Maybe it's his crazy red fur or his big orange nose. Whatever his appeal, the squeaky-voiced innocent named Elmo definitely has become the rock star of Sesame Street.
The crowd goes wild when Elmo comes on stage during "Elmo Makes Music," a show starring the world-famous Muppets that will play Friday through Sunday in the Alerus Center in Grand Forks.
"They scream for him like we did for the Beatles," said Clara Rusch, director of production for Sesame Street Live.
"Elmo Makes Music" has been rehearsing in the Alerus Center for a couple of weeks and, beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, will open an international tour of 45 cities, including sites in Puerto Rico and Mexico and two weeks in Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Long run
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The tour will continue through mid-June 2009 and probably will wind up on the West Coast, she said.
"Some of it is strictly logistical," Rusch said of choosing the Alerus for the opening of the tour. "But I was up there last week for the start of rehearsals, and it is really a beautiful facility. The staff has been just incredible."
About 20 people have been in Grand Forks for rehearsals, eventually being joined by directors and choreographers from Los Angeles.
One of the show's stars, Rosita, is a Hispanic character, and the show will be presented in Spanish when it's in Puerto Rico and Mexico, Rusch said.
Jamie Critelli, a Buffalo, N.Y., native who started dancing when she was 4, is one of the people who will bring the characters to life for "Elmo Makes Music." She plays Prairie Dawn, a level-headed, career-minded 7-year-old who excels at organizing things and who has a theatrical bent.
"I grew up watching Sesame Street. I think my favorite characters were Ernie and Cookie Monster," said Critelli, 26. "You just get this love for the Muppets, and you can put yourself into the situations. You see the morals they portray. They teach you about life's lessons. It's hard not to love them because they are so adorable."
One of the things the audience seems to enjoy most, she said, was interacting with the Muppet characters.
"Elmo Makes Music" is about a music teacher named Jenny who arrives on Sesame Street and discovers she doesn't have any musical instruments. With the Muppets and friends, she manages to make music anyway with what they have at hand.
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There are fun songs such as "Rockin' Robin" and songs and dances for the audience to join, like "The Hustle."
"Elmo is like the little rock star," Critelli said. "They scream his name, and their jaws drop and their eyes pop." Of course, there are children who, perhaps, aren't quite ready to meet the Muppets in person.
"In person, the Muppets are much bigger than they are on TV, she said.
Easy to dress
For all his popularity, Elmo is not hard to dress, said Chris Vesper, director of costumes and creatures for Sesame Street Live: a bit of padding on the tummy, foam feet and a hard plastic head, all covered with red fur.
The costumes are made in Minneapolis by a core staff of about 24 people, with extra help during crunch time. All who work on the costume feel a responsibility to be true to the Sesame Street ideals of educating and entertaining, she said.
"We really do have a lot of fun here," Vesper said. "It's like anywhere else. Some days, it's just a job. But I think everybody is happy doing this work, and we love to see the show with audiences."
Show times are 7 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are from $12 to $22, available at the Alerus box office and Ticketmaster outlets.
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Reach Tobin at (701) 780-1134; (800) 477-6572, ext. 134; or send e-mail to ptobin@gfherald.com .
