Bob the Builder™ LIVE! Spud's Big Mess Visits Philadelphia's Academy of Music May 5 – 6
APRIL 2, 2009
HIT Entertainment, one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights owners, in association with UK-based I.P. Live, announce the debut of Bob the Builder™ LIVE! Spud's Big Mess — Bob the Builder's first touring stage show in the US in five years. Presented by Magic Arts & Entertainment, a subsidiary of Tix Corporation (Nasdaq: TIXC), Bob the Builder™ LIVE! Spud's Big Mess will visit the Academy of Music on May 5 and 6, 2009 for three performances only as the production travels to more than 70 cities nationwide through June 2009.
Part of the Kimmel Center's Broadway Series, tickets are on sale now and range in price from $10 to $42.50. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Sts (open daily 10am to 6pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Sts. (open during performances only). Groups of 15 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947.
Performances are: Tuesday, May 5 at 7pm and Wednesday, May 6 at 10:30am and 5pm.
"HIT Entertainment is thrilled to work with I.P. Live and Magic Arts & Entertainment to bring everyone's favorite builder to kids and families across the country in such a vibrant, high-quality stage show production," said Gary Krakower, Senior Vice President, US Licensing & Live Events, HIT Entertainment. "Bob the Builder's positive messages of teamwork and follow-through, along with his lessons about caring for the environment, have made him a phenomenally popular character worldwide and will resonate with kids and families through this exciting stage show."
"Bob the Builder has become one of the biggest stars on any stage around the globe," says producer Martin Flitton of I.P. Live. "For most kids in the US, Bob the Builder will be their first theatrical experience and opportunity to learn how theater works. All the wonderful lessons that come from Bob the Builder's live show are a plus."
Tickets are available via each venue's website. For general tour information, and links to purchase tickets, please visit www.BobtheBuilder.com. (Show schedule attached.)
Based on the popular international television show sensation that airs in the US on PBS KIDS® and PBS KIDS SproutSM, Bob the Builder™ LIVE! Spud's Big Mess is a singing and dancing extravaganza for budding builders and their families. The show stars Bob the Builder, his business partner Wendy, trusty machine-team members Scoop, Dizzy, Lofty and Scrambler and other favorite friends from Sunflower Valley, including the mischievous scarecrow Spud, Farmer Pickles and Mayor Bentley.
The show begins as Bob and his team build the first-ever recycling center and wind farm in Sunflower Valley. It isn't long before some items go missing and a few of Bob's friends mysteriously disappear. Faced with a mountain of garbage, they must figure out who is responsible for the mess and work together to fix it, while dealing with Spud's antics. Can they all pull together and get the job done? Yes they can!
The 90-minute show features 10 original songs and sees the characters embark on an adventure that promotes positive messages of caring for the environment, recycling, teamwork, cooperation and, of course, the importance of a can-do spirit. Interwoven into the storyline are takeaway lessons for kids and good reminders for the grown-ups, including how to:
- Encourage habits such as taking care of the earth and everything that lives on it
- Understand what it means to recycle and reuse
- Identify and define a recycling center and how to find one while understanding its importance
- Define trash and recycling, incorporating the motto, "Trash is only trash if you don't recycle it."
In support of the eco-friendly messages of this show, the producers will use all show communications to encourage attendees to read the show programs online. In addition, show materials will include special recycling tips and eco-themed activities for kids. All venues where the live show is performing will be encouraged to use recycling containers and include how to attend the show by using public transportation on their website.
About Bob the Builder™
Bob the Builder and his machine team are ready to tackle any
project. As they hammer out the solutions that lead to a job well done,
Bob and the Can-Do Crew demonstrate the power of positive-thinking,
problem-solving, teamwork and follow-through. Most importantly, from
start to finish, the team always shows that The Fun Is In Getting It Done! Bob the Builder
can be seen building, digging and hauling on PBS KIDS® and PBS KIDS
SproutSM Episodes are also available for download through iTunes. For
more information about Bob the Builder, and the Can-Do Crew please visit www.bobthebuilder.com.
About Magic Arts & Entertainment
Magic Arts & Entertainment, headed by Lee Marshall and Joe Marsh,
is one of the foremost tour producing companies in the United States.
In addition to Mannheim Steamroller, the company is also currently
producing the North American tours of "Michael Flatley's Lord of the
Dance," "The Magic of David Copperfield," "Jesus Christ Superstar"
starring Ted Neeley, and "Rain, A Tribute to The Beatles." They are
also producing the upcoming tours of "Bob The Builder Live" and "101
Dalmatians! The Musical!" As former owners of Magicworks Entertainment,
Marshall and Marsh produced and promoted some of the world's most
successful concerts, theatricals and family shows. For more
information, please visit www.magicentertainment.tv.
About TIX Corporation
Tix Corporation is an integrated entertainment organization offering
ticketing services, event merchandising and concert and theatrical
productions. It currently operates five prime locations in Las Vegas
under the Tix4Tonight marquee - offering up to a 50 percent discount
for same-day shows, concerts, attractions and sporting events. It also
offers discount golf and dining through its sales locations in Las
Vegas. The company sells premium tickets to concerts, theater and
sporting events throughout the United States. Its Exhibit Merchandising
operation is engaged in branding, product merchandise development and
sales activities related to museum exhibitions and other events --
including the King Tutankhamen and Real Pirates tours, selling themed
souvenir memorabilia and collector's items in specialty stores in
conjunction with the specific events and venues. The company's newest
division, Tix Productions is dedicated to concert and live theatrical
promotion and production of events throughout the United States, Canada
and Europe.
Except for the historical information contained herein, certain matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in the company's various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment, owned by private
equity investment group Apax Partners, is one of the world's leading
independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's
portfolio includes properties, such as Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™, Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Rainbow Magic™. HIT represents Chapman Entertainment's Fifi and the Flowertots™ and Roary the Racing Car™ in North America and Japan, as well as Wallace & Gromit™, Shaun the Sheep™, Timmy Time™
and Aardman Classics from Aardman Animations. HIT also acts as a
worldwide representative for The Jim Henson Company's library of
classic family brands and as representative for The Wiggles® in
the UK. Launched in 1989, HIT's lines of business span television and
video production, content distribution, publishing, consumer products
licensing and live events and has operations in the UK, US, Canada,
Hong Kong and Japan. HIT is a part-owner of US-based preschool channel,
PBS KIDS SproutSM, and international preschool channel JimJam, (outside
of the US, UK and China). For more information, visit www.hitentertainment.com.
During the 2009 Broadway Series productions will include: Movin' Out (May 15 – 17); and Spring Awakening (June 23 – 28). The new 2009-2010 Broadway Series will launch its first production of the new season with Grease starring American Idol winner Taylor Hicks (July 7 – 19). All performances of the 2009 Broadway Series are supported by CITI. Promotional support is provided by WPVI-TV 6, The Coca-Cola Bottling Company, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the Broadway Series.
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