Have no fear. Everybody's favorite furry monsters are here.
For the first time in a decade, Sesame Street Live is returning to the Bryce Jordan Center in State College on March 13 and 14. This time, Elmo and his buddies are on a mission - to save Super Grover.
Sesame Street Live's musical production "Elmo's Super Heroes" features Abby Cadabby, Zoe, Telly and Elmo as the Super Heroes who try to get back Super Grover's "super-ness." Also joining in the fun are Big Bird, Ernie, The Count, Oscar, Prairie Dawn, Rosita and other Sesame Street favorites.
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Courtesy photo
(From left) Abby Cadabby, Elmo, Telly and Zoe star in the Sesame Street Live show “Elmo’s Super Heroes.”
When the Bryce Jordan Center opened 16 years ago, Sesame Street Live was the first children's show. The show was booked five times in the first seven years, but then other children's shows came to town.
"There were other children's shows that people wanted to see," said Bernie Punt, director of sales and marking for the Bryce Jordan Center.
Then, it was hard to get Sesame Street Live back on the schedule.
Fact Box
If you go
What: Sesame Street Live's "Elmo's Super Heroes"
When: 7 p.m. March 13 and 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. March 14
Where: Bryce Jordan Center, University Park
Tickets: $12, $16 and $20; VIP seating also available. Available at the Penn State Altoona campus or by calling 865-5555. For group sales of 10 or more, call 863-5502.
"We've been trying to get them back. We have a whole new generation of kids that have not seen a live production of Sesame Street Live. We're pretty excited about it," Punt said.
The 90-minute show (with 15-minute intermission) involves Elmo and his Super Heroes going on a quest to help Super Grover by exploring nutrition, sleep, energy and hygiene.
Super Grover loses his powers and the "Fabulous Five" help him regain his superpowers by exercising healthy habits like sleeping right, eating right and brushing their teeth.
"They find out how to eat healthy and how to exercise through song, dance and interaction," said Kelly Suter, publicist for VEE Corporation, the producer of Sesame Street Live.
Catering to 2- to 6 -year-olds, the show features a lot of audience interaction and catchy tunes. Some the children will recognize, while others are new to the show. Some characters come out into the audience to interact with the children.
The best part of the show is watching the kids' reactions when their favorite characters come onstage for the first time, Punt said.
"It's always a thrill. Even for those of us that have been here for years. The first time the characters come on stage, to hear the kids gasp. That never gets old," he said.
"It's a lot of fun for all ages," Suter said. Though the show caters to preschoolers, Suter said older kids, parents and grandparents love Sesame Street. "Everyone grew up with Sesame Street."
Like the 43-year-old television show, Sesame Street Live teaches kids while they're having fun.
"It's a fun, interactive way to learn how to eat healthy," Suter said. "It's different from Mom telling you to brush your teeth or eat your veggies. They're ready to be healthy like Super Grover. They don't want to lose their powers."
"The kids will really learn something," Punt agreed. "They're actually educating children about something."
Punt said he expects the 2,500 seats for the performance to be sold out.
