The music had stopped, but there was no slowing down Mr. Steve.
For nearly an hour, PBS KIDS personality Steve Roslonek patiently signed autographs and posed for pictures with children of all ages Sunday at the Children's Museum of Richmond.
He didn't turn away any waiting child, no matter how long the line.
Mr. Steve, Roslonek's persona on PBS KIDS, wowed the crowds during three performances, delighting young and old alike.
"I think it creates a great vibe when the parents are clearly in on the fun; it allows me to do so much more," Roslonek said after the second performance.
Children stared wide-eyed in wonder and danced enthusiastically as Mr. Steve led them through songs about elephants playing hide-and-seek, pirates and grumpy boys, grumpy girls and grumpy dads.
But not grumpy moms — "You didn't hear it from me, but there are no grumpy moms, as far as I know," he said with a wide smile spreading from ear to ear.
Mr. Steve came to the children's museum, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, as part of its summer series.
Roslonek recorded his first album in 1999, the same year he left his job as a business consultant with Accenture to pursue his singing/songwriting career.
In May 2008, he took on the role of "Mr. Steve," co-host of the PBS KIDS preschool destination, a two-hour block that features such shows as "Curious George" and "Clifford the Big Red Dog."
His interactive songs Sunday called on participation from everyone in the crowd, even the adults, who were just an animated as the children.
"He really puts it out there for the kids," said Michelle Rosman, public relations manager for CMoR. "He is just the greatest thing in their world; they just adore him."
During Mr. Steve's final performance of his second set, a song about shapes, 8-year-old Anthony Cardella was one of two children to lead the crowd, making the different shapes with his arms as Mr. Steve sang about them.
Anthony had no worries about being on stage in front of nearly 100 people.
"It was actually pretty cool; I like that I'm going to be watched by tons of people," Anthony said. "I also like that I'm leading the song."
He attended Sunday's performance with his siblings, Shawn, 5, and Alyssa, 2 weeks and parents Frank and Shanon Cardella.
The parents had just as much fun as the children.
"He's just a really good show," Frank Cardella said of Mr. Steve. "He's kid-friendly and has enough humor in it to keep adults entertained."
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