Nickelodeon Brings Storytime Live! Theatrical Tour Across the U.S. in 2010 Dora the Explorer, The Backyardigans, The Wonder Pets! and Ni Hao, Kai-Lan All Featured in Brand-New Stage Production

NEW YORK, Nov 04, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Nickelodeon and Broadway Across America present Storytime Live!--the first-ever live family theatrical tour featuring characters from four of the current top-rated preschool television shows: Dora the Explorer, The Backyardigans, Wonder Pets! and Ni Hao, Kai-lan.

The tour will visit more than 70 cities beginning Feb. 16 in York, PA and will then travel to Chicago, Pittsburgh and the world famous Radio City Music Hall in New York City, among other destinations.

"Nickelodeon's latest live theatrical endeavor for families pulls from some of kids' favorite stories and adds a unique Nickelodeon twist," said Stuart Rosenstein, Senior Vice President, Resorts and Theatricals, Nickelodeon Recreation. "With Storytime Live!, we're giving kids the opportunity to sing and dance with all of their favorite characters in one unique production." Storytime Live! celebrates the magic of storytelling through four brand-new adventures. With Nick Jr.'s Moose and Zee as hosts, Storytime Live! will take kids and their families on musical adventures whether by leaping into Fairytale Land with Dora and Sleeping Boots, journeying through Filthingham with The Backyardigans, hopping into Wonderland with the Wonder Pets! or jumping on clouds with Kai-lan and the Monkey King.

"After bringing several Nickelodeon shows to the live stage, Storytime Live! is a first for our partnership with the network," says John Gore, CEO, Broadway Across America. "Having the opportunity to produce a live theatrical tour with new and familiar characters from four popular Nickelodeon shows is truly exciting." The Storytime Live! creative team comes with a diverse theatrical background and includes: Director Sam Scalamoni (Associate Director: Lestat and Beauty and the Beast on Broadway); Scenic Designer Josh Zangen; Costume Designer Patrick Bevilacqua (Thomas and Friends: A Day at the Circus, Costume Designer; Impressionism and Faith on Broadway, Associate Costume Designer); and Choreographer Wendy Seyb. Additionally, the creative teams for each of the Nick Jr. shows featured are part of the production including: contributions from Sascha Paladino, head writer for Ni Hao, Kai-lan; Janice Burgess, creator of The Backyardigans; book and lyrics for Wonder Pets by Josh Selig, Billy Lopez and Little Airplane Productions, Inc. and Valerie Walsh-Valdes, co-creator of Dora the Explorer.

Nickelodeon has produced several of the top quality theatrical and touring shows for kids and their families which have drawn more than 2.5 million attendees in 12 years. For more information about Storytime Live! visit www.nicklivetour.com.

2010 Storytime Live! tour dates: DATE CITY THEATER February 16 - 17 York, PA Pullo Center February 20 - 21 Pittsburgh, PA Benedum Center February 22 - 23 Toledo, OH Stranahan Theatre February 25 Wilkes-Barre, PA FM Kirby Center February 26 - 28 Wallingford, PA Chevrolet Theater March 2 State College, PA Bryce Jordan Center March 4 Syracuse, NY Landmark Theater March 6 - 7 Appleton, WI Fox Cities, PAC March 9 - 10 Champaign, IL Assembly Hall March 11 Moline, IL I Wireless March 12 - 14 Chicago, IL Rosemont Theater March 17 - 18 Knoxville, TN Tennessee Theater March 20 Akron, OH Akron Civic Theater March 31 - April 4 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall Nickelodeon, now in its 30th 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 almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 15 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B) Broadway Across America (Producer) is owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman). Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 40 North American cities. Under the supervision of Beth Williams (COO & Head of Production), Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Recent productions include Hair, West Side Story, Memphis and the West End production of Breakfast At Tiffany's. Upcoming Broadway productions include the return of Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Million Dollar Quartet and Minsky's. Touring productions include Nickelodeon's Storytime Live featuring Dora the Explorer and Dreamgirls.

For more information on Broadway Across America or to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

SOURCE: Nickelodeon CONTACT: Tellem Worldwide Storytime Live! - Tour Publicity John Tellem 310-313-3444 office [e-mail] or Nickelodeon Joanna Roses 212-846-7326 office [e-mail] or Nickelodeon Thamar Romero 212-846-7491 office [e-mail] Copyright Business Wire 2009 -0- KEYWORD: United States

North America

New York INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Entertainment

Theatre

TV and Radio

Children

Events/Concerts

Consumer

Family SUBJECT CODE: Event