Barbie: Live in Fairytopia Announces 31 Dates for US Tour

Mattel and Clear Channel Entertainment have announced 31 tour dates for Barbie: Live in Fairytopia, the lavish musical spectacle based on the high-selling direct-to-video Barbie movie.

The first leg of the tour will kick off in Columbus, Ohio, at the Palace Theatre on April 1, 2006, and continue on to 80 cities within North America. Top markets scheduled to date include Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Detroit and Washington, D.C. Tickets for several markets went on sale today, with additional venues going on sale in the coming months. Each venue will seat approximately 1,500 - 3,000 people. Ticket prices will vary by venue but average $22 to $25.

"A Broadway-caliber team of behind-the-scenes masters will enchant family audiences of all ages with a magical theatrical production that includes beautiful costumes, an original musical score and exquisite special effects, including flying fairies," state press notes.

Today, casting for the production began with open auditions in New York City for the starring role. Barbie hopefuls turned out to "Good Morning America" and Chelsea Studios to audition for the role that casts Barbie as Elina, "a wingless fairy in the magical land of Fairytopia." The actress cast as the headlining role will be announced early next year.

"The actress that we end up casting in the role of Elina must have tremendous singing and dancing skills, as well as strong athletic capabilities. Barbie: Live in Fairytopia will tour 80 cities and is an elaborate stage production that includes a number of special effects -- including flying," stated Eric Schaeffer, the production's director. "The actress we cast needs to have the sparkle and charisma necessary to act as the world's most famous fashion doll in our production."

A cultural icon since 1959, Mattel's Barbie is owned by 99% of all girls in the US between the ages of 3 and 10, with the average girl having 8, according to recent statistics. Barbie is sold in over 140 countries, and over one billion of the dolls have been purchased.

To see the show's tour dates and to purchase tickets, visit www.barbielive.com.