Photo Flash: ANGELINA BALLERINA at Vital Theatre

Vital Theatre Company, the award-winning theatre company and producer of the long running family show PINKALICIOUS, THE MUSICAL, and HIT Entertainment, a leading provider of quality children's entertainment, are pleased to announce the premiere of  "ANGELINA BALLERINA^TM THE MUSICAL," with book and lyrics by Susan DiLallo, music by Ben Morss, and directed and choreographed by Sam Viverito based on the famous dancing mouseling and her friends created by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig. Performances will run in New York City Frida! ys at 4:30 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm as well as added 3pm matinees on selected Saturdays and Sundays from October 2nd, 2010 through January 2nd, 2011, and will tour the United States and Canada in 2011.   Tickets are $29.50. The show is geared towards families with children, ages 3-12. School/Group performances are available at Vital Theatre or your location. For reservations visit www.angelinathemusical.com or call 212 579-0528. Vital Theatre Company is located at 2162 Broadway, 4th Floor, at 76th Street, on the Upper West Side.
   
In ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MUSICAL, Angelina And her friends, Alice, Gracie, AZ, Viki, and even their teacher, Ms. Mimi, are all aflutter because a special guest is coming to visit Camembert Academy! Angelina And her friends will perform all types of dance, including hip-hop, modern dance, the Irish jig and of course, ballet, and they are excited to show off their skills to their famous visitor. Angelina is the most excited of all, but will she get the starring moment she hopes for?Based on the CG-animated series, Angelina Ballerina The Next Steps on PBS KIDS®, ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MUSICAL is a family-friendly show that will have the entire audience dancing in the aisles.
   
Starting on October 2nd, ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MUSICALwill run on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm and additional 3pm Matinees on selected Saturdays and Sundays plus an Angelina Ballerina "PlayDay" performance every Friday at 4:30 pm.  The Friday Angelina Ballerina "PlayDay" performances are a regular performance of the show and an opportunity for parents, grandparents, caregivers, children and their friends to enjoy the show together on Fridays after school.  Health-conscious after-school, pre-dinner snacks will be available for purchase at the theatre for those families on the go.
   
The cast features Amber Coartney, Sarah Elaine Hoffman, Whitney Autumn Meyer, Cassie Okenka, Eric Restivo, Kevin Michael Wade, Amy White and Amanda Yachechak.
   
ANGELINA BALLERINA^TM, a beloved publishing property for close to three decades, is a little star with big dreams of becoming a prima ballerina. This feisty little mouse works hard to reach her goals and along the way, always learns from her mistakes. When little girls share in Angelina's experiences, they're inspired to go after their big dreams too. In addition to the critically acclaimed story books created by Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig, Angelina Ballerina dances her way into the hearts of young girls weekly on PBS KIDS® in the CG-animated series, Angelina Ballerina The Next Steps. For more information about Angelina Ballerina, please visit www.angelinaballerina.com.
   
Susan DiLallo Book and Lyrics is the recipient of the covetEd Kleban Award. Her libretto for an original musical comedy, IRON CURTAIN, earned her a Jonathan Larson Award, and was further developed during a residency at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. Her book and lyrics to another musical, ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW JERSEY, won both a Richard Rodgers Award and The Global Search for New Musicals Competition, Cardiff.  Other credits include: the Mattel/Clear Channel production of BARBIE LIVE! IN FAIRYTOPIA book, lyrics; THAT'S LIFE Outer Critics Circle nominee; PINOCCHIO, A MUSICAL ABOUT ADOPTION winner, KIDDstuff  new play competition; and the revised libretto for the classic A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN.
    
Ben Morss Music wrote the music and lyrics for CINDERELLA'S MICE, which was produced by Vital in 2006. CINDERELLA'S MICE and his other children's musical, POP STAR, are published by Samuel French. He is an alumnus of the BMI Workshop, arranged the music for the stage version of Trey Parker's CANNIBAL! THE MUSICAL and created music for ANANSI THE STORY KING at Georgetown University. He has played piano and arranged for platinum-selling bands such as Cake and Wheatus, and his playing was used in the films Sidewalks of New York and L.I.E. His own new band, Chariots of Tuna, has been praised on blogs from Sweden to Brazil and, in 2010, will be playing festivals around the world. He leads the nine-piece crossover group, THE INFINATE ORCHESTRA. He earned his doctorate in music from the University ! of California at Davis.
   
The ANGELINA BALLERINA crew includes Director and Choreographer Sam Viverito, Assistant to the Director Lynn Sterling, Set Designer Kyle Dixon, Lighting Designer Michael Gottlieb, Costume Designer Elisabeth Vastola, Musical Director Michael Borth and Production Stage Manager Shani Colleen Murfin.
   
HIT ENTERTAINMENT is one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's portfolio includes properties, such as Barney^TM, Bob the Builder^TM, Thomas & Friends^TM, Pingu^TM, Fireman Sam^TM, Angelina Ballerina^TM and Rainbow Magic^TM. HIT represents Chapman Entertainment's Fifi and the Flowertots^TM and Roary the Racing Car^TM in North America, as well as Wallace & Gromit^TM, Shaun the Sheep^TM, Timmy Time^TM and Aardman Classics from Aardman Animations.  HIT also acts as representative for The Wiggles® in the UK. Launched in 1989, HIT's lines of business span television and video production, content distribution, publishing, consumer products licensing and live event! s and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan.   HIT is a part-owner of US-based preschool channel, PBS KIDS SproutSM, and international preschool channel JimJam, outside of the US, UK and China. For more information, visit www.hitentertainment.com.