Skippyjon Jones

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Show Publicist: Shaunda Miles, Director of Public Relations, 412-471-1578/Miles@TrustArts.org      
Other Contact: Diana Roth, Communications Manager, 412-471-8717/Roth@TrustArts.org
Images available: TrustArts.org/press
Search: 2014 Skippyjon

PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST ANNOUNCES

PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S THEATER

PRESENTS

THEATREWORKS USA IN

SKIPPYJON JONES

OCTOBER 19 ̶ 26, 2014 | SIX PERFORMANCE LOCATIONS IN PITTSBURGH!
Pittsburgh, PA ̶   Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, presents Theatreworks USA’s Skippyjon Jones from October 19 ̶ 26, 2014, at six performance locations throughout the area.  Tickets go on sale September 8th at 9:00am.

“A popular book brought to life on stage opens our season and we are excited to host this award-winning theater company so that children and families throughout the region can experience live professional performances in their neighborhood,” commented Pamela K. Lieberman, Manager of Children’s Programming from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Executive Director of Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater.

Citizens Bank is the 2014-2015 season sponsor of Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater.
Theatreworks USA’s Skippyjon Jones, based on the book of same title by Judy Schachner, is an enchanting musical for younger audiences that tells a story about unleashing your powerful imagination and following your dreams.  Devanand Janki is the director and choreographer for this current tour.  The scenery is designed by Rob Odorisio, with costumes by Tracy Christensen and features a libretto and lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila (Drama Desk nominee for ALTAR BOYZ and Theatreworks USA’s Click, Clack, Moo!).  Theatreworks USA’s Skippyjon Jones was nominated for a 2013 Lucille Lortel Award in the Outstanding Musical category.  This 60-minute musical is recommended for ages 4 and up.

Photo Credit:  Jeremy Daniel

Skippyjon Jones tells the tale of a Siamese cat with big dreams and an even bigger will to be anything but a cat! “Holy guacamole,” Skippyjon exclaims. “My ears are too big for my head, my head is too big for my body. I am not a Siamese cat – I am a CHIHUAHUA!” Take an adventurous ride as Skippyjon Jones struggles to find himself and is faced with one of the biggest decision of his life; will he help save his “fellow” Chihuahua’s or will he soon realize that he may be the wimpy little Siamese cat that he’s been hiding from.

To view a sample of this stage production, visit: http://www.theatreworksusa.org/show_detail.cfm?show=1546

Individual tickets ($11 at the door; $9.50 in advance) can be ordered online at www.TrustArts.org/kids, by calling 412-456-6666, or in person at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue. Group tickets can be ordered by calling 412-471-6930.  Subscriptions and Flex Ticket Packages to the Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater series are available by calling 412-456-1390.

Illustration from Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachter. ©Theatreworks USA.

Performance Locations

City: Byham Theater | Sunday, October 19 | 2:00 p.m.
Students only matinee | Byham Theater | Monday, October 20 | 10:15 a.m.
East: Penn Hills High School | Wednesday, October 22 | 7:00 p.m.
North: Marshall Middle School | Thursday, October 23 | 5:30 & 7:30 p.m.
West: Moon Area High School | Friday, October 24 | 7:00 p.m.
South: Upper St. Clair High School | Saturday, October 25 | 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
Butler: Seneca Valley Intermediate High School | Sunday, October 26 | 2:00 p.m.

Theatreworks USA
Theatreworks USA is America's largest not-for-profit theatre for young and family audiences. Since 1961, Theatreworks USA has engaged and educated over 85 million people in 49 states and Canada, now performing for about three million people annually.  Theatreworks USA has a reputation providing young audiences with their first theater experiences as well as providing young actors, writers, directors, and designers with experience and training within this field.

Read more about Theatreworks USA
Page to Stage: Turning Children's Books into Theater Productions, By Raven Snook | Publisher’s Weekly, April 5, 2013

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/56695-page-to-stage-turning-children-s-books-into-theater-productions.html

Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater
Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, opens the door for children to experience professional performing arts programming which inspires, challenges, educates, and stimulates respect for and an understanding of all cultures in an entertaining and enlightening way.  The Family Series, now in its 45th season, introduces children to the arts early in life sparking their interest and appreciation so they continue to enjoy and support the arts as they grow up.

