Natasha Lance Rogoff, author of "Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia" will join us on Zoom to discuss her book. 

If you know anything about Rabbi Daniel Fellman, you know he loves the Muppets. Visit him in his office when the hour strikes (technically four minutes after the hour) and you'll hear their theme song play on his Muppet clock. He has been looking forward all year to welcoming author Natasha Lance Rogoff to Temple Sinai (via Zoom) to talk with her about her book "Muppets in Moscow." Don't miss this opportunity to hear about her fascinating stories of East meets West Muppet Style.

Join us even if you haven't read the book!

Register below for the Zoom link. 

ABOUT THE BOOK
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the timing appeared perfect to bring Sesame Street to millions of children living in the former Soviet Union. With the Muppets envisioned as ideal ambassadors of Western values, no one anticipated just how challenging and dangerous this would prove to be.

"In Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia," Natasha Lance Rogoff brings this gripping tale to life. Amidst bombings, assassinations, and a military takeover of the production office, Lance Rogoff and the talented Moscow team of artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers, and puppeteers remained determined to bring laughter, learning, and a new way of seeing the world to children in Russia, Ukraine and across the former Soviet empire. With a sharp wit and compassion for her colleagues, Lance Rogoff observes how cultural clashes colored nearly every aspect of the production—from the show’s educational framework to writing comedy to the new Russian Muppets themselves—despite the team’s common goal.

Brimming with insight and nuance, "Muppets in Moscow" skillfully explores the post-Soviet societal tensions that continue to thwart the Russian people’s efforts to create a better future for their country. More than just a story of a children’s show, this book provides a valuable perspective of Russia’s people, their culture, and their complicated relationship with the West that remains relevant even today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Natasha Lance Rogoff is an award-winning filmmaker, journalist, television producer, and author of "Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia." She wrote extensively about Russian underground culture and led the production of Sesame Street in Russia and Mexico. Rogoff is an Associate in the Art, Film, and Visual Studies Department at Harvard University and is passionate about media creating bridges for cross-cultural understanding. "Muppets in Moscow" was nominated for the prestigious Pushkin Book Prize (2023) and won first prize for 'Best First Book' and 'Best Audio Book' from The Independent Publishers Association and the Independent Book Awards.