Walden: The Ballad of Thoreau Premieres Online for Earth Day

Michael Johnathon, the writer and producer of Walden: The Ballad of Thoreau, partners with Earth Day Network (EDN) for an international online premiere of the educational and entertaining play on www.earthdaytv.net.

"In an age of global warming concerns, bio-fuels, hybrid cars and oil wars the Walden play can introduce audiences to Thoreau as well as environmental concerns in their own home towns," says Johnathon from his farmhouse home in Kentucky. "We live in an age of obvious change, but sometimes the oldest lessons learned remain the wisest."

Walden, a play written and produced by acclaimed singer/ songwriter/ radio host Michael Johnathon, educates audiences while examining the final two days Thoreau spent in his cabin before leaving Walden Pond. The production explores the roles we play in the protection of the earth, while challenging the audience to live more simply and preserve the natural environments of their home communities. More than 7,200 colleges, schools and community theaters in over 35 different countries have performed the Walden Play since it was written 2 years ago.

"Earth Day Network is proud to be partnering with Walden: The Ballad of Thoreau," says EDN Education Director Sean Miller. "By putting on the play, students learn about one of the fathers of the environmental movement in America in a dynamic, interactive way, far beyond a routine in-the-classroom activity. We hope that the national broadcast of Walden will inspire even more schools to become part of this initiative and bring Thoreau's conservation message to millions of students around the US."

Aside from streaming online across the globe via Earth Day TV (www.earthdaytv.net), the program will also be broadcast on Public TV, Public Radio and in movie theaters across the U.S. on Earth Day (April 22). The high-definition production will also be released as a two-disc DVD Walden Gift Set. For every package purchased by the public, an additional copy is sent free to a school or library with lesson plans to supplement each gift set.

The play has also been produced as a drama in the style of the 1940's and 50's radio play for broadcast on 600 radio stations, internet broadcasters and XM Satellite Radio. Visit www.waldenplay.com for more information on the project, which is underwritten by E.ON-U.S., with support from EDN and American Forests in Washington DC.