The 2014 ̶ 2015 Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater series also includes:
Skink | November 16 ̶ 22, 2014 | Six locations
Big Nate (Season Special) | November 23 ̶ 24, 2014 | Byham Theater only
Click, Clack, Moo!  | January 11 ̶ 18, 2015 | Six locations
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse   | February 22 ̶ March 1, 2015 | Six locations
The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley | April 4 ̶ 10, 2015 | Byham Theater only
In addition to the Family Series, the Children’s Theater division presents the annual Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival, one of only four international children’s theater festivals in the nation.  Now in its 29th year, the Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival will take place May 13 ̶ 17, 2015.  For more information, visit www.TrustArts.org/kids.

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts. www.TrustArts.org
Follow us on Twitter @CulturalTrust, and like us on Facebook.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

44th Season of Pgh International Children's Theater Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today's date: May 15, 2013
Media Contacts:
Shaunda Miles – Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 412-471-1578 / miles@TrustArts.org
Diana Roth – Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 412-471-8717 / roth@TrustArts.org

Electronic images are available: http://trustarts.org/press
Search: 2013-2014 Children's Theater

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
announces the 44th season
Pittsburgh International Children's Theater 2013-2014 Family Series
Featuring award-winning theater companies from
Canada, Russia, United Kingdom and the USA.

Six perfomance locations throughout the Pittsburgh area.

PITTSBURGH, PA:  The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is pleased to announce the 2013-2014 Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater Family Series.  Now in its 44th season, the Family Series will present award-winning, professional theater companies featuring live performances for young audiences ages 3 and up.   Performances based on prize-winning and popular children’s books adapted for the stage by  Theatreworks USA (USA), Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia (Canada), and Big Wooden Horse Theatre Company (UK) can be seen at various locations throughout the Pittsburgh area.   Hand Made Theatre (Russia) will present a U.S. premiere choreography that creates a magical world of trains, boats, ticking clocks, flocks of birds and more.  New to the 2013-2014 Family Series is a series special, Junie B. Jones by Theatreworks USA.  School matinee performances for some shows will be held on Mondays at 10:15 a.m., at the Byham Theater.

Citizens Bank is the season sponsor of Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater 2013-14 Family Series.

“Through the tradition of performing arts, Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater is proud to bring the 44th Family Series, featuring timeless storybook favorites-old and new- along with a US premiere from Russia. Bringing these artists and performances to the Pittsburgh area for children and their families to enjoy and experience live- some for the first time- is at the heart of our goals,” commented Pamela K. Lieberman, Manager of Children’s Programming-Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Executive Director -Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater.

Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, opens the door for children to experience professional performing arts programming which inspires, challenges, educates, and stimulates respect for and an understanding of all cultures in an entertaining and enlightening way.  The series introduces children to the arts early in life sparking their interest and appreciation so they continue to enjoy and support the arts as they grow up.  In addition to the Family Series, the Children’s Theater division also presents the annual Pittsburgh International Children's Festival (May 14-18, 2014, 28th year; details to be announced Fall 2013), one of only four international children's theater festivals in the nation.

Tickets and Information
Season Tickets: TrustArts.org/kids • 412-456-1390
Single Tickets: TrustArts.org/kids • 412-456-6666
Group Tickets: TrustArts.org/groups • 412-471-6930

Five-show season subscription ($42) includes Peter Pan, Time for Fun, Stuck, Teacher from the Black Lagoon, and Swimmy, Frederick & Inch by Inch.  Season Ticket holders can order extra tickets, when available, to any show at a reduced rate of $9.

Flex Ticket Package ($55.50) includes a package of six tickets.   Flex tickets are vouchers that can be exchanged for tickets to any available performance during the season. Additional vouchers can be added on at the time of purchase for $9.25.

Single Tickets: $9.50 in advance • $11.00 at the door, if available.
Group Tickets (10 or more): $8 per person

Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater 2013-2014 Family Series

Theatreworks USA (USA), Peter Pan
Peter Pan has never been told like this! This production encourages children to let their imaginations take “flight” and to create their own adventures. Watch as a group of children playing in an old attic morph into the classic characters of Peter Pan right before your eyes!

