Bear in the Big Blue House Dances into Hartford March 7-10
Contact: Jennifer Gallagher 860-987-6082; e-mail: jennifer_gallagher@bushnell.org
JANUARY 28, 2002 Hartford, CT - Put some fancy wrapping paper and a bow on your favorite cheese, because Bear from Jim Henson's Bear in the Big Blue House and all his friends are throwing a party for their tiny friend Tutter, and you're invited! The lovable Bear with the great moves is taking his show on the road for Bear in the Big Blue House Live's Surprise Party. The 90-minute show is a singing, dancing, Broadway-quality stage tour for children. Surprise Party, based on the Emmy Award-winning television show by Jim Henson Television, runs Thursday, March 7 through Sunday, March 10 at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. The stage musical is produced by VEE Entertainment Corporation, which also produces Sesame Street Live and Dragon Tales Live. The 2001-2002 tour of Bear in the Big Blue House live is presented nationally by Yoplait Yumsters Yogurt.
SURE, HE'S BIG, BUT CAN HE DANCE? Surprise Party is a rollicking good time that features Bear, the gentle seven-foot host who dances a mean cha-cha-cha. He's planning a surprise birthday party for his friend Tutter, the tiny mouse with a giant heart. The guest list includes Ojo, the lovable little girl bear; Pip and Pop, two rambunctious purple otters; and Treelo, an affectionate green and blue lemur - all brought to life by professional puppeteers. The characters try everything imaginable to keep a very inquisitive Tutter from discovering that he is the guest of honor at this surprise party. The two-act production also features four human friends, as well as cameos by Shadow, the storyteller; Luna, the moon; and Ray, the sun. The live show is based on the hit television series created by Mitchell Kriegman, which airs daily on Disney Channel.
STATE-OF-THE-ART PRODUCTION Children will enjoy singing along with the hit songs in Bear in the Big Blue House Live's Surprise Party including: "Welcome to the Blue House," "What's in the Mail Today?" and "Bear Cha-Cha-Cha." More than just a stage show, Bear in the Big Blue House Live bursts through the theatrical "fourth wall" with a state-of-the-art audience participation component. Roving performers with live cameras capture comments from children in the audience, instantaneously showing them on an on-stage video screen.
THIS BEAR IS HUGE! The 2000-2001 live tour was attended by over a quarter million fans, making it the biggest birthday bash of the year! Bear and all friends have been met with overwhelming critical acclaim and have performed in sold-out theaters throughout the East Coast and Midwest.
The encore season of Surprise Party comes as no surprise to industry insiders familiar with the popularity of the brand. "Bear in the Big Blue House" is preparing for its fourth season on Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney preschool block that can be seen in 70 million homes. In 2000, the television series garnered two Emmy Awards, including one for Outstanding Directing.
Tickets: $16.00-$25.00. Opening night, all seats are $16. Discounts may apply to other performances. For more information and to order tickets by phone, please call The Bushnell Box Office at 860-987-5900. Tickets are also available online at www.bushnell.org. For information online, please visit www.bearinthebigbluehouselive.com. WORLD-RENOWNED FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT VEE Entertainment Corporation, headquartered in Minneapolis, is one of the premier family entertainment producers in the world. VEE Entertainment has an exclusive, long-term agreement with Sesame Workshop to produce world-renowned stage tours of Sesame Street Live, at twenty-two years and going strong, the longest running children's tour in history. In addition, VEE Entertainment produces Bear in the Big Blue House Live and Dragon Tales Live. VEE Entertainment's production divisions, Costumes & Creatures and VEE Production Services, create live theatrical productions, interactive exhibits and costumes/characters for entertainment, sports and corporate clients and events. VEE Entertainment Corporation is committed to providing families around the world with high quality, affordable entertainment. For more information on VEE Entertainment, please visit www.vee.com.