EXCLUSIVE: Halle Stanford, The Jim Henson Company‘s longtime President of Television, is relaunching her company, 7 Crow Stories, as she embarks on a new chapter in her career as an independent producer and writer. As part of this new venture, the Emmy winner has signed a first-look producing deal with The Jim Henson Company, where she has worked as a producer and executive for the past 30 years.
Under her 7 Crow Stories banner, Stanford will develop a variety of live-action and animated projects for The Jim Henson Company for preschool, family, and primetime audiences, continuing to prioritize entertaining, impactful, and imaginative content across a wide range of genres. Previously announced projects include the primetime fantasy series Goblins with Norman Reedus, the primetime animated series Lore Olympus, based on Webtoon’s digital comic series, and the older kids’ animated series Adrenaline Lemmings. Currently, Stanford is also attached to develop a future production of Fraggle Rock.
As an additional element of her new deal, Stanford will serve as creator, showrunner, and writer for multiple Jim Henson Company projects that she has personally created and written. Chief among these projects is the live-action puppet preschool series Jim Henson’s Wowsabout!, which is slated to begin shooting this summer. Co-created by Stanford and Dorien Davies, the show is a live-action puppet comedy for preschoolers that follows Roxy, a guitar-playing hedgehog, and Ronald, a tree-loving pig, as they embark on an adventure to discover the “Wows of the World.” Exploring awe, they’ll visit the California Redwoods, have a sleepover with the Declaration of Independence, tour art museums, and experience many more wonders. Davies and John Tartaglia (Fraggle Rock) will serve as Co-EPs and perform as the puppeteers for Roxy and Ronald.
Under her first-look deal, Stanford will continue working closely with The Jim Henson Company CEO, Lisa Henson, who oversees the Creative Affairs team, including Tara Billik (Vice President of Feature Films), Delaney Shiokari (Director of Primetime Development), Tim O’Brien (Production Executive), John Tartaglia (Creative Supervisor for Fraggle Rock), as well as a yet-to-be-hired Vice President of Kids’ Development. Brian Henson and Vince Raisa from Brian Henson Productions will also continue to develop a film and TV slate for the company.
Said Stanford, “I’ve had the incredible privilege to stand next to the Dark Crystal, party down in Fraggle Rock, and now, I’m beyond excited to produce my dream show, Jim Henson’s Wowsabout!, take flight with my company, 7 Crow Stories, and dedicate myself to creating series that inspire awe, action, and imagination. I’m deeply grateful for this new chapter with The Jim Henson Company as we continue to innovate family programming and collaborate with the very best dreamers in the world.”
In her own statement to Deadline, Lisa Henson said, “Over her decades of work with The Jim Henson Company, Halle has brought to bear the positive influence that television can have on generations of children and has also dedicated herself to developing her own powerful, inspiring, and joyous creative voice. Through her collaborative producing, thoughtful writing, and dynamic leadership, she has built a strong scaffolding for herself as a showrunner for a raft of productions that reflect her deep understanding and mastery of children’s television.”
Chris Lytton, The Jim Henson Company’s COO and President, added, “Having Halle Stanford apply her talent and experience now as a producer and showrunner broadens our capabilities and strengthens our slate overall, as she will provide concentrated firepower and focus to some of our highest-priority projects.”
Stanford recently executive produced Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, which earned 10 Emmy nominations for its second season, alongside nominations for a PGA Award, WGA Award, Environmental Media Award, and a GLAAD Media Award. Her other EP credits include Emmy winner The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Fraggle Rock: Rock On!, Slumberkins, Harriet the Spy, and PBS Kids series like Sid the Science Kid, Dinosaur Train, and Splash and Bubbles. She was also an EP on Julie’s Greenroom (Netflix), Pajanimals (Sprout), and Word Party (Netflix).
Stanford joined The Jim Henson Company in 1993, working on projects like Muppet Treasure Island, Muppets Tonight, Bear in the Big Blue House, and Farscape. She founded 7 Crow Stories, a company focused on children’s content and rebranding franchises, in 2000, and returned to Henson in 2003, creating over 500 hours of programming seen in 150+ countries and earning 100+ awards.
A 12-time Emmy nominee, Stanford has also been recognized with the Cynopsis Top Women in Media Award, the Corporate Visionary Award, and the Cynopsis Kids !magination Award. She is represented by The Gotham Group.
