Rosie O'Donnell Named National Ambassador for New Program Where Kids Can See Broadway Shows for Free! Theatre Under The Stars Brings Kids Night on Broadway (KNOB) to Houston!
   

   
Houston, TX…Theatre Under The Stars will be participating in the Kids Night On Broadway program, where kids ages 18 and under are invited to see a show for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult on a designated evening.  TUTS presents Happy Days – A New Musical, and invites Houston audiences to bring a child for free on Wednesday May 13, 2009, at the Hobby Center For The Performing Arts in downtown Houston. For tickets, visit TUTS.com and use the promo code KNOB.

Kids’ Night On Broadway (kidsnightonbroadway.com) is an audience development program created by The Broadway League (broadwayleague.com) to make theatre accessible, encourage theatre as a form of family entertainment, and build larger audiences for the future. Ticket includes Special Edition Kids’ Playbill provided by Theatre Development Fund, educational programs in cooperation with Thru the Stage Door and Take it From the Top, and attendance to Theatre Under The Stars presentation of Happy Days – A New Musical. There will be a kids activity table in the grand lobby as well as fun KNOB branded T-Shirts, buttons, notepad s and other goodies given away on a first-come first-serve basis.

Rosie O’Donnell’s dedication to enriching the lives of children through the arts is legendary. Her arts education organization, Rosie’s Broadway Kids, uses professional teaching artists to offer classes in dance and music and provide a professional theatre experience for children who might otherwise not have the opportunity. O’Donnell said, “My passion for the stage and dedication to arts education make it a special honor for me to be the National Ambassador for Kids’ Night On Broadway again.”
 
The Kids’ Night On Broadway souvenir playbill is written entirely by teens, and takes a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Broadway shows while giving voice to young theatre fans.  Generously provided by Theatre Development Fund, the Playbill is provided free of charge to all kids who attend the theatre on Kids' Night On Broadway, and is available for download at kidsnightonbroadway.com.   It also contains extensive listings of theatre books, websites, and additional educational resources.
   
Theatre Under The Stars is dedicated to enriching the lives of children through musical theatre and offers musical theatre education through the TUTS Humphreys School of Musical Theatre as well as community outreach programs bringing theatre “beyond the stage” and into various community centers, hospitals and schools thought the Houston area. “TUTS participation in the Kids Night Program is another step we’re taking in our mission to make musical theatre more accessible to children” says Sales and Marketing Director, David Greiss.
  
Based on the hit Paramount Pictures’ television series, Happy Days – A New Musical reintroduces one of America’s best loved families, the Cunninghams and the days of 1959 Milwaukee.  This time capsule is complete with familiar friends, Richie, Potsie, Ralph Malph, Joanie and Chachi, Pinky Tuscadero and of course, the King of Cool: Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli.  Arnold’s - the famed drive-in malt shop is in danger of demolition, so the gang teams up to save it with a dance contest and TV-worthy wrestling match.  Complete with varsity sweaters, hula hoops and jukebox sock-hoppin’, Happy Days – A New Musical brings back the nostalgia of the 50’s in a perfect family entertainment. 
   
Happy Days – A New Musical features a book written by the TV series’ legendary creator Garry Marshall with music and lyrics by the Academy Award-winning composer Paul Williams.  Directed by Gordon Greenberg, Music Arrangement and Music Supervision by John McDaniel and Choreographed by Michele Lynch.  Set design is by Walt Spangler, Costume design by David C. Woolard, Lighting design by Julie Ferrin, Sound Design by Jay Hilton and Hair and Wig design by Mark Adam Rampmeyer.
  
Tickets for TUTS' presentation of Happy Days – A New Musical  are available by phone at (713) 558-8887 or outside the Houston area at (888) 558-3882; or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, (800 Bagby at Walker, Mon-Fri 9a.m.-6p.m, Sat-Sun 11a.m.-4p.m.); or on-line TUTS.com.  An audio described performance is available Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 2 p.m.; open captioning Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 7:30p.m. The Hobby Center is wheelchair accessible.  Student and senior (60+) discount tickets are available one hour before performance at the box office only.  Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more and may be purchased by calling (713) 558-8888 or via email at  groupsales@tuts.com.
  
To purchase a Kids Night ticket, please visit TUTS.com and use the promo code KNOB.
  
Sponsors of the TUTS production of Happy Days – A New Musical  include Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and Sterling Bank. The TUTS 2008-2009 season is sponsored by Continental Airlines, Spectra Energy, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System.

Founded in 1968, Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is Houston's acclaimed non-profit musical theatre company and is currently under the direction of President and CEO John C. Breckenridge.  Dedicated to producing new works and classic masterpieces, the 2008-2009 "Wow! What a Season." celebrates TUTS’ 41st Season of bringing world-class musical theatre to Houston audiences.  TUTS was the first theatrical organization in Houston to perform free to the public in 1968 at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, and is the only Houston arts organization that has performed there free to the public every year since the building opened.  Since its founding by Frank M. Young, TUTS has produced more than 300 musicals including many local, national and world premieres such as Disney's Beauty and the Beast, as well as International tours including Debbie Reynolds in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Juliet Prowse in Mame, Robert Goulet in Man of La Mancha, the Tony Award-winning revival of Carousel and the Deaf West Theatre production of Big River.  As a way to continue the tradition of musical theatre, TUTS' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre provides instruction and stage experience for more than 1,700 students annually through both The Academy and The Studio, which allow students to flourish in a year-round schedule of classes.   Housed in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, TUTS also annually presents the Tommy Tune Awards, honoring the best and brightest in Houston's high school musical theatre programs.
  
For more information visit www.TUTS.com
  
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