Interview: How Brandon Wagner Captures the Larger Than Life Big Bird in SESAME STREET LIVE! MAKE YOUR MAGIC
By: Paul Smith Feb. 11, 2019
Taking on the role of Big Bird requires some filling some very large shoes, but Brandon Wagner couldn't be more excited to be spreading the magic of Big Bird and Sesame Street around the country in Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic.
Wagner hails from Southern Los Angeles and never dreamed his path would take him to playing this iconic character with a 50 year legacy, let alone to the stage at Madison Square Garden.
He hopped on over from Sesame Street to chat with BroadwayWorld about this daunting task and the joys of taking it on.
Can you tell us about Sesame Street Live?
Sesame Street Live Make Your Magic is a brand new highly interactive musically driven show that features Elmo, Abby Cadabby, my personal favorite Big Bird, Cookie Monster and so many other friends as they go around Sesame Street discovering the "power of yet" and the magic in everyday items. The "power of yet" is that super special thing that happens when you believe in your dream and have perseverance and just keep working at something until you get it right. There's a magic show that happens on Sesame Street and Elmo is trying to learn something new but he keeps on failing at. On the way he learns to believe in himself and to not give up.
Of course this is geared towards families, what will the parents be able to enjoy as well?
It's definitely a message that, even though our show is geared towards younger audiences, everybody can take away from it. I know that I get a little choked up now and then when I hear the message and see Elmo go through it all and then like his friends all along there with him and they all tech him something special about the great thing about being alive, there's magic everywhere you look even if it's just as simple as a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, that's some pretty amazing stuff.
The music is also really bopping! They'll hear music from the show as well as some modern day songs that a Sesame Street twist that I personally love like "The Cookie Shuffle." There's another one called "Don't Give Up" which Bruno Mars sang on the show and then there's a Janelle Monae song from the show called "Power of Yet" and it's literally toe tapping, finger snapping, head bopping all night.
How does it feel to be the iconic Big Bird?
It is a dream come true. This is something I never thought I'd get the chance to do and then it all happened. I went into this audition and a couple of weeks later they called me and they said 'We want you to play Big Bird' and I said 'Are you kidding me?' As rehearsals started, Caroll Spinney announced his retirement from the show and that sort of felt like an unofficial passing of the baton because although I have yet to meet Caroll, he was finishing up his run on the show while I was starting my run on this touring show. The way he approached Big Bird I totally took into my own heart. Someone bought me a memoir of his The Wisdom of Big Bird and I read that to inform my performance. I came to discover that Big Bird is literally and eight foot two ball of wonder and joy. He has so much excitement and thrill for life, he has that childlike perspective on life that's something I take with me both onstage and off.
Photo Credit: A. Hoyer
Big Bird was there from day one on Sesame Street when it premiered in 1969 and it is so crazy to think about. Oh my gosh I get too excited about it! In his documentary, Caroll talks about he never realized how big of an impact Big Bird would have on people and here he is 50 years later and people still come up to him of all ages explaining how Big Bird changed their lives. He's really that connection between our former selves and current selves. I can't believe I get to carry that legacy because I meet people along the tour and I tell them what I do, the adults are more excited than the kids are sometimes. It makes me want to work even hard onstage.
How exciting is it to be performing at the legendary Madison Square Garden?
It's the greatest stage on earth in my opinion. When they sent me the itinerary and I saw Madison Square Garden was on it and I'd tell all my friends, I'd tell anyone who asked about it and I'd say 'I'm going to be the biggest bird to walk along the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, I don't even think Madonna can say that, I'm going to be bigger than Madonna!' It's crazy. I had this dream when I was younger of wanting to perform in New York but now I realize my passion lies in storytelling and the Hulu Theater is a great a venue to tell a story. This story means so much to me. I believe it's communicating directly to the youth and future of tomorrow. I'm from Los Angeles and never thought I'd get the chance to travel the country and the pinnacle of it is Madison Square Garden. The greatest stage in the greatest city on earth.
What has been your favorite stop of the tour so far?
We've played a few smaller venues and cities. I actually really enjoyed Birmingham, Alabama. I didn't realize how much history was in the city. It has a big city vibe but is really a small town. I also enjoyed Tulsa, Oklahoma and I remember "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'' every time I woke up. Atlanta, Georgia was also really fun.
You mentioned the show was interactive, has there been any audience reaction or interaction with a kid that has really impacted you?
Some of our stages were in arenas where had like a baby mosh pit where we invited kids to stand up and dance. Little kids are signing and dancing, bubbles and confetti are coming out. One of Big Bird's scenes, Elmo asks him to dance saying 'Show us some of your moves' and I say 'Me? I don't know' and as clear as day, there was this little child out in front and she say 'You can do it Big Bird!' and Big Bird's next line is 'Well okay, here goes nothing.' It was like we had an honest conversation right there on the stage during the show, it was like he responded to her when in actuality he was responding to Elmo and that's pure live theatre that doesn't really happen anywhere else. We encourage the guests to stand up and dance, scream along in conjunction with the show. For the little girl to say that and I could hear it, I was doing it for her.
You can catch Brandon as Big Bird and all the other Sesame Street friends at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden from February 15-24. Tickets and information can be found here https://www.msg.com/calendar/hulu-theater-at-madison-square-garden-february-2019-sesame-street-live.
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