HOW TO GO
What: Sesame Street Live "Elmo Makes Music"
Where: Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton
When: 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20; 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m. next Sunday, April 21
Tickets: $17.25 to $57.25; Sunny Seats Package includes a VIP seat and a pre-show photo opportunity with two characters from the show, bring your own camera.
More info: www.ticketcenterstage.com
ALSO IN THE AREA
What: Sesame Street Live "Elmo's Super Heroes"
Where: U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati
When: May 17-19
Tickets: $12 to $60, Sunny Seats feature front row seats and a pre-show meet-and-greet with two Sesame Street Live friends.
More info: www.ticketmaster.com
You don’t need instruments to make music — just ask Elmo and his friends.
Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird, Cookie Monster and the rest of their friends will share their love of music in Sesame Street Live “Elmo Makes Music” for four shows at the Victoria Theatre on April 20-21.
And the kids probably won’t be the only ones singing along during this Broadway style musical production with everything from “C is for Cookie” to “Rockin’ Robin” on tap.
“There’s a huge disco review in the show — that’s for the adults,” said Denise Pajak, who takes center stage when Bert lights up the dance floor. “There are also quite a few jokes only the adults will probably get, so it’s a lot of fun for the parents, too.”
In its 33rd touring season, Sesame Street Live has entertained more than 50 million children and their parents worldwide. Pajak, a Buffalo, N.Y. native, is in her seventh season with the company. The versatile performer, who has starred in two other Sesame Street Live shows, also climbs into the trashcan to play Oscar the Grouch but admits that Bert is her favorite.
“I think my personality is most similar to his,” she said. “He’s goofy, dorky and sarcastic. I love playing him, he’s my go-to character.”
Pajak and her fellow performers have almost as much fun as the excited young audience members.
“It’s a difficult job, so you have to love it or you wouldn’t do it,” she said. “And it’s great because you really have a huge impact on the kids.”
Timeless lessons and themes have helped Sesame Street’s appeal span generations. Patience, teamwork and acceptance are brought alive by familiar favorites like Grover and Big Bird as well as a new generation of characters like Zoe and Abby Cadabby.
“Parents will get to see their favorite characters and so will their kids,” Pajak said. “It really is something for the whole family.”
By the numbers
2.2: Ernie's sweater is knit from 2.2 pounds of cotton yarn — nearly one mile of yarn.
15: Zoe's tutu consists of 15 yards of fabric.
58: Performers range from 4-foot-10 (58 inches) to 6-foor-10 as the characters range in height from Elmo at 5-foot to Big Bird at 8-foot-2.
300: Each tour performs more than 300 shows a season.
4,000: Big Bird is made from 4,000 custom-dyed turkey feathers.
20,000: Each tour travels nearly 20,000 miles a season.
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