Lively McCabe To Manage Children's Classic FREE TO BE...YOU AND ME For Stage, Etc.

Lively McCabe Entertainment is pleased to announce that it has signed the original classic children's property Free To Be . . . You and Me as a management client. The company will focus primarily on securing a new music administration agreement, the development of a new regional live stage musical, and the exploration of book publishing opportunities in the lead up to Free To Be's 50th anniversary in 2022.

Free To Be . . . You and Me is a children's entertainment project conceived, created and executive-produced by Marlo Thomas in 1972. It was first an album with a mission to encourage post-1960s gender and racial equality, promoting values such as individuality, tolerance, and the courage to pursue one's dreams. The album featured songs, stories and poems created by artists such as Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Sheldon Harnick, and Shel Silverstein; performed by Ms. Thomas, Mel Brooks, Roberta Flack, Michael Jackson, Harry Belafonte, Carol Channing, and Alan Alda, among many others; and within weeks of its release it achieved gold record status. In 1974, the popularity of the record led to a book version, which included new contributions from Judy Blume, Lucille Clifton, and Judith Viorst. The book expanded the themes of the record to include such critical subjects as divorce, sibling relationships, empathy, loyalty, global unity, and cooperation across all cultures. A New York Times bestseller, it also earned an American Library Association Award. An ABC-TV special, also created by Ms. Thomas, aired the same day the book was released. It won an Emmy Award for children's prime time special and The Peabody Award in 1975.

"The Free To Be Foundation is thrilled to be working with Lively McCabe," says Thom Loubet, Executive Director the foundation. "Michael's experienced support and assistance will allow us to bring Free To Be . . . You and Me to a whole new generation of children."

"Free To Be . . . You and Me is a multi-generational children's property with a social justice component that resonates just as much today as it did when it was initially released in 1972," says Michael Barra, Co-President of Lively McCabe Entertainment. "As the 50th anniversary of the property quickly approaches, Lively McCabe looks forward to exploring the many ways to bring these classic songs and poems and overall message of gender parity and inclusion to new generations."

Lively McCabe Entertainment is a production and management company co-founded by producer Michael Barra and Co-President Katie Dietz. The company specializes in packaging and adapting iconic intellectual properties into new stories for TV, film, theater, and book publishing - on behalf of Hollywood IP owners. They also take on select third party clients to help manage their brands and franchises for new opportunities across all media channels.

Visit: www.livelymccabe.com, www.freetobefoundation.com for more information.

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