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

• "Around the World"
• "Lucy's Rap"
• "Just Around the Corner"

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."

• 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.

• The first location the Sesame Street Muppets visit is a statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, in Columbus Park. He finalized plans for the Chinese revolution of 1911 from New York City.

• The pedicab driver is a real pedicab driver.

• For many years, Grover's hands had an armature underneath. Before this special, the puppets had returned to their original floppy hands. In the special, Grover needed to hold a churro, and Cookie needed to take it from him. Annie Ozar added an armature just to Grover's thumb, which keeps the fingers floppy and doesn't impede the arm rod.

Credits

• Executive Producers: Brown Johnson and Ken Scarborough
• Directed By Benjamin Lehmann
• Head Writer: Ken Scarborough
• Writers: Jessica Carleton and Raye Lankford
• Puppets, Costumes, And Props / The Jim Henson Company NY Creature Shop: Liz Hara, Michelle Hickey, Rollie Krewson, Lara MacLean, Anney Ozar, Constance Peterson, Sierra Schoening, Jason Weber
• Music Director: Bill Sherman
• Music Director (Arrangements and Orchestrations): Joe Fiedler
• Music Director (Vocals): Paul Rudolph
• Composers: Bill Sherman, Joe Fiedler, Tim Kubart, Shaina Taub, Dominic Fallacaro
• Music Copyist: Joe Fiedler
• Music Coordinator: Tyler Hartman
• Sesame Street Band: Randy Cohen, Michael Croiter, John Deley, Doug Derryberry, Joe Fiedler, Rob Jost, Gary Meyer, Kenny Rampton, Entcho Todorov, Matt Lehmann, Jonathan Dinklage, Anja Wood
• Associate Producers: Theresa Anderson and Andrew Moriarty
• Sound Effects Editor / Re-Recording Mixer: Dick Maitland, C.A.S.
• Music Editors: Jorge Muelle and Paul Rudolph
• Creative Director and Storyboard Artist: Rickey Boyd
• Associate Director: Frank Campagna
• Production Designer: David Gallo
• Cameras: Frank Biondo, Jerry Cancel, Shaun Harkins
• Taped At Kaufman Astoria Studios In New York

Promos

Sneak Peek of The Magical Wand Chase from Sesame Street (HBO)

Sneak Peak

The Magical Wand Chase Cookie Monster Loves Churros

Cookie Monster Loves Churros

The Magical Wand Chase Get Ready For An Adventure

Get Ready for an Adventure