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Time Magazine called "Sesame Street," "The biggest juggernaut in children's-television history," and from its first 1969 broadcast, kids were enthralled with its humorous, inventive characters. They still are and luckily, Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird, the Count and some others, show up March 31- April 3, at the Arena at Harbor Yard, in the stage show "1-2-3 Imagine! with Elmo & Friends." In this high energy adventure, Ernie goes to sea, Elmo visits the African rainforest and Bert befriends an octopus who needs some cheering up. Imaginative, full of personality and new ideas, the show gives kids a sense of adventure and a feeling of limitless potential.
"Sesame Street" was the brilliant idea of producer Joan Ganz Cooney who also had the foresight to hire puppeteer Jim Henson (1936-1990). Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Grover and Big Bird, among others, were his creations, though they're now so familiar, most of us see them as having been around forever.Originally, Cooney and Henson saw the show's mission as providing an educational component to entertainment television for pre-schoolers. But also in this mix, Cooney hoped to help underprivileged kids. The show's ethnically diverse neighborhood and focus on social issues were part of this pioneering concept. Forty-two years later, "Sesame Street" still seems thoroughly current. Since its start, It has shaped generations of children and with approximately 8 million Americans watching it every week, (there are also many international verisons) many more are on the way. Tickets for "1-2-3 Imagine! with Elmo & Friends" are $15-$60. For more information, visit Harbor Yard's website.
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