Elmo and Sesame Street Friends to Rock Freedom Hall

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.—There’s something about Elmo.
Sesame Street’s loveable, 3-year-old critter resounds with millions of children and probably adults as well. Just check the phenomenal sales of a steady stream of Elmo toy dolls in recent years.
Or take a child to see “Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music.” Scheduled to step out of television and onto the stage at Freedom Hall in Johnson City, Tenn. on Jan. 13-14, the show stars Elmo in a music revue that features about 20 songs.
“He’s red, he’s furry, he’s cute,” said Jennifer Rose, director of publicity for Minneapolis, Minn.-based Vee Corporation, which stages “Sesame Street Live.” “For the kids, it’s like seeing Elvis on stage.”
Elmo will have lots of company. Kids will see such characters as Grover and Ernie perform amid an avalanche of lights and music. For example, Big Bird sings “Rockin’ Robin,” Oscar the Grouch will grumble through “I Love Trash” and Bert will don a white suit for the disco classic “The Hustle.”
“You can’t help but smile when seeing Bert and Ernie and Big Bird,” said Clara Rusch, director of production for “Sesame Street Live.” “It’s a pretty cool show.”
Yet per the objective of “Sesame Street,” the kids will also learn, Rose said. The show’s message evolves as Jenny, a new music teacher on “Sesame Street,” is introduced. She misplaces her music instruments, which prompts the show’s characters to figure out other ways to make music.
So, the Cookie Monster employs his cookie jar on “C is for Cookie,” and so on.
“The overall lesson is teamwork,” Rose said. “It teaches them to work together to help others. They put together instruments from everyday objects.”
Adults can appreciate the imparting of such lessons upon their children. As anyone who’s seen the long-running PBS television show knows, lessons emerge from entertainment.
“The show stays true to ‘Sesame Street’s’ core belief of presenting learning to kids,” Rose said. “Kids don’t even realize they’re learning, but they are.”
Now in its third year of touring, “Elmo Makes Music” did not simply leap to life on the stage. About a year of pre-production work, which included casting, scriptwriting and revisions, led to the makings of the show.
“There were months of meetings where we rehearsed the story and songs,” Rusch said. “Everybody sits around the table asking, ‘How can we make something that kids are going to love?’ ”
Sounds simple, but that’s a much larger task and responsibility than one may imagine.
The show gears to kids ages from about 2 to 6. Chances are that most of the kids in attendance will be seeing their first live theatrical or concert performance. Also, given their ages and the gravity of the moment, the show may well prove to be their earliest memory.
“It’s a jumping off point for them,” Rusch said. “I think it’s huge. We are hoping to help introduce the arts to them in an easy way. You don’t have to be on your best behavior. We want them to be themselves.”
In other words, it’s OK to laugh, clap and exercise curiosity, to be happy to the nth degree – kind of like Elmo.
“We don’t expect them to stay in their seats,” Rose said. “The kids yell and scream, and they’ll sing and dance in the aisles.”

IF YOU GO
What: “Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music”
When: Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m.; and Jan. 14 at 10:30 a.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Where: Freedom Hall, 1320 Pactolas Road, Johnson City, Tenn.
Admission: $12.50-$24.50
Info: (423) 461-4884
Web: http://www.sesamestreetlive.com

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at .