Jon Stewart to Perform at Story Pirates Fundraiser Hosted by John Oliver, 3/21

The Story Pirates' second annual After School Special fundraiser seeks to raise over $100,000 for arts and creative writing programs in underfunded New York schools. The Story Pirates will present a special version of their musical sketch comedy show in which celebrity guests bring to life stories written by kids who are in the audience. Jon Stewart (The Daily Show) will co-chair and perform at the event and John Oliver (Community, The Daily Show) will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

An online auction will feature the chance to have Jon Stewart perform in a lucky child's original story. Other auction items include a yearlong membership to Crunch Gym; tickets to Broadway shows, Saturday Night Live, the Colbert Report and the Museum of Modern Art's Party in the Garden; and a visit with the stars of NCIS. These and many other great packages will be available for public bidding online until March 20th.

Everything the Story Pirates present is based on a story written by a kid - even food! At the After School Special, the Pirates will turn kids' culinary themed stories into an imaginative and eccentric spread of hors d'oeuvres, all inspired by young authors' hilarious recipes. Talking pasta and superhero cheeses are included in the price of admission. The event will also feature the premiere of a new documentary exploring the impact of Story Pirates programs on a group of students at the Bronx Charter School for the Arts.

Story Pirates is a nationally respected arts and literacy organization founded in 2003 to celebrate the words and ideas of young people, to promote literacy as a vital part of childhood education, and to preserve the spark of youthful creativity often lost in the transition to adulthood. The cornerstone of the company is the Play/Write Program, a series of creative writing and drama workshops that lead to a musical sketch comedy show acted by adults and comprised entirely of stories written by kids. For six years, the Play/Write program has brought high quality arts programs to tens of thousands of students who need it most.

Mr. Stewart says of the group, "I believe that what the Story Pirates are doing is helping America-nay, humanity-helping humanity itself... The Story Pirates give kids a love of creative writing and a confidence in that ability that they can't get anywhere else."

WHAT: A benefit performance with open bar and hors d'oeuvres; online auction to open March 1st at www.storypirates.org/benefit

WHEN: March 21, 2010 at 4:00pm

WHERE: Dixon Place Theater, 161a Chrystie St. New York City, NY 10002

WHO: Members of The Story Pirates will perform alongside Jon Stewart and Master of Ceremonies John Oliver

WHY: All funds raised at the second annual After School Special will benefit the Story Pirates, bringing quality arts and creative writing programs to low-income students who need them most.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.storypirates.org.