Open Sesame!

Sesame Street characters perform for MacDill Air Force Base auidence members during a live performance at the Base Theater Sept. 13. Seseame Street live is sponsored by the USO and Sesame Workshop to create a dialog between children and parents about the challenges of deployment, homecomings and changes in parents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rachel Cunningham)

Open Sesame!

Sesame Street character Zoe exchanges high-fives with MacDill Air Force Base auidence members during a live performance at the Base Theater Sept. 13. Seseame Street live is sponsored by the USO and Sesame Workshop to create a dialog between children and parents about the challenges of deployment, homecomings and changes in parents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rachel Cunningham)

Elmo and Sesame Street friends drop by MacDill

Published Sept. 19, 2008
By Airman 1st Class Katherine B. Holt
6th Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE -- It started with a familiar tune; and the intense anticipation could be felt in the air as the children of all ages waited patiently and wide-eyed. Then, a light hit main stage and from behind the curtains ran out Rosita, one of the characters from Sesame Street Live that stopped at the Base Theater here on Sept. 13.

The production, sponsored by the USO, runs from July through November and will stop at 43 military installations during that time.

"We are happy to be here for the service men and women," said a USO representative. "I believe in what we do here; we go where you [military] go."

The tour is part of Sesame Workshop's "Talk, Listen, Connect" initiative, a military outreach program launched in 2006. Story lines are designed to help families understand and talk about the difficulties of multiple deployments, homecomings and changes in parents, whether physical or psychological.

"The show is geared towards children," remarked Josh Bourque, performance director.

"But it also gives parents ideas on what to talk about and how to help their children cope with a deployment."

In the production, Elmo's father is gone, though the audience doesn't find out where. Elmo talks about how he feels when his dad leaves and all the ways he keeps from being sad.

"The show was a great success," said Gail Cook, MacDill Airman and Family Readiness Center director. "It was great opportunity for the children to see their favorite Sesame Street characters and learn ways to deal when their mother or father is away on a deployment."