October 20-27, 2013, Ages 3 and up
•         City:  Byham Theater, Sunday, October 20, 2pm
•         East: Linton Middle School, Wednesday, October 23, 7pm
•         North: Marshall Middle School, Thursday, October 24, 5:30 & 7:30pm
•         West: Hopewell High School, Friday, October 25, 7pm
•         South: Mt. Lebanon High School, Saturday, October 26, 11am & 2pm
•         Butler: Seneca Valley Intermediate High School, Sunday, October 27, 2pm

Since 1961, Theatreworks USA has enlightened, entertained, and instructed over 78 million people in 49 states and Canada.  Theatreworks USA is the only children's theatre to receive both a Drama Desk and a Lucille Lortel Award, and they are known for an extensive multi-cultural guest artist roster, including storytellers, puppeteers, poets, and magicians.

Hand Made Theatre (Russia), Time for Fun, US Premiere
Time for Fun delights children with wonderfully choreographed hands and arms interlock and entwine to create trains, sailboats, ticking clocks, flocks of birds and more in this St. Petersburg production making its U.S. Premiere!

November 17-24, 2013, All Ages
•         City: Byham Theater, Sunday, November 17, 2pm
•         East: Linton Middle School, Wednesday, November 20, 7pm
•         North: Marshall Middle School, Thursday, November 21, 5:30 & 7:30pm
•         West: Moon Area High School, Friday, November 22, 7pm
•         South: Upper St. Clair High School, Saturday, November 23, 11am & 2pm
•         Butler: Seneca Valley Intermediate High School, Sunday, November, 24, 2pm

Hand Made Theatre from St. Petersburg, Russia presents a unique performance through skilled puppetry, imagination, humor, and storytelling, performers use their hands to a create a magical world on stage.  The company’s actors are trained in puppetry at Russia’s State Theatre Arts Academy.

Big Wooden Horse Theatre Company (UK), Stuck
Floyd got his kite Stuck in a tree! To get the Kite down, he tosses his shoe in the tree to shift if… but that gets Stuck, too! Soon, Floyd’s other shoe, his cat, a ladder, the kitchen sink, and an orangutan areStuck in the tree, too! This brand new story by Oliver Jeffers has been adapted into an exciting production by the team behind Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and The Way Back Home.

January 12-19, 2014, Ages 3-10
•         City: Byham Theater, Sunday, January 12, 2pm
•         East: Linton Middle School, Wednesday, January 15, 7pm
•         North: Marshall Middle School, Thursday, January 16, 5:30 & 7:30pm
•         West: Moon Area High School, Friday, January 17, 7pm
•         South: Upper St. Clair High School, Saturday, January 18, 11am & 2pm
•         Butler: Seneca Valley Intermediate High School, January 19, 2pm

Big Wooden Horse Theatre Company presents high quality theatre to younger audiences in the United Kingdom and represents the best of British theatre craft abroad.  The company believes that young people deserve the highest quality of writing, performance and production that a professional theatre company can offer.  They strive to both entertain and inform young people, drawing from difference cultures and traditions.

Theatreworks USA (USA), Teacher from the Black Lagoon
This musical revue based on the books Teacher from the Black Lagoon, Dogzilla, I Want My Hat Back, Love, Splat, and more show outrageously funny ways that our imagination can get the best of us! These stories promise to have you laughing in the face of fear and singing along!

February 16-23, 2014, Ages 3-10
•         Butler: Seneca Valley Intermediate High School, Sunday, February 16, 2pm
•         East: Linton Middle School, Wednesday, February 19, 7pm
•         North: Marshall Middle School, Thursday, February 20, 5:30 & 7:30pm
•         West: Moon Area High School, Friday, February 21, 7pm
•         South: Mt. Lebanon High School, Saturday, February 22, 11am & 2pm
•         City: Byham Theater, Sunday, February 23, 2pm

Cover Illustration by Denis Brunkus

Theatreworks USA: June B. Jones (Series Special), Ages 3-10
Junie B. Jones: Hooray, hooray! This musical (that is, a play all jumbled together with singing and dancing) is all about Junie B. Jones, who you know and love from her books written by Barbara Park!

Friday, March 14, 11am & 7pm
Saturday, March 15, 11am & 2pm
•          City: Byham Theater only.


Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia (Canada): Swimmy, Frederick & Inch by Inch, Ages 3-10
These exquisitely crafted Caldecott Honor Books by Leo Lionni come to life in a colorful way! Learn all about Swimmy, a tiny fish, Frederick, a poetic mouse, and a loveable inchworm through puppetry and gentle storytelling which has earned national acclaim!

