We Tried It: Sesame Street Live!

In my family, the Elmo-obsessed years have come and gone. There was an era when nothing but the little red guy would do: Elmo sheets, Elmo sippy cups, Elmo birthday parties. But now, my maturing 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son have moved on to far more sophisticated, grown-up tastes, such as My Little Pony and Dinosaur Train.

When I heard Sesame Street Live was back in town, I figured my kids would be over it, even though they loved it in years past. I casually asked my daughter if she had any interest. “Yeah!” she excitedly exclaimed. “I wanna go back to the Elmo show!” Both of my kids were beside themselves with anticipation.

We got there almost 45 minutes early, which was nice because we scored street parking right out front of the Blaisdell, and it gave us plenty of time to roam around and look at the fish and ducks. You can also grab coffee and snacks outside before heading in.

If you’ve never been, you should be aware of what costs await you. Upon entering, we skipped the $10 program but our kids immediately begged us for a souvenir toy.  They range from $15 for light-up wands to $25 for plush characters. We spent $30 on two light-up spinning Elmo toys. (If you still have one from last year, or if your child already has a favorite Sesame Street toy, bring it. You may save yourself some cash.) At intermission, on either side of the stage, giant bunches of Mylar Elmo balloons appear. They’re $10 each, and your kid will beg for one. You will not be able to say no.

The show itself, this year aptly titled “Can’t Stop Singing” is a musical montage filled with nonstop singing and dancing from all the classic Sesame Street costumed characters. Highlights were the funny sheep, Murray rapping about the letter M, and the audience participation (children love yelling out answers).

The show clocks in at 90 minutes, which is perfect for most kids, but feels a little too long for some of the younger crowd. In the first half, all ages are captivated. After the 15-minute intermission, the second half gets noticeably louder with some whining and fidgeting from the toddlers, and perhaps a dad or two. But those still in the midst of their Elmo obsessions will remain entranced.

A few tips: You can get booster seats in the lobby, but you’ll need to present a photo ID, and they go fast. You can also park your strollers in the lobby. It’s freezing inside the concert hall, so bring a sweater. You can take pictures, but no audio or video is allowed.

All in all, the kids loved the show, and it makes for a fun family outing. It even brought back childhood memories of my own. Perhaps you never really grow too old for Sesame Street.

To see where Sesame Street Live is performing next, go to sesamestreetlive.com.