Shelby Sees The States!: Hello again, Minneapolis!

Hi everybody!

When I began my adventure with Sesame Street Live last August, Minneapolis, Minnesota was the first city I visited- it was where I had all of the initial rehearsals to learn the show! It was crazy that now, about six short months later, I was back- but this time, to actually perform there!

My whole journey so far has felt like it's happened in the blink of an eye. I couldn't believe that I was back in Minneapolis, because it feels like yesterday when I began! Even though I had been there before, so much was different. I was staying in a different part of town, and the weather was a drastic change. No summery, sunny days this time around! The winter had it positive moments too- the snowy fields provided some pretty scenery for our road trip. I also tremendously appreciated the fact that our fancy hotel had another skywalk which led to a Dairy Queen, Starbucks, and a Target. Really, do you need anything else?? And I could get to all three without ever once crossing the cold!

I was also able to see a little more of Minneapolis this time around- it started last Friday with a trip to a local news station. I enjoy getting to see the behind-the-scenes of a television studio, and it's always a fun time to be able to promote the show with my favorite friends!

After the news visit, my favorite part of the weekend was going to visit the Children's Hospital and Clinic of Minneapolis. I admit, these visits can also be difficult emotionally- many of the children I've met have life-threatening illnesses and spend most of their time in the hospital. No one deserves to live like that, especially the kids. It absolutely breaks my heart to see someone so young go through so much, and I'm always amazed at how they manage to smile through it all. I know visits like this can be hard, but it is also one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. This hospital in particular will always have a special place in my heart. The hospital has their own small television station, which broadcasts bingo, games, and special events to the Minneapolis location and the partnering hospital in St. Paul. I was able to be a part of a special event with my friends Jenny the Music Teacher, Elmo and Cookie Monster- we got to have storytime and songs with the children! Some children, parents, and staff were physically able to attend the event (the room was set up like a talk-show studio) and the others were able to watch us on tv. The studio even had a green screen which was able to project large images of the stories we read, so kids watching from their own rooms could see the pictures just as well as the kids actually in the studio. I'm getting emotional even while writing this, because I can't help but look back on this time with smiles and fond memories. I know I'm not a doctor, and I don't have magical powers to cure every one of the children. I wish I did, and an experience like this truly puts everything into perspective. You never know what someone else is going through, and sadly enough, someone is going to have it harder than you. I believe that great healing can be made through laughter and joy, and being able to bring that to the children through songs, dances, and stories is one of the best things I've ever done. As a performer, there is nothing more humbling or satisfying knowing that you made a difference in someone's life, even if it is just for a short moment. I thank God every day that I am healthy and able to do what I love, and creating memories with others who really need a smile is immensely gratifying.

I was able to find the video of our special event- check it out, and I hope it makes you smile as much as I did!
http://childrensmnstarstudio.org/2017/01/27/cookie-monster-and-elmo-01-27-17/

I still had more of Minneapolis to see- I got to spend a free afternoon exploring the Mall of America with some of my good friends! Finally, after years of wondering, I could explore the mall just like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen did in their "You're Invited: Mall Party" VHS I once had. Yes, it was awesome, and yes, I was super jealous that I was not physically invited to their extravagant mall party. I knew this mall was huge, but this was larger than I could've imagined. This mall was so ginormous that some stores had multiple locations within one mall! Of course, I hit up my childhood favorites like the American Girl Store, and the Disney Store...let's be honest, I'm a big kid at heart! Though I didn't go on any of the rides, I checked out the theme park in the mall. You had to pay for each individual ride, but I enjoyed watching my friends do the Zipline and the rope course! I only spent one afternoon in the mall, but you could've easily spent a whole day or two there- I know my wallet wouldn't have appreciated that!

Since Sesame Street Live's home office is located in Minneapolis, my touring company got to visit with them as well. They hosted an amazing social hour at a hip, local bar- it was such a nice welcome back into the city! Many of the home office employees came to our shows that weekend as well, so it was fun to see some familiar faces in the audience. Though our venue was a little small and toasty, the theatre was beautiful- I wish I took some pictures of the inside, but I enjoyed posing in front of the fancy marquee!

My time in Minneapolis flew by just as quickly as it did last time, and I enjoyed it just as much! My only complaint was that the Dairy Queen had ridiculously annoying hours and was never opened when I needed it to be. Seriously, why is an ice cream place open at 10:00am on a Monday but not at 7:00pm on a Saturday?? Who decides these things?! Alright, my rant is over, and it's on to the next- I'll spend a hot second in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the rest of the week in Beaumont, Texas! Warmer weather, here I come!

Signing off from the Street,
Shelby

City #37- Minneapolis, Minnesota

#shelbyseesthestates