Johnny and the Sprites is an American children's musical television show that aired every weekend on the "Playhouse Disney" block on Disney Channel. The show was created by, produced by, and starred John Tartaglia. The show's theme song was written by Stephen Schwartz. Each episode of the show features a musical number, many of which are written by various notable Broadway composers such as Gary Adler, Bobby Lopez, Laurence O'Keefe, Michael Patrick Walker, and others. The Sprites and all of the other creatures that inhabit Johnny's world were designed by Michael Schupbach. The set was designed by Laura Brock.
Five shorts (each lasting 5 minutes) were shown on October 9, 2005 and were continually shown on Disney Channel's programming that same day. Due to extremely positive audience reaction, the show became a half-hour series that debuted on January 13, 2007. The current episodes can also be viewed on the Disney Channel's official website. The show was then renewed for a second season of half-hour episodes, which were filmed in fall 2007 at Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, New York City (the same studio as Sesame Street). The second season debuted on January 19, 2008. The series finale aired on April 19, 2008.
The show follows Johnny T (Tartaglia), a songwriter who moves into a house given to him by his great-uncle. There, he discovers little magical creatures called "sprites," who introduce him to their fantasy world. In return, Johnny shows the sprites, named Ginger (Leslie Carrara-Rudolph), Basil (Tim Lagasse), Lily (Carmen Osbahr) and Root (Heather Asch) what it is to be human, teaching them lessons through song, dance, and entertainment.
In October 2007, Disney-MGM Studios presented a live version of the show as part of the Playhouse Disney in Concert shows.
In the Spanish dubbed version of the program, Johnny's voice is dubbed by the host of Playhouse Disney Latin America, Diego Topa.
Beginning on March 23, 2012, the show reran on the Disney Junior channel and was removed on September 3, 2013.
Full series Johnny and the Sprites features more elaborate sets, such as a reflecting pond and the Sprites' home in Grotto's Grove. Three new Sprites were added: Lily, a water Sprite played by Carmen Osbahr; Root, "a budding earth Sprite" played by Heather Asch; and Sage, the wisest of the Sprites, also played by Tartaglia. Natalie Venetia Belcon (who, along with fellow cast member John Tartaglia also had a role in Avenue Q) plays Gwen, a recurring character who, as a running gag, holds a different occupation in each episode. She always explains that "You never know what you can do, until you try something new." Johnny's older sister Tina (Sutton Foster) has also appeared. Each show consists of two 10-minute mini-episodes. Each episode also features the song "Heads Up!" by Gary Adler and Phoebe Kreutz, performed by Johnny, Lily, Root, Ginger, and Basil in between the two 10-minute episodes.
Characters Humans Johnny (performed by John Tartaglia) is a young composer who comes to live in his great-uncle's old house to work on his music. He is the star of the show. Gwen (performed by Natalie Venetia Belcon) is Johnny's neighbor and best friend. She is always "trying out something new" and often has a different job every time she visits. In Season 2, Gwen officially meets the Sprites. Miss Moldystew (performed by John Tartaglia) is Johnny's cranky neighbour. Only appears in the shorts.
Sprites
Ginger (performed and voiced by Leslie Carrara-Rudolph) is a pink Air Sprite with a spunky, sporty attitude. Basil (performed and voiced by Tim Lagasse) is a green Forest Sprite with red glasses. He is very smart and knows a great deal about Sprite history and gardening. Lily (performed and voiced by Carmen Osbahr) is a blue Water Sprite who is able to speak Spanish. She is very in touch with nature and loves to paint. Root (performed and voiced by Heather Asch) is a yellow and red Earth Sprite who can get plants to grow just by talking to them. He is the youngest, shyest, and smallest of the Sprites. Sage (performed and voiced by John Tartaglia) is the oldest and wisest Sprite of them all. When the younger Sprites need advice or lack knowledge on a subject, they often confer with him.
Other Seymour (performed and voiced by Jim Kroupa) is not a Sprite, but a Schmole (a purple, talking mole). He lives in (or rather 'under') Johnny's backyard and has quite an appetite. The Fuzzies are small, colorful creatures that live with the Sprites and enjoy hanging out with Johnny and they often do work for the Sprites.