Friday, April 11, 11am & 7pm
Saturday, April 12, 11am & 2pm
•         City: Byham Theater only

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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Nickelodeon's Fresh Beat Band Schedules Pittsburgh Performance

Thursday, November 21
6:00pm • Benedum Center

The Fresh Beat Band, Nickelodeon’s popular preschool music group and stars of the hit TV series of the same name, have added 50 cities by popular demand to their enormously successful 2012 tour. Kiki (Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer), Shout (Thomas Hobson), Marina (Tara Perry), and Twist (Jon Beavers) will perform The Fresh Beat Band hits from seasons one, two and three of the live-action music series that teaches preschoolers about music appreciation and how to express their feelings through movement, song and instrumental music. Fresh Beat Band Party packages, which include a meet and greet with The Fresh Beat Band will be available.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh International Children's Festival Schedule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today's date: March 5, 2013
Contact: Diana Roth, 412-471-8717, roth@trustarts.org



The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Presents the 27th Annual
Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival
May 15-19, 2013

PITTSBURGH, PA:  The Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, presents the Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival, Wednesday, May 15, through Sunday, May 19, 2013 at the University of Pittsburgh theaters and Schenley Plaza. Programming will showcase international and local theater premieres, including a brand new interactive luminarium installation from Architects of Air (UK). Giant Eagle is the lead sponsor of the 2013 Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival. Additional partners include Citiparks, University of Pittsburgh School of Arts & Sciences, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh Parks Conservatory.

The Festival will feature performances and artwork by artists from the U.S. and around the globe, including Australia, Russia, Ireland, and the UK. “The 27th annual Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival presents a wide variety of unique performances and is a way for people to see many shows back-to-back or over the span of a few days,” comments Pamela K. Lieberman, Manager of Children’s Theater Programming with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Executive Director of Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater. “It highlights a combination of art forms that are inspiring, not only for children, but for adults as well.”

Charlotte Blake Alston, featured narrator and story teller of African Pourquoi Tales, provides an interactive experience by tweaking her stories based on the audience’s participation and according to Lieberman, her performances are “engaging and amazing.” In addition, Alston is PennPAT funded, allowing her to make the most of every performance.

Back by popular demand, Aga-Boom (Russia/USA) returns to the festival and will delight audiences with their art of clowning, comedy and theater performance.

This year’s Festival will feature extended hours for the evening shows on Friday, May 18 & Saturday, May 19. Friday evening performances include Aga-Boom and Dinosaur Zoo at 6 p.m.; Saturday performances include Dinosaur Zoo at 5 p.m., and The Girl Who Forgot to Sing Badly and African Pourquoi Tales at 6:16 p.m.

In addition to the featured ticketed performances, the Festival will include free hands-on academic, cultural and international activities, as well as performances at the free outdoor Community Stages located in Schenley Plaza and on the front lawn of the Carnegie Library. Free outdoor activities and performances are 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For information and tickets, visit the Box Office at Theater Square, www.PghKids.org
 or call 412-456-6666. Ticket packages and single tickets are available. Children ages 2 and under are admitted free but require a lap pass for theater performances.  Groups of 10 or more, please call 412-471-6930. Festival hours are Wed-Thurs.: 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; Fri., Sat. and Sun.: 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. To ensure everyone is able to engage in the art pieces, all performances are fully handicapped accessible.

The featured performances of the 2013 Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival include:

Dinosaur Zoo (Erth Visual & Physical Inc., Australia) Bellefield Hall Auditorium, single ticket $8; Ages 5 and up, Performances May 15: 9:45 a.m. & 12:45 p.m.; May 16: 9:45 a.m. & 12:45 p.m.; May 17: 9: 45 a.m., 12:45 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.; May 18: 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.; May 19: 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo transports you to the Australian outback where a rugged ranger and trusty dino keeper introduce you to a menagerie of Mesozoic monsters from around the world. Operated by supremely skilled puppeteers, every dino responds instantly to the audience for an intimate, authentic encounter. You just might find yourself over 65 million and a half a world away!

Aga-Boom (1 to 1 Entertainment, Russia/USA) Charity Randall Theatre, single tickets: $8; Ages 3 and up, Performances May 17: 11: 30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.; May 18: 9:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m.; May 19: 9:30 a.m. & 3:15 p.m. Jump head-first into unbridled silliness with the clown clean-up crew—three former starts ofCirque du Soleil, Ringling Brothers and the Moscow Circus. Rooted in the unique style of theatrical clowning, Aga-Boom brings together the best traditions of circus arts, physical comedy and European avant-garde. Get ready for a live-action cartoon, exploding with sophisticated slapstick, outlandish chases and the most chaotic finale ever.

