With Pershing Audience 3Y Cyndey Wilson

Friday, January 29, 1982 Page 10 Daily Nebraskan Arts & Entertair;'-tien- t :' ft f: K : i- J Sesame Street Live hit 14 t - . V. " 4 , Mr V - with Pershing audience 3y Cyndey Wilson Who is blue and furry and eats only one kind of food? What kind of green character lives in a trash can, loves to be grouchy, and wants to be surrounded by trash? Can you name a canary that is eight feet tall and is loved by children all over the world? Why, of course it's the Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, and Big Bird, who have been residing at 123 Sesame Street since 1969. This week the characters are making a special appearance at Lincoln's Pershing Auditorium in the production, Sesame Street Live. Sesame Street was the brainchild of Joan Ganz Cooncy , who was asked by the Carnegie Corporation and Channel 13 to explore how the television media could by used to teach preschoolers, especially those in the inner city. This report led fo the creation of the Child- ren's Television Workshop with Cooncy its president which produces Sesame Street. Sesame Street is broadcast to over 50 countries. Jim Mcnson, creator of The Muppets, is part of the success story behind "Sesame Street," Each of the Muppets have become important characters in the hearts of small children. In 1974, the Muppets won an Emmy for their Sesame Street work. Today Sesame Street, has been expanded beyond characters to include magazines, books, records, games, toys, puzzles, the development of The Muppct Show, movies featuring the Muppets, and the production now showing in Lincoln. Wednesday night 19 characters - ranging from people to a cow, a horse, a bird, and finally "nice" monsters - danced, sang and enchanted the children in the audience. Most of the children were 2 to 6 years of age. Several parents said their children had been an- ticipating the show restlessly all week. The show began about 15 minutes late to seat the audience but it held the fascination of all little ones in attendance. The adults seemed to enjoy it as well. Several of the jokes were aimed at the older mem- 0 bers of the audience. It was hard to believe that characters with so few facial features could have so much personality and characterization. Big Bird theme The theme of the show was Big Bird's Super Spectacular Totally Amateur Show where each character contributed by singing and dancing. One number - "Fur," featuring' the Loveable Monsters tap dancing and singing in a tribute to Fred Astaire showed a deal great of some Sesame Street razzle dazzle. A very special number was one vith Prairie Dawn and Ernie, sitting in a lonely park at night. The stage of the entire production was fabulous In addition to the stage a run-wa- y allowed the characters to move closer to the audience Grover and Big Bird stole the show at times. They and Cookie Monster were obvious Grover was one of the ; favorites, better dancers in the production with his roller skating antics. J mi The show was built on audience participation. As the characters appreared, they asked kids how they were and sang songs which involved nearly everyone in the audience For the finale, the characters sang "Sing," an old Carpenter's song. All of the children in the audience seemed to know the song, as it's apparently a regular on Sesame Street. One boy when asked in a to act like a song monster, shook his hands around and attempted to bite into the hand railing beside his seat. Educational show The in to show, addition being entertaining, was educational. The Count, as always, demonstrated his counting skill along with the help of the audience. CookieMonster and Ernie sang a song about the importance of a good breakfast, and Bert and his friends If x showed how many words can be developed from just one word. Part the was of entertainment watching the kids in the audience. All around little girls or boys with smiles on their faces held Sesame Street characters on sticks - items sold in the stands concession - waving their hands at the characters. They sang and did every- thing right along with the characters, eating it all up. Big Bird and his friends were obvious- idols in their is a show that ly eyes. It appeals to many ages, but it would be more enter- - 5 to take a little one to share in the fun. ft- k taining along J i V A I Sesame Street Live I plays Friday evening at 7:30 pjn., Saturday at noon and 4 p.m. J i and Sunday at 1 pjn. and 4 p.m. Tickets are available. v M ' ' S V Photos by D. Eric Kircher Top, Cookie Monster has his friends show what he ate for breakfast - cookies. Bot- - torn, Big Bird talks to Oscar the Grouch..

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