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Sesame Street Live Debuts 'Super' New Show

Sesame Street Live Debuts 'Super' New Show

Live debuts ‘Super' new show : Corpus Christi Caller Times Page 1 of 4

Sesame Street Live debuts ‘Super' new show

By Damen Clow

Friday, February 18, 2011

CORPUS CHRISTI — He has been honored with a menu item (at New York's Stage Deli), a roller coaster (Vapor Trail at in ) and a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon.

He has appeared on Martha Stewart Living, helped Sarah Jessica Parker find "Big" (Bird), and helped a flightless Annette Bening get around Sesame Street.

But now Super has lost his superness, which means somewhere on Sesame Street, bus stop signs are going unnoticed, computers are staying unplugged, and children remain afraid of haircuts — all problems usually handled by the red-caped crusader in the knight's helmet who is "smarter than a speeding bullet."

Enter the Fabulous Five — , Telly , , Zoe and her pet rock Rocco — who save the day and will teach Corpus Christi children valuable lessons when ": Elmo's Healthy Heroes" makes its 27th trip to Corpus Christi on Tuesday and Wednesday for five shows at the American Bank Center Selena Auditorium.

Each production features an original storyline with educational building blocks as well as emotional and behavioral teaching moments.

Created in response to the 's "Healthy Habits for Life" Campaign, "Elmo's Healthy Heroes" is the newest storyline in the 31-year tour. It stresses eating healthy, using good hygiene, getting enough sleep, and exercising, all lessons the Fabulous Five learns through teamwork and friendship.

"It's a really good message for the kids," said Mackenzie, the 23-year-old actress who plays Kay, the show's only human (non-Muppet) character. "The show gets them up, gets them involved. The whole thing is a big learning experience. The energy and feel that we bring to the show makes the kids interested, and that makes them pay attention to the lesson."

Born into an acting family, Mackenzie did her first show at age 2 in St. Louis, switched to dance before resuming acting again at 9, and attended Missouri State University in Springfield, where she participated in musicals such as "A My Name is Alice" and the B -movie spoof, "Zombie Prom."

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Now she travels with the Sesame Street live troupe, singing songs like "ABC Hip Hop" and "Believe in Yourself," as well as a version of "Holding Out for a Hero" — a song older fans may recall from its 1984 debut in "Footloose" and younger fans will recognize from Fairy Godmother's performance in "Shrek 2."

Mackenzie and another actress alternate between the roles of the human Kay and the beloved Muppet .

"They've both got really awesome qualities," Mackenzie said. "Kay's kind of like the Sesame Street guidance counselor. She guides , giving them the hints and clues they need. Ernie's a childhood icon. You walk on stage, and it's like a kiddie rock concert, with everyone shouting 'Ernie!' "

With that, Mackenzie lets loose an Ernie-esque snicker, something she said occasionally happens in everyday situations.

"I enjoy Ernie a lot. He was my favorite when I was itty-bitty," she said. "He's just a jokester. He likes to mess around and give a hard time, because Bert's a little uptight. It's kind of surreal, that I get to be him and be that icon.

"It's fun to help them through their issues. These are all characters I grew up with, minus a few of them. It's like, I watched you on TV and now I'm helping you solve this problem."

The 90-minute musical production (which includes a 15-minute intermission) features a dynamic soundtrack, choreography, lights and special effects. Fans who buy "Sunny Seat" tickets get to meet the show's characters.

"You'll get the parents that say this is so amazing, I'm so excited to bring my children, I loved Sesame Street as a kid, you were my favorite," Mackenzie said. "Unfortunately, Ernie doesn't get to do a lot of meet and greets because everyone wants to see Abby and Elmo and Grover."

In or out of costume, Mackenzie said that her performances as Kay and Ernie have led to bonding with the giant Muppets.

"It's just like interacting with a person, except you can't make real eye contact," she said. "It took time to get used to but it's definitely much easier now. After doing it for five months, I think of them as real people when I'm on stage. They're like my friends."

IF YOU GO

What: Sesame Street Live

Where: American Bank Center Selena Auditorium, 1901 N. Shoreline Blvd.

When: 4 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; 10:30 a.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday

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Cost: All levels (except Sunny Seats) $10 for Tuesday 4 p.m. show; prices range from $11.50 to $46.50 remaining shows

TEST YOUR 'STREET' CRED

1. What is the name of Elmo’s pet fish?

2. Which character’s favorite food is Birdseed Milkshakes?

3. Bert’s pet Bernice is what kind of ?

4. In Israel, Moishe Oofnick is the trash-loving nephew of what character?

5. What musical instrument does Ernie play?

6. Bert has one, Elmo none, Ernie has two. What are they?

7. In the first season of Sesame Street, what color was ? (Hint: It’s Zoe’s favorite)

8. Who is the only Muppet to testify before Congress?

9. All of the Sesame Street Muppets have four fingers except _____, who has five.

10. Who was the first celebrity to appear on Sesame Street? (Hint: Use the Force.)

Answers

1. Dorothy (true Elmophiles might remember his first goldfish, Giggles, on ). 2. . 3. pigeon. 4. Oscar the Grouch. 5. saxophone. 6. eyebrows. 7. orange (a vacation in Swamp Mushy Muddy resort covered him with the green moss he wears to this day). 8. Elmo (in 2002, supporting increased funding in music education). 9. Monster. 10. (1970, before he became the voice of ).

'STREET' VALUE

2: Length, in miles, of audio-visual cable used in each Sesame Street Live show.

15: Size of Ernie’s shoe.

28: Number of people on tour, including cast and crew.

99: Percent of preschoolers who recognize .

131: Number of Emmys Sesame Street has won, most by any program in television history.

2,900: Strands of tubular horse in Abby Cadabby’s hair.

4,000: Number of custom-dyed feathers hand sewn into Big Bird’s costume.

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4,156: Length, in feet, of the amount of yarn used to sew Ernie’s sweater.

20,000: Number of miles traveled by Sesame Street Live tour each season.

6’0 ½” Height of Chris Ellis, the show’s tallest performer.

8’2” Height of Chris Ellis as Big Bird, the tallest character.

5’0” Height of Prairie Dawn, the shortest character, performed by Tammy Carrasco.

© 2011 Scripps Newspaper Group — Online

http://www.caller.com/news/2011/feb/18/sesame-street-live-debuts-145super-new-show/?p... 2/19/2011

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