[MUSIC PLAYING]
SONIA MANZANO: Hola, I'm Sonia Manzano from Sesame Street.
And we are here in New York City for the first time ever
open casting call for a new role on Sesame Street.
The producers have decided to add another Hispanic character
to join me, and Luis, and Elmo, and the Cookie Monster,
and all the rest of the Sesame Street gang on our continuing
educational adventure.
Sesame Street has a long tradition of representing a
diverse neighborhood.
EVERYONE: [SINGING]La la la la la la la la la la amigo.
A la la la la la la la la I like you.
A la la la la la la la la you're friendly.
A la la la la la la.
SONIA MANZANO: Hello, everybody.
CROWD: Hi.
SONIA MANZANO: What's your name?
ROCIO SANCHEZ: Rocio Sanchez.
SONIA MANZANO: And where are you from?
ROSIO SANCHEZ: Mexico.
SONIA MANZANO: [SPEAKING SPANISH]
I
RAUL: Raul
FRANCIS: Francis
CALI VIVERA: Cali Vivera
SONIA MANZANO: Where are you from?
YOUNG WOMAN: I'm from San Francisco.
I'm
FRANCIS: Puerto Rican.
I'm from the Bronx.
RAUL: I am from Silver Spring, Maryland.
CALI VIVERA: Originally from Puerto Rico.
YOUNG WOMAN: I'm from Long Island.
YOUNG WOMAN: I'm from New Jersey.
YOUNG WOMAN: New Jersey.
YOUNG WOMAN: Philly.
SONIA MANZANO: Can you believe it?
Those people have been lined up since last night.
It is so exciting.
I have no idea how this is going to turn out.
This is Carol-Lynn Parente, executive producer of Sesame
Street and my boss.
Carol-Lynn, why are you casting a new Hispanic cast
member on Sesame Street?
CAROL-LYNN PARENTE: We know that the Hispanic population
in the US is growing.
And as you well know, Sesame Street's always modeled that
diversity from the very beginning.
SONIA MANZANO: Actors quien en hablar en espanol.
Now if you didn't understand what I said, you'll
never get the part.
Because this person has to speak Spanish fluently.
YOUNG MAN: [SPEAKING SPANISH]
SONIA MANZANO: Rocio, [SPEAKING SPANISH]
ROCIO GASLARZA: [SPEAKING SPANISH]
SONIA MANZANO: How's it going?
ROCIO GASLARZA: [SPEAKING SPANISH]
SONIA MANZANO: Well, she says things are going really great,
and a lot of the actors' Spanish is fantastic.
ROCIO SANCHEZ: [SINGING IN SPANISH]
SONIA MANZANO: This is the singing part.
But you know, it isn't too hard.
After all, they let me sing.
[CHUCKLES]
YOUNG WOMAN: [SINGING IN SPANISH]
YOUNG MAN: [SINGING IN SPANISH]
SONIA MANZANO: Now this actor is doing what's
called a cold reading.
RAUL: [READING IN SPANISH]
YOUNG MAN: Are you having trouble getting the ball to go
through the hoop, Elmo?
YOUNG MAN: Are you having trouble getting the
ball into the hoop?
ROCIO SANCHEZ: I think I know what's missing.
YOUNG WOMAN: Whoa, that was an amazing shot.
ROCIO SANCHEZ: [SINGING IN SPANISH]
SONIA MANZANO: Come here.
Stop and talk to me for a second.
How did it go?
ROCIO SANCHEZ: It went really well, I think.
I feel really good, very happy, very proud of myself
that I did this.
SONIA MANZANO: You should be very proud of yourself,
because I couldn't do this in a million years.
ROCIO SANCHEZ: I don't see it as a competition.
I see it as a--
for all of us to have a chance to express ourselves, and to
let our light shine.
YOUNG WOMAN: [SINGING IN SPANISH]
YOUNG MAN: I think I know what's missing.
AUDITIONER (OFFSCREEN): What?
YOUNG MAN: I'll show you.
But first--
YOUNG MAN: [SINGING IN SPANISH]
YOUNG MAN: I think that having an example for kids that are
Latino, for kids that are immigrants, for kids that are
Spanish speakers, that aren't native English speakers is
really important.
Because you're really like, you know what, I belong.
SONIA MANZANO: Please give me the part.
Please.
No, I'm just kidding.
How's it going?
PAT MCCORKLE: It's going great.
It is really, really exciting.
It was great talent out there.
And it's so good to do it this way.
YOUNG WOMAN: Second, you keep you eye on the loop.
YOUNG WOMAN: You did it all by yourself, Elmo.
YOUNG WOMAN: [SINGING IN SPANISH]
SONIA MANZANO: Well, that's if.
What do you think?
Did we find someone?
Do you have a favorite?
Join us next time when we do the callbacks and a couple of
talented actors will have to salsa their way down to the
finish line and become the new cast member of Sesame Street.
Adios.