Sesame Street Live performers

The following is a compilation of known Sesame Street Live performers, between 1980 and present. Little biographical information is known about most, although some who went on to greater fame have their own articles.

Apparently, performers must watch hundreds of episodes of the show before performing.

Carmella Adams

 * 2008-2009: Ernie in Elmo Makes Music (January-March only)

Christie Anstine
A San Jose, California resident, Anstine is a former dance teacher who hopes to eventually instruct in the inner-city. One of her first major stage roles was the March Hare in a production of Alice in Wonderland.


 * 2007-2008: Count von Count in Super Grover! Ready for Action arena tour
 * 2008-2009: Count Von Count / Cookie Monster in Everyone Makes Music theatre tour

Justin Alesna

 * 2008-2009: Big Bird in When Elmo Grows Up

Ryan Bentez
From Cinnaminson, New Jersey.


 * 2007-2009: Big Bird in Super Grover! Ready for Action
 * 2011-2012: Big Bird in Elmo's Super Heroes!

Leslie Bowen
A native of the Cinncinnati area, formerly a Point Park University student.
 * 2004-2006: Big Bird in Elmo's Coloring Book
 * 2006-2007: Big Bird in Everyone Makes Music
 * 2010-2012: Big Bird in 1-2-3 Imagine! with Elmo & Friends

Devon Wycovia Buchanan

 * 2007: Cookie Monster in When Elmo Grows Up

Terrence Bynum

 * 2007-2009: Telly Monster in Super Grover! Ready for Action

Krystal Caldwell
A native of Greensville, Pennsylvania.


 * 2008-2009: Grover and Baby Bear in When Elmo Grows Up, east coast tour

Le'Von Campbell
Le’Von Campbell began his training at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, later performing with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and The Flocks of the George Faison Universal Dance Experience. He performed on Soul Train and in the movie Fame. He also has performed at Tokyo Sesame Place.


 * Dallas Black Dance Theatre

Tim Caouette

 * 2008-2009: Oscar the Grouch in When Elmo Grows Up, east coast tour

Arlee Chadwick

 * 2007-2008: Rosita in When Elmo Grows Up, west coast tour (May-June only)
 * 2008-2009: Grundgetta/Medium Understudy in Elmo Makes Music

Joseph Christianson

 * 2008-2009: Bert in Elmo Makes Music

Patti Coffin

 * 1989-1990: Baby Kermit Muppet Babies Live
 * 1990-1994: Elmo Sleeping Birdie
 * 1994-1995: Elmo When I Grow Up
 * Graduated from Temple University in 1999 with BBA in Marketing and from La Salle University in 2009 with a BSN in Nursing. Currently working as a Surgical and Trauma ICU Nurse.

Dani Cohen

 * 2007-2009: Roxie Marie in Super Grover! Ready for Action

Camie Cooperman

 * 1988: Granny in Big Bird's Super Spectacular Totally Amateur Show

Todd Alan Crain

 * Sam the Postman in 1-2-3 Imagine!

Jamie Lyn Critelli
Jamie Lyn Critelli has a bachelor's degree in dance from the University of Buffalo, studied at La Sorbonne in Paris and The Dancing Pointe in New York. The 2008-2009 tour is her third year with VEE, she performed in When Elmo Grows Up and My Little Pony Live: "The World’s Biggest Tea Party. She's performed in over 75 cities in 40 states.


 * 2008-2009: Prairie Dawn, Elmo understudy in Elmo Makes Music

Michael Cross

 * Tall understudy and Cookie Monster, Save Our Street
 * Cookie Monster, Big Bird & the ABCs
 * Cookie Monster, Big Bird's Sesame Street Story

Donna-Lynne Dalton
She was recording secretary for the Teamsters Local 385, the union representing characters at Walt Disney World, from at least December 1998 to at least August 2009. She is now Donna-Lynne Dalton Lavely.


 * 1988: Prairie Dawn in Big Bird's Super Spectacular Totally Amateur Show

Natalie Davis

 * 2007 (fall): Rosita in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2008 (spring): Grundgetta in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2008-2009: Grundgetta in When Elmo Grows Up

Lionel Douglass

 * 1980-1981: Big Bird and a constable in A Sesame Street Mystery: The Case of the Missing Rara Avis.
 * 1981-1982: Big Bird, unknown production
 * 1982-1983: Big Bird, unknown production
 * 1983-1984: Big Bird, unknown production
 * 1984-1985: Big Bird, unknown production
 * 1985-1986: Big Bird, unknown production

Jenny DuMars

 * 2009-2010: Tour performance director, Elmo Grows Up

Becky DuVarny
She has a bachelor’s degree in dance and arts for children from Brockport State College.


