Sesame Street Live! Say Hello
Courtesy of Round Room Live
The Sesame Street Live! Say Hello Tour is on the road now. For Sesame Street‘s anniversary (Nov. 10), Billboard Family has put together a complete guide for families interested in seeing the classic Sesame Street characters live on stage.
Whether you’re thinking of going to the latest Sesame Street Live! theatrical production because Sesame Street is your kid’s favorite show, or you’re just feeling nostalgic over your own childhood memories, here you’ll find a preview of what to expect before attending one of the dates. We’ve gathered all the details for families, and we connected with Jonathan Linden and Stephen Shaw, founders and co-presidents of Round Room Live, the current tour’s production company.
Eight years ago Linden and Shaw, with a long background in concert touring, looked at the live children’s entertainment market from the perspective of parents and saw an opportunity to create more dynamic experiences for both kids and their grownups.
They launched Round Room Live, which today puts on live theatrical tours like Sesame Street Live! Say Hello and Blippi: Join the Band.
“We really put our attention into the producing of the shows: great script writers, great choreographers, great costume designers and fabricators, a great soundtrack and music, and high production value that would keep kids engaged and entertained,” Shaw explained to Billboard Family in a previous conversation about the company.
This tour has Round Room Live collaborating with Sesame Workshop. Round Room, who says Sesame Workshop initially reached out to have a conversation about the production company taking over their live theatrical tours, notes: “We are incredibly proud that our experience in this space and the reputation Round Room has built in the industry would lead us to such an iconic brand like Sesame Street seeking us to partner with them.”
“Sesame Street is a brand that is more than 50 years old and has thrilled and delighted generations of children and families. Round Room was committed to respecting the deep history and tradition of Sesame Street, but we were excited to take a fresh new look at this property in the live touring space, and create something modern and extraordinarily special that families and kids could enjoy,” Round Room Live tells Billboard Family on the week of Sesame Street‘s anniversary.
Check out our Family Guide for tips about attending the Sesame Street Live! Say Hello Tour. Our guide also features an exclusive look at some live footage from the tour.
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Watch an Exclusive Sesame Street Live! Say Hello Tour Preview
Round Room Live offered a preview of footage from Sesame Street Live! Say Hello to premiere exclusively on Billboard Family. See the video above.
Lovable characters including Elmo, Abby, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and more are there — in real life! — among a cast of talented stage performers for a lively production that tells a story featuring Elmo’s cute puppy, Tango.
It’s a story meant for children, but with its familiar characters and positive messages, seeing the show in person can resonate with the young and old.
Linden and Shaw recall that Sesame Street “has been a constant in our houses for many years. Coupling that with the fact that we both watched the show as children adds a whole element of nostalgia and love for this brand.”
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See the Upcoming Sesame Street Live! Say Hello Tour Dates
Sesame Street Live! Say Hello Courtesy of Round Room Live Sesame Street Live! Say Hello is traveling all across North America.
See a list of upcoming tour dates for 2024-2025 below to see when the show is headed your way. You can also find up-to-date information about all the dates on the tour’s official website:
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 | Chartway Arena | Norfolk, VA
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024 | Berglund Center – Berglund Performing Arts Theatre | Roanoke, VA
Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 | Bell Auditorium | Augusta, GA
Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 | Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre – John A. Williams Theatre – Matinee | Atlanta, GA
Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 | Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre – John A. Williams Theatre – Evening | Atlanta, GA
Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024 | Savannah Civic Center – Johnny Mercer Theater | Savannah, GA
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 | Tilles Center for the Performing Arts | Brookville, NY
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 | Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza | Wilkes-Barre, PA
Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 | Chuck Mathena Center | Princeton, WV
Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 | The Lyric | Baltimore, MD
Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 | Santander Performing Arts Center – Matinee | Reading, PA
Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 | Santander Performing Arts Center – Evening | Reading, PA
Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 | Bergen Performing Arts Center – Matinee | Englewood, NJ
Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 | Bergen Performing Arts Center – Evening | Englewood, NJ
Monday, Nov. 25, 2024 | The Stanley | Utica, NY
Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 | FirstOntario Concert Hall | Hamilton, ON
Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 | Capital One Hall – Matinee | Tysons, VA
Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 | Capital One Hall – Evening | Tysons, VA
Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 | Count Basie Center for the Arts – Matinee | Red Bank, NJ
Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 | Count Basie Center for the Arts – Evening | Red Bank, NJ
Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 | Clemens Center | Elmira, NY
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 | Warner Theater | Erie, PA
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 | Mid Hudson Civic Center | Poughkeepsie, NY
Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 | The VETS | Providence, RI
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 | The VETS | Providence, RI
Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 | Lynn Auditorium | Lynn, MA
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 | Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center | Johnstown, PA
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 | Mountain Health Arena | Huntington, WV
Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 | North Charleston Performing Arts Center | North Charleston, SC
Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 | Ovens Auditorium | Charlotte, NC
Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 | Township Auditorium | Columbia, SC
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | W.D. Packard Music Hall | Warren, OH
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | The Palace Theatre | Greensburg, PA
Thursday, March 13, 2025 | Penn College Community Arts Center | Williamsport, PA
Friday, March 14, 2025 | Shubert Theatre | New Haven, CT
Saturday, March 15, 2025 | St. George Theatre | Staten Island, NY
Sunday, March 16, 2025 | State Theatre New Jersey | New Brunswick, NJ
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 | Cross Insurance Center | Bangor, ME
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | Hanover Theatre & Conservatory | Worcester, MA
Saturday, March 22, 2025 | Mayo Performing Arts Center | Morristown, NJ
Sunday, March 23, 2025 | Luhrs Performing Arts Center | Shippensburg, PA
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | Keswick Theatre | Glenside, PA
Saturday, March 29, 2025 | Warner Theatre | Washington, DC
Sunday, March 30, 2025 | ETSU Martin Center for the Arts | Johnson City, TN
Saturday, April 12, 2025 | Ford Park Arena | Beaumont, TX
Sunday, April 13, 2025 | Bass Concert Hall | Austin, TX
Friday, April 18, 2025 | Five Flags Center | Dubuque, IA
Friday, April 25, 2025 | Carson Center for the Performing Arts | Paducah, KY
Friday, May 2, 2025 | Wilson Center | Wilmington, NC
Friday, May 16, 2025 | The Genesee Theatre | Waukegan, IL
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 | Overture Center | Madison, WI
Thursday, May 29, 2025 | Fitzgerald Theater | St. Paul, MN
Saturday, June 14, 2025 | South Okanagan Events Centre | Penticton, BC
Sunday, June 15, 2025 | Abbotsford Centre | Abbotsford, BC
Thursday, June 19, 2025 | Conexus Arts Centre | Regina, SK
Friday, June 20, 2025 | Westoba Place Arena | Brandon, MB
Friday, June 27, 2025 | Southam Hall | Ottawa, ON
Saturday, June 28, 2025 | Centre in the Square | Kitchener, ON -
How to Buy Tickets for the Sesame Street Live! Say Hello Tour
Sesame Street Live! Say Hello Courtesy of Round Room Live Tickets for the Sesame Street Live! Say Hello Tour are available now on Ticketmaster for many cities. Price per ticket varies from venue to venue. You should also look at the tour’s official website, as select dates have tickets available to purchase directly from the venue.
Sesame Street fans might want to take advantage of the opportunity to meet characters from the show. The tour has a Photo Experience, offered as a separate ticketed event for an additional fee at each tour date. Each adult and child must have their own Photo Experience ticket, which is outlined in the FAQ on the tour’s website.
Specific characters aren’t guaranteed to be there, so this is an experience you’ll want to keep an open mind about. As a parent, my kids have sometimes adored this sort of character meet-and-greet … and sometimes wanted nothing to do with it. You know your kids best!
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How to Make the Most of Your Sesame Street Live! Say Hello Tour Experience
Sesame Street Live! Say Hello What’s the most important tip Round Room Live has for families going to the show?
“Be ready to have the best time!” Linden and Shaw tell Billboard Family. “Sing the songs, dance in the aisles and interact and meet the characters. Make the most of the time you have with Elmo, Big Bird and the whole crew!”
What families should also keep in mind is this advice: “Leave a little extra time to take it all in.”
“For years, we have created live shows that are a significant part of our children’s lives. But to have the opportunity to produce a live show that was also a big part of our own childhood heightens the joy and love for what we do and what we bring to life on the stage,” they state, adding that seeing their own kids take in the show makes it “really magical” after years of listening to Sesame Street‘s songs together.
From the perspective of tour producers, they add, “For Sesame Street, the Round Room team were incredibly excited for the challenge of a modern approach to such a beloved brand that children love and their parents remember. Firstly, it was important to stay true to the brand and capture the essence of its characters, values and educational elements. Second, utilizing impressive set designs, puppetry, costumes and special effects to create a visually captivating show. Lastly, we pair this with a great storyline, iconic music and interactive elements such as singalongs and audience participation.” All of this is in their effort to “combine nostalgia with a fresh twist, to ultimately create an experience that delights all audiences.”