Alex Young: Sesame Street Kid
I started out with Sesame Street. I was about six or so. I did a couple seasons as Keisha and I got to meet all of the awesome puppets and Snuffleupagus and Elmo and Big Bird and I saw behind the set. For a little girl that was just amazing because I used to watch it all the time. It was one of my favorite shows and I got to meet the people behind it.
It’s funny, as a little kid it could be really frightening to see a huge monster that you’re working with if you don’t know it’s not a monster. So the puppeteers come up to you and they point out the puppet and they say, “That’s snuffleupagus over there. I’m me, my name is Bob. I’m going to get into that outfit, that costume, so don’t be scared. Don’t be frightened. It’s going to be me.” So you watch him get into it, and he’s talking to you all through the way so you’re not terrified. Once he’s in it there are actually two people inside that costume, and he sort of looks at you – it makes so much sense because as a little girl or a 6 year old, you see a huge monster man coming over to you, and you run out and you’re nowhere to be found, you’re traumatized. I thought that was really cool tactic to make the children at ease.



