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John Tartaglia

Birth Place: Maple Shade, New Jersey, USA

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BIO

John is executive producer and star of Disney Channel's "Johnny and the Sprites" (now airing worldwide). Tartaglia earned a Tony Award® nomination for his performance in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Avenue Q, for which he originated the roles of Princeton and Rod. Tartaglia was most recently seen on Broadway starring as Lumiere in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. A 10-year veteran of "Sesame Street," Tartaglia is one of the youngest puppeteers ever to perform on the show, starting at the age of 16. In addition to his work on "Sesame Street," he also starred in Sesame Workshop's innovative English as a Foreign Language project, "Sesame English," which currently airs worldwide. Tartaglia has also appeared on Disney Channel's "Bear in the Big Blue House" and "JoJo's Circus" and Discovery Channel's "Animal Jam." He is a past host of the New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[St. Louis, MO (Regional)]
The Muny Revival, 2017
Hysterium

[US Tour]
US National Tour, 2012
Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2008
Pinocchio

[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 2005
Performer

[Las Vegas]
Las Vegas Production, 2005
Princeton, Rod

[Broadway]
Actors' Fund Concert, 2004
Performer, Other Roles

[Off-Broadway]
New York Concert, 2003
Seth/Shem

[New York]
Reading, 2003
Jerry

[Broadway]
Broadway Transfer, 2003
Princeton, Rod

[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 2003
Rod, Princeton, Princeton/Rod

[Off-Broadway]
Encores! Concert, 2002
Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1994
Lumiere [Replacement]

[New York]
Reading, 2000
Performer

Productions

 
[Off-Broadway, 2026]
Writer
Director
Choreographer
 
[St. Louis, MO (Regional), 2018]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2010]
Producer

Writing

Bookwriter
Creator

Movies

Silent But Deadly
[ 2012 ] Dale
Shrek the Musical
[ 2013 ] Pinocchio, Magic Mirror, Dragon Puppeteer
Elmo's World: Elmo Wonders
[ 2016 ] Firetruck

TV Shows

Word Party
Kip
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock
[ 2022-2024 ] Multiple Characters

Awards and Nominations


winner
Theatre World Awards - 2004 - Performance

John Tartagalia, Avenue Q

Tony Awards - 2004 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

John Tartaglia, Avenue Q

Videos

News

Video: Nik Walker Performs 'Who I'd Be' from SHREK THE MUSICAL at The Muny
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 18, 2026

The Muny has released rehearsal video featuring Nik Walker performing 'Who I'd Be' from Shrek The Musical. The production, directed by John Tartaglia, begins performances June 25 and features a cast led by Walker, Kara Lindsay, Marcus M. Martin, and Troy Iwata.
SHREK: THE MUSICAL At The Muny Announces Full Cast
by Marissa Faith Curley - Jun 14, 2026

The Muny has announced the full cast for its production of Shrek The Musical, which storms the James S. McDonnell Stage for eight nights this summer. Shrek The Musical, the family favorite based on the Oscar-winning 2001 DreamWorks Animation.
JIM HENSON’S FRAGGLE ROCK: BACK TO THE ROCK LIVE is Coming to the Aronoff Center
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 1, 2026

Jim Henson’s musical, fun-loving Fraggles are dancing their cares away across North America and coming to Cincinnati in Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE. The show will play the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall.
JIM HENSON'S FRAGGLE ROCK: BACK TO THE ROCK LIVE to Play Columbus Palace Theatre
by Stephi Wild - May 29, 2026

The first-ever live touring production of JIM HENSON'S FRAGGLE ROCK: BACK TO THE ROCK LIVE is set to play Columbus' Palace Theatre, presented by CAPA, featuring puppetry by Jim Henson's Creature Shop and direction by John Tartaglia.
Interview: Chatting with John Tartaglia the Director of SHREK THE MUSICAL at The Muny
by James Lindhorst - May 14, 2026

John Tartaglia promises that this new production will be refreshed and unlike any other production of Shrek that audiences may have seen before. He told Broadway World, “I’ve learned a lot directing nine other shows at The Muny. The theater has grown, and the technology and capabilities have changed. It is a much different theater than it was when I directed Shrek the first time.”
FRAGGLE ROCK: BACK TO THE ROCK LIVE Will Make NYC Debut at New Victory Theater
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 30, 2026