 * 2009-2010: Abby Cadabby in Elmo's Green Thumb

Kristen Ejbisz
Grew up in Buffalo, New York.


 * 2007-2008: Oscar the Grouch in When Elmo Grows Up (August-October only)

Christopher Ellis
By 2011, he had been on tour for nine years.


 * 2007-2008: Big Bird in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2008-2009: Big Bird in Elmo's Green Thumb
 * 2011-2012: Big Bird in Elmo Makes Music

Grenoldo Frazier

 * 1980-1981: Phineas T. Barnswallow A Sesame Street Mystery: The Case of the Missing Rara Avis

Lisa Marie Fulton

 * 2011: Ernie in Elmo Makes Music

Matthew Furtado

 * 2006-2007: Professor Art in Elmo's Coloring Book

Laura Gillespie
Previously a cast member at Sesame Place theme park, she is enrolled at Temple University, studying communication and anthropology.


 * 2009-2010: Abby Cadabby in When Elmo Grows Up

Michelle Glapion

 * 2008-2009: Oscar, a ladybug, a flower in Elmo's Green Thumb

Raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, bachelor's degree in dance from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Danced on Dawson's Creek, at Disney's Animal Kingdom, and for My Little Pony Live.

Megan Godin

 * 2009-2010: Abby Cadabby in Elmo Grows Up

She graduated from University of New Hampshire in 2008. As of 2011, she was a human in Barney Live in Concert — Birthday Bash!, and understudy to BJ.

Cyndi Graves

 * 2007-2008: Abby Cadabby

Leora Greenburg
From Northampton, Mass., she is a part-time student at the University of Hartford in Connecticut, and previous performed in shows at Six Flags New England.


 * 2010-2011: Elmo in Elmo's Healthy Heroes

Alicia Grubb

 * 2008-2009: Grover and Baby Bear in Elmo Makes Music (July only)

Keith Herrmann

 * Mumford the Magician in Sleeping Birdie
 * Snuffy and a Honker in Let's Be Friends
 * Tall Understudy in Let's Be Friends
 * Keith was also a truck driver in addition to performer.

Rebecca Hanson

 * 2007-2008: Zoe in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2008-2009: Prairie Dawn in When Elmo Grows Up

Chelsey Anne Hughes
From Wexford, Pennsylvania, and studied business at the University of North Carolina. Her height, 4' 10", often excluded her from roles. She was Young Kim in the touring production of Show Boat, alongside Happy Days star Tom Bosley.


 * May 2011: Elmo in Elmo's Healthy Heroes

Juan Iglesias

 * 1980: Cookie Monster in A Sesame Street Mystery: The Case of the Missing Rara Avis

Kyle Igneczi
A native of Elyria, Ohio, Kyle has successfully made a living as a family theatre performer and puppeteer. Having worked across the country in multiple mediums, he is now based out of New York City. In addition to being a performer he also designs and builds puppets for Fisticuff Puppets and is the Co-Founder of Imaginary Trends (an internet-based performance group).

While on the road, Kyle has created a travelogue of his adventures using a puppet character he created named Yancy. Some of his experiences can be found on a blog he maintains with long-time friend (and current star of the tour of Avenue Q ) David Corris.

Igneczi had performed at Sesame Place, as Oscar/Hoots/Bert/Count/Telly in the Rock Around the Block Parade, as Oscar and all puppets in Abby Cadabby's Treasure Hunt, and Kingfish in Elmo's World Live - Fish. He also was the principal male understudy for VEE tour Curious George Live!


 * 2007-2008: Big Bird in Elmo Makes Music
 * 2008-2009: Telly Monster in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2011: Cookie Monster in the Sesame Street Experience for Military Families (an international USO tour)

Chikae Ishikawa

 * 1980-1981: A constable in A Sesame Street Mystery: The Case of the Missing Rara Avis

Jeffrey Johnson

 * Elmo's Coloring Book
 * Elmo! Ready for Action
 * 2009-2010: Cookie Monster in When Elmo Grows Up!
 * 2011-2012: Performance director for Elmo Makes Music

LeVon Johnston

 * Cookie Monster
 * 1981-1985: Performance director for Around the World

Matt Jones
Matt Jones, of Boston, Massachusetts, has a BFA in theatre from the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He has also toured with My Little Pony in 2007. A native of Southboro, Jones was a regular with Foothills Theatre and Foothills Children's Theatre, and has also appeared at the Ogunquit Playhouse and the Worcester County Light Opera Company.


