Topa. Beginning on March 23, 2012, the show reran on the Disney Junior channel and was removed sometime later.