BIG BIRD, ELMO AND THEIR FRIEND FROM CHINA, HU HU ZHU, VISIT CHICAGO’S ADLER PLANETARIUM TO EXPLORE THE NIGHT SKY FOR U.S. PREMIERE OF ONE WORLD, ONE SKY: BIG BIRD’S ADVENTURE
Planetarium Show Opens to the Public October 17, 2008
Walkaround Elmo from Sesame Street
Chicago, October 15, 2008
Even in the daylight, the stars were out in force this morning as Big Bird, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu, their friend from China, were on hand at the Adler Planetarium for the U.S. premiere of One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure, which opens to the public this Friday, October 17. Two first grade classes from the National Teacher’s Academy, a Chicago Pubic School in Chinatown, enjoyed a live performance by the loveable Muppets from Sesame Street, including an original song from the planetarium show.
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure was created as part of a global partnership between the Adler; Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street; the Beijing Planetarium and the Liberty Science Center (Jersey City, NJ). Representatives from all four international partners spoke at a press conference held here today to discuss the unique partnership and the project’s main goals: to provide young children in China and the U.S. with an age-appropriate introduction to astronomy; promote positive attitudes toward science; foster cross-cultural appreciation and establish a successful and lasting bi-national collaboration among informal science educators and institutions in China and the U.S.
This project, which was more than seven years in the making, received major funding from the National Science Foundation and the PNC Foundation with additional support from the W.L.S. Spencer Foundation, China Association for Science and Technology and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. One World, One Sky is being presented in Chicago by the Motorola Foundation.
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure, featuring Big Bird, Elmo and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu is aimed at children ages 4 – 6. The planetarium show, which will be shown on an all-digital 360º screen, more than 50 feet in diameter, will be presented at the Adler in English, Spanish and Mandarin (visit www.adlerplanetarium.org for details on Spanish and Mandarin screenings).
“What sets this project apart from other shows are the international partnerships,” said Adler Planetarium President Paul H. Knappenberger Jr., PhD. “Four partners with a desire to bridge cultures between the U.S. and China came together and contributed their expertise to create a unique planetarium show that will allow children from opposite sides of the world to be introduced to the night sky and basic astronomy in an enjoyable way.”
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure begins on Sesame Street when Elmo’s friend, Hu Hu Zhu, visits from China. Together, Big Bird, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu locate the Big Dipper, the North Star and the Moon in the night sky. Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu want to learn more about the Moon, so Big Bird suggests that they use their imagination to travel there. Once on the Moon, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu quickly learn that the Moon has a very different environment than Earth. They discover there is no air on the Moon and learn that without air there can be no trees, animals, flowers or, to their disappointment, flying kites or playing soccer. Realizing this makes them homesick, so they use their imagination to take them back to Sesame Street. Back on Earth, Big Bird, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu realize that even though they live in two different countries, they still share the same sky.
“Sesame Street brings children images of the world beyond their own and now One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure will take that one step further, connecting kids across cultures through a common bond in learning about the sky together,” said Sherrie Rollins Westin, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Sesame Workshop. “This groundbreaking project will bring a unique opportunity for children and families to experience the fun of astronomy with the help of their friends from our Sesame family in the U.S. and China.”
The making of One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure included many firsts:
- First show combining live-action footage of the Muppets of Sesame Street with computer-generated sets
- First time Sesame Street characters were shot in high definition video for a planetarium show
- Nearly 1,000,000 frames were rendered to create the U.S. and Beijing shows
- Textures for each building on the Sesame Street set were hand painted
- Space helmets were hand-animated to follow character action on the Moon
- One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure produced in English, Spanish and Mandarin
- First Adler planetarium show rendered at 4K resolution
- One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure will be distributed in three formats – Digital full-dome, DVD and traditional sky show
- Outreach materials have been created for educators to extend children’s learning from the planetarium show into classrooms and education programs at planetariums, museums and science centers
Opening Weekend Celebration
As part of the One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure Opening Weekend Celebration, the Adler will offer hands-on activities that are free with paid museum admission. Walkaround Elmo from Sesame Street will make appearances at the Adler Friday, October 17 and Saturday, October 18. Check website for appearance times. Appearances are limited, so arrive early for best opportunity.
Special Programming
The sky-high fun continues this fall at the Adler with One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure-themed activities and events for the whole family including Sesame Street Family Week October 20-24, 2008 and a Sesame Street-themed Far Out Friday on November 7, 2008. Both will feature free activities including Create Your Own Constellation, Crater Creations and Night and Day-themed demonstrations that simulate the Earth’s rotation. Sesame Street Family Week is free with paid museum admission. Visit www.adlerplanetarium.org for Far Out Friday ticket prices and to confirm activities and times.
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure will be presented daily in the Definiti Space Theater. The Galaxy Package includes the One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure planetarium show and general admission; $19 (adults); $17 (adult–Chicago residents); $15 (children); $14 (children–Chicago residents); $17 (seniors); $15 (senior–Chicago residents); Children ages 3 and under receive free general museum admission. Visit www.adlerplanetarium.org or call (312) 922-STAR for details.
Show Times
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure will be presented Monday – Friday at 10 a.m. and 3:15 p.m and Saturday – Sunday at 12:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. A special Spanish screening will be presented at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays and a special Mandarin screening will be presented at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays.
Location and Travel Information
The Adler Planetarium is located at 1300 South Lake Shore Drive on Chicago’s beautiful Museum Campus. Exit Lake Shore Drive at 18th Street, continue north on Museum Campus Drive. Then veer right on Solidarity Drive. Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Adler. Parking lot only accepts cash. Check www.soldierfieldparking.com for information about large Museum Campus events that may impact parking availability. The Adler is serviced daily by CTA #146 and #12 buses. Metra Electric and South Shore trains stop at nearby Roosevelt Road station. CTA Red, Green and Orange lines are approximately a one-mile walk from the Museum Campus.
About the Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium – America’s First Planetarium – was founded in 1930 by Chicago business leader Max Adler. Following its 75th anniversary, the Adler has begun a transformation into the world’s premiere space science center, inspiring the next generation of explorers by sharing the personal stories of human space exploration and America’s space heroes. The Adler is a recognized leader in science education, with a focus on inspiring young people to pursue careers in science. Learn more at www.adlerplanetarium.org.
About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street. As the single largest informal educator of young children, local Sesame Street programs produced in countries as diverse as South Africa, Bangladesh and India are making a difference in over 120 nations. Using proprietary research to create engaging and enriching content, Sesame Workshop produces programs such as Dragon Tales and Pinky Dinky Doo. In addition, multimedia needs-driven initiatives providefamilies tools for addressing such issues as children’s health, military deployment and emergency preparedness. As a nonprofit, product proceeds and philanthropic donations support Sesame Workshop’s educational research and creative content for children around the world. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.
Contact
Sarah Beck
312.542.2424
sbeck@adlerplanetarium.org
Pat Kremer
312.523.9357
pkremer@bigsplashpr.com
Stephanie Baumoel
212.983.9898
stephanieb@ferencomm.com
Maria Maiurro
212.875.6294
Maria.maiurro@sesameworkshop.org
