John Tartaglia to be Keynote Speaker at Int'l Performing Arts for Youth Showcase

Actor, producer and puppeteer John Tartaglia will be a keynote speaker at the prestigious International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) Showcase in Tampa, Florida January 19 to 22. Tartaglia will speak about performance for young audiences, and incorporate his experiences as a puppeteer on Sesame Street for 12 years; as the star of Johnny and the Sprites, the Disney television series he created; his current Off-Broadway family musical hit John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean; and dozens of other roles and projects he has created and brought to life for children. In addition, the cast of John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean has been selected to perform at the Showcase.

IPAY is the premiere international organization supporting the professional community of performing arts for young audiences. Its membership is comprised of a worldwide network of artists, producers, presenters, agents, educators and students dedicated and involved in producing, presenting and promoting all forms of theatre, music, dance, circus, and puppetry.

The annual Showcase event attracts companies, artists, and programmers who serve young audiences. Throughout the four-day event, these professionals share resources and view performances of national and international performing artists who have been selected through a rigorous jury process conducted by an international selection committee. The Showcase is designed to encourage dialogue about the creation and presentation of that work among artists and presenters whose lives are devoted to the impact of this work

John Tartaglia is best known for his starring Tony Award nominated role in the Broadway show Avenue Q; his acclaimed 12 years as the youngest puppeteer ever to work on Sesame Street; and for creating, producing and starring in Disney Channel's hit television show Johnny and the Sprites, for which he received an Emmy Award nomination. He also starred on Broadway in Shrek The Musical, and in Beauty and The Beast and is the creator, writer and producer of the Drama Desk Award-nominated Off-Broadway hit John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean, along with voicing five of its main characters

ImaginOceanis an underwater theatrical experience like no other. The innovative glow-in-the-dark musical features extraordinary puppets, special visual effects, memorable original songs, and a heartwarming journey of discovery for audiences of all ages. A trio of loveable fish named Tank, Bubbles, and Dorsel are best friends who discover a treasure map and swim off in search of clues. They take the audience along their singing, bubbling, dancing, jiving adventure.

Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi