LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE and The Seeing Eye Announce Partnership

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL, with Melissa Gilbert as "Ma," the new touring musical based on the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder series of classic American books, is proud to announce a new partnership with THE SEEING EYE, a national organization celebrating its 80th year bringing dog guide services to blind people across the U.S. and Canada.

The collaboration between LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL and THE SEEING EYE will convey the same spirit of independence, courage and ability to overcome adversity that the THE SEEING EYE founders and the Little House book series, now almost 75 years old, first portrayed so many years ago.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE and THE SEEING EYE have developed a community outreach program that will help strengthen the awareness of services that enhance independence for blind people and will help teach about respect and etiquette towards people who are blind. As such, special presentations will be presented in each touring city prior to the show's arrival at local government offices, schools, community centers and more.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with such an iconic and inspirational production to help increase awareness of the capabilities and challenges of blind people in today's frontier," said James A. Kutsch Jr., President and CEO of THE SEEING EYE.

"Much like the characters in LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, our graduates, with their Seeing Eye dogs, have created a legacy of forging new lives amidst the challenges, heartbreaks, joys and triumphs that we face each and every day. This partnership is very much a celebration and continuation of the pioneering spirit for which we and Little House on the Prairie are known," Kutsch added.

"Knowing that we would be drawing audiences throughout the United States and Canada, we wanted to take the opportunity to help THE SEEING EYE spread its mission of enhancing independence for people who are blind," said Melissa Gilbert. "An essential part of our musical's story line relates to Mary Ingalls, who becomes blind but is eventually able to pursue her studies and flourish in spite of that challenge. Because of that, we hope to reinforce the message that people with visual impairments have even more innovative opportunities that did not exist in Mary's day, thanks to organizations such as THE SEEING EYE."

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