As a child, Riley LeBon was terrified of Count von Count on “Sesame Street.”
Last week, the now-third-year University of Virginia student helped puppeteer the numbers-obsessed vampire with Muppet performer Matt Vogel.
“When I was younger, I remember my parents took me to Sesame Street World or something, and I met the Count, and I was really freaked out by the Count,” LeBon said. “So, this was really full circle for me to be the Count’s right hand.”
Third-year student Riley LeBon controls Count von Count’s right hand with Vogel, the puppet’s usual performer. As a child, she said she was “freaked out” by the Count. (Photo by Erin Edgerton, University Communications)
LeBon was among the students who took part in a series of “Sesame Street” festivities at UVA Thursday and Friday, which included a workshop in Helms Theatre, an Arts on the Hill performance and a visit to UVA Health Children’s.
On Thursday, around 100 UVA students experienced a behind-the-scenes look at the world of “Sesame Street” with Vogel and Jason Weber, the creative supervisor at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Many of the students involved were in the Art of the Moving Creature course, a two-semester sequence culminating in the Festival of the Moving Creature every spring.
LeBon, who is not in the Moving Creature course, learned an important lesson from her brief stint as a puppeteer.
“It’s so much harder than it looks, and I made it look pretty hard,” LeBon said.
Students in the workshop had a chance to work with some of the Muppets, learning how to move as they lip-synced a simple phrase – no easy feat. They simultaneously had to watch themselves in a monitor, keep their heads out of the camera frame and adjust to the monitor reversing their movements.
Vogel, who voices the Count, and Weber also shared their paths to “Sesame Street.”
Growing up in Missouri, Vogel made puppets to entertain himself and admired Jim Henson, but initially trained as an actor. At his then-girlfriend/now-wife’s suggestion, he answered an ad to join the show’s cast.
Vogel plays the Count, Big Bird and a host of other “Sesame Street” characters. He has performed various Muppets since the 1990s. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
“I never knew this was an actual job,” Vogel said.
Weber started making costumes for the show’s characters while he was in graduate school for costume design.
“I had this one-semester class about fabric painting and dyeing, and I just loved it,” Weber said. “At the end of that school year, Jim Henson’s New York company called our shop manager and said ‘We need a fabric painter and dyer. Do you have anybody?’”
He was happy to refer Weber.
After Thursday’s workshop, Vogel and Weber headed to Carr’s Hill for Arts on the Hill, an annual series of music and performances at President Jim Ryan’s home.
Those who attended the Carr’s Hill performance were in for a surprise: the most famous resident of “Sesame Street,” Elmo, made a special appearance.
Dozens of students, faculty and staff lined up for the chance to get a picture taken with the lovable red Muppet.
“My whimsy is going through the roof!” Kayla Denoo, a fourth-year student majoring in math, shouted. She was first in line to get a picture with Elmo.
“Growing up with him and ‘Sesame Street’ in general has been so formative to who I am, and how I perceive the world so optimistically,” Denoo said.
Once she had her photo, she texted it straight to her mom.
“She raised me on PBS Kids. She’s going to be over the moon,” Denoo said.
Fourth-year student Kayla Denoo poses with Elmo before the “Sesame Street” Arts on the Hill event. Denoo was first in line to have her picture taken. (Photo by Erin Edgerton, University Communications)
The Count made an appearance during Arts on the Hill, to help count the years of experience and Emmy wins between Vogel and Weber. He also shared his favorite Charlottesville moment.
“One thing I have discovered, it is called Bodo’s Bagels,” the Count said, naming the famous bagel spot on the Corner. “I go in early in the morning, and I just start counting bagels.”
The “Sesame Street” festivities capped off with Elmo visiting UVA Health Children’s. Elmo doled out hugs and high-fives to children receiving treatment there.
Take a look at other moments from the “Sesame Street” visit to Grounds.
