Elmo's Coloring Book

As many of you know, my very good friend (and former roommate) Dustin is a member of the national tour of Sesame Street Live: Elmo's Coloring Book. Our friend Linda and I made the little trek to Detroit's Fox Theater yesterday to see the wonders of Elmo's Coloring Book for ourselves. After seeing the show, I have decided that being a high school drama teacher is not my true calling. No, I'm giving all that up and I'm going to follow Elmo's Coloring Book around the country. You know how some people do that with Phish, or used to with the Grateful Dead? Well, I can't get enough of the ECB, so I'm going to take my life savings and see them as much as I can. For real.
The show was AMAZING. I knew it would be good, but I thought it might be a little cheesy. There was no cheese here, I tell you! It was high-energy, super cute, really engaging, and with just enough sexual innuendo, whether intentional or unintentional, to keep two grown-ups without kids highly entertained. And it had a plot that everyone could follow! I couldn't believe it! Someone (or something) was stealing colors - Oscar the Grounch turend white! - from Elmo's Coloring Book, and it was up to Professor Art, Elmo, and the rest of the Sesame Street Gang to figure out who and why. In true Sesame Street fashion, when the culprit was found, apologies and friends were made. And the dancing! Those Muppets were incredible. I couldn't believe how fast they could move in those enormous costumes, or how high they could kick. Telly was my favorite - I could totally tell that there was a sassy gay man inside that big purple costume working it out! One of the perks of knowing the STAR of the show was I got to attend the "meet and greet" with Elmo and Grover. Elmo was much shorter than I expected. There were some little kids at the meet and greet, and they just about lost their minds with excitement. It takes special people to be good with kids while wearing big fuzzy costumes, so mad props to the Elmo and Grover folks for being super nice. From left to right: Dustin, Linda, David Copperfield, Elmo, Grover, and me - a melange of color!
There was one thing about the show that really bothered me: who the hell was the bear in the overalls with the speech impediment? About halfway through the show, this bear showed up, didn't add anything to the plot, talked all crazy, and then left. Who was he? I haven't watched Sesame Street in years, and this character was completely new to me. Plus, why introduce a new creature in the middle when it has nothing to do with the story? Linda and I kept looking at each other like, Who the eff is that?
Other high points: cotton candy at 10:30 AM, and the tiny girl in the seat in front of me who bounced up and down every time Elmo came on stage... aww!

Elmo's Coloring Book - A- (that damn bear)