Manzano said the character of Maria has paralleled her life-her pregnancy was written into the show, and her daughter played Maria’s daughter, for example-so she thinks of Sesame Street as the “first reality show.” But as a writer on the show, she had a little more control over Maria’s reality than she did over her own.īut how did she get, did she get to Sesame Street in the first place? Little about her early life in the Bronx-growing up poor in a household torn by alcoholism and violence-would indicate a career in the arts, much less as part of one of the most beloved cultural institutions, where she won 15 Emmy awards for writing. Sighs of nostalgic recognition and bursts of laughter accompanied the three-minute video, followed by sadness when she announced she was retiring from the show. On Monday afternoon, Sonia Manzano delighted the crowd with a reel of highlights from her 44 years on Sesame Street-the marriage of Maria and Luis working with Oscar the Grouch, Grover, Big Bird, and Elmo having a baby plus lots of dancing, singing, and lessons. Sonia Manzano during her Auditorium Speaker Series presentation.