Quick, which character on "Sesame Street" is pink and might accidentally turn you into a pumpkin with her "training wand"?
If you didn't immediately guess "Abby Cadabby," don't be alarmed-it's not a new and improved "Sesame Street," just a few new characters added to the mix.
Abby is one of four newer monsters to join the Sesame Street Live Cast, along with Telly, Rosita and Zoe. But of course, it wouldn't be Sesame Street without the legendary Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Elmo and the Count.
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All sorts of colorful characters are coming soon to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater.
All the lovable monsters, old and new, will take the stage when Sesame Street Live "Elmo Makes Music" comes to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater at the end of June. With six shows over three days, island keiki will have plenty of opportunity to get a glimpse of their favorite stars-and to sing along with them.
The show includes nearly two dozen songs: everything from "You Should Be Dancing" and "Rockin' Robin," to kid classics like "C Is for Cookie" and "The Alphabet Song." It's all part of the show's musical theme, wrapped around the discovery by new music teacher Jenny that her instruments have disappeared. With a little ingenuity on the part of her new Sesame Street friends, Jenny is able to fill in the gaps with music made from rubber duckies, trash can lids and even cookie jars.
On an adult level, it's a Broadway-quality musical production with creative choreography, high-tech staging and a witty script. On a kid level, the show is full of relevant lessons about the importance of working as a team, accepting yourself and others and being patient. Fortunately, lessons delivered by fuzzy monsters are a lot more fun to learn!
Fact Box
* Elmo and friends will share their love of music at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 26; at 10:30 a.m., 2 and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 27; and at 1 and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 28. Tickets are $10, $20 and $33 ($48 Gold Circle). Sunny Seat packages for Friday's show are $73 (available only at the MACC box office, which includes VIP seating, show program, and Elmo pre-show "meet and greet." Applicable fees are added to tickets for all MACC shows, available at the MACC box office, by calling 242-7469 or online at www.mauiarts.org. For more information, visit www.sesamestreetlive.com.
And for those of us who keep getting confused about who's who: The gold-colored monster who loves barrettes and bracelets is Zoe; the turquoise monster who speaks Spanish and gives hugs is Rosita; and the fuschia monster who is crazy about triangles is Telly. Or just ask your little one-she'll know.
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COMING ATTRACTIONS:
Maui OnStage is getting into the spirit early for its upcoming production of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." MOS presents a Texas Ho Down fundraiser at the Historic Iao Theater at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 26. The girls of Maui's Kit Kat Club will perform in "country style," along with live music by the Haiku Hillbillies and a silent auction. The event will be hosted by Miss Mona's girls, part of a cast of 53 talented Maui folks led by Miss Mona herself, Natalie Raynes. Kristi Scott directs "Best Little Whorehouse," which opens July 10. Tickets to the Ho Down are $40 (includes one beverage and passed pupu by Bev Gannon); available by calling 242-6969 or online at www.mauionstage.com.
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OPPORTUNITIES:
Speaking of the Kit Kat Club (this one in 1931 Berlin), "Cabaret" is the next big adult production on the agenda for Professional Artists of the Pacific, LLC. In association with Maui Academy of the Performing Arts, ProArts will hold open auditions for the fall show on Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28, at Steppingstone Playhouse at Queen Ka'ahumanu Center. Auditions for principal actors and singers are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; and for singers and dancers, including master of ceremonies, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Applicants (18 and older only) should prepare a two- to three-minute vocal selection and bring sheet music, a current resume and headshot. Rehearsals begin Aug. 24, and performances are from Oct. 23 to Nov. 15.For an audition appointment or more information, call 875-4367.
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OF NOTE:
If Maui's talented Odissi dancer Sarala Dandekar seemed slightly breathless during Friday night's "Dhvani" show at the MACC, it's because the tempo was a bit faster than she had planned-and she is expecting a baby in the fall! Dandekar shared the good news with the Castle Theater audience during the first act, in which she danced two classical Indian pieces with her usual grace and skill. The second act featured Akari Ueoka dancing Japanese Yosakoi-a dance style we would do well to see more of on Maui. Ueoka's high, spinning jumps brought forth a joyful energy of innovation and empowerment. The finale was a lovely duet by Dandekar and Ueoka dancing the story of Soul separating from Source due to the forces of Maya, but eventually reuniting. Backed up by the seasoned musical team of Ty Burhoe on tabla and Steve Oda on sarode, the dancers created a beautiful picture of the eternal nature of the soul, poised in a circle of light at the edge of the darkened stage as the words of the poem spilled over them: "You are eternity; you are a mirror." More productions from Burhoe's Tala Records can only mean good things for Maui.
* Contact Sky Barnhart at sky@skywritemaui.com.
