PBS Kids stars The Zinghoppers Set to Rock, Bop and Zinghop at Roxy Regional Theatre! October 26

What do a singing possum, a break-dancing donkey, a hopping kangaroo, a funky DJ and a friendly rapper all have in common?

They are the Zinghoppers...Nashville's #1 Kids Entertainers and bonafide preschool pop stars!

On October 26 members of the group will take to the stage for two performances at the Roxy Regional Theatre, in a concert entitled, "A Superhero Learning Adventure". The group has music videos that air daily on Nashville Public Television as well as on over 100 PBS member stations nationwide.

Co-created and co-starring the husband and wife team of Jack and Kitty Norton, the band has been based in Nashville for the past four years. With a busy touring schedule they recently opened additional regional offices in Minneapolis and in New York City.

"The last year has been a very exciting time," explains Kitty, "we basically have been on the road for the past six months straight."

Jack adds, "we've gone from a regional band to a national touring troupe. It's very exciting."

Kitty and Jack are former preschool teachers. The show's humble beginnings started in the classroom.

What began as a simple sing-a-long to a group of three year olds that day, has led to a full-time career that many area musicians would envy.

The band played over 500 concerts last year alone including a world tour sponsored by the US Pentagon that presented the band to US military families serving in Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. They earned their first EMMY Award and launched a daily music video series on PBS member station, Nashville Public Television. Their television series is now seen daily by nearly 1 million viewers in 175 countries worldwide courtesy of additional PBS member stations and a broadcast partnership with the Department of Defense AFN Family channel.

"Despite working nonstop for the last four years straight, it's only been within the last six months that venues, concert promoters and industry people started to take us seriously," explains Jack.

"It's hard for people in the industry to take a rapping possum seriously, but we are now so overbooked we honestly could live in a tour bus and still not have the time to get to every venue that wants us! I guess it's a good problem to have," he adds.

The band's appeal is their fresh approach to kids music - which is heavily influenced by electronic dance music, dubstep and hip-hop.

"Moms love The Black Eyed Peas, Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga, and so do we," explains Kitty, "it's just natural for us to drop beats that kids and parents can dance to."

Kitty writes, produces and records all of the band's music.

One parent recently wrote on the band's Facebook wall that their show was, "like a 24 hour preschool rave".

Judging by the band's high energy live shows, with colorful dance party atmosphere, it's a pretty good description.

Jack explains, "we use hip-hop and dance club beats to engage kids, but our lyrics and content meet them where they are developmentally." "I guess we're as influenced by MR. Rogers as we are by LMFAO," he adds with a chuckle.

The band's high-energy fun show includes audience participation, sing-a-longs, dancing and even a kid-friendly cover song aimed at mom and dad.

Kitty laughs, "we want everyone in the audience to be engaged - children will be dancing, parents will be grooving and grandparents will be rocking out along with us."

"We're incredibly excited to invite all our friends to the Franklin Theatre for a rocking, bopping, zinghopping good time," said Jack.

Tickets to The Zinghoppers: Superhero Learning Adventure LIVE concert are on sale now. Visit:www.roxyregionaltheatre.org or call: 931-645-7699 for more info.

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