It's loud and full of laughter at Party in the Park in Massapequa Park on a recent February morning. The children's play center is crowded with 1-year-olds and their parents playing in make-believe kitchens, grocery stores and tiny wooden replicas of neighborhood businesses.
But when a woman dressed in denim overalls, a pink T-shirt and matching headband enters the play space, giggles are replaced by gasps.
Alexander Massagua, 1, of Massapequa runs over and gives the woman a hug. "He knew exactly who she was," says his mom, Jennifer Van Wickler, 33.
It's the first time Alexander has met the woman, who dons a welcoming smile, but he's joyfully unaware.
To Alexander and the rest of the children, she's the Ms. Rachel, the creator and face of the popular children's YouTube series with 14 million subscribers that recently hit Netflix. To the parents, she's Gabrielle Freeman, one of three Long Island Ms. Rachel impersonators.
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If there were a "Toddler Swift" for 1-year-olds, it would be Ms. Rachel. Portrayed by Rachel Griffin-Accurso, the TV persona is a superstar for the littlest of littles. She captures their hearts as she helps them learn to speak through interactive TV conversations, sing-alongs and virtual games. Her intimate on-screen style transports her from cribs to couches to car seats with a recently released line of toys, books and plush dolls. Now, with the help of local impersonators, toddlers can also have Ms. Rachel-inspired celebrations for their birthday parties.
Another impersonator, Maegan Bitler, added a Ms. Rachel-inspired character to her repertoire of party personas available through the Royal Princess Prep Company in November. She'll slip into the toddler-recognized uniform (complete with ponytail) for $250 for 30- to 45-minute party packages. Freeman has been making Ms. Rachel-inspired appearances since August 2023, in many popular open play centers such as Party in the Park, Oliver’s Playhouse in Oakdale and La La Land in Babylon. Her parties, booked under the Instagram handle @Not_Ms._Rachel, run $100 for 30-minute or $150 for 45-minute appearances.
Erinn Furey is a Ms. Rachel impersonator who hosts birthday parties for littles. Credit: I. Militano
A third, Erinn Furey, 45, of Brentwood, has been performing in play centers for children and at birthday parties for nearly a year.
"My son, Jackson, is obsessed with Ms. Rachel, so we had Gabrielle at his first birthday party last October," says Michelle Zirpoli, 34, of Levittown, who hired Freeman for a party at LI Salty Kids Cove in Patchogue. "The moment she stepped into the venue, he had a smile from ear to ear on his face. The other kids at the party instantly ran to her. She was like a magnet."
FIRST THE FASHION ... THEN THE PASSION
Bitler, Freeman and Furey bring out Ms. Rachel’s sensibility for children as they attempt to reproduce her recognizable look. They also refer to their backgrounds, whether it be in special education or children's psychiatric social work, and love for singing, dancing and community theater as they bring the character to life.
Nicolette Corrente, 29, of Massapequa, believes her toddler relates to Ms. Rachel because "she’s not overstimulating, has a calming voice, is easy to follow and has an animated personality."
Freeman, 35, of Massapequa Park, says she came up with the idea to impersonate Ms. Rachel in 2023 when a friend said she looked similar to her while she was watching the YouTube channel. Because Freeman likes to sing, has loved working with kids since high school (she’s currently a special education classroom aide), and has three daughters of her own, she said, "You know what? I could be Ms. Rachel at birthday parties." That day, she ordered overalls and a pink T-shirt from Amazon. She advertised her Ms. Rachel gig on a local mom's Facebook group and on Instagram. In January, she opened her own party impersonator business, Three Time’s the Charm.
Nicolette Corrente, of Massapequa, takes a photo of her daughter Genevieve Corrente, 8 months, with Ms. Rachel impersonator Gabrielle Freeman at Party in the Park in Massapequa Park. Credit: Morgan Campbell
"I love what Ms. Rachel does," Freeman explains. "She seems like someone who is about light and love. She’s helping kids who can’t articulate their words as well as others, and she helps kids manage and express their emotions. I try to pick up on her vibe."
At the Royal Princess Prep Entertainment company, Bitler was an obvious choice when owner Kelsey Edquist started receiving requests for Ms. Rachel at birthday parties. In addition to Bitler’s dance and theater background, she says, "Impersonating Ms. Rachel comes to me like second nature because I’ve been teaching school for years. It’s what I’d be like with little ones anywhere."