 * 2008-2009: Bert in When Elmo Grows Up, east coast tour
 * 2010: Bert in Elmo's Green Thumb

Roger Kachel

 * 1980: Ernie in A Sesame Street Mystery: The Case of the Missing Rara Avis

Pamela Kaminski

 * 2007-2008: Roxie Marie/Small Understudy in Super Grover! Ready for Action
 * 2008-2009: Zoe in When Elmo Grows Up (May-July only)
 * 2011-2012: Zoe in Elmo Makes Music

Bailey Kirwan
Graduate of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, majoring in dance. Attended her first SSL show at age 4. Her height is 5' 1".


 * 2010-2011: Abby Cadabby in Elmo's Healthy Heroes!

Colleen Kreisel

 * 2008-2009: Ernie in Elmo Makes Music (July-December only)

Karol Kristoff

 * 1988: Ernie in Big Bird's Super Spectacular Totally Amateur Show

Annemarie LaTulip
LaTulip spent nearly eight year with the tour, before becoming a real estate agent. She returned to the tour after eight years, during a business slow down.


 * Prairie Dawn in Out of This World
 * 2001: Elmo in Sunny Day Camp Out
 * 2011: Elmo in Elmo's Green Thumb

Amy Lachinsky

 * 1980-1981: A constable in A Sesame Street Mystery: The Case of the Missing Rara Avis

Kiera Leverton

 * 2007-2008: Bert in When Elmo Grows Up (August-February only)

Julia Mackenzie
From St. Louis.


 * 2010-2011: Kay in Elmo's Healthy Heroes

Carlos Martinez

 * 2007-2009: Rosita in Super Grover! Ready for Action
 * 2008-2009: Ernie in Elmo Makes Music (March-June only)

Jason Matney

 * 2003-2004:
 * 2004-2005:
 * 2005-2006:
 * 2006-2007:
 * 2007-2008: Purple Honker in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2008-2009: Purple Honker in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2009-2010: Orange Honker in Elmo's Green Thumb, understudy for Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Count von Count Telly

Kristin Ann Mazzulli
A native of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, Mazzulli holds a B.S. in Education from Slippery Rock University (SRU). She double majored in Elementary Education and Dance. Mazzulli was a member of the Slippery Rock University Dance Theater and Vice President of the dance honorary Sigma Rho Delta at SRU. She has performed in various shows produced by Latshaw Productions and has taught and choreographed dance throughout the Pittsburgh area.


 * 2007-2008: Ernie in Super Grover! Ready for Action, theatre and international tour
 * 2008-2009: Grundgetta in Elmo! Ready for Action, theatre and international tour
 * 2009 (May/June): Grover and Baby Bear in Elmo Makes Music, theatre tour
 * 2009 - 2010: Ernie in 1-2-3 Imagine! with Elmo and Friends!

Naeemah McCowan
A St. Louis native, she is 5 foot 1. Previously, she danced back to Amerie, when she was an opening act to Destiny's Child.


 * 2010: Elmo in Elmo's Green Thumb, alternate for Abby Cadabby

Noland McFarland

 * Oscar the Grouch and Snuffy in Let's Be Friends
 * 2004-2005: Telly Monster in Out of This World

Kevin Michale
According to China Daily: "As a professional dancer, Michale has been performing with Sesame Street for almost nine years. He played the role of Super Grover for four and a half years and Bert for three years before taking on his current part of Oscar."


 * 2011: Oscar the Grouch in Elmo's Green Thumb, international tour

Chris Mick

 * 2006-2007: Baby Bear and Count von Count Elmo's Coloring Book
 * 2007-2008: Bert in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2008 (Fall): Count von Count in When Elmo Grows Up

Jessica Miller

 * 2008: Elmo in Elmo! Ready for Action

Casandra Mills

 * 2007-2008: Prairie Dawn in When Elmo Grows Up, west coast tour

Janice Miuccio

 * 2006-2007: Grundgetta in Super Grover! Ready for Action
 * 2007-2008: Grundgetta in Everyone Makes Music
 * 2008-2009: Purple Honker in Elmo's Green Thumb

Taylor Morgan
Taylor switched over to a My Little Pony Live! tour in 2006-2007, playing Minty.


