Bronx Zoo Premieres AVENUE ZOO, 4/21-9/9

Animal Tales Extravaganza returns to the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo for the third year with special production – AVENUE ZOO – featuring a guest appearance by Kate Monster, the beloved puppet star of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q.

Running each weekend on the zoo's Asia Plaza Stage, AVENUE ZOO highlights the importance of wildlife conservation in a fun, entertaining way. It is a musical tale in which Kate Monster meets exotic animals and discovers that though they may seem strange and different, they are not as scary as she thought.

Kate Monster lends her star-power to the wildlife conservation effort as she continues to headline in AVENUE Q -- now in its 10th year in New York – the hilarious musical in which she portrays a kindergarten school teacher whose friends and neighbors include an array of people and puppets fresh out of college, living as neighbors in an outerborough of NYC and trying to find their way in the big city.

Each weekend of Animal Tales Extravaganza includes an array of activities for families and children. The zoo's Dancing Crane Pavilion will be transformed into an intimate story time corner, presented by Plum Organics. Zoo-goers can take a break and read from a wide variety of animal-themed books from Simon & Schuster, Candlewick Press, and Hyperion. Children can then stage their own animal tale with a puppet they create at the Bright Horizons Early Education & Preschools crafts area.

AVENUE ZOO performances will be at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. each weekend on the zoo's Asia Plaza Stage from Saturday, April 21 through Sunday, September 9. A full listing of Animal Tales Extravaganza dates and times is available at www.bronxzoo.com.

The Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays, 5:30 p.m. weekends from April to October; 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m November to March. Adult admission is $16, children (3-12 years old) $12, children under 3 are free, seniors (65+) are $14. Parking is $13 for cars and $16 for buses. The Bronx Zoo is conveniently located off the Bronx River Parkway at Exit 6; by train via the #2 or #5 or by bus via the #9, #12, #19, #22, MetroNorth, or BxM11 Express Bus service (from Manhattan that stops just outside the gate.) To plan your trip, visit bronxzoo.com or call 718-367-1010.

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.

For performance and ticket information about AVENUE Q currently playing at New World Stages please call Telecharge at 212-239-6200 or visit www.avenueq.com.