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.

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

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
 * 2010-2011: Big Bird in 123 Imagine

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

Patti Coffin

 * 1992: Elmo

Camie Cooperman

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

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

Christopher Ellis

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

Grenoldo Frazier

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

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.

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

Rebecca Hanson

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

Kyle Igneczi

 * 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)

A native of Elyria, OH, 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.

Jeffrey Johnson

 * Elmo's Coloring Book
 * Elmo! Ready for Action
 * 2009-2010: Cookie Monster in When Elmo Grows Up!

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

Karol Kristoff

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

Annemarie LaTulip

 * Prairie Dawn in Out of This World
 * 2001: Elmo in Sunny Day Camp Out

Julia Mackenzie
From St. Louis.


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

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

 * 2004-2005: Telly Monster in Out of This World

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

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

 * 2009-2010: Rosita in Elmo's Green Thumb

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

 * 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

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

Janel Somers

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

Antwaun Steele

 * 2008-2009: Cookie Monster in When Elmo Grows Up, east coast tour, spring only

Ryan Stevens

 * Dates and productions unknown, Dancer/Puppeteer

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

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

 * 2003 (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

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

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