 * 2005: Bert in 1-2-3 Imagine!
 * 2005-2006: Bert in Elmo's Coloring Book
 * 2007-2008: Bert in Elmo Makes Music
 * 2008-2009: Bert in Elmo's Green Thumb
 * 2009-2010: Bert in Elmo's Green Thumb

Sheila Murphy

 * 2007-2008: Grover and Baby Bear in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2009-2010: Baby Bear, Grundgetta, a beetle, a ladybug and Rosita in Elmo's Green Thumb

Fred Mursch
Unknown role, unknown tour, as a "swing".

Stan Nelson

 * 1980-1981: A constable in A Sesame Street Mystery: The Case of the Missing Rara Avis

Casey O'Keefe
She has a BFA from Hofstra University, 2009.


 * 2010-2011: Sam the Mail Carrier in 1-2-3 Imagine!

Spencer Rose Oberman

 * 2008-2009: Jenny and Rosita in Elmo Makes Music (July-December only)

Elizabeth Osborn
Osborn previously was Bedtime Bear in Care Bears Live: Caring and Sharing Friends and Spike the Dragon in My Little Pony Live!: The World's Biggest Tea Party. She was profiled in the babble article "5-Minute Time Out: The Girl in the Elmo Suit".


 * 2007-2008: Elmo in Everyone Makes Music
 * 2008-2009: Roxie Marie in When Elmo Grows Up

Leesa Osborn

 * Prairie Dawn in Let's Play School

Beverly Pajak

 * 2006-2007:
 * 2007-2008: Ernie in Elmo Makes Music
 * 2008-2009: Zoe in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2009-2010: Ernie and a Ladybug in Elmo's Green Thumb

Denise Pajak

 * 2007-2009: Bert in Super Grover! Ready for Action

Laura Percy

 * 2008 (summer): Cast Swing for the Sesame Street Live USO Tour
 * 2008-2009: Roxie Marie in When Elmo Grows Up, east coast tour, spring only

Kelly Peters
Kelly Peters has danced since age 2, and was in the Zenon Dance Company in Minneapolis when cast for the show. She remembers being waved at by Prairie Dawn, when she attended a show as a child. Her mother is a dance director and teacher.


 * 2007-2008: Prairie Dawn in unidentified show
 * 2008-2009: Elmo in Elmo's Green Thumb

Yram Rivera

 * 1999-2000: Elmo's Coloring Book
 * 2000-2001: Jodie in Big Bird's Sunny Day Camp Out

Moses Rodrigues

 * 2008-2009: Grover and Baby Bear in Elmo Makes Music (August-May only)

Christofer T. Roseberry
Native to Middletown, Ohio, Christofer T. Roseberry performed for a year at La Comedia Dinner Theater located in Springboro, Ohio, before joining the cast of Sesame Street Live. His other credits include productions of West Side Story, Grease, and Wizard of Oz. Roseberry began performing while in Miami University, leaving his communications major at age 20 to pursue an acting career.


 * 2008-2009 (until March): Telly Monster and Mr. Noodle in Elmo Makes Music theatre tour
 * 2008-2009 (March on): Honker and tall understudy (Big Bird, Bert, Cookie Monster, Count Von Count, Telly Monster, Grover, and Baby Bear) in Elmo Makes Music theatre tour


 * Ryan Gillis, "‘Sesame Street Live’ understudy makes music as many Muppets", Lisbon Morning Journal, April 26, 2009.

Ashley Rowberry
From Windsor, Ontario, Rowberry has been part of the city's dance and theatre communities since age 12, choreographing a number of musicals for Theatre Live.


 * 2008-2009: Rosita in When Elmo Grows Up

Kim Sanders

 * 1998-1999: Bert in Elmo's Coloring Book
 * 1999-2000: Grover in When I Grow Up

Caitlin Sanford

 * 2008-2009: Elmo in When Elmo Grows Up, east coast tour, except for November and December

Thomas Sanford
Sanford performed Sam the Eagle and Beth Bear in the wedding finale sequence of The Muppets Take Manhattan.

He performed for Sesame Street Live from 1980-1986.


 * Victor the Green Seedy Bird and Big Bird understudy in A Sesame Street Mystery: The Case of the Missing Rara Avis
 * Big Bird, Herry Monster, Pink Honker in Around the World

Maggie Sarmiento
Has danced for RASA Dance Chicago, and MOVE Dance Company in St. Louis, and currently teaches dance.


 * 2007-2008: Rosita in When Elmo Grows Up (January-April only)

Antoine L. Smith
Unknown role, unknown tour, as a "swing". Credits also include Dragon Tails Live, a national tour of CATS.

