Sesame Street Presents: A Christmas Carol

Sesame Street's A Christmas Carol is a Sesame Street Christmas special which aired on PBS on November 25, 2020. As the title implies, it is an adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, with the story's characters portrayed by the Muppets of Sesame Street, led by Oscar the Grouch as Ebenezer Scrooge, and Elmo as Tiny Tim. As such, it is portrayed in a nature darker than most Sesame Street productions, containing some scenes too scary for children under 7, and multiple references to death (as in the original book).

The puppet used for Oscar as Scrooge in this special was built by The Jim Henson Company's L.A. Creature Shop, based on the design of the current Oscar puppet. The puppet is built with a lighter shade of green fur than the regular puppet, a magenta tongue, a darker brown brow, and has radio-controlled eyes (operated by two extra puppeteers). Eric Jacobson (who performed the Grouch's head, mouth, voice and left hand) was assisted in performing Oscar on-set by Jim Henson Company puppeteers Colleen Smith (performing his right hand), Dorien Davies, Grant Baciocco (operating his eye controls), Rachel Herrick and Russ Walko (controlling his legs in scenes where his full body is shown).

Moishe Oofnik as Marley's Ghost was also an elaborate puppet. John Kennedy served as Oofnik's main puppeteer, performing his head, mouth (lip-syncing to a vocal track by Gilles Ben-David) and left hand, assisted by ventriloquist Darci Lynne (his right hand), puppeteers BJ Guyer, Greg Ballora (his mechanised eyes), and David Quesal (his legs).

Cast
Oscar the Grouch (Eric Jacobson) as Ebenezer Scrooge

Elmo (Ryan Dillon) as Tiny Tim

Elmo's Dad (voiced by Bill Barretta) as Bob Cratchit

Grover (Eric Jacobson) as Nephew Fred/Christmas Party Waiter

Moishe Oofnik (voiced by Gilles Ben-David) as Jacob Marley

Grundgetta (Pam Arciero) as Belle

Abby Cadabby (Leslie Carrara-Rudolph) as the Ghost of Christmas Past

Count Von Count (Matt Vogel) as the Ghost of Christmas Present

Trevor Monster (voiced by Mark Hamill) as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come/Narrator

Ernie (Peter Linz) as Mr. Fezziwig

Elmo's Mom (Stephanie D'Abruzzo) as Mrs. Cratchit

Baby Bear (David Rudman) as Peter Cratchit

Betty Lou (Pam Arciero) as Martha Cratchit

Zoe (Jennifer Barnhart) as Belinda Cratchit

Rosita (Carmen Osbahr) as Mrs. Dilber

Big Bird (voiced by Matt Vogel) as Scrooge's Schoolmaster

Julia (Stacey Gordon) as Fan

Prairie Dawn (Stephanie D'Abruzzo) as Mrs. Fezziwig

Bert (Eric Jacobson) as Dick Wilkins

Slimey (puppeteered by Martin P. Robinson, voiced by Dick Maitland) as Little Boy

