SFSU degree carved out path to puppetry for ‘Sesame Street’ star
Alumna reflects on how her degree led to her Emmy-winning role as Abby Cadabby Twenty years ago, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph (B.A., ’87) auditioned for the role of the newest character on “Sesame Street,” Abby Cadabby, a pink, wish-granting fairy with dragonfly wings and a big, open heart. The moment Carrara-Rudolph tried on the puppet, she says, she felt a magnetic pull, as if she were destined to play Abby. She landed the role — and three Emmys — and, two decades later, has become one of the show’s most beloved characters. But the road to “Sesame Street” was long and winding. There were stops at “Muppets Tonight,” Disney, “Beach Blanket Babylon” and her own theatrical productions. But her real origin story began at San Francisco State University. As a child, Carrara-Rudolph struggled in school, particularly with reading. She always knew she wanted to work with children but wasn’t quite sure in what capacity. Teaching in a school setting was out of the question because of her learning differences, she says. “It would take me a year to finish reading a book I assigned,” she said. At the recommendation of an SFSU counselor, she cobbled together her own special major based on her interests. Her major, Child Development Through the Arts, combined courses in Psychology, Child and Adolescent Development, Parks and Recreation, Art, Theatre and Dance. At the time, she wrote her mother an uncannily prescient letter explaining her decision and the path she hoped to pursue. “I foresee myself working in the community through the recreation departments and entertaining children on an individual basis — clowning. I love kids and I love performing,” she wrote. “Need I explain more? I hope to encourage kids to develop themselves in a creative way and bring a sparkle into their hearts.” Leslie Carrara-Rudolph stars in "Beach Blanket Babylon," one the longest running music revues that closed in 2019 after 45 years.
