“Sesame Street Live! Say Hello" at the Adler Theatre -- May 14.
Tuesday, May 14, 6 p.m.
Adler Theatre, 136 East Third Street, Davenport IA
On May 14, young children and their young-at-heart chaperones can enjoy the stage version of one of the most popular entertainments in television history, with Sesame Street Live: Say Hello invites audiences to a reunion with Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and their friends at Davenport's Adler Theatre.
Sesame Street was conceived in 1966 during discussions between television producer Joan Ganz Cooney and Carnegie Foundation vice president Lloyd Morrisett. Their goal was to create a children's television show that would "master the addictive qualities of television and do something good with them," such as helping young children prepare for school. After two years of research, the newly formed Children's Television Workshop (CTW) received a combined grant of $8 million from the Carnegie Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the U.S. federal government to create and produce this new children's television show. The program premiered on public television stations on November 10, 1969, and was the first preschool educational television program to base its contents and production values on laboratory and formative research.
According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution." The cast and crew expanded during this time, with emphasis on the hiring of women crew members and the addition of minorities to the cast. The show's success continued into the 1980s. In 1981, when the federal government withdrew its funding, CTW turned to and expanded other revenue sources, including its magazine division, book royalties, product licensing, and foreign broadcast income. Its curriculum has consequently expanded to include more affective topics such as relationships, ethics and emotions. Many of its storylines have been inspired by the experiences of its writing staff, cast and crew – most notably, the 1982 death of Will Lee, who played Mr. Hooper, and the marriage of Luis and Maria in 1988.
At the time of its debut, Sesame Street was the 15th-highest-rated children's television show in the United States. A 1996 survey found that 95 percent of all American preschoolers had watched it by the time they were three. In 2018, it was estimated that 86 million Americans had watched it as children, and in addition to winning more than 200 Emmy Awards and 11 Grammy Awards, the program remains one of the longest-running shows in the world.
Sesame Street Live! Say Hello comes to Davenport on May 14, admission to the 6 p.m. show is $30.50-70.50, and tickets are available by calling (800)745-3000 and visiting AdlerTheatre.com.
