Sesame Street characters Cookie Monster, Elmo and Abby Caddaby.
Just a few details have emerged since the Nov. 17 announcement that Feld Entertainment Inc. and Sesame Workshop have partnered in a multi-year deal to produce new touring Sesame Street Live! shows to launch in October 2017. It will be a floor show, not on ice, and will probably play arenas and theaters as happens now, though venue type is still under discussion.
The new Sesame Street Live! production will concentrate on a core cast of characters – Cookie Monster, Elmo and Abby Caddaby, said Jennifer Ahearn, Sesame Workshop VP of strategic partner relationships. “We’ve refreshed the set and design for the show with child relevant themes and a whole-child curriculum. Those three characters are the focus of our TV show.”
Some things never change. Sesame Workshop is focused on making children smarter, stronger and kinder, she added. That message was key to the original Sesame Street Live! production, which began when Jim Henson and Vince Egan collaborated to launch a new king of family show – one that was not on ice and featured life-size characters, not Sesame Street puppets — in 1980.
Alana Feld, executive VP, Feld Entertainment, who will spearhead creation of the new touring show, called the 50-year-old Sesame Street! “an incredible, beloved brand. The timing was right for both our companies. We were in a place where we were ready to take on more and they were looking for a new partner as well. We could not be more excited about working with them to bring these characters to life.”
Rehearsal space is booked, at Feld Entertainment Studios in Ellenton, Fla., starting in September. The creative team is being assembled now. “We’re approaching it as trying to mimic all the incredible aspects of the show on TV, especially more recently since it’s aired on HBO and how modern the show has become,” Feld said, noting the vibrancy of the music in particular.
Additionally, Feld will develop a line of consumer products to enhance the live experience. Costuming and scenery will be produced at Feld Studios.
The current Sesame Street Live! tour, produced by VStar (which purchased VEE Corp. last year) will continue through July 2017.
Kevin Kulas, VP, VStar, said that company will continue to have a working relationship with Sesame Workshop even after the VStar-produced touring show concludes its run.
“VStar Entertainment Group is extremely proud of the passion our employees have poured into making Sesame Street Live! a tradition that has delighted millions of children and families for more than 35 years. But as we implement our strategic vision to diversify our portfolio of properties in our Theatrical, Exhibition, Production Services and Costumes and Creatures businesses, our longstanding relationship with Sesame Workshop is evolving,” Kulas said in an email.
VStar will continue to produce shows for Sesame Workshop for Beaches resorts, Sea World theme parks, Sesame Place in Middletown Township, Pa., and, most significantly, on the USO tour. VStar also continues as a preferred costume provider.
“This evolution opens new opportunities to expand our Nickelodeon relationship and the new PAW Patrol Live! show, which has opened to record crowds and rave reviews over the past month,” Kulas added, hinting at more announcements of new shows from VStar to be announced in the new year.
Interviewed for this story: Jennifer Ahearn, (212) 875-6264; Alana Feld, (941) 721-1233; Kevin Kulas, (612) 852-2329