Teatrimundo
Encyclopedia
Teatrimundo was a children's television series
broadcast by WKAQ-TV
in Puerto Rico
in the late 1980s, in the form of edutainment
. It was loosely inspired by The Muppet Show
. Translated in English to "Small Theater World", the Spanish title is a portmanteau of teatro (theater) and Telemundo
(at the time, WKAQ-TV's cognomen
).
, there was an empty space in children's programming at the station.
David Murphy, the president of Telemundo Puerto Rico in 1987, created a fusion between Sandra Zaiter
, who had been producing and hosting her own children's show, broadcast by Rikavisión, & Lou Briel
and Dagmar
, who were hosts at Paquito Cordero
's El Show de las 12, in the musical comedy, En Broma y en Serio, broadcast then by Telemundo Puerto Rico.
Zaiter moved to Telemundo and produced, starred, and wrote alongside Briel, this new concept in children's serials
. The other members of the cast were Dagmar , as Dagmarita, a mischievous but sweet and sentimental girl, Leticia Rossy as Pollito Yito, a tall and inquisitive yellow chicken (loosely inspired by Big Bird
), who believed he was Zaiter's son, and Francisco Torres, puppeteering Plumorosa, a flamboyant diva goose in pursuit of stardom, and Don Pepe, the administrator of the theater. Sandra Zaiter portrayed herself as Titi Sandra, the owner of the theater, that was also her home, and Lou Briel portrayed Lubrielito, an innocent kid whose puppy love was Dagmarita, although she only considered him as her pal.
The show aired every Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 A.M. Zaiter and Briel sought to create a new concept that could be enjoyed by young and old alike. The series sky rocketed to the 7th and 8th places in the ratings for a while. Never before, in the history of Puerto Rican television, a children's show had achieved this, competing hand to hand with prime time shows.
It was divided in various segments portrayed as a sit com, based on well written scripts, with an intrinsic message and the essence of a good ending. It was written selectively by Zaiter, Rossy, and Briel. The story alternated with cartoons that were called Teatrilladas.
Zaiter also wrote the theme song of the series, in the rap genre
. The latter was acknowledged as the first rap song ever composed in Puerto Rico for a children's show.
One of the highlights was that each show featured a guest star. After the show became popular with audiences, many major celebrities were eager to perform in Teatrimundo. Lissette
, Nydia Caro
, Lunna
, Fernando Allende
, Valeria Lynch
, Ednita Nazario
, Wilkins
, Menudo
(when Ricky Martin
was a member as a kid), Luis Raúl
, Raymond Arrieta
, Willy Chirino
, and Carmita Jiménez
were some of the diverse roster of guest stars that were included in the series.
The program aired locally on Telemundo, until 1991.
Later, Zaiter produced a different and cultural children's show called Telecómicas, also broadcast by WKAQ for several years.
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
broadcast by WKAQ-TV
WKAQ-TV
WKAQ-TV is a full-power television station located in San Juan, Puerto Rico transmitting over digital 2.1. The station is owned and operated by NBCUniversal and is branded simply as Telemundo....
in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
in the late 1980s, in the form of edutainment
Edutainment
Edutainment is a form of entertainment designed to educate as well as to amuse.-Overview:...
. It was loosely inspired by The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
. Translated in English to "Small Theater World", the Spanish title is a portmanteau of teatro (theater) and Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
(at the time, WKAQ-TV's cognomen
Cognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
).
Overview
For several years, after the legendary Tío Nobel had retired, and moved to Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, there was an empty space in children's programming at the station.
David Murphy, the president of Telemundo Puerto Rico in 1987, created a fusion between Sandra Zaiter
Sandra Zaiter
Sandra Zaiter is an actress, television children's show host, singer, composer and former athlete in Puerto Rico.Zaiter was born in the Dominican Republic, of Lebanese Maronite Christian ancestry. Early in her life she participated in church groups, and established her residence in Puerto Rico...
, who had been producing and hosting her own children's show, broadcast by Rikavisión, & Lou Briel
Lou Briel
Lou Briel, is a Puerto Rican singer, composer, comedian, producer, pianist, and host, among other things.-Early Years with Anexo 3:...
and Dagmar
Dagmar (Puerto Rico entertainer)
Dagmar , is a Puerto Rican television host, comedian and singer.-Early years:Dagmar Rivera was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Dorado, Puerto Rico. She started her career as a teenage singer in 1976. The only hit single of her first album was Soy la Mañana , by Puerto Rican composer Rafi...
, who were hosts at Paquito Cordero
Paquito Cordero
Paquito Cordero , was a comedian and television producer and also one of the pioneers of Puerto Rican television.-Early years:...
's El Show de las 12, in the musical comedy, En Broma y en Serio, broadcast then by Telemundo Puerto Rico.