Mr. Snuffleupagus (Martin P. Robinson) as Old Joe

Rudy (Frankie Cordero) as Topper

Cookie Monster (David Rudman) as Charity Collector #1

Gonger (Warrick Brownlow-Pike) as Charity Collector #2

Herry Monster (Peter Linz) as Gentleman #1

Telly Monster (Martin P. Robinson) as Gentleman #2

Murray Monster (Matt Vogel) as Gentleman #3

Baby Natasha (Ryan Dillon) as Caroline

Ingrid (John Tartaglia) as Caroline's Mom

Humphrey (David Rudman) as Caroline's Dad

Benny Rabbit (Peter Linz) as Man Carrying Turkey

Little Bird (Stephanie D'Abruzzo) as Parrot

Ovejita (Carmen Osbahr) as Undertaker

Mr. Johnson (Matt Vogel) as Party Customer

Two-Headed Monster (Eric Jacobson and David Rudman) as Carriage Driver

Lefty the Salesman (Ryan Dillon) as Himself

Barkley (Bruce Connelly) as Stray Dog

Additional Performers: Brad Abrell, Rachel Appelbaum, Anthony Asbury, Heather Asch, Steve Axtell, Grant Baciocco (Oscar Assistant Puppeteer), Greg Ballora (Oofnik Assistant Puppeteer), David Barclay, Billy Barkhurst, Jake Bazel, Tau Bennett, Carol Binion, Ronald Binion, Cheryl Blaylock, Rickey Boyd, Lindsey Z. Briggs, Lisa Buckley, Julianne Buescher, Tyler Bunch (Elmo's Dad Puppeteer), Austin Michael Costello, Melissa Creighton, Alice Dinnean, Jamie Donmoyer, Vicki Kenderes Eibner, Galen Fott, Mark Gale, James Godwin, Louise Gold, BJ Guyer, Elizabeth Hara, Christopher Thomas Hayes, Andy Hayward, Patrick Holmes, Haley Jenkins, John Kennedy (Oofnik Lead Puppeteer), Kathleen Kim, Joe Kovacs, Jim Kroupa, Tim Lagasse, Bruce Lanoil, Michael Latini, Michael Lisa, Weston Chandler Long, Spencer Lott, Rick Lyon, Lara MacLean, Noel MacNeal (Big Bird Puppeteer), Amanda Maddock, Olga Felgemacher Marin, Jim Martin, Drew Massey, Ed May, Paul McGinnis, Tracie Mick, Andrew Moriarty, Alison Mork, Kathryn Mullen, Jason Murphy, Anney Fresh Ozar, Annie Peterle, Marc Petrosino, Karen Prell (Trevor Puppeteer), Mike Quinn, Joey Rudman, Michael Schupbach, Colleen Smith (Oscar Assistant Puppeteer), David Stephens, Andy Stone, Gabriel Velez, James Wojtal, Eric Wright, Victor Yerrid, Bryant Young (Snuffy Assistant Puppeteer)

The Baker (Voice) by Jim Henson

The Mad Painter (Voice) by Paul Benedict

Crew
Executive Producer: Benjamin Lehmann

Produced by Ken Scarborough

Screenplay by Christine Ferraro

Based on the book by Charles Dickens

Directed by Jack Jameson

Music by Hans Zimmer

"Keep Christmas with You (All Through the Year)" and "I Hate Christmas": music by Sam Pottle, lyrics by David Axlerod

Puppet Captain: Matt Vogel

Puppet Design Consultant: Ed Christie

Puppets, Costumes & Props by The Jim Henson Company NY Creature Shop: Paul Andrejco, Heather Asch, Carol Binion, Ronald Binion, David Bizarro, Erin Slattery Black, Cheryl Blaylock, Mary Brehmer, Matthew Brennan, Matt Brooks, Michael Bush, Brian Carson, Ceili Clemens, Frankie Cordero, Melissa Creighton, Carole D'Agostino, Andrea Detwiler, Isabelle Dufour, Ben Durocher, Richard Dyar, Victoria Ellis, Henri Ewaskio, Alex "Jurgen" Ferguson, Rob Gardner, Joel Gennari, Vanessa Gifford Gillis, James Godwin, Muriel Stockdale Grabe, Brian Haimes, Tyler Hall, Elizabeth Hara, Paul Hartis, Deb Hertzberg, Michelle Hickey, Joshua Holden, Ann Marie Holdgruen, J. Douglas James, Jean Marie Keevins, Joe Kovacs, Rollie Krewson, Jim Kroupa, Sarah Lafferty, Tim Lagasse, Kari Love, Peter MacKennan, Lara MacLean, Amanda Maddock, Laura Manns, Cathy McCullough, Tom McLaughlin, Casey Miller, Thomas O. Newby, John Orberg, Anney Fresh Ozar, Constance Peterson, Jane Pien, Lily Rosen, Stephen Rotondaro, Kate Rusek, Sierra Schoening, Michael Schupbach, Jessica Simon, Polly Smith, Keely Snook, David Valentine, Jason Weber, Stacey Weingarten, Matt Withiam, James Wojtal

Production (Jim Henson): Gabriella Degennaro, Jonathan Ehrich, Carolyn Fanelli, Joseph Roddy, Jason Seck

Oscar/Scrooge Puppets & Costumes by The Jim Henson Company LA Creature Shop