Episodes
Shorts (2005) 1. Who's on First? - Ginger wants Johnny to play basketball with her, but Basil wants him to read his favorite book, Famous Shrubs from Then to Now. They debate whether what he wants to do with them until Johnny explains the importance of taking turns. "One Good Turn", Music and Lyrics by Michael Patrick Walker. (Originally aired October 9, 2005)
2. Laugh, Basil, Laugh - When Basil comes down with a cold, Johnny and Ginger discover that the best way to make a sick Sprite feel better is to make them laugh. Johnny sings a song about all the things to make someone laugh, but it doesn't work, but Basil laughs when Johnny does silly yoga poses. "Make Someone Laugh", Music and Lyrics by Gary Adler. (Originally aired October 9, 2005)
3. Leave a Little Lettuce - When Seymour the Schmole takes all of the lettuce in Johnny's garden, Ginger demonstrates the advantages of sharing. "Leave A Little Lettuce", Music and Lyrics by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich. (Originally aired October 9, 2005)
4. Yes You Can! - Basil has lost another flying contest to Ginger for the zillionth time, but Johnny helps him remember all the great things he can do. "The Things You Can Do", Music and Lyrics by Gary Adler. (Originally aired October 9, 2005)
5. Waiting for the Stars - Ginger and Basil are about to see the stars for the very first time, but they just can't wait. It takes all of Johnny's patience to convince them that sometimes, wonderful things are worth the wait. "Waiting For The Stars", Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. (Originally aired October 9, 2005)
Season 1 (2007)
1. Turbo-Car Johnny/Ginger's Antenna Dilemma- Johnny gets the Ultimate Turbo Car Racer video game and plays it for hours on end, ignoring the Sprites. After waking up from a nightmare where the Sprites left because they got bored of him playing the game, Johnny decides to go back outside and play with them. Then, after seeing her antennae in a picture, Ginger thinks they are too curly and starts to become self-conscious. (Originally aired January 13, 2007)
Music: "I Just Can't Get Enough", Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. "Muddle in the Puddle", Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollmann "There's Nobody Quite Like You", Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollmann
2. Root's Dadoots/The Rare Nospotalotacus-While Johnny struggles on a new song, Root gets the dadoots (the Sprite hiccups). The Sprites do their best to help them, but Johnny, however, finds a way to bring his song together by integrating Root's dadoots. Then, after Johnny and Root hear the call of the endangered nospotalotacus, the sprites realize they need to get it out of Johnny's garden and to Grotto's Grove right away. They discover that teamwork is the best solution. (Originally aired January 14, 2007)
Music: "What a Surprise!", Music and Lyrics by Gary Adler "Nospotalotacus", Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollmann
3. Johnny's Sister Tina/Spritesgiving!-Johnny's sister Tina (Sutton Foster) visits and he explains to the Sprites what a sister is. Later on, it's Spritesgiving and Basil is put in charge of the feast but when all the plants get the Forgetful Fungus, will they have to put the feast on hold? (Originally aired January 20, 2007)
Music: "It All Adds Up to My Sister", Music and Lyrics by Gary Adler "A Fungus Among Us", Music and Lyrics by Michael Patrick Walker
4. The Sprites and the What?!/Doctor Basil-Johnny is cooking dinner for Gwen, but then he loses his colander. Seymour finds it and the Sprites come up with many creative uses for it. However, dinner is delayed because Gwen is sick and it's raining. So Johnny invites the Sprites to dinner. Then, when Johnny gets a bad cold, Basil decides to take care of him. He tries out various remedies without success, but finally discovers something very important that he forgot to do: ask! (Originally aired January 27, 2007)
Music: "How it Works", Music and Lyrics by Gary Adler and Phoebe Kreutz "All You Have to Do Is Ask", Music and Lyrics by Billy Lopez and Bobby Lopez
5. Ginger Listens/Aloha Johnny-When Ginger temporarily loses her ability to speak because she has run out of words for the day, she begins to realize the importance of listening. Then, when Johnny gets a letter from his older sister Lina inviting him to spend a week in Hawaii, he makes immediate plans to visit, which causes the Sprites to think he's leaving forever. (Originally aired February 3, 2007)
Music: "Stop and Listen", Music and Lyrics by Ryan Cunningham and Joshua Salzman "Aloha", Music and Lyrics by Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler
6. Seymour's Guest/Root of Passage -Russel, a 'Schwombat' from Australia and Seymour's cousin, visits, but his nocturnal nature keeps Johnny and the Sprites up at night. They have to learn to get along despite their differences. Then, Root is old enough to walk through the portal all by himself. He chooses Johnny to be his friend at the end - will Root make it or be too scared? (Originally aired February 10, 2007)
Music: "Git Along Little Sprites" Music and Lyrics by Michael Patrick Walker "Through the Portal" Music and Lyrics by David Kirshenbaum
7. The Sprites Sleep Over/Seymour the Sleuth The Sprites have a sleepover at Johnny's house, but they can't sleep because things are so different back in The Grove where they normally sleep. Then, watermelons go missing from Johnny's garden and Seymour unravels the mystery with the help of Johnny and the Sprites. (Originally Aired February 17, 2007)
Music: "Feelin' 'Grove'-y", music and lyrics by Michael Patrick Walker "Seymour the Sleuth", Music and Lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe
8. Spring Tuning/Where's the Water, Lily? When the Sprites find out that the "Spring Tuners" can't come to the grove to "wake up the earth", they ask Johnny to substitute. Then When Johnny gets a new water fountain, water begins to disappear from the grove. Lily learns that there is a reason for everything. (Originally Aired March 17, 2007)
Music: "Time to Wake Up", Music and Lyrics by Gary Adler "Reason and Rhyme", Music and Lyrics by Michael Patrick Walker
9. Ginger and the Shell/Fuzzies' Day Off Ginger finds Lily's missing shell but struggles with whether to keep it for herself or give it back to her friend. Then when the Fuzzies throw a giant beach party for their 15th Millennial Day Off, Johnny and the Sprites struggle to take care of Grotto's Grove without the Fuzzies' help. (Originally Aired April 20, 2007)
Music: "The Hardest Thing to Do", Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul "Fuzzies' Frug", Music and Lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker
10. Basil's Band/The Sprites' Rules Basil discovers something about making promises - and keeping them - when he joins a band and forgets about all of his friends. Features a vocal cameo appearance by the cast of the Off-Broadway hit Altar Boyz. The Sprites decide to make rules to keep the Grove running smoothly. (Originally Aired May 19, 2007)
Music: "That's What Friends Do", Music and Lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker "Rules are Made for a Reason", Music and lyrics by Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler