For Immediate Release: February 22, 2006
Media Contact: Todd Stuart, Theatre League of Philadelphia/Merriam Theater, 215.732.5997

Ahoy! Dora the Explorer is setting sail with her brand new live musical voyage, Dora’s Pirate Adventure! visiting 28 cities. Presented by Nickelodeon Theatricals and Live Nation Entertainment, Dora’s Pirate Adventure! is based on the number one preschool show on commercial television. Dora’s Pirate Adventure! will dock at the Merriam Theater (250 S. Broad St.) from Wednesday, April 5th through Sunday, April 9th, 2006.

In the all new Dora’s Pirate Adventure!, Dora, her best buddy Boots the Monkey, and the rest of their friends embark on an exciting trip to Treasure Island. For the first time ever, the family-friendly stage show will feature Dora’s cousin, Diego – a nature and science expert. The audience will help them navigate over Music Mountain and silly Singing Bridge, and then confront the Pirate Piggies. Along the way, the audience will use their map-reading, counting, musical and Spanish-language skills to successfully help Dora reach the treasure. All ends happily onstage with a “yo-ho-ho!”

Dora is a seven-year-old Latina heroine, whose adventures take place in an imaginative, tropical world filled with jungles, beaches and rainforests. Dora explores her world just as pre-schoolers do everyday. Both the TV and stage shows are designed to actively engage their audiences using a variety of learning techniques.

Each step of their journey consists of a problem or puzzle that Dora and the audience must solve in order to move on to the next challenge. Dora is proudly bilingual and uses her knowledge of English and Spanish to communicate with her friends, overcome obstacles and reach her goals. Dora teaches Spanish words or phrases to the audience and then asks them to use them to solve a problem and forge ahead.

“Dora the Explorer Live! continues to be a huge touring franchise for Nickelodeon Theatrical after two record breaking years on the road,” says Stuart Rosenstein, Vice President, Viacom Recreation. “We are excited to bring the newest production ‘Dora’s Pirate Adventure!’ to families across the country to see their favorite Nick Jr. character live in person.”

Featuring familiar songs, a captivating storyline and all the characters children have come to love, Dora’s Pirate Adventure! showcases cousin Diego, her friend Boots, special helper Backpack, Map, Swiper the Fox, Tico and Benny.

Dora’s Pirate Adventure! is directed by Gip Hoppe, who first worked with Nickelodeon and Live Nation on Blue’s Clues Live! and Blue’s Clues Live! – Blue’s Birthday Party. He also worked on the first Dora the Explorer live production, Search for the City of Lost Toys. Hoppe wrote and directed the Broadway play Jackie: An American Life. He is a founding member and co-artistic director of the Wellfleet Harbor Actor's Theatre. The production is designed by TONY nominees David Gallo (Scenic) and Gregg Barnes (Costumes).

“Dora the Explorer” airs weekdays at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. (all times ET/PT) on Nick Jr., a specially designed programming block for preschoolers airing weekdays on Nickelodeon from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Completely dedicated to preschoolers ages 2-5, Nick Jr.’s Emmy, Peabody and Parents’ Choice Award-winning programs are curriculum based, fun and commercial free. At Nick Jr., kids play to learn with innovative, original shows created just for them. Nick Jr. shows, including “Dora the Explorer,” can also be seen Saturdays on CBS (check local listings).

For more information about Dora the Explorer Live! - Dora’s Pirate Adventure!, log on to www.nickjr.com or www.livenation.com.

About Nickelodeon: Nickelodeon, now in its 26th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 88 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for nine consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

About Live Nation Theatrical: Live Nation Entertainment’s Theatrical Division, is a leading producer of musicals, dramas and comedies on Broadway, in London’s West End and National touring companies. Broadway producing credits for the 2004 - 2005 season include: 700 Sundays staring Billy Crystal, La Cage Aux Folles, All Shook Up, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Spamalot, Sweet Charity, The Producers, Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, and Movin’ Out. Live Nation’s Theatrical Group stages a wide variety of live family entertainment stage shows, including current touring productions of Nickelodeon’s Dora The Explorer Live!, Blue’s Clues Live! and the upcoming Barbie Live!. The Theatrical Group also presents yearlong subscription series of top Broadway shows in more than 50 markets across North America. The Theatrical Group owns, manages and/or consults with 18 theatrical stages in North America and 22 more in the U.K. The company is committed to theater restoration and renovation projects around the world and has recently reopened the historic Boston Opera House and Baltimore’s France-Merrick Performing Arts Center Hippodrome Theatre. More information may be found by visiting www.livenation.com.

Tickets for Dora the Explorer Live !- Dora’s Pirate Adventure! are on sale now and are available through the Merriam Theater Box Office, or through Ticketmaster at (215) 336-1234, or on the web at www.broadwayacrossamerica.com. The ticket price range is $17.50-42.50.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Wednesday at 7 PM
Thursday at 10:30 AM and 7 PM
Friday at 7 PM
Saturday and Sunday at 11 AM, 2 PM, and 5 PM

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