2 minute read
Alma’s Way
Starting Monday, Oct. 4 at 8:30 AM
Inspired by her childhood growing up in the Bronx and her decades of experience playing “Maria” on Sesame Street —15-time Emmy Award winner Sonia Manzano has created Alma’s Way, a vibrant new animated series that gives children the power to find answers to their problems, express their feelings and respect the unique perspectives of others.
Alma Rivera, a proud and confident Bronx-born, Puerto Rican girl inspired by Manzano, is determined to figure things out for herself. In every episode, the 6-year-old reaches a point where she’s not sure what to do next and must stop, think and process in her signature “Think Throughs.”
Manzano’s biggest hope as she introduces Alma and her community to the next generation is “that they see themselves in our society in a way that, as a child, I never could.”
“If you don’t see yourself reflected in society, you start to think you don’t exist.
That’s what I used to think, but I couldn’t articulate it. I used to wonder why I never saw anybody who looked like me or lived in a place like me.”
Manzano says it’s important to her for Alma’s Way to “be funny with sincere characters” — something she took away from her 44 years on Sesame Street.
Sonia Manzano
Alma’s Way Creator
Eddie Mambo, who is Alma’s “primo-amigo” (cousin-friend), is inspired by her real-life cousin Eddie. In the show, Eddie Mambo has cerebral palsy, so he wears braces on his legs and uses crutches to walk long distances. He’s also known for his incredible dance moves, much like Manzano’s childhood friend who had polio and loved to dance.
Alma’s Way features traditional Puerto Rican music styles like Plena, Bomba and salsa, along with other Latino genres such as Cuban son and Colombian cumbia.
The original theme song was written and produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Bill Sherman.
“I met Lin-Manuel Miranda on Sesame Street. He had been on our show a few times, and he seemed like the perfect one to set up the show in two minutes,” Manzano said. “Bill Sherman did the music and did a lot of work with ‘In the Heights’ as well. He did a great job blending styles and coming up with a cohesive mix of music.”
Manzano said she hopes Alma’s “Think-Through” moments — where she stops, listens and processes in the face of a tough decision — encourage kids everywhere to embrace their ability to think things out.
“I’m suggesting that kids practice thinking for themselves. Without these tools, they won’t be able to navigate our ever-changing world,” Manzano said.