George Tommy Smith

 * 2008-2009: Big Bird in Elmo Makes Music

Janel Somers

 * 2007-2008: Jenny/Oscar in Everyone Makes Music
 * 2008-2009: Jenny/Rosita in Everyone Makes Music

Lisa Stanley

 * 1980-1981: A constable in A Sesame Street Mystery: The Case of the Missing Rara Avis

Antwaun Steele

 * 2007-2008: Count von Count in When Elmo Grows Up, west coast tour, November-June only
 * 2008-2009: Cookie Monster in When Elmo Grows Up, east coast tour, spring only

Ryan Stevens

 * Dates and productions unknown, Dancer/Puppeteer

Wendi Stoltzfus
Originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Studied musical theater at Point Park University, Pittsburgh, acting and music, Oklahoma City University.


 * 2011-2012: Jenny and Rosita in Elmo Makes Music

Diane Sulik
At various points, she was Bert, Oscar, the Amazing Mumford, The Count and Jodie.
 * 1988-1989: Teenager in Big Bird's Super Spectacular Totally Amateur Show
 * 1989-1990
 * 1990-1991
 * 1991-1992
 * 1992-1993
 * 1993-1994

Buz Suraci

 * 1980-1981: Oscar the Grouch and a constable in A Sesame Street Mystery: The Case of the Missing Rara Avis.

Amanda Sutliff

 * 2007-2008: Baby Bear in Everyone Makes Music
 * 2008-2009: Grover in Elmo's Green Thumb
 * 2009-2010: Tour performance director for Elmo's Green Thumb

Judy Swartz

 * 1980-1981: A constable in A Sesame Street Mystery: The Case of the Missing Rara Avis

Tiffany Taylor

 * 2007-2008: Elmo in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2008: Elmo (replacement) in When Elmo Grows Up

Taylor joined the cast of When Elmo Grows Up in July 2007, and claims that she can't see herself playing anyone other than Elmo, because of a "special bond" she has with him.

Emily Turay

 * Emily_Turay.jpg (May/June): Baby Bear in 123...Imagine! 
 * 2003-2004: Baby Bear/Oscar the Grouch in Out of This World 
 * 2004-2005: Ernie in Out of This World 
 * 2005-2006: Grover/Medium Understudy in Elmo's Coloring Book 
 * 2007-2008: Ernie in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2008-2009: Rosita in Elmo's Green Thumb
 * 2009-2010: Grundgetta/Medium Understudy in 123...Imagine!...With Elmo and Friends
 * 2010-2011: Tour performance director for 123 Imagine!

Chris Urban

 * 2006-2007: Telly Monster in Elmo Ready For Action
 * 2007-2008: Cookie Monster in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2008 (fall): Cookie Monster in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2009 (spring): Count von Count in When Elmo Grows Up

Kevin Wheeler

 * 2008: Super Grover in Elmo! Ready for Action

Angelo Williams

 * 2007-2008: Telly Monster in When Elmo Grows Up
 * 2008-2009: Telly Monster in Elmo Makes Music (March to June)

Debra Wilson
Performing with Sesame Street Live for six years, Wilson has taught for Dance Theatre of Harlem's Children's Program and at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Her credit include a touring show of The Wizard of Oz with Eartha Kitt and Mickey Rooney, an Austrian production of Porgy &amp; Bess, the The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, as an elf for The Rosie O'Donnell Show Christmas Special, and the premiere of 1996 film 101 Dalmatians.


 * Joan Harris Dancers guest instructor biography

Norma Woods

 * 2007-2008: Oscar the Grouch in When Elmo Grows Up (October-June only)

Steven Yerardi

 * 2007-2008: Orange Honker/Tall Understudy (Big Bird, Telly Monster, Mr. Noodle, Cookie Monster, The Count, Bert & Baby Bear) On Elmo Makes Music, East Coast Tour
 * 2008-2009: Orange Honker/Tall Understudy (Big Bird, Telly Monster, Mr. Noodle, Cookie Monster, The Count, Bert, Baby Bear, Oscar & Grover ) (July to March) on Elmo Makes Music, Theater Tour
 * 2010: Grover/Abuela/Uncle Grizzly (July-August) on 1-2-3 Imagine!, West Coast Tour
 * 2011-2012: Purple Honker/Tall Understudy (Big Bird, Telly Monster, Mr. Noodle, Cookie Monster, The Count, Bert, Oscar, and Grover) on Elmo Makes Music, West Coast Tourthumb|300px|right|Steven Yerardi as Orange Honker

Christina Young
A native of Portersville, Pennsylvania.
 * 2008-2009: Ernie in When Elmo Grows Up, east coast tour