Jim Henson News

J.L. 'Lynn' Singleton, President of the Providence Performing Arts Center, is pleased to announce PPAC's 32nd Broadway season, featuring the 2009/2010 Broadway Series and the 2009/2010 Contemporary Classics Series.

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.

Hennepin Theatre Trust today unveiled the lineup for the 2009/10 Broadway Across America-Minneapolis Season featuring six Minnesota debuts including Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, the 2008 multi-Tony Award-winning In The Heights, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein and Dirty Dancing, The Classic Story On Stage.

Gogol Project - Two workshop performances of Rogue Artists Ensemble's newest theatrical adventure pave the way for a full production in the fall. Audiences will be treated to an early, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the collaborative process involved in bringing three of Nikolai Gogol's most famous short stories - Diary of a Madman, The Overcoat and The Nose - to Hyper-theatrical life using the Rogues' signature mix of live actors, puppetry, masks and digital projection.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is proud to announce the New York premiere of the new musical The Tin Pan Alley Rag, written by Mark Saltzman, with Music & Lyrics by Irving Berlin & Scott Joplin, directed by Stafford Arima.

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'