Jim Henson News

The Brick Theater, Inc. and Terrible Baby Theater Co. present THE COLONISTS (A Puppet Show) Conceived by Nick Jones and Raja Azar Co-Created and Directed by Robin Frohardt Music Directed by Raja Azar

The Brick Theater, Inc. and Terrible Baby Theater Co. present THE NOSEMAKER'S APPRENTICE: Chronicles of a Medieval Plastic Surgeon Written by Nick Jones and Rachel Shukert Directed by Peter J. Cook (New Director)

Butterfly: The Story of a Life Cycle is HVP's newest production, premiering in the spring of 2008. In this full-stage program we will take a microscopic look at the insect world, viewing the whole range of the life cycle from birth to death.

American Idol runner-up, Justin Guarini, will star in the industry only Equity staged reading of the new musical THE AWAKENING OF ANGEL DeLUNA - with book & lyrics by Judylynn Schmidt, and music & lyrics by Lee Ellis - produced by Kate Griffler on Monday, March 23rd at Theater 80 (80 St. Mark's Place) at 3:00pm & 7:00pm. Tracy Bersley directs and Barbara Anselmi acts as music director.

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 BuilderTM 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 BuilderTM LIVE! Spud's Big Mess will visit The Paramount on March 20-22 for 5 shows as the production travels to more than 70 cities nationwide through June 2009. Tickets are $17.00 and $41.00 and are available at tickets.com. For information visit www.stgpresents.org.

The Wayne Martin Puppets present 'Spring Into Easter,' a colorful production overflowing with beautiful 'large-scale' hand puppets and marionettes. The Easter Bunny himself is joined by a trumpet jazz playing bullfrog, a classical singing 'Diva Chicken,' break-dancing eggs and dozens of others in this fast paced musical spectacular for all ages!

The Colonists is a lyrical visual fantasy, in which audiences are invited to enter the alien world of the bee. Developed in Bangkok by Nick Jones and Raja Azar, co-creators of the hit show Jollyship the Whiz-Bang, and developed through a Children's Show Grant by the Jim Henson Foundation, The Colonists tells the story of a forest community, overrun by a strange insect force they can't understand. Using electricified puppets, small-scale pyrotechnics and the music of Shooby Taylor the Human Horn, among others, The Colonists is a rite of spring to delight children and adults alike.

A young girl asks her father, where do plastic surgeons come from? What follows is a fantastical romp through pre-civilized Europe, via the medieval art and science of nosemaking. Our hero is Gavin, a young orphan rescued from a dismal existence in the Ivanhoe Workhouse for Criminally Impoverished Boys when he is apprenticed with the local Nosemaker, eventually to become one of the finest surgeons in Vienna, cradle of quack medicine.

American Idol runner-up, Justin Guarini, will star in the industry only Equity staged reading of the new musical THE AWAKENING OF ANGEL DeLUNA - with book & lyrics by Judylynn Schmidt, and music & lyrics by Lee Ellis - produced by Kate Griffler on Monday, March 23rd at Theater 80 (80 St. Mark's Place) at 3:00pm & 7:00pm. Tracy Bersley directs and Barbara Anselmi acts as music director.

ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY, the platinum-selling singer and songwriter, will celebrate the release of her new CD AT LAST with two weeks of concerts at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola (60th Street and Broadway) from February 17 to March 1. She will be joined by Ted Rosenthal on piano, Jay Leonhart on bass and Victor Lewis on drums. Shows are at 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM. Please call (212) 258-9595 for tickets or visit jalc.org. On Monday, February 16 at 6:00 PM, join Ann at Barnes & Noble Lincoln Center (1972 Broadway at 66th Street) for their Cool Mondays Jazz series. She will perform a few selections from the new recording and sign CDs.

