We're seasoned veterans of Sesame Street Live shows at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Our eldest child has grown up with what has become an annual November tradition at our house.
While he still enjoys the show, it's clear he's coming out the other side and maybe has only another one or two left in him.
But as the Sesame Street Live years begin a slow decline for one kid, another one has just come completely into the zone.
That was obvious last year when we saw "Elmo Makes Music," in which a music teacher moves onto Sesame Street and while awaiting delivery of her arsenal of instruments, the Muppets create their own makeshift versions to make her happy.
We were reminded of the kind of rapt attention, mingled with out and out enthusiasm and wonder, that the shows engender in kids of a certain age.
The shows are always fun and I love going to them because it's fun to see the kids so happy. The performances are well-choreographed, well-staged and perfectly paced for a young audience. And unlike some kiddie fodder, adult brains don't go numb at a Sesame Street Live show.
And they have staying power. A few days later, Elmo and his friends – and especially Bert – are still a hot topic of conversation at our house.
This year, we'll be front and center – OK, more like off to the side and about halfway back – for "Can't Stop Singing," which takes place Nov. 23-25, at the Bradley Center.
The synopsis for the show goes like this:
"When Elmo gets his furry fingers on Abby Cadabby's magic wand, there's something in the air - and Sesame Street becomes a nonstop, all-singing, all-dancing musical montage! Grover and Baby Bear sing their highs and lows, Cookie Monster sings fast and slow, Bert and Ernie converse in song and Murray makes mouth music for all to sing along! Learn why it feels good to sing a song, but why it feels good to stop, too! What will Elmo learn about the power of musical magic? Join the conga line of fun to find out!"
I'm happy we've got a few more years of Sesame Street fun at the B.C. to look forward to.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
