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By: Helena Oliviero

Published: October 19, 2017

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Sesame Street pals Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird and others will take the stage in Atlanta next month in a new live, sensory adventure.

“Sesame Street Live: Let’s Party,” the inaugural production under Feld Entertainment’s new partnership with the nonprofit educational organization, will perform at the Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth from Nov. 10-12. 

The theme is planning a party and it’s not easy when everybody has different ideas, but with the help of the audience, the planning will reflect good teamwork.

Liz Sanford, who is 24 and plays Oscar the Grouch in the touring show, lives in Atlanta when she is not touring. She grew up in North Carolina and moved to Atlanta a couple of years ago to work as a singer and dancer in holiday shows and summer productions at Six Flags Over Georgia.

Growing up, Sanford said, her favorite Sesame Street character was Mr. Snuffleupagus.

“I loved elephants and we’d walk around swinging our arms like an elephant’s trunk. Snuffleupagus had a little sister, too, and he is very sweet,” she said in a recent phone interview.

But as she has studied the characters, and has taken on the role of Oscar the Grouch, she is becoming more fond of the lovable grouch.

“He is such a well-developed, funny character. And on the surface, he seems so grouchy and mean, but he has a lot of depth to him. He really does have a heart of gold underneath all of the grouchiness,” she said.

From the moment the curtain rises, a pop-infused soundtrack with Sesame Street friends and live emcees Casey and Caleb will get parents and children alike on their feet dancing along.

In this new touring show, party guests will sing along to new and familiar songs, like “I Love Trash” and “C Is for Cookie,” with Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster; dance to the beat with Elmo; explore a wintry wonderland when Abby Cadabby’s magic goes awry; take flight with Big Bird to learn about some of his fabulous feathered friends; and discover new cultures in an interactive Spanish lesson with Rosita.

Sanford said the audience will learn about trash and recycling from Oscar the Grouch, and will see trash can lids used as instruments.

And the audience will also get to see Oscar the Grouch bust a move.

“He has a sort of hip-hop style,” said Sanford. “His dancing is a mixture of hip-hop and step dancing.”