Carole and Paula’s Magic Garden: A Benefit Concert for The New York Children’s Theater Festival Set for 10/6

Iconic children's television stars Carole Demas and Paula Janis, best known for their popular New York-based television series The Magic Garden (1972 to 1984), will perform two special family concerts in conjunction with their 40^th anniversary, to benefit The New York Children's Theater Festival.

According to Demas, "The New York Children's Theater Festival is an exciting addition to the children's entertainment industry and to the New York theater community. Paula and I believe our mission as performers/writers/producers is aligned with theirs - to support and encourage quality children's entertainment, and give families a wide variety of live theatrical experiences they can share.  We are honored to work with the Festival and to be able to donate the proceeds from these special family concerts to this important organization."

Carole and Paula's Magic Garden: A Benefit Concert for The New York Children's Theater Festival will take place Saturday, October 6, 2:00 PM and 4:30 PM, at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre at the West Side Y (10 West 64^th Street at Central Park West). These performances will feature their signature songs, exciting stories, memorable and unseen video clips from The Magic Garden, and a chance to meet them after the show.  

Now in its second year, The New York Children's Theater Festival serves to connect artists and industry professionals who are passionate about creating theatrical experiences and productions for children. The Festival of new works, performed over several weekends in April and May, are selected by an advisory board that includes some of the most creative and influential professionals in the children's entertainment industry today.

"We are grateful to the talent, support and generosity of Carole and Paula for dedicating these two performances to benefit our Festival. We are personal and professional fans of The Magic Garden and Carole and Paula, and deeply honored to be associated with them," says Michael Shawn Lewis, co-founder of The New York Children's Theater Festival.  

Lifelong friends Carole Demas and Paula Janis starred in The Magic Garden for 12 years on WPIX-TV starting in 1972. The Magic Garden brought stories, songs, games, lessons and laughter to devoted fans from a colorful garden setting.  Today, the duo's live appearances, and timeless CDs and DVDs, continue to entertain and delight their fans who have introduced Carole and Paula to their children and a whole new generation. More atwww.caroleandpaula.com and www.caroledemas.com.

Tickets for Carole and Paula's Magic Garden: A Benefit Concert for The New York Children's Theater Festival are $30 for adults, $20 for children under 12, and can be purchased at OvationTix: 866/811-4111.For more information contact The New York Children's Theatre Festival at 646/383-0015. Seating is limited and all ticket proceeds go directly to support the Festival.

Founded by Michael Shawn Lewis, Chelsey Shannon and Renee Barnett, The New York Children's Theater Festival (NYCTF) serves to connect artists and industry professionals who are passionate about creating theatrical experiences and productions for children.   NYCTF fosters critical awareness for the art form, in addition to providing professional development and enrichment opportunities for those dedicated to the craft of creating new works for young audiences. As well as presenting new works, NYCTF will also provide resources and services to  support artists in their work to develop and inspire the next generation of theatergoers. NYCTF is filing as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. www.newyorkchildrenstheaterfestival.org.