The Electric Company Lights Up Newark

Critically acclaimed children’s series The Electric Company is being revived and reenergized for a new generation. Sesame Workshop is currently filming 26 new episodes at a Newark, New Jersey-based studio and on location in and around New York City.

Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker spoke at a July 8 press conference officially announcing that production is taking place in his city.

“For decades, Sesame Workshop has defined excellence in children’s programming, bringing a fresh, energetic approach to education, empowering generations of youngsters with some of the earliest academic tools and spiritual strength they need to succeed in school and life. The Electric Company puts children on the road to success, and we are sure that they will continue that course and find even greater success as Newark’s newest residents.”

Mayor Booker also joined the Electric Company cast and crew for a tour of the main set.

The Electric Company seeks to combat the literacy crisis facing America’s children, just as the original production did. The new edition will modernize the show to appeal to today’s media-driven elementary school students. 

Weekly episodes are slated to run nationally in January 2009 on PBS Kids, and will be supplemented with a richly interactive online environment as well as community-based outreach activities taking place in 20 cities across the country.

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