African Pourquoi Tales (Charlotte Blake Alston, USA) Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, single tickets $8; Ages 5-10, Performances May 15: 11:30 a.m.; May 16: 9:45 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.; May 17: 9:45 a.m. & 12:45 p.m.; May 18: 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. & 6:15 p.m.; May 19: 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. There are tales that make you say, “Hmmmm, Why?” You may find yourself asking, “What will Turtle do next?” and “What would I do in that situation?”. This tradition followed Africans to America where Brier Rabbit, Brier Fox and company were born. Come listen, laugh, join in, tap your finger on your temple and say “Hmmm?”, then go back to your classroom (or back to your home) and talk!

Exxopolis (Architects of Air, Nottingham, UK) Mazeroski Field, single tickets $8; All ages, Entry every half hour May 15-16: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; May 17-19: 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Artist Alan Parkinson is back for the third year in a row in celebration of Architects of Air’s 20th anniversary! Exxopolis takes its inspiration from natural geometry and architecture. The completed structure occupies half of a soccer field and rises to the height of a 3-story house! This giant structure will astonish you with its colorful domes and beautiful stained glass effects. This is a work of art that must be seen to be believed!

Egg and Spoon (Lyngo Theatre, UK) Studio Theatre, single tickets $8; Ages 1-5, Performances May 15: 9:45 a.m., 11: 30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.; May 16: 9:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.; May 17: 9: 45 a.m., 11:30 a.m. & 4:00 p.m.; May 18: 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.; May 19: 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. & 3:15 p.m. You and your chickadees will be taken from summer to winter to spring in this multisensory, highly interactive celebration of nature. The youngest theater-goers will be delighted with peek-a-boo puddles, fluffy snowflakes, blowing leaves, bursting cherry blossoms, a birdie egg that just might hatch and other splendiferous surprises. You won’t want to miss the magic of zipping through a magical year of seasons in just 40 minutes. Don’t wait to get your tickets for this sell-out performance.

The Girl Who Forgot to Sing Badly (Theatre Lovett, Ireland) Charity Randall Theatre, single tickets $8; Ages 7 and up, Performances May 15: 9:45 a.m. & 12:45 p.m.; May 16: 9:45 a.m. & 12:45 p.m.; May 17: 9:45 a.m. & 4:00 p.m.; May 18: 12:30 p.m. & 6:15 p.m.; May 19: 12:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. Louis Lovett leads the audience on an adventure that crosses snowy lands and wild seas. All the while, Peggy sings with the voice of an angel—a grossly unfortunate angel, who can’t sing at all. As Peggy desperately tries to save the day, we learn about love, loss, the reassurance of goats, and the courage to sing gloriously on-or off-key.

Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, opens the door for children to experience professional performing arts programming for children which inspires, challenges, educates, and stimulates respect for and an understanding of all cultures in an entertaining and enlightening way.  Pittsburgh International Children's Festival is one of only four international children's festivals in the nation. www.Pghkids.org

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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Online Radio Service for Children Launches

WQED and SLB RADIO PRODUCTIONS, INC. LAUNCH COMMERCIAL-FREE KIDS RADIO
Free online radio service for children and families launches


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 1st, 2013

CONTACTS:
 WQED
 George Hazimanolis
 412-622-1366
 ghaziman@wqed.org

SLB
 Larry Berger
 412-586-6300 x1
 larry@slbradio.org

JLP
 Christina Kepplinger Johansen
 412-488-9270
 president@jlpgh.org

WQED and SLB RADIO PRODUCTIONS, INC. LAUNCH COMMERCIAL-FREE KIDS RADIO
 Free online radio service for children and families launches

PITTSBURGH—Something’s in the air… iQ Kids Radio can now be heard every Saturday at www.iqkidsradio.org with engaging programming for children and families. Launched in January and developed as a collaboration between WQED and SLB Radio Productions, Inc. (SLB), iQ Kids Radio is designed to meet the need for an all-education, trusted radio service for children and families, iQ Kids Radio is a family-friendly commercial-free streaming radio service that provides a safe, entertaining, and fun way to learn, listen, laugh and much more. The service is free during the pilot phase of the project. It can be heard from Midnight Friday to Midnight EST every Saturday.