Percy, James, Gordon - and, of course Thomas - are headed your way! Join these engine friends, Sir Topham Hatt and the townspeople of Sodor for a one-of-a-kind not-to-be-missed live entertainment experience. Thomas & FriendsTM Live! On Stage: A Circus Comes To Town arrives at the Fox Theatre June 13 and 14 for four fabulous family performances packed with audience singalongs, high-energy dancing and thrilling adventures. The 90-minute musical adventure, produced by HIT Entertainment and AEG/ThemeSTAR, includes brand-new singalong songs and a colorful cast of circus performers to tell the engaging story of how all the engines on the Island of Sodor must work together to prepare for the exciting event under the Big Top. Problems arise along the way, and Thomas has to prove he's a really useful engine once again. Thomas & FriendsTM Live! On Stage: A Circus Comes To Town demonstrates the importance of friendship and cooperation as it gets young children dancing and singing along, creating lifelong memories for them and their families.

ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY, the platinum-selling singer and songwriter, will celebrate the release of her new CD AT LAST with two weeks of concerts at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola (60th Street and Broadway) from February 17 to March 1. She will be joined by Ted Rosenthal on piano, Jay Leonhart on bass and Victor Lewis on drums. Shows are at 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM. Please call (212) 258-9595 for tickets or visit jalc.org. On Monday, February 16 at 6:00 PM, join Ann at Barnes & Noble Lincoln Center (1972 Broadway at 66th Street) for their Cool Mondays Jazz series. She will perform a few selections from the new recording and sign CDs.

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 BuilderTM 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 BuilderTM LIVE! Spud's Big Mess will visit The Whiting on February 6 for 2 performances at 4pm & 7pm as the production travels to more than 70 cities nationwide through June 2009. Tickets prices range from $15 - $37 and are available online at TheWhiting.com, by phoning (810) 237-7333. For more information visit www.TheWhiting.com.

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 BuilderTM 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 BuilderTM LIVE! Spud's Big Mess will visit The Paramount on March 20-22 for 5 shows as the production travels to more than 70 cities nationwide through June 2009. Tickets are $17.00 and $41.00 and are available at tickets.com. For information visit www.stgpresents.org.

Acclaimed Singer and Songwriter ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY Finds true love on new CD from Telarc Jazz 'AT LAST'

The New York Times hailed AVENUE Q as 'a breakthrough musical of a very different stripe. Savvy, sassy and delicious!' and Entertainment Weekly claimed it was 'one of the funniest shows you're ever likely to see!' This critic found the show to be filled with wit and intelligence as well as being very naughty and full of excellent show tunes. In short, a total delight.

The OBIE-winning HERE Arts Center's annual CULTUREMART festival is set for January 7 -February 4, 2009, this year featuring 17 works that blur the lines between dance, theatre, music, new media, puppetry and visual art. Reflecting a core philosophy that it's not possible for any one art form alone to convey the flood of images, data and sound bytes that inundate the senses in today's world of information and communication overload, CULTUREMART's cross-disciplinary presentations embrace and illuminate our modern experience by integrating many forms of media and content into exciting new works.

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 BuilderTM 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 BuilderTM LIVE! Spud's Big Mess will visit The Whiting on February 6 for 2 performances at 4pm & 7pm as the production travels to more than 70 cities nationwide through June 2009. Tickets prices range from $15 - $37 and are available online at TheWhiting.com, by phoning (810) 237-7333. For more information visit www.TheWhiting.com.

The residents of AVENUE Q are ringing in the 2009 New Year at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Ft. Lauderdale. In honor of the celebration, twenty seats in the front orchestra will be made available for $25.00 for every performance of AVENUE Q, the Tony? Award?]winning musical at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. 2?hours prior to each show, people who arrive at the Broward Center Box Office will have their names placed in a lottery drum. Thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for 20 orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in?]person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person.

As Christmas approaches the world of Frogtown Hollow, Emmet Otter and his Ma can only dream of buying each other gifts. So when a Christmas Eve talent contest is announced, both secretly enter hoping to win the prize money. In a heartwarming twist on 'The Gift of the Magi,' Emmet and Ma risk all they have and end up with the greatest grand prize of all. Based on director Jim Henson's television feature, this new theatrical adaptation features a lovable mix of actors and puppet characters from The Jim Henson Company and a toe-tapping score, it's a classic holiday musical for all ages!