Who We Are
At Humor with a Heart we lead with laughter and love producing live and recorded media, interactive experiences and creative curriculum for both adults and children that entertains, educates, & inspires.
A word from our Co-Founders...
Welcome to Humor With a Heart Productions!
Laughing late into the night as Ginger Sprite and Francesca the Frog on The Disney Channel’s “Johnny and the Sprites” we formed an instant kinship. We’ve been creative collaborators ever since, producing entertaining and insightful shows, videos, podcasts, and more. We’re thrilled to combine our decades of experience in live theater, television, film, education, and community outreach to bring you Humor with a Heart Productions — a creative resource for people of all ages. At HWAH we help you create meaningful connections, champion self-expression, & lead with laughter & love.
We know the essential role the arts play in finding your voice and we’re dedicated to shining a light even in the darkest of places. As survivors of childhood trauma, we both had to discover ways to navigate life creatively, developing uplifting, entertaining, and interactive methods to deepen connections and heal through the arts. Whether you’re a child or an adult, a professional or a novice, Humor With a Heart has something special just for you.
We’re glad you’re here! Let’s create something fun and inspiring together!
XOXO,
Leslie Carrara-Rudolph
and Jamie Donmoyer
Leslie Carrara-Rudolph
Six-time Emmy nominee Leslie Carrara-Rudolph is a multi-faceted entertainer, puppeteer, visual and voice-over artist, writer and producer who grew up creating characters. She is best known for performing Abby Cadabby and Elmo’s dog Tango on Sesame Street.
A graduate of San Francisco State University where she designed her major, BA, Child Development Through The Arts, Leslie created and implemented programs for kids at risk before getting her start as a puppeteer on ABC's Muppets Tonight. She’s starred in a variety of shows on PBS, Nickelodeon, Apple TV, Netflix and in The Muppets and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Leslie designed and performed an original show for Disney, a, sold out NYC cabaret residency, and her off Broadway musical “Wake Up Your Weird,” which she developed at the Ojai Playwright’s Conference and the O’Neill Puppetry Conference, receiving grants from The Jim Henson Foundation and an UNIMA Citation of Excellence. She’s even collaborated with her Emmy-winning husband Paul Rudolph to create songs for Sesame Street.
Leslie continues to bridge the generation gap, touring with her signature character candy-loving, 5-year-old Lolly Lardpop to schools, conventions, fundraisers and even twice to Google as a keynote speaker in their Learning and Development Conference. She loves reaching the young and young at heart with her own style of weird whimsy.
My work throughout my career in both teaching and entertainment has been focused on “spreading joy through the arts,” helping people and communities navigate life creatively. Whether I’m performing for children or adults, in outreach programs or cabarets, I always try to shine a light on humanity with storytelling, music, art, and comedy. I’m excited to be starting a new adventure and introduce “Humor With A Heart Productions” co-created with my writing partner Jamie Donmoyer. I also spend a great deal of time collaborating to create music with my husband Paul Rudolph and playing with my dog Newhart.
Jamie Donmoyer
Jamie Donmoyer is a writer, producer, director and performer creating entertaining and educational content for over 25 years. She’s served in leadership roles for several non-profit organizations using creativity to raise awareness, writing and producing more than 80 live shows and videos, developing corresponding curriculum, and designing classes for both children and adults. Jamie’s work in Children's Media includes Disney’s Johnny and the Sprites, Sesame Street, The Chica Show, and Lolly Lardpop’s Radio Playdate podcast which was featured on NPR’s “Earbuds.” She’s also served as a Character Development Specialist for Royal Caribbean Cruises and as a Puppet Specialist for Walt Disney World.
Jamie’s written work has been featured in NYC and on stages across the country. She is the Associate Editor for “The Puppetry Journal,” and a guest contributor to the CPTSD Foundation’s blog having written more than 60 articles on mental health. To watch Jamie’s writing in action, watch The Reading League’s “Reading Buddies” Season 2 on PBS.