In the early 1970’s a scholarship took her to Carnegie Mellon University where she participated in the creation of the Broadway show hit Godspell. As a writer for the show, she took home 15 Emmys and recently received the 2022 Beacon Award from PBS.Ī first-generation mainland Puerto Rican, Sonia was raised in the South Bronx.

Manzano is best known for is performing the role of “Maria” on Sesame Street for 44 seasons, where her work affected the lives of millions of parents and children and garnered her two Emmy Award nominations in addition to the National academy of Arts and Science’s Lifetime Achievement Daytime Emmy in 2016.