`SESAME STREET' SET TO MAKE T.O. DEBUT.Byline: P. Catherine Shanks Community Columnist Big Bird, Cookie Monster (recreation) cookie monster - (From the children's TV program "Sesame Street") Any of a family of early (1970s) hacks reported on TOPS-10, ITS, Multics and elsewhere that would lock up either the victim's terminal (on a time-sharing machine) or the console (on a batch mainframe), , Elmo, Oscar the Grouch Oscar the Grouch is a Muppet character on the television program Sesame Street. Oscar has a green body (during the 1969–1970 season he was orange), has no nose, and lives in a garbage can. and all the other residents of 123 Sesame Street Sesame Street is an American educational children's television series for preschoolers and is a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both education and entertainment. are unpacking their props, preening their feathers, fluffing their fur, rehearsing their song-and-dance routines and preparing ``Elmo's Coloring Book,'' a fully staged production that will run today through Sunday at the Civic Arts Plaza. ``Sesame Street Live'' debuted in 1980 to clamoring fans of the then-11-year-old ``Sesame Street'' show airing on PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, . Children's Television Workshop Children's Television Workshop: see Cooney, Joan Ganz. and Jim Henson Productions, which produced the television show, licensed Vincent E. Egan Vincent E. Egan is the entrepreneur who created VEE Corporation, which presents productions like Sesame Street Live. Egan started his career as a District Sales Manager at General Motors. , president of VEE Corp., to take the life-size characters on the road. Every year, ``Sesame Street Live'' tours 150 North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. cities. The furry, feathered and fun-filled cast of creatures visits arenas and large performing-arts centers throughout the country, entertaining and inspiring audiences young and old. The Civic Arts Plaza performances will mark the debut of ``Sesame Street Live'' in Thousand Oaks. ``We often play where Broadway is playing,'' said Karen Olson, a vice president for VEE Corp. ``We always have audience participation. This venue is a wonderful place for us to bring the full-scale `Sesame Street' characters right downstage down·stage adv. Toward, at, or on the front part of a stage. adj. Of or relating to the front part of a stage. n. The front half of a stage. Noun 1. and up to the families.'' The theme of this year's show is ``Elmo's Coloring Book,'' in which the audience helps the cast solve a musical mystery and color caper caper, common name for members of the Capparidaceae, a family of tropical plants found chiefly in the Old World and closely related to the family Cruciferae (mustard family). . The performance features everybody from the ``Sesame Street'' neighborhood and an audience liaison by the name of Professor Art. ``He drives the plot,'' Olson said. ``The pages of Elmo's coloring book go into Professor Art's Guzzinta 2000 Machine, and the audience is transported to magical, historical places.'' Illustrations of giant flowers, dinosaurs, mummies and bears suddenly spring to life in this absorbing performance. Of course, the mystery is solved, and the ending is happy. ``We're often the first live entertainment experience that children will have,'' Olson said. ``Children are spending so much time with TV and videos. It's so different for them.'' More than a good time, the show is designed to build children's self-esteem and promote an understanding of cultural diversity. At 8 feet 2, Big Bird is perhaps one of the tallest proponents of cultural awareness. ``The world is a better place with all different kinds of people and animals living together as friends,'' said the feathered friend of one and all. ``I want to teach children to feel good about school, to be cooperative (with) grown-ups and to develop their own sense of humor Noun 1. sense of humor - the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous; "she didn't appreciate my humor"; "you can't survive in the army without a sense of humor" sense of humour, humor, humour .'' Olson said a recent Markle Foundation study found that followers of the TV version of ``Sesame Street'' had higher grade-point averages in English, science and math courses. She said ``Sesame Street Live'' fosters the same positive attitudes toward learning. In order to ensure and maintain the consistency of values found in the television show, Emmy-award winning writers from the TV show have helped develop the stage show's script. For adults, the live performances are often nostalgic. ``It's very chic for college kids to put on their Oscar the Grouch T-shirts and relive the same old schticks they saw when they were children,'' Olson said. ``The show is colorful, intricate and exciting to watch. I think everyone will be very impressed with the theatrical effects, the diverse musical styles and the parodies of popular songs.'' Sets, properties, costumes and lighting for ``Elmo's Coloring Book'' have been produced at a cost of more than $1 million. A company of 34 people, including a cast of 17, sees to it that each 90-minute show goes on. Performers from all over the United States make up the cast. ``Elmo's Coloring Book'' will play eight performances at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza is a performing arts and administrative center located in Thousand Oaks, California. It was built in 1994 on the former site of "Jungleland" at a cost of $63.8 million. Auditorium. Regular price tickets are $18, $13.50 and $11.50. Discounts may apply. For show times, tickets and information, call the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza box office at (805) 449-ARTS. The Civic Arts Plaza is at 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO The cast of ``Sesame Street Live'' will present ``Elmo's Coloring Book'' today through Sunday at the Civic Arts Plaza. |
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