Grounded in more than 75 years of combined experience in delivering high-quality public radio and television to our region and beyond, this new, innovative service leverages the assets of WQED, PBS, SLB, and the popular Saturday Light Brigade radio show to serve families with children 10 and under.

Seed funding for iQ Kids Radio is provided by The Junior League of Pittsburgh, Inc., a founding partner. Additional support is provided by The Grable Foundation and the James McCandless Charitable Trust.

Listening is easy by simply clicking visiting www.iQkidsradio.org or by using the free TuneIn Radio App available for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. The TuneIn app can be accessed and, if necessary, installed at tinyurl.com/iqkidsradio-tunein.

You can also connect through social media on Twitter @iqkidsradio or
www.facebook.com/iQKidsRadio.

Want to be on iQ Kids Radio?
Call 855-323-KIDS (5437) and leave us a message about how to make a yummy recipe, where you are traveling this spring, a wish for the new year, or sing us your favorite song. You may also email us at wehearyou@iqkidsradio.org with your feedback!

Additional information

iQ Kids Radio currently operates as a Saturday-only streaming service with original programming running for 24 hours from midnight Friday night to midnight Saturday night. The current programming lineup includes the following (all times are Eastern):

Sweet Dreams – Midnight to 6am
 Classical music for kids and adults soothe the soul for a dreamy night.

The Saturday Light Brigade – 6am to Noon
The region’s national award-winning radio program for kids, adults and everyone in between.

Music & Family Fun – Noon – 4pm
 From worldly grooves to swinging sing-a-longs, afternoons rock on iQ Kids Radio.

Let’s Learn – 4pm to 8pm
 A program full of songs and stories of science, math, and the wondrous world around us.

DJ Daddy Dance Party – 8pm to 9pm
 For parents and babysitters – a packed hour of dance until you’re on the floor party until it’s bedtime music.

Bedtime Stories – 9pm to 10pm
 The calming effect of a great story as the kids wind down for the night.

Night Night – 10pm to Midnight
 A combination of soft lullabies and classic stories.

Children, families and caregivers can sign up now at www.iQkidsradio.org to receive information about iQ Kids Radio or submit ideas and music. The site also includes a section where kids and parents can submit programming suggestions.

The need for iQ Kids Radio

Multimedia and technology are changing daily. Youth ages 8-18 use media—
 television, music players, computers, and video games—for nearly eleven hours each day, and kids under age eight spend eight hours with multimedia each day. We know that media shapes children’s cultural beliefs and norms in powerful ways. While there are numerous media offerings “for children” across various media platforms, very few adopt high-quality educational standards.

The concept of iQ Kids Radio

iQ Kids Radio blends age-appropriate content from multiple disciplines---language, science, music appreciation, geography, and more—into a 24/7 streaming audio format currently providing original content as a Saturday-only service. As the service develops, iQ Kids Radio will also explore offering individual programs for on-demand listening, podcast and national distribution. Such programs may focus on storytelling, language lessons, music from diverse genres and music listening tips, children's literature, food chemistry, and other subjects that strengthen academic achievement, sharpen core life skills, and engage children and adults together. Programming also will include youth-created music, storytelling and news/commentary based on listener submissions and SLB’s work with more than 8,000 children annually.

The Junior League of Pittsburgh (JLP), a founding partner, selected iQ Kids Radio as its three-year signature project. Through this award, the JLP will provide administrative and volunteer support to launch iQ Kids Radio as well as financial support totaling $45,000. JLP members will focus on two areas of iQ Kids Radio: business strategy and event planning. Additionally, JLP members will design and implement signature events that will be critical to the project’s growth. At the conclusion of its three-year partnership, iQ Kids Radio will be poised to be self-sufficient and prepared to expand its capacity as an innovative resource, created in Pittsburgh, to support families and children around the country.

For more information about iQ Kids Radio, please visit www.iQkidsradio.org.
Photographs are available for download from WQED’s pressroom at www.wqed.org/pressroom.

WQED Multimedia www.wqed.org
 The people of WQED Multimedia produce, create and distribute quality content and services to engage, inform, educate, and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED was the nation’s first community-supported television station and went on the air on April 1, 1954.

The WQED Education Department has an illustrious history of service and innovation to local and national students, families, educators, and care providers. Today, WQED’s Education Department helps provide effective lifelong learning to the entire region. WQED’s new six-year strategy, iQ: smartmedia, launched in September of 2010 and has been aggressively aiming for its goal – to transform the way media is used for education – ever since.

