Sesame Street Favorites Gordon and Elmo to Appear at Montclair High School for Luna Stage Benefit

Sesame Street favorites Gordon and Elmo are coming to Montclair High School Auditorium in Montclair, NJ on Saturday November 15th at 11 A.M. for a performance to benefit Luna Stage. Stars Roscoe Orman and Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash are again lending their support to Luna Stage, a New Jersey cultural institution. Roscoe Orman is best known for his long-running portrayal of Gordon Robinson on PBS's highly acclaimed children's series "Sesame Street." A veteran actor with a long list of credits in theatre, film, and television, Mr. Orman began his acting studies at the Circle-in-the-Square Theatre School with Michael Kahn and later with Robert Macbeth. Making his professional debut in the 1962 Off-Broadway musical revue If We Grow Up, he has appeared in over 60 theatre productions on and off-Broadway as well as with regional theatres across the country. He appeared to rave reviews in his one man show, The Confessions of Stepin Fetchit as part of Luna Stage's 2005-2006 season. Orman made his feature film debut in the title role of Universal Pictures' 1973 drama, Willie Dynamite and has also appeared in such films as FX, Striking Distance, New Jersey Drive, Follow That Bird, Twilight, Brother To Brother, and The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. His television credits include work on such shows as "All My Children," "Kojak," "Sanford And Son," "Cosby," "Sex And The City," and "Law And Order". Roscoe Orman has recently joined AudibleKids.com as "Chief Storyteller." In his role, Mr. Orman will help spread the word to parents and their children that AudibleKids can help them turn iPods and other mp3 players into learning tools. He will offer parents suggestions on how to use the service and advice on how to encourage their kids to read, listen and learn. AudibleKids has made a host of newly recorded classic fairy tales available, the first collection in a series that will be narrated by Mr. Orman, and which will include his own children's book "Ricky & Mobo". AudibleKids.com is a division of the leading provider of premium digital audio, Audible, Inc., part of the Amazon.com, Inc., group of companies." Elmo is a Muppet on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is a furry red monster with googly eyes and an orange nose. His puppeteer is performer and author Kevin Clash. Mr. Clash began making puppets when he was 10, having been a "Sesame Street" fan from early childhood. He began performing with his puppets at age 12 in his neighborhood, later taking his act to Baltimore's Harborplace. Local Baltimore television personality Stu Kerr spotted Clash and hired him for his show, "Caboose." In 1979, he began working for national television shows "The Great Space Coaster" and "Captain Kangaroo." His work came to the attention of Muppet designer Kermit Love, and he joined the cast of "Sesame Street" in 1985 when he was given the character of Elmo to develop. Clash gave Elmo his signature falsetto voice and his sweet persona and the furry, three-year-old monster quickly became one of the show's most popular characters. Clash was executive producer for the film "Elmopalooza," (1998) co-producer for "The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland" (1999) and co-executive producer for "CinderElmo" (1999) and "Elmo's World." Mr. Clash had been awarded with two Emmy awards - the first in 1990 for outstanding performer in a children's series, the second in 2001 for his work as co-executive producer of "Sesame Street." Luna Stage, Montclair's professional theatre company, is now in its 16th season. Gordon and Elmo's Benefit Performance will help Luna to continue its mission of producing thought-provoking and entertaining new and classic works. Tickets for the benefit are $35.00 each and are tax-deductible. Seating is limited so please call early to join in the fun. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.lunastage.orgor by calling 973-744-3309 weekdays between 11AM and 3PM. Reservations will be made in the order that calls are received.