Zaiter moved to Telemundo and produced, starred, and wrote alongside Briel, this new concept in children's serials
Serial (radio and television)
Serials are series of television programs and radio programs that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode by episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from...
. The other members of the cast were Dagmar , as Dagmarita, a mischievous but sweet and sentimental girl, Leticia Rossy as Pollito Yito, a tall and inquisitive yellow chicken (loosely inspired by Big Bird
Big Bird
Big Bird is a protagonist of the children's television show Sesame Street. Big Bird, like many of the other Sesame Street characters, is a Muppet character. He is sometimes referred to simply as "Bird" by his friends....
), who believed he was Zaiter's son, and Francisco Torres, puppeteering Plumorosa, a flamboyant diva goose in pursuit of stardom, and Don Pepe, the administrator of the theater. Sandra Zaiter portrayed herself as Titi Sandra, the owner of the theater, that was also her home, and Lou Briel portrayed Lubrielito, an innocent kid whose puppy love was Dagmarita, although she only considered him as her pal.
The show aired every Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 A.M. Zaiter and Briel sought to create a new concept that could be enjoyed by young and old alike. The series sky rocketed to the 7th and 8th places in the ratings for a while. Never before, in the history of Puerto Rican television, a children's show had achieved this, competing hand to hand with prime time shows.
It was divided in various segments portrayed as a sit com, based on well written scripts, with an intrinsic message and the essence of a good ending. It was written selectively by Zaiter, Rossy, and Briel. The story alternated with cartoons that were called Teatrilladas.
Zaiter also wrote the theme song of the series, in the rap genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
. The latter was acknowledged as the first rap song ever composed in Puerto Rico for a children's show.
One of the highlights was that each show featured a guest star. After the show became popular with audiences, many major celebrities were eager to perform in Teatrimundo. Lissette
Lissette
Lissette Álvarez is a singer, songwriter and record producer from Peru. She is best known for recording a Spanish language version of Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in 1985.-Early life:...
, Nydia Caro
Nydia Caro
Nydia Caro is an American & Puerto Rican actress and singer. Born in New York City to parents from Rincón, Puerto Rico, she initiated her career in the arts at a very young age while living in New York...
, Lunna
Lunna
Lunna , is a singer of Pop and Jazz who was the director of the television show Objetivo Fama, the Latin version of American Idol.-Early years:...
, Fernando Allende
Fernando Allende
Fernando Allende is a Mexican singer, actor, painter, film producer, and film director. Allende began singing in 1959, at the age of seven.-Private life:...
, Valeria Lynch
Valeria Lynch
-Biography:Valeria Lynch was born on January 7, 1952 in the neighborhood of Villa Urquiza, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Is the first child of the marriage of Maria Antonia Spano and José Julio Lancellotti....
, Ednita Nazario
Ednita Nazario
Ednita Nazario is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter who has achieved stardom both at home and abroad. She has been in the music business from a young age, and has released over twenty albums throughout her career....
, Wilkins
Wilkins
Wilkins or Wilkin is a name variant of William.Wilkins may refer to:* The surname Wilkins* The surname Wilkin* Wilkins De La Rosa, a professional baseball player from the Dominican Republic...
, Menudo
Menudo (band)
Menudo was a Puerto Rican boy band that was formed in the 1970s by producer Edgardo Díaz, releasing their first album in 1977. The band achieved much success, especially during the 1980s, becoming the most popular Latin American teen musical group of the era....
(when Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin
Enrique "Ricky" Martín Morales , better known as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican and Spanish pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991.During his career he has sold more than 60 million album copies worldwide...
was a member as a kid), Luis Raúl
Luis Raúl
Luis Raúl Martínez is a Puerto Rican actor and comedian. He is known for his stand-up comedy shows and for his various characters...
, Raymond Arrieta
Raymond Arrieta
Raymond Arrieta is a Puerto Rican comedian.-Early years:Arrieta was born and raised in Puerto Rico's Capital, San Juan. He went to school in the "Academia Nuestra Señora de la Providencia" . When he was in the third grade, Arrieta volunteered to play the part of "Ramoneta Cienfuegos" in a school...
, Willy Chirino
Willy Chirino
Willy Chirino, born April 5, 1947 in Consolación del Sur, Pinar del Río, Cuba, is an entertainer and singer in the salsa style.-Early Family Life:...
, and Carmita Jiménez
Carmita Jiménez
Carmita Jiménez was a Puerto Rican singer who was considered a diva in Puerto Rico. She was born in San Lorenzo....
were some of the diverse roster of guest stars that were included in the series.
The program aired locally on Telemundo, until 1991.
Later, Zaiter produced a different and cultural children's show called Telecómicas, also broadcast by WKAQ for several years.