Elmo and a cast of other Sesame Street characters are coming to Joint Base Lewis-McChord to help military children learn about ways to deal with the hardships of deployments and separation from loved ones.

It's all part of the Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families, a free traveling USO show based on Sesame Workshop's award-winning Talk, Listen, Connect initiative.

Cowan Theater on JBLM Main will host four shows Aug. 25 (3 p.m. and 6 p.m.) and 26 (noon and 3 p.m.).

Military families in attendance experience a 25-minute character performance and receive giveaways and outreach materials. To date, the tour has traveled more than 50,000 miles to 90 bases in nine countries and 27 states, performing 237 shows for servicemembers and their families.

"Everyone who came two years ago when it was at McChord had a great time," said Kate Laverents, special events coordinator for JBLM Morale, Welfare and Recreation. "We're expecting the same kind of environment this time as well."

Seating is first come, first served for all four shows, and there is no age restriction for the performance, Laverents said.

The free show features live character performances by Zoe, Elmo, Rosita, Cookie Monster and Grover. Audience members also receive giveaways - such as twirly lights - and outreach materials from Sesame's Talk, Listen, Connect and other partners.

The approximately 30-minute show consists of singing and dancing, and delicately touches on the shared reality of military children: how to cope when a parent or other relative is far from home. The Sesame Street Workshop/USO partnership debuted its first show at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, Calif., in July 2008.

"The momentum that this show has gathered since it first performed for military kids and families is unbelievable," said Gary E. Knell, Sesame Workshop CEO and president said in a release. "To see how families come together and then use the messages from the show to talk to their kids is the greatest reward that we could ask for. We at Sesame Workshop are thrilled to continue this work with our partners and friends at the USO and reinforce our commitment to military families."

To date, the tour is the longest-running entertainment tour in USO history and the first-ever traveling USO tour designed specifically for military families.

"There is no denying the positive impact this tour is having on our nation's military community," said Sloan Gibson, USO president. "The fact that more than 100,000 troops and family members have attended these shows so far speaks volumes about the tour's relevance to today's military.  We listen to our troops and understand the challenges they face at home, and are proud to call Sesame Workshop our partner in helping to ease the daily stresses on military families."