By Laura Erickson, editor
© 2012 – Muscogee Moms LLC, www.muscogeemoms.com and www.lagrangemoms.com
LaGrange Moms recently had the opportunity to interview Ryan Benetz, who portrays the character Big Bird in Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Superheroes, which will appear at the Columbus Civic Center June 12-13. The New Jersey native began his Sesame Street career working a summer job at the Sesame Place theme park, where he developed an interest in theme park management. After graduating from college in Pennsylvania and completing an internship at Disney World in Orlando, FL, he received a job offer in 2007 with the Vee Corporations’s Sesame Street Live traveling show.
LM: What made you decide to become a performer in a traveling children’s show?
Ryan: After working at Sesame Place and Disney World, I thought I would really like to work in the theme park industry. I played different characters at Sesame Place, like Cookie Monster, Tele, and Oscar, and it was so great to see how kids reacted to me. Interning at Disney World was so cool….I got to see the “behind-the-scenes” world of tunnels and staging. With all of that experience, when this job came along I thought it would be a great way to start my career.
LM: What is a typical week like with Sesame Street Live?
Ryan: We travel 10 months during the year and go to a new city most every week. When we arrive in a new city, especially if it’s somehwhere I’ve never been, I like use my off-day to find fun things to do. I really the Food Network show “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives”, so I’ll check to see if there are any places from the show to eat. Our shows are usually later in the week, and we rehearse in between.
LM: What is it like wearing that costume?
Ryan: It’s really not bad! Before a show goes on the road, our costume company works with each character to fit the costumes to us and make sure that we can move and see well. Of course, Big Bird is the tallest character so I have a pretty big costume. I’m 5′ 11″ so it works well on me.
LM: What do you like most about the show?
Ryan: Definitely the experience of watching the kids’ faces light up and the effect I have on them! I am the first on stage so I hear the roar of the crowd…it’s such a thrill. It’s hard to explain….I know I am creating a memory for them that will remember forever. Sesame Street is a family tradition for generations. We help the parents relive their childhood. It’s been the best experience of my life!
LM: What are your plans for the future?
Ryan: Right now I love what I do…I don’t have concrete plans for the future. I get to spend summers at home with my family in New Jersey. I value family time and traditions, and I can still experience that during my time off. I still think about the theme park industry and may end up in that line of work someday, maybe even owning my own business.
If You Go: What: Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Superheroes When: Tuesday, June 12 at 7 p.m.; Wednesday, June 13 at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Where: Columbus Civic Center Cost: Ticket Prices start at $15.50 and go up to $52.50 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the Columbus Civic Center Box Office, located at 400 4th Street; online at www.TicketMaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.
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