Sheryl Leach
Encyclopedia
Sheryl Lyna Stamps Leach (born December 31, 1952) from Dallas, Texas
, is one of the creators of the popular children's show Barney & Friends
. Kathy Parker is the other creator.
s, the character changed to a dinosaur. Leach then brought together a team who created a series of home videos called Barney and the Backyard Gang
. The videos were sold directly to the public. Later, in 1991, Connecticut Public Television
employee Larry Rifkin rented a Barney video for his daughter. He liked the concept, so he spoke with Leach and other creators about putting Barney on television. In October of that year, production began on the new TV show, titled Barney & Friends
, and in April 1992, it first aired on Public Broadcasting Service
.
Currently, Leach's company SL Productions LLC is developing a feature film of The Unicorn Sonata, based on the novel by Peter S. Beagle. Additionally, with her husband, Howard Rosenfeld, she has created and funded the Shei'rah Foundation, a not-for-profit organization using media to encourage understanding between differing cultures.
Leach, the daughter of Texas educators Billy and Mary (Whiteside) Stamps, was born in Henderson County, Texas
, and raised in Dallas. A graduate of Kimball High School
in Dallas, she holds a bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University
and a master's and honorary doctorate from Texas A&M University–Commerce
.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, is one of the creators of the popular children's show Barney & Friends
Barney & Friends
Barney and Friends, also referred to by HiT Entertainment as Barney the Friendly Dinosaur, is an independent children's television show produced in the United States, aimed at children from ages 1-8...
. Kathy Parker is the other creator.
Career
Leach, a former teacher, worked with Parker on the idea that would become the eventual TV show in 1987. Originally, the star was going to be a teddy bear, but since her toddler son had an interest in dinosaurDinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
s, the character changed to a dinosaur. Leach then brought together a team who created a series of home videos called Barney and the Backyard Gang
Barney and the Backyard Gang
Barney and the Backyard Gang is a direct-to-video series produced by The Lyons Group and was produced from October 13, 1988 to October 20, 1991. This series launched the stardom of the PBS television show Barney & Friends....
. The videos were sold directly to the public. Later, in 1991, Connecticut Public Television
Connecticut Public Television
Connecticut Public Television is the PBS member network for the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is owned by Connecticut Public Broadcasting, who also owns Connecticut Public Radio. Together, the television and radio stations make up the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network...
employee Larry Rifkin rented a Barney video for his daughter. He liked the concept, so he spoke with Leach and other creators about putting Barney on television. In October of that year, production began on the new TV show, titled Barney & Friends
Barney & Friends
Barney and Friends, also referred to by HiT Entertainment as Barney the Friendly Dinosaur, is an independent children's television show produced in the United States, aimed at children from ages 1-8...
, and in April 1992, it first aired on Public Broadcasting Service
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
.
Currently, Leach's company SL Productions LLC is developing a feature film of The Unicorn Sonata, based on the novel by Peter S. Beagle. Additionally, with her husband, Howard Rosenfeld, she has created and funded the Shei'rah Foundation, a not-for-profit organization using media to encourage understanding between differing cultures.
Leach, the daughter of Texas educators Billy and Mary (Whiteside) Stamps, was born in Henderson County, Texas
Henderson County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 73,277 people, 28,804 households, and 20,969 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There were 35,935 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile...
, and raised in Dallas. A graduate of Kimball High School
Justin F. Kimball High School
Justin F. Kimball High School is a public secondary school in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas . Justin F. Kimball High School enrolls students in grades 9-12 and is a part of the Dallas Independent School District...
in Dallas, she holds a bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
and a master's and honorary doctorate from Texas A&M University–Commerce
Texas A&M University–Commerce
Texas A&M University–Commerce is a state university located in Commerce, Texas and a member of the Texas A&M University System, the second largest university within the system behind Texas A&M University in College Station....
.