The Magical Wand Chase

The Magical Wand Chase is a Sesame Street special. The 43-minute special premiered on HBO on Saturday, November 11, 2017. The special features guest star Elizabeth Banks.

The special helped kick off the show's 48th season, which began the following weekend. The special received an advanced screening at the Metrograph in New York City on November 9.

The special premiered on PBS on March 25, 2019. To round out the hour, the street story "Street Food" was added between the main feature and the end credits.

The special was released on DVD on November 6, 2018, and was later included as a bonus feature on the 2021 release Wonderful World of Friends!

Press kit description

“While taking her friends on a magical hot air balloon ride, Abby Cadabby loses her wand to a curious bird, voiced by [Elizabeth] Banks. Without Abby’s wand, they can’t get back to Sesame Street. A chase ensues!
Pursuing the bird in their hot air balloon, Abby and the gang visit new neighborhoods and discover new foods, music, and languages. Best of all, they make new friends who help them find the missing wand and show them the way back home. Who knew there was so much to discover just around the corner?
The Magical Wand Chase is deeply connected to this season’s respect and understanding curriculum, using the tapestry of the city to show kids that kindness is universal and new friends can be found anywhere. (It also marks the first time the show has shot a feature-length special on location since 1994!)”

Songs

Cast

Cast

Nina: Suki Lopez
Lucy: Lynn Cheng
Carl: William Poon
Sonia: Ana-Sofia Rodriquez-Garcia
Zaki: Bluend Mulbah
Onyi: Olivia Altidor

Special Guest Star

Bird-Lady: Elizabeth Banks

Sesame Street Muppet Performers

Jennifer Barnhart, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Frankie Cordero, Ryan Dillon, Eric Jacobson, John Kennedy, Peter Linz, Carmen Osbahr, David Rudman, Matt Vogel

Other Human Roles

Pedicab Driver: Lee Buckman
Nigerian Jump-Roping Girl: Chiamaka Eke

Los Jarabe Tapatío Dancers

Melyssa Cristino, Melvin Gonzalez, Diana Palomares, Emanuel Torres Ortega, Jesus Torres Ortega

Dance Teacher: Juan Castano

Child Extras

Christopher Brillantino, Annabelle Chow, Malachy Fong, Heaven McCoy, Shamillah Middleton-Ellis, Violet Tinnierello

Muppet Characters

Elmo, Oscar the Grouch, Rosita, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Grover

Background Muppets

Honker

Animated Credits Characters

Bruno the Trashman, Roosevelt Franklin, Abelardo Montoya, Baby Bear, Little Bird, Penelope Penguin, Prairie Dawn, Zoe, Count von Count, Two-Headed Monster, Bats, Julia, Alan, Ovejita, Slimey, Telly Monster, Rudy, Ernie, Bert, Mr. Snuffleupagus

Notes

The special was originally conceived with the working title "Get That Wand."^[1]
In the special, Violet Tinnirello and Jennifer Barnhart play mother and daughter in the background of a scene. Barnhart has since played the mother to Tinnirello's character of Charlie.^[2]