With a lineup that attracts children from toddlers to teens, WQED is an essential part of every childhood. WQED commits 12 hours of every weekday schedule to high quality children's programming parents can count on. In addition, WQED offers connections to PBS KIDS, PBS Teachers and PBS Parents through its website, wqed.org. WQED has enriched the lives of children with their own productions as well as the educationally robust and entertaining lineup of PBS KIDS’s programming on subjects as diverse as global thinking, reading, and science. WQED was also the home of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, produced by Family Communications, Inc. (now the fred Rogers Company) for more than 40 years. More information is available at www.wqed.org/education.

SLB Radio Productions, Inc
 A nonprofit with twelve employees, SLB began pursuing its mission in 1978 with The Saturday Light Brigade, a Saturday morning public radio program that blends acoustic music, live performances by youth and adults, participatory puzzles, on-air telephone calls, and interviews with other community-based nonprofits serving youth and families. Programming grew substantially between 1990 and 2000, as SLB built a strong and loyal audience, winning 10 local, state and national awards. In 2004, with support from the broadcast industry, foundations, corporations and individual donors, SLB opened a $250,000 broadcast studio and training complex in the expanded Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. SLB has since emerged as a hub of community and educational activity. Its work today focuses on (1) continued production of The Saturday Light Brigade radio program and its extension as a vehicle to promote youth voice and (2) school and in-studio workshops in which experienced radio broadcasters and sound engineers work with children to explore self-expression as well as the tools used to collect and process audio into a creative work. More information about SLB is available at www.slbradio.org and www.neighborhoodvoices.org.

Junior League of Pittsburgh, Inc.
The Junior League of Pittsburgh educates and trains its members to provide effective volunteer service, to research challenging community needs, and to initiate pilot projects or expand services to meet those needs. Nearly 400 League women volunteer 10,000 hours annually in the Pittsburgh community. The organization provides administrative, financial, and volunteer support for projects and facilitates the permanent sponsorship of programs by other community organizations. Over the past ten years, the League has contributed over $500,000 in community donations and grants.

The League has a 90-plus-year history of high profile community projects. These include the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO), Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, The Caring Place, and others. Today, the League remains an innovator with a focus on creating opportunities that enhance children’s well-being and inspire their curiosity.

In 2012, the League selected iQ Kids Radio as a signature project. As a founding partner, the League will contribute $45,000 in seed funding and 7,500 hours of administrative and volunteer support over the next three years. The League’s trained volunteers will design and help implement new outreach, promotional, and business strategies aimed at sustaining iQ Kids Radio. The League first supported WQED at its inception on air in 1954 by creating children’s television programming for ten years.
 Additional Junior League of Pittsburgh information is available at www.jlpgh.org.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Amber Liggett Honored as Young Futurist

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Marcia Liggett
(724) 728-5134
ambersballoons@gmail.com

LOCAL TEEN CEO HONORED AS A ROOT’S 2013 YOUNG FUTURIST
Recognized as one of the “brightest African-American innovators” in the nation

BEAVER, PA – (February 7, 2012) - On Monday, February 4, sixteen-year-old Amber J. Liggett, CEO of Amber’s Amazing Animal Balloons was recognized in The Root’s 2013 Young Futurists List as one of “25 of the brightest African-American innovators between the ages of 16 and 22… who use their talents to make the world a better place.”  TheRoot.com, a division of The Washington Post provides a voice for African Americans, showcasing their accomplishments and their impact on society.  Created in 2011, the annual list highlights youth’s achievements in a variety of areas, such as “Enterprise and Corporate Innovation”, where Amber is featured.  http://www.theroot.com/views/young-futurists/2013/amber-liggett

This 2012 Teenpreneur of the Year for Black Enterprise Magazine and 2011 Ernst & Young’s  Young Entrepreneur of the Year has been creating masterful balloon art and providing entertainment since the age of 9.  She was a featured artist at the 2012 and 2013 First Night Pittsburgh’s New Year Celebration, and this philanthropic teen organizes, conducts and participates in fundraisers for various organizations.  This year she will be organizing a charity concert to benefit the Bender Lead On Anti-Bullying in Beaver County, PA.  A high honor student at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland, PA and member of The National Honor Society, Amber assists other teens with their entrepreneurial endeavors, including teaching workshops at Community College of Beaver County, PA (CCBC).  There, Amber teaches balloon and entrepreneurial workshops, and will be instructing at the annual Autism Camp for the forth summer in a row.

