Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music

Jim Waters was brought in as an art director to work on the very first Sesame Street Live production. Now, as producer, he puts together the creative team.
“We include a writer from the Sesame Street television program,” he says during a phone interview from New York. “In addition to that, we always work with educational research and development people. That’s so we can tie the live show back to the TV show whenever possible.”
1-2-3 Imagine! With Elmo & Friends at Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie, will have “all the classic characters.” That includes an entire scene devoted to the popular TV-show segment “Elmo’s World,” which is usually filled with music, just like the stage show.
“There are over 20 songs. What we really try to do with music is a combination of Sesame Street classics from the TV show,” Waters says. “We always try to use audience-participation songs in a medley. We do some parody of current songs” that parents would enjoy, he adds.
And while there’s something for everyone, kids won’t get shorted.
“One thing we’ve found is music really is the driving force,” Waters says. We have ‘Imagination Rap’ that has kids counting. The kids are really engaged during the show.”
In the spirit of Sesame Workshop, which exists to educate, here’s some information to help you learn a little about the show.
Never Too Young: Waters says the show is targeted to children ages 2 to 5. But neither adults nor infants will be bored, he insists, since the show includes interactivity, dancing and lots of music. The dancers are all professionals, and the music and script are professional, too.
“The show is really written on multiple levels,” Waters says. “Some of the humor is pure dialogue, and some of it’s really slapstick humor. There’s enough stimulation.”
Puppets and Songs You Know: Characters included in 1-2-3 Imagine! With Elmo & Friends are Bert and Ernie, Abby Cadabby, Oscar, Grover, Baby Bear, Rosita, Cookie Monster, Count von Count, Big Bird, Roxy Marie, Zoe, Grundgetta and Honker. A new character named Samantha will be introduced with this show.
Of course, Elmo will be there, too. (Here’s hoping attendees get to sing along to “Elmo’s Song.”) And familiar songs will let everyone get in on the action. “If You’re Happy and You Know It” and “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain” show up in the second act.
It Takes A Village -- Some stats:
- According to Waters, most of the touring shows include about 40 people. That number includes the cast, technicians and concessions.
- Three understudies go along with each touring show. They sometimes have to learn as many as five different roles each.
- Sesame Street Live is in its 30th tour season.
- This year’s three touring shows — 1-2-3 Imagine! With Elmo & Friends, Elmo’s Green Thumb and When Elmo Grows Up — go to about 50 cities each. Waters says each tour stays out about three years.
- The shows have been to more than 30 countries beyond the States.
- Sesame Street has 123 Emmy Awards, a record.
Can Your Dancer Join the Cast?: You can thrill your little ones by telling them their dreams of being onstage with Elmo might come true — if they audition when they grow up.
“We audition across the United States,” says Waters. “Twice a year, we do New York for larger auditions. When the shows are out on the road, we have auditions in a lot of the places.”

-- Dawn Burkes