Bitler is a special-education teacher for kindergarten and first grade and double-majored in speech communication. During a party she might ask the kids to say the first sound in a word just as Ms. Rachel would. But they’re mostly there just to have fun. Bitler wears a brunette wig with a ponytail, overalls and pink Converse sneakers. "When I put it all together, Ms. Rachel comes alive," she says.
NOT MS. RACHEL
While children might not notice the differences between Freeman, Furey or Bitler and Ms. Rachel herself thanks to a little childhood magic, the performers stress that their bits are inspired by the children’s show frontwoman and they are not claiming to be her. "We don’t market it as Ms. Rachel," Bitler says. "We don’t contact the real Ms. Rachel, but we also don’t state we’re Ms. Rachel. We’re just performers."
Similarly to offering the chance to book a party visit by a "Pop Princess" (Taylor Swift) or "Ice Princess" (Elsa from "Frozen"), the impersonators may market their offerings using their own first names. Freeman, for example, calls herself "Ms. Gabby." "When kids meet me, parents refer to me as Ms. Rachel, but for legal reasons, I don’t refer to myself as Ms. Rachel," she explains.
Freeman and Bitler note they only perform children’s songs that are in the public domain.
A TODDLER’S GREATEST HITS
At Freeman’s parties, moms and dads sit in a circle with their kids on or near their laps. Freeman sings songs that all include interactive sounds or hand motions. On YouTube, Ms. Rachel is known for helping children learn American Sign Language and pronounce early learning words such as "Mama" and "Dada."
"I stick to songs that are tried and true and for public use like "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," Freeman says. The "Hop Little Bunnies" song (a Ms. Rachel favorite) is in the mix as well. "She picks all the best songs. My daughter knew them all from Ms. Rachel," says Melissa Murphy, 38, of Lindenhurst, who attended the Party in the Park event with her 1-year-old daughter and family.
Myla Murphy, 1, of Lindenhurst, plays with a hand puppet with Freeman at Party in the Park in Massapequa Park. Credit: Morgan Campbell
Freeman sings each song for as long as the kids remain engaged, then quickly moves on to the next. She brings along hand puppets for "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" and gives shakers to the kids so they can participate while singing and dancing. During the songs, she’ll sound out words the way Ms. Rachel does. If toddlers are too young to sing along, parents joyfully fill in the gaps. "Sometimes, I think parents are just as excited as the kids," Freeman adds.
MUSICAL THEATER FOR MINIS
During Bitler’s parties, she reads the new book "Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise" (by Griffin-Accurso, Penguin Random House Books). "It’s really interactive and the kids love to help me complete sentences like Ms. Rachel does on her show," Bitler says. As she reads through each page, a story unfolds.
When a song comes along that isn’t exclusively Ms. Rachel’s, such as "The Wheels on the Bus" or "Icky Sticky Bubblegum," she pauses the story and asks children to participate. At the end of the story, there’s a mirror in the book, and the special surprise is a child’s smile. Each child gets a chance to look in the mirror.
Furey — a psychiatric children’s social worker by day and a professional singer by night, as well as the mom of an 18-month-old girl — says her program begins with a five-minute meet and greet and continues with 20 minutes of interactive circle time in English, and a bit of Spanish and American Sign Language. As Furey sings, each child receives an instrument (conga drums, bells, tambourines).
HAPPY ENDINGS
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If there’s time toward the end of a party, Bitler says she plays color and shape games. The birthday child goes home with a learning buddy certificate. Freeman has one-on-one interactions. "I’ll walk with individual kids and ask them to show me around," she says. "I make sure everybody has a special time with me."
All three end their events with individual photos with kids and their families. It’s a time for children who aren’t ready to speak but can be held in "Ms. Rachel’s" arms to interact.
"How lucky am I that I get to bring the magic of Ms. Rachel to children on Long Island," Furey says.
WHERE TO FIND MS. RACHEL IMPERSONATORS
Maegan Bitler: Royal Princess Prep Entertainment; (516) 639-3939; royalprincessprep.com; $250 for 30-45 minute party packages. Party does not include food.
Gabrielle Freeman: Instagram @not_ms_Rachel; $100 for 30 minutes, $150 for 45 minutes. Party does not include food.
Erinn Furey: erinnfureymusic.com; 40-minute party pricing determined on individual basis. Food is not included.
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