Now heading into its seventh year, Amber’s Amazing Animal Balloons has expanded to include face painting, spin art, sand art, cotton candy, and will soon incorporate technology.  “To touch a child’s life is to change the future,” said Amber.  She has already begun training other youth to face paint.  Amber’s goals include a million dollar business, which she is currently developing through a partnership with Carmen Scott Dawson, Vice President of Entrepreneur Education at the Uncommon Individual Foundation.

Amber is no stranger to media and public speaking appearances as she spreads a motivational message of self-empowerment, positivity and entrepreneurship to others. She was a featured speaker, representing The Uncommon Individual foundation in Erie, PA last November during Global Entrepreneurship Week. Other appearances include being featured on PBS’s nationally syndicated BizKid$, and John Delano’s Sunday Morning Business Page, as well as interviews on multiple radio shows and in newspaper articles.  She was recently selected as a finalist in the Beaver County Outstanding Young Woman contest in Beaver, PA. Amber inspires youth and adults alike through her example, expertise, and passion to improve the world.

See samples of Amber’s work at her website:
www.ambersballoons.com

To reach Amber with questions or for an interview, call:

Marcia Liggett (Manager)      
Tel: 724-728-5134
Cell: 724-312-1221
Email: ambersballoons@gmail.com
Website: www.ambersballoons.com


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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

PSO Feline Ambassador Fiddlesticks Returns

For immediate release
Feb. 1, 2013

PSO MUSICAL AMBASSADOR FIDDLESTICKS RETURNS FOR ANOTHER EXCITING SEASON OF FAMILY CONCERTS AT HEINZ HALL

Macy’s to become presenting sponsor of Fiddlesticks

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s (PSO) popular feline musical ambassador to children, Fiddlesticks, returns in 2013-2014 for yet another season of entertaining Saturday morning concerts to introduce children to music.

Three-concert subscriptions, ranging from $28.80 to $58.50, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412.392.4900, or by visiting www.pittsburghsymphony.org.

From infancy on, children are exposed to the music of lullabies, sing-a-longs, folk tunes, and pop music, and the Fiddlesticks Family Concerts, presented by Macy’s, continue to explore various genres of music. Each performance is preceded by a pre-concert event called Discovery Time Adventures, which is free to all ticket holders. These educational activities begin at 10 a.m. and allow young audiences and their parents to meet the PSO musicians, learn songs, and take part in various musical activities. The 45-minute concert begins at 11:15 a.m. and is filled with engaging music and interaction with everyone’s favorite friendly feline!

Resident Conductor Lawrence Loh

The 2013-2014 season begins in hauntingly fun fashion with “Halloween Spooktacular” at 11:15 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, when Fiddlesticks joins the PSO and Resident Conductor Lawrence Loh for a concert of kid-friendly, spooky music from hit movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and the Harry Potter movies. Adults and children alike also can delight in Grieg’s rousing In the Hall of the Mountain King.

The season’s second concert will be “The Carnival of Animals” at 11:15 a.m., Saturday, March 1, 2014. The Carnival of the Animals is one of the most famous pieces by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. Each movement in this spectacular orchestral work depicts a different animal, from the royal lion to the graceful swan. Cartoon artist Joe Wos from the Toonseum will illustrate the animals as the PSO performs.

The season ends with “A Salute to America” at 11:15 a.m., Saturday, May 17, 2014. Fiddlesticks, the PSO and Loh take part in a concert of music inspired by America, from the heart-pounding drum line to the moving “Stars and Stripes Forever.” The audience can join vocalist Katy Williams in a sing-along of “You’re a Grand Ol’ Flag!”

The PSO would like to recognize and thank the Macy’s Foundation for its presenting sponsorship of Fiddlesticks Family Concerts.  Additional support is provided by the PPG Industries Foundation. This series is endowed by Gerald and Audrey McGinnis, honoring the Center for Young Musicians.

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Contact: James Barthen. Vice President of Public Affairs
Phone: 412.392.4835 | email: jbarthen@pittsburghsymphony.org

Contact: Ramesh Santanam, Director of Media Relations
Phone: 412.392.4827 | email: rsantanam@pittsburghsymphony.org

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh