Presentation to show how ‘Sesame Street’ is produced

They may not be able to tell you how to get to Sesame Street, but some of the show’s creative staff probably will demonstrate how the puppets work.

“Sesame Street Unpaved,” a multimedia behind-the-scenes presentation, will offer the campus community a comprehensive picture of what goes into production of the 30-year-old program.

The 90-minute workshop Sept. 22 is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. in the Wisconsin Union Theater. The event will showcase the expertise of puppeteers, writers, composers, on-air talent and producers from the Children’s Television Workshop.

Event organizers say small children will not be allowed to attend “Sesame Street Unpaved” because they could get upset if they witness the “deconstruction” of favorite puppet characters.

A free panel discussion, scheduled Sept. 22 at noon in the Humanities Building’s Mills Concert Hall, will help audience members better CTW’s interdisciplinary approach. Panel participants will include UW–Madison alumnus Lou Berger, now “Sesame Street’s” head writer. Sharon Derry, professor of educational psychology, will moderate the panel.

“The small amount of research on interdisciplinary work shows it’s not easy for people with different backgrounds and from different disciplines to work together,” she says. “The CTW has been able to do this successfully, and their visit will allow us to probe their secrets.”

UW–Madison faculty, staff and students each may get no more than two tickets to Sesame Street Unpaved beginning Sept. 8 at the Wisconsin Union Box Office. Remaining tickets will be available to the public Sept. 16.