Altar Boyz to Appear on Johnny and the Sprites, 5/19

The cast of Altar Boyz makes a special cameo appearance on Disney Channel's "Johnny and the Sprites" on Saturday, May 19 (11:00 a.m., ET/PT), adding to the roster of Broadway talent featured on the hit preschool series which stars and is executive produced by John Tartaglia.

The Altar Boyz will make a fun cameo appearance in the episode entitled "Basil's Band," in which Basil discovers something about making promises - and keeping them - when he joins a band and forgets about all of his friends. The episode features the original song "That's What Friends Do," written by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker.

Each episode of "Johnny and the Sprites" features at least two original songs written by some of the theater world's top composers. Among those who have contributed original lyrics and music for season one of the series are Stephen Schwartz, Gary Adler, Mark Hollmann, Michael Patrick Walker, Bobby Lopez, Ryan Cunningham and Joshua Salzman, and Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler.

In addition to the music, Sutton Fosterappeared in a guest starring role as Johnny's sister, and Natalie Venetia Belcon has a recurring role as Johnny's next door neighbor, Gwen. Emmy Award-winning Michael Schupbach (Avenue Q, Little Shop of Horrors) is the show's character designer, and Donna Drake (original cast of A Chorus Line) is the choreographer.

"Johnny and the Sprites" stars Tartaglia as Johnny, "a singer/songwriter who moves to the country and discovers a portal in his yard leading to the enchanted world of magical creatures known as theSprites: Ginger, Basil, Lily and Root. Together, Johnny and the Sprites learn valuable lessons about mutual understanding and appreciating the differences in others," according to press materials. "Johnny and the Sprites" airs Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 AM during Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney programming block for preschoolers.

"Altar Boyz, the acclaimed musical comedy, winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical Off-Broadway, is the longest running new musical comedy to open in New York in years! Full of sharp parody, sinfully spectacular songs and dancing, and irreverent humor, this spoof about a heavenly guy-group is adored by audiences and critics alike."

Visit www.altarboyz.com for more on Altar Boyz and this link for more on "Johnny and the Sprites."

Photo - John Tartaglia and the Sprites