Wednesday, April 25, 2007 | 7:09 a.m.
ILLUSTRATION BY CHRIS MORRIS
Who: Sesame Street Live's "Elmo Makes Music"
When: 7 p.m. Thursday; 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday; 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Cox Pavilion, UNLV
Tickets: $14 and $20; 739-3267
Age: Perpetually 6 years old
Height: 8 feet 2
Address: Nest behind 123 Sesame St.
Lineage: Commonly called a canary, Big Bird says he's a golden condor
On TV: Performed by Caroll Spinney since 1969
Pet: Teddy bear named Radar
Best friend: Mr. Snuffleupagus
International relatives: His cousins appear on "Sesame Street" adaptations in other countries, such as Poupas Amarelo in Portugal, Bibo in Germany and Da Niao in China. Sometimes they change color, orange in Turkey (Little Bird), pink in Spain (Gallina Caponata), light blue in the Netherlands (Pino), blue in Brazil (Garibaldo) , and green in Mexico (parrot Abelardo) and in Egypt (a furry non-avian named Tiny).
Guest shots: Big Bird has been on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," "The West Wing," "Deal or No Deal," "What's My Line?" and "The Hollywood Squares." He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was ranked No. 16 on "The Animal Planet's" list of greatest TV animals. He also appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated with major league pitcher Mark "The Bird" Fidrych in 1977.
"Sesame Street Live" fans will swarm Cox Pavilion at UNLV this week.
"Elmo Makes Music" hits the stage Thursday through Sunday. It will feature more than 20 songs, including classics such as "C Is for Cookie" and "The Alphabet Song."
Perhaps the most iconic of the characters from the show is Big Bird, portrayed in this production by Les Bowen, a native of Fairfield, Ohio.
Bowen, 28, has been with the touring company for five years, longer than any other cast member. He recently talked to the Sun from Baton Rouge, La.
Q: What's it like in that costume?
Actually the costumes are made so well, they're very well fitted, very workable for us because we do a lot of dancing and movement. The costumes are very cleverly made, allowing us to kick and some people to tumble. It's not bad at all.
Is it hot in there?
It gets a little warm, but it's nothing crazy. It's kind of just putting on another suit and doing another job.
Are the feathers real?
Yes. They are real feathers, turkey feathers - all hand-dyed and hand-sewn onto the costume. We have two wardrobe people to maintain the costumes.
Why are you Big Bird?
A lot of things are based on height. I'm 6 feet, 6 '1. When I'm in costume I'm 8-2.
I like being Big Bird because he's a great character. Who doesn't love Big Bird? He's kind of a national icon. Everyone knows you.
I've heard some kids can be mean, kicking, hitting, pulling at the costume. Have you ever had a problem?
Not me, but I don't go on the floor at all. But we do have characters who will run around on the floor, but most of the kids are so enthralled by the characters and just so excited to be there that they just want to give them a hug or maybe latch onto a leg. But there are ushers all over so there's no problem.
What do you like most about the show?
It's nice to have a steady job in theater, and also the kid's faces are just amazing when that curtain opens and their eyes light up and you see how happy they are. They think you have just walked out of the television. It's truly just amazing to know that you can do that for them.
How much longer do you think you will be doing the show?
I'm ready to take a break. At the end of this tour I'm going to Chicago to see what I can get working in theaters and music there. I can always come back to the company, but I'm looking for more of a home.
How big is the troupe? How do you travel?
There are 35 of us, including 16 cast members, eight crew, three management and some others. We travel as a group by bus or plane, depending on how far we are going.
How many different road companies are there?
There are four - one for the East Coast, one West Coast, one that travels all over the United States and the Americas, and one that travels all over the world. We stay with our production for 11 months, but they bounce us around. We can request where we want to go, and if it works out we can go that way. I've been lucky enough to do all of the shows but for the international tour.
Do cast members perform outside the concert arena?
It's pretty much the concert, though every once in a while characters will go to a children's hospital to visit children who can't get out, help brighten up their day a little bit.
What's the production like?
It's pretty much what you're going to see on TV. We're going to have all your favorites there - Big Bird, Elmo, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster. They're going to be doing some of the same songs you've all heard. Children can sing some of the same songs that their parents grew up with. We'll be teaching the ABCs, how to count. Things of that nature. It's pretty much what you see on TV, only onstage. It's just like a Broadway show, but for children.
Is Vegas a tough sell for a children's show?
I'm not too sure on that. I don't do the ticket sales, but I've been there before and we do have a nice turnout. The families working there have kids. It gives kids something to do.
How many months out of the year do you tour?
We tour 11 months out of the year. I've been doing it for five years, longer than most of the cast members.
Is it fun or does it get to be hard work?
You have your days, but for the most part it's amazing. I get paid to see the country. I've been to so many amazing places. We have time to sightsee, visit friends and family. Sure, every now and then there's a down day, where we might not have home, living out of two suitcases. But I look on the positive side. I don't have to clean up after myself. I have housekeeping.
archive
