Sesame Street Entertains Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek Families

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Stratton, Navy Public Affairs Support Element - East

May 18, 2010 - VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Local military families from the Hampton Roads, Va., community enjoyed four performances by five characters from the hit children's TV show, "Sesame Street," at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek's Gator Theater May 15–16. Sponsored by United Service Organizations (USO), the 25-minute "Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families," featuring Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster, Rosita and Zoe, is designed to address the concerns of today's military families as they deal with the hardships of deployments and lengthy separations.

"The show is based on 'Sesame Workshop's Talk, Listen, Connect' DVD," said Lonnie Cooper, USO tour producer for the show. "It serves as a resource to help military families deal with the challenges of having a parent deploy, while also providing family entertainment."

Not only did singing and dancing fill the air, but so did the message the puppets had for the packed auditorium.

"It's the messages in the songs that really resonate with kids and parents," said Cooper. "I can't tell you how many times I've heard how a family went to the show, listened to the messages and then went home and listened to what their kids had to say about the experience."

"I couldn't agree more with what the show brings home to military families," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF) Kristopher Duncan, assigned to USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79). "I'm about to deploy, so sharing this experience with my wife and little girl was good for us."

"I've been in [the Navy] for 15 years, and this was my first experience with the program," continued Duncan. "The show was great and my daughter loved it."

Planning for the show took time and careful consideration.

"Sesame Workshop and the USO have worked hard to bring the tour to life and onto the doorsteps of today's military families," said Cooper. "Countless hours have gone into this process as each installation we present the show at is carefully and thoughtfully planned out."

Cooper added that installations with the greatest deployment rates are put at the very top of the list when choosing where to perform next.

What began in 2008 is now the longest-running entertainment tour in USO history and the first-ever traveling USO tour designed specifically for military families.

It has logged more than 45,500 miles spanning nine countries and has been viewed by more than 120,000 service members and their families at 76 military bases.