The New Victory Theater will present FRAGGLE ROCK: BACK TO THE ROCK LIVE, the first-ever live musical Fraggle Rock touring show, written, directed, and choreographed by John Tartaglia. Tickets start at $30.
Nik Walker, Kara Lindsay, and More Will Lead SHREK THE MUSICAL at the Muny
by Stephi Wild - Apr 23, 2026

The Muny announced the lead cast for its upcoming production of SHREK THE MUSICAL, with Nik Walker, Kara Lindsay, and Marcus M. Martin heading the company at Forest Park in St. Louis.
Photos: John Targalia, June Squibb, & More at 2026 Children’s & Family Emmys
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 3, 2026

The Fourth Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards was held on Monday evening in New York, hosted by Broadway alum John Tartaglia. Notable attendees included Ana Gasteyer, Amber Riley, June Squibb, and more. Check out photos from the event here.
John Lithgow, Ana Gasteyer & More Win Children’s & Family Emmys - Full List
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 3, 2026

John Lithgow, Joe Locke, Ana Gasteyer, Andrew Garfield, and more were honored with Emmys at the Fourth Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, held Monday evening at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York. 
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld February 27, 2026- Megan Thee Stallion to Join MOULIN ROUGE! and More
by - Feb 27, 2026

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is February 27, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
John Tartaglia to Host 2026 Children’s & Family Emmy Awards with Special AVENUE Q Reunion
by Josh Sharpe - Feb 26, 2026

An Avenue Q reunion will take place next week at the 2026 Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in New York City. Host John Tartaglia will be joined onstage by fellow Avenue Q Broadway cast members Stephanie d’Abruzzo and Jennifer Barnhart to present an award at the ceremony.
John Patrick Hayden, Will Roland and More to Lead Bucks County Playhouse's New Masterclass Series
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 19, 2026

Bucks County Playhouse will present a new masterclass series for 2026 with a lineup of adult education classes at Lambertville Hall in Lambertville, NJ, open to all ages and levels of experience.
John Tartaglia, Karla Puno Garcia and More Set for The Muny Season 108 Productions
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 30, 2026

The Muny has selected the seven teams of directors, choreographers, music directors and lead designers whose creative visions will shape the Tony Award-winning theatre’s 2026 season in Forest Park.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld December 3, 2025- Grosses Hit $48,363,979 and More
by - Dec 3, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is December 3, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Video: Watch the First Trailer for THE FIRST SNOW OF FRAGGLE ROCK
by Josh Sharpe - Dec 1, 2025

Apple TV has shared the trailer for the all-new holiday special “The First Snow of Fraggle Rock.' The special features a cameo appearance by musical artist and internet sensation Lele Pons, who performs a duet with Gobo, also featuring two other holiday numbers. Check out the trailer now.
Video: John Tartaglia Talks FRAGGLE ROCK Holiday Special and Fraggle Broadway Dreams
by Josh Sharpe - Dec 2, 2025

BroadwayWorld caught up with Tony-nominated puppeteer and performer John Tartaglia to discuss his new special, The First Snow of Fraggle Rock. Watch the full conversation, where Tartaglia talks about why it was time to send Gobo to Outer Space and whether the Fraggles could come to Broadway in the future.
Video: First Look At ELF THE MUSICAL At Bucks County Playhouse
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 26, 2025

Bucks County Playhouse has released video highlights of its new staging of ELF: THE MUSICAL from November 21 through January 4 in New Hope. Based on the film, the musical follows Buddy the Elf as he travels from the North Pole to New York City, discovering his identity while attempting to bring holiday spirit to the city.
Broadway Streaming Guide: Holidays 2025 - Where to Watch A VERY JONES CHRISTMAS MOVE & More
by Josh Sharpe - Nov 29, 2025

From the new Jonas Brothers Christmas special to musical classics like White Christmas, take a look here to find out which holiday streaming titles will bring a Broadway fan some extra joy this year.
Adam Gwon Will Offer Master Class Through Theatre Now
by Stephi Wild - Nov 10, 2025

Award-winning musical theatre writer Adam Gwon will offer a Master Class next week as part of Theatre Now New York's Industry Nights. Learn more here!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has John Tartaglia been in?

John Tartaglia has appeared on Broadway in 4 shows.

How many West End shows has John Tartaglia been in?

John Tartaglia has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has John Tartaglia been nominated for?

Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Avenue Q and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Avenue Q.

What awards has John Tartaglia won?

John Tartaglia has won a Theatre World Award for his performance in Avenue Q.

How many shows has John Tartaglia written?

John Tartaglia has written 1 shows including Imaginocean (Bookwriter).

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