HBO AND SESAME WORKSHOP BRING BELOVED CHARACTERS TO KIDS AND FAMILIES IN 10 CITIES WITH TRAVELING “SESAME STREET: F IS FOR FRIENDS” EXPERIENCE

Inspired by Sesame Street’s mutual respect and understanding curriculum, this second annual mall tour is expanding to include visits to community-based organizations

HBO and Sesame Workshop — in collaboration with many local public television stations and community-based organizations — today announce “Sesame Street: F is for Friends,” a free mall tour inspired by the 48th season of Sesame Street. This immersive limited-engagement tour includes a 15-minute show starring costumed Elmo and Abby Cadabby characters, filled with stories and songs about celebrating similarities and differences between friends. Free to families in ten cities, shows will be repeated throughout the day at each participating mall. Families will also enjoy character meet-and-greets, digital activity stations, photo opportunities that include Cookie Monster’s new food truck, and more. New this year, “Sesame Street: F is for Friends” will also make private stops at community-based organizations including libraries, family shelters, and childcare centers.

“We’re thrilled to build on the phenomenal success of last year’s tour by bringing in local community partners and nonprofits that resonate with HBO’s mission,” said Dennis Williams, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, HBO. “With its exciting new songs and messaging, the ‘Sesame Street: F is for Friends’ experience will bring unifying Sesame lessons about respect and kindness to life for audiences while continuing to deliver all the memorable moments families love.”

“This year’s tour will create a vibrant space for preschoolers and their families to celebrate friendship in our diverse world,” said Scott Chambers, Senior Vice President and General Manager, North America Media and Licensing, Sesame Workshop. “As a nonprofit organization working to help all kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder, Sesame Workshop is proud to collaborate with our like-minded partner HBO and a network of in-market organizations to bring ‘Sesame Street: F is for Friends’ not only to public shopping malls, but into other community spaces that need us the most.”

The “Sesame Street: F is for Friends” Tour Schedule

February 3 — Seattle — Alderwood Mall
February 10 — Philadelphia — Neshaminy Mall
February 17 — San Francisco — Stonestown Galleria
February 24 — Los Angeles — Northridge Fashion Center
March 3 — Las Vegas — Fashion Show
April 14 — Denver — Southwest Plaza
April 21 — Dallas — The Parks at Arlington
April 28 — Chicago — Northbrook Court
May 5 — Miami — Pembroke Lakes Mall
May 12 — Atlanta — North Point Mall

About Sesame Workshop

Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit media and educational organization behind Sesame Street, the pioneering television show that has been reaching and teaching children since 1969. Today, Sesame Workshop is an innovative force for change, with a mission to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. We’re present in more than 150 countries, serving vulnerable children through a wide range of media, formal education, and philanthropically-funded social impact programs, each grounded in rigorous research and tailored to the needs and cultures of the communities we serve. For more information, please visit sesameworkshop.org.

About HBO

Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. and the world’s most successful pay TV service, providing the two television services — HBO® and Cinemax® — to approximately 134 million subscribers worldwide. The services offer the popular subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand® and Cinemax On Demand®, as well as HBO GO® and MAX GO®, HD feeds and multiplex channels. HBO NOW®, the network’s internet-only premium streaming service, provides audiences with instant access to HBO’s acclaimed programming in the U.S. Internationally, HBO branded television networks, along with the subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand and HBO GO, bring HBO services to over 60 countries. HBO and Cinemax programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.