Although she spend most of her working days inside a giant costume, Bev Pajak still finds a way to bring some originality to her job portraying a childhood icon.
In her fourth year as part of the Vee Corporation’s “Sesame Street Live” stage shows, the Cheektowaga native will be the woman behind Ernie when “Elmo’s Green Thumb” comes to Shea’s this week. Having to wear a huge orange head every day requires her to remain anonymous — to most people, at least.
“People tell me, ‘Oh, I could tell that’s you in there,’ ” she said. “That’s the best part about being Ernie. He’s a boy, and I can do some Michael Jackson (dance moves).”
Not that life as Ernie is all good, though. Pajak has in past shows portrayed Rosita and Zoe, two members of the “Sesame Street” gang whose costumes come with air conditioning.
“The all fur costumes allow for better air circulation,” she said. “Now, Ernie is fleece, which is way different and very hot.”
The heat only intensifies as the night goes on, as the Ernie costume’s 20-pound weight can drain her (not as much as the Big Bird costume, though, which weighs 40 pounds). But for Pajak, some sultriness is a small price to pay for carrying out a childhood dream.
Pajak has danced since age 4 in various studios throughout Western New York. She went to Erie Community College to pursue a career as a math teacher, but couldn’t maintain that path. She went to an audition on a whim held in Buffalo by Vee Corporation and within months was on the road.
“I’ve pretty much been to every state,” she said. “Just to cross off on the map that I’ve been to these states and these cities in these states that I otherwise never would have gone to, that’s so thrilling.”
“Elmo’s Green Thumb” is the second show in which she will portray Ernie, who helps youngsters in the audience learn about the environment. “Green Thumb” follows Elmo and his friend Sunny the Sunflower, for whom Elmo’s trying to find a suitable garden for planting. A miscast spell by Abby Cadabay ends up shrinking some of the characters, which allows them to explore the world through a bug’s eyes.
While Ernie and a few other characters who weren’t miniaturized hunt for their friends, Elmo and his cohorts learn about the environment, including the importance of plants and not littering. The score, which features familiar songs from the show such as “Ladybug Picnic” and “I Love Trash,” will allow parents to share in the moment with their children, Pajak said.
“It’s just so precious to have that with your child, to have them know these characters as well as you do. You can share that with them,” she said.
This year will be the last in which Pajak will help forge such memories. She will hang up her costume in June so that she can get married in November and return to Western New York for good. She’s unsure of her future plans, but she said she can always fall back on the family’s tavern business if opportunities in massage therapy or personal training don’t work out. She also intends to keep her dancing shoes at least partially laced, since some of her former dance studios promised her a teaching position should she ever return.
But for the next few months, the focus remains on the show — and its fans.
“The kids — I love seeing their faces when we all come out and the curtain opens,” she said. “(The show) features timeless lessons for all ages.”
Contact Paul Laneat 693-1000, ext. 116.
IF YOU GO
• WHAT: Sesame Street Live presents “Elmo’s Green Thumb”
• WHEN: 7 p.m. March 10; 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. TMarch 11-12; 10:30 a.m., 2 and 5:30 p.m. March 13; and 1 and 4:30 p.m. March 14
• WHERE: Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St., Buffalo
• MORE INFORMATION: Call 847-0850 or visit ticketmaster.com
Family
Related Photos
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PHOTO BY VEE CORPORATION
LIFESTYLE: Local dancer brings 'Sesame Street' to stage
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