Sheira and Loli's Dittydoodle Works is an American half-hour weekly children's television series for preschoolers that aired in the mid-2000s. The series is produced by Rogar Studios, in association with WLIW in New York City.
Originating in a magical musical factory, rag dolltwinsisters Sheira and Loli are the hosts in the world they share with their friends: resident visual artist Miss Molly, Doodles the wise-cracking talking purplecrayon, eccentric but brilliant Professor named Professor Eeky Eeky Kronk, the troublemaking but good-natured yellow reptile-like creature named Zippy the Kwirk, and the childlike factory helpers, Professor Squeeky Squeeky Kronk (introduced in season 2) and two little furball characters known as the Funkins (Bluedles and Pink-a-Dink).
Celebrity guests for the first season include pianist/composer Marvin Hamlisch, who helps a discouraged Loli with her piano lessons in "Practice, Patience and Persistence" (episode #104), and R&B singer Chaka Khan as Mother Nature in "4 Leaf Clover" (episode #115).
Sheira and Loli's Dittydoodle Works features music written and performed by the real-life inspiration for the series' main characters, twins Sheira and Loli Brayer. The sisters' performances on Sheira and Loli's Ditties for Little Kiddies-Volume #1, and Dittydoodle Works Celebrates the Holidays garnered two iParenting Media Awards. The show was approved by Common Sense Media.
The characters' diverse personalities are designed to provide opportunities to teach positive emotional, social, and educational lessons as young viewers learn, along with the characters, about self-esteem, cooperation, relationships, fitness, and concepts about nature, the physical world, and literacy.
Background
The characters were introduced to public television audiences on WLIW as a series of music video shorts, bumpers, and segments in between children's programs, which were nominated for a New York Emmy and received a New York State Broadcasters Award in 2001. The creative team includes veterans of some of the most notable and award-winning productions to come out of Broadway, dance, film, and public and cable television. The team includes Mark Saltzman, a former writer at Sesame Street for nearly a decade; Alan Adelman, lighting designer of numerous television and stage productions, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Great Performances, Live from Lincoln Center, and more; and Dean Gordon of the popular PBS children's series Between the Lions. Joseph Baker, one of Broadway's most sought-after composers and arrangers, oversees the series' music with Sheira Brayer and her identical twin sister, Leora Brayer. Baker has worked on such Broadway hits as Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, and The Lion King.
Cast
Sheira: Julie Smith (Season 1) / Brittany Moore (Season 2)
Loli: Claudine O'Rourke (Season 1) / Elena Schloss (Season 2)
Professor Eeky Eeky Kronk: Steve Robbins
Miss Molly: Janeece Freeman
Bluedles: Brittany Moore (Season 1) / Whitney Crites (Season 2)
Puppeteers: Daniel Weissbrodt (Season 1, 2 + all online content)
Vocals: Sheira & Leora "Loli" Brayer
Episode guide
Season 1 (2005-2006)
Season 1
Episode Title
Air Date
1
Sheira’s Pen Pal
September 10, 2005
2
Feelings and Communication
September 17, 2005
3
Imagination
September 24, 2005
4
Practice, Patience and Persistence
October 1, 2005
5
Shrinky Shrinky Kronk
October 8, 2005
6
My Froggy The Prince
October 15, 2005
7
Make It Write
October 22, 2005
8
You Are What You Eat
November 5, 2005
9
Tis Better To Give
November 12, 2005
10
Pilfered Piggy
November 19, 2005
11
Moods
December 17, 2005
12
Sick of Being Sick
December 24, 2005
13
Better To Be Kind
December 31, 2005
14
Senses
January 7, 2006
15
4 Leaf Clover
January 14, 2006
16
Together or Alone?
January 21, 2006
17
Professor Pedro
February 4, 2006
18
Froggy My Love
February 11, 2006
19
Sportsmanship
March 11, 2006
20
Who Switched the Switcher?
February 25, 2006
21
Halfway Around the World to be with Friends
March 4, 2006
22
Be What You Want To Be
April 1, 2006
23
Peer Pressure
February 18, 2006
24
Have No Fear
April 15, 2006
25
Be My Own Kwirk
April 22, 2006
26
Memories
May 6, 2006
Season 2 (2007)
Season 2
Episode Title
Air Date
1
Meet Squeeky
May 6, 2007
2
Dear Diary
May 13, 2007
3
Not Now
May 20, 2007
4
No Lies
May 27, 2007
5
Sacrifice
June 3, 2007
6
Camping
June 10, 2007
7
Make Room for Zimbot
June 17, 2007
8
Procrastination
June 24, 2007
9
Sharing
July 1, 2007
10
Laughter Heels
July 8, 2007
11
Pay Attention
July 15, 2007
12
Where'd I Put It?
July 22, 2007
13
Betty Rose
July 29, 2007
14
Since You've Been Gone
August 5, 2007
Merchandise
Merchandise has been released for the show, including t-shirts, plush dolls of Sheira and Loli and The Funkins, tattoos, DVDs, CDs, paperback books and activity books. Prior to the series start, in late 2000, when the duo was first featured on WLIW, a VHS was released based on all music videos that were shown in between the children's programs.
All programs were distributed by PBS unless noted.
1 Aired on select public television stations via American Public Television (APT) or another program distributor.
2 Instructional program.
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