Running Rabbit Family Theatre Presents MR. RAY IN CONCERT, 11/15

Running Rabbit Family Theatre (RRFT), a leading theatre company for family audiences presents 'mr. RAY in CONCERT.'  The performance is a rock concert geared for 2 to 8 year-olds and their families on Sunday, November 15 at 3:00 pm at the beautiful newly constructed Montclair Citadel of the Salvation Army, 13 Trinity Place, Montclair.

Running Rabbit has been delighting New Jersey audiences from the resident homes at Luna Stage, Montclair and Pollak Theatre at Monmouth University, West Long Branch since 2005. "We're delighted to be able to continue serving our North Jersey followers with this kick-off event at The Montclair Citadel," says Paul Whelihan, RRFT artistic director. "I know audiences will love our performances in this brand new facility!"

mr. RAY (Ray Andersen) is the popular rock musician who performs for children throughout the country and internationally. Edgy and wise, Ray's music makes sense to children who have become his loyal fans over the years.

Andersen grew up in the house where legendary songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin lived in West Orange, New Jersey . Ray was inspired at a very early age to attempt playing the piano, guitar and drums, and started crafting his own songs -- without a single lesson. He began acting in local productions and studying at New York 's American Academy of Dramatic Arts .

He became adept at playing a number of instruments, and in the early 80s, he was a member of the noted Asbury Park NJ , Stone Pony house-band, Cats On A Smooth Surface. Bruce Springsteen played with Ray and the band so much, he often raved to the press worldwide, that they were his favorite to "jam" with when he was off tour.

In 1995, Ray and his wife, Patti Maloney, formed a pop/rock duo, Blue Van Gogh, and they released an album and video to international acclaim, touring throughout Germany as the opening act for matchbox twenty in April of 1998.

Later that year, Ray got a call to play guitar, keyboards & sing backup for international rock star, Meat Loaf. Besides giving him the thrill of performing in some of the world's great arenas, Ray, as part of Meat Loaf's band did a lot of TV such as David Letterman, Jay Leno, The View, VH1's Storytellers, Hard Rock Live and many European TV shows. In October of 1999, as the top rated VH1 Storyteller Show of all time, Meat Loaf and Ray went on the road through 2000,
and they can be seen forever preserved on the Storytellers DVD and CD.

Throughout all of this, of course, mr. RAY was entering into a new musical galaxy where
his critics were a lot tougher...even if they were under the age of 8. But Ray knew how to get through to them with his music. In 1994, his wife, who was teaching at a pre-school, asked Ray to come in and perform some songs for the kids. In no time, he became known as "mr. RAY," clad in his trademark hip eyeglasses and clothes, holding an eye-catching, colorfully-stickered guitar. Singing about friendship, dinosaurs and rainbows never sounded so cool before. mr. RAY wrote and co-produced his own album entitled, "START DREAMING!" released in April 2001, geared to pre-schoolers (but really to kids of all ages).

On television, Ray has appeared on Good Morning America, One-To-One with Steve Adubato, FOX TV's Good Morning Orlando, and in June 2004 he was on AMC's reality-based series, Into Character, where he starred as a rock guitar instructor on the third episode, "La Bamba." In August 2004, mr. RAY was on QVC.

mr. RAY's second album, "Songs From The Kids' Lounge" was released in October 2004,
and his third album was in late 2006. All of his music is available in iTUNES
and Amazon.com and on his website: www.mrray.com.

Ray and his wife, Patti, became parents for the first time in December 2004, adopting a beautiful newborn girl from Pennsylvania whom they named Layla.

mr. RAY in CONCERT features Ray's much - loved tunes and is highly interactive. Costumed characters from his songs and children guest artists highlight the event. Standard tickets for mr. RAY in CONCERT are $15 and can be purchased by calling Running Rabbit Family Theatre at 862.202.2243.

Running Rabbit Family Theatre is a professional, not-for-profit arts organization (Actors' Equity Association), and as an associate member of the NJ Theatre Alliance, the State's coalition of professional theatres, is funded in part by The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The New Jersey State Council on the Arts / a partner agency of The National Endowment for the Arts, The Governor's Tennis Tournament and numerous businesses and individuals.

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