Winnipeg - The MTS Centre, Nickelodeon, and Clear Channel Family Entertainment have re-teamed to bring the critically acclaimed and award winning preschool television show "Blue's Clues" to the stage at MTS Centre. Featuring Joe, Blue and all her friends, Blue's Clues Live! - Blue's Birthday Party, the biggest birthday party ever, is scheduled to perform across the United States and Canada in approximately 65 markets through May 2005.
Featuring familiar songs, a fun storyline and all the characters children love, Blue's Birthday Party celebrates Blue's birthday with her friends, best-buddy Magenta, next-door-neighbor Periwinkle, Tickety Tock, Slippery Soap, Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper and, of course, Joe. Blue's friends search for clues to discover what Blue wants for her birthday.
"Over the years, millions of people have responded so positively to the theatrical experience of Blue's Clues Live!," says Stuart Rosenstein, vice president of Nickelodeon Theatricals. "Our live show gives families a chance to see their favorite characters live in person and play 'Blue's Clues' in their hometowns."
The live theatrical presentation transforms the television show by challenging kids' imaginations and senses while celebrating the wonder of learning. Blue's Birthday Party invites kids to be entertained while enjoying an unprecedented level of audience interaction. Each child attending the show receives a free handy dandy notebook and crayon to follow along as Joe finds Blue's clues.
"Blue's Clues Live! is an extraordinary extension of the TV series," says Joanna Hagan, senior vice president, Clear Channel Theatrical Production - Family Entertainment. "We are excited to bring this show to many cities for the first time, giving families the opportunity to experience the magic of Blue, Joe and their friends on-stage."
Blue's Birthday Party is a collaboration with co-author Angela C. Santomero and co-author and director Gip Hoppe, who first worked together on Blue's Clues Live! Santomero also serves as the co-creator, co-executive producer and head writer of the television show. Hoppe wrote and directed the Broadway play Jackie: An American Life. He is a founding member and co-artistic director of the Wellfleet Harbor Actor's Theatre.
Blue's Birthday Party features set designs by David Gallo, recently represented on Broadway by You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Lion In Winter, Little Me and Thoroughly Modern Millie. He also was production designer for Jackie: An American Life. Costume Designer Gregg Barnes' Broadway credits include: Flower Drum Song, Side Show, Rugrats-A Live Adventure, Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show and Madison Square Garden's The Wizard of Oz. Traci Paige Johnson, the TV Series' co-creator, co-executive producer serves as the visual consultant for the tour. Yvette Helin, whose credits include significant contributions to The Lion King on Broadway, The Wizard of Oz National Tour and Toy Story on Ice, is the puppet designer. Mike Rubin and Nick Balaban of Murmur Music, composers of the "Blue's Clues" television series' music, collaborate on the original score of Blue's Clues Live!
For a tentative tour schedule and more information about the national tour of Blue's Birthday Party, log onto www.nickjr.com.
About Blue's Clues
Winner of the 2002 Peabody Award and one of the most watched preschool shows on television, Blue's Clues challenges and empowers preschoolers while making them laugh. In each episode, Joe invites young viewers into his computer-animated storybook world to help him and Blue solve the day's puzzles. Blue's Clues continues to draw acclaim by educators for its unique interactivity that has changed the way kids watch television. The series, now in its seventh season, has raised the bar in preschool television by exploring advanced subject matter such as sign language, geography, physics, emotions and anatomy. Blue's Clues airs Monday through Friday at 10:30 am and 11:30 am (ET/PT) on Nick Jr. and was created by Traci Paige Johnson, Todd Kessler and Angela C. Santomero. Santomero serves as Executive Producer and Head Writer, Johnson is Executive Producer and Director of Design. Jennifer Twomey Perello is also Executive Producer.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, which is celebrating its landmark 25th anniversary this year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation,
books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in 88
million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than
eight consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are
trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
About Clear Channel Entertainment
Clear Channel Entertainment, a leading producer and marketer of live entertainment events is a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications (NYSE: CCU), a global leader in the away-from-home advertising industry. Clear Channel Entertainment currently owns, operates and/or exclusively books approximately 130 live entertainment venues, including nearly 100 in North America and more than 30 in Europe. In 2003, 69 million people attended approximately 32,000 events promoted and/or produced by the company, including live music events; Broadway, West End and touring theatrical shows; family entertainment shows; museum exhibitions, and specialized sports and motor sports events. In addition, the company's independently operated athlete representation business, SFX, provides management, marketing and financial consulting services to many of the world's top professional athletes. Clear Channel Entertainment also provides marketing services through LIVE Channel, a company dedicated to creating and executing live events for companies seeking brand promotion. Clear Channel Entertainment operates throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. More information may be found by visiting www.cc.com and www.clearchannel.com.
