On The Road With Sesame Street Live
Sesame Street Live will soon be returning to Enid on March 10 at the Enid Event Center. Many of the most famous characters from the Sesame Street show will appear including Elmo, Cookie Monster and others!
Along with the famous characters from the TV show there will also be two very talented individuals that will be hosting the event. They are Riley and Jordan. I got to speak with Riley and learn more about what it is like to be on the road and perform in Sesame Street Live.
Riley is on of the human hosts for the Sesame Street Live show and she is played by performer Kayleigh Shuler. I spoke with Shuler on the phone while she was between shows in Amarillo, Texas. They are currently traveling through the Midwest doing about 9 shows a week.
Shuler was very friendly and welcomed any and all questions that I had. She hails from Oneto, New York but now calls New York, New York home. Our interview lasted over twenty minutes and covered everything the audience can expect from the upcoming show.
"My mom owned a dance studio," Shuler told me, which explains why she began dancing at the age of four. Although she loves to dance, her first love is actually singing which she began at the ripe old age of ten. She also enjoys acting as well and is pursuing a career in the performance field.
Shuler has been in other productions and has even worked in some Off-Broadway shows. Her favorite aspect of performing is the storytelling. As the host of the show, you'll see the character Riley leading the storyline and encouraging everyone to get up and dance.
Shuler first wanted everyone to know the the entire cast is excited to meet everyone in Enid and looks forward to becoming new friends. She told me that the audience should come prepared to dance! Throughout the show there will be surprise dance parties where the characters will walk down into the audience to groove with the kids.
"I especially want the parents to get up and dance, it really encourages the kids to get active and participate," she told me. When I asked about kids being afraid of the large characters, Shuler said, "Parents need to talk to the kids about the actual size of the characters before the show so they'll know what to expect."
Shuler has been on the road with the show since August of 2014 and loves the traveling. Although they don't get much sightseeing in, they do find opportunities when time allows. The cast of the show travels by chartered bus or airplane depending on the distance between cities.
I asked Shuler what she would recommend to young kids thinking of getting into the performance field. Her advice for aspiring performers was not to let anyone put them in a box, but to decide for themselves who they are. She also stated, "I would encourage any child to pursue their passion for dance or singing but realize it is hard work and it is a job."
Enid should get ready for a great show! There will be plenty of dancing, music and crazy lights. There is a special meet and greet before the show where kids get to meet Elmo and two other characters. Tickets for that opportunity can be purchased. There will also be DVD's, t-shirts and stuffed toys sold before and after the show.
Audience members are encouraged to get up and dance. Parents can take photos with non-professional cameras but audio and video recordings are not allowed.
When: Tuesday March 10 3 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
Where: Enid Event Center, 302 South Grand, Enid, OK 73701
Tickets: $18. A limited number of $30 Gold Circle seats and $50 Sunny Seats* are also available. A facility of $2 will be added to all ticket prices. Additional fees and special offers may apply.
DISCOUNT OFFER BELOW!
*The Sunny Seats package features premium show seating and a pre-show Meet & Greet with two Sesame Street Live friends, including Elmo!
For more information, call 580-616-7380. To charge tickets by phone, please 855-TIX-ENID. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.enideventcenter.com. For information online, please visit www.sesamestreetlive.com. Become a fan of Sesame Street Live on Facebook.
