BOB THE BUILDER LIVE! SPUD'S BIG MESS Visits Charlotte's Belk Theater For Just Three Shows May 2-3

HIT Entertainment, one of the world’s leading independent children’s entertainment producers and rights owners, in association with UK-based I.P. Live, announce the debut of Bob the Builder™ LIVE! Spud’s Big Mess – Bob the Builder’s first touring stage show in the US in five years. Presented by Magic Arts & Entertainment, a subsidiary of Tix Corporation (Nasdaq: TIXC), Bob the
Builder™ LIVE! Spud’s Big Mess will visit Charlotte’s Belk Theater May 2-3 for just three shows as the production travels to more than 70 cities nationwide through June 2009. Tickets start at $19 and are available online at BlumenthalCenter.org, by phone at 704-372-1000 and at the theater box office.

“HIT Entertainment is thrilled to work with I.P. Live and Magic & Arts Entertainment to bring everyone’s favorite builder to kids and families across the country in such a vibrant, high-quality stage show production,” said Gary Krakower, Senior Vice President, US Licensing & Live Events, HIT Entertainment. “Bob the Builder’s positive messages of teamwork and follow-through, along with his lessons about caring for the environment, have made him a phenomenally popular character worldwide and will resonate with kids and families through this exciting stage show.”

“Bob the Builder has become one of the biggest stars on any stage around the globe,” says producer Martin Flitton of I.P. Live. “For most kids in the US, Bob the Builder will be their first theatrical experience and opportunity to learn how theater works. All the wonderful lessons that come from Bob the Builder’s live show are a plus.”

Tickets are available via each venue’s website. For general tour information, and links to purchase
tickets, please visit www.BobtheBuilder.com.

Based on the popular international television show sensation that airs in the US on PBS KIDS® and PBS KIDS SproutSM, Bob the Builder™ LIVE! Spud’s Big Mess is a singing and dancing extravaganza for budding builders and their families. The show stars Bob the Builder, his business partner Wendy, trusty machine-team members Scoop, Dizzy, Lofty and Scrambler and other favorite friends from Sunflower Valley, including the mischievous scarecrow Spud, Farmer Pickles and Mayor Bentley.

The show begins as Bob and his team build the first-ever recycling center and wind farm in Sunflower Valley. It isn’t long before some items go missing and a few of Bob’s friends mysteriously disappear. Faced with a mountain of garbage, they must figure out who is responsible for the mess and work together to fix it, while dealing with Spud’s antics. Can they all pull together and get the job done? Yes they can!

The 90-minute show features ten original songs and sees the characters embark on an adventure that promotes positive messages of caring for the environment, recycling, teamwork, cooperation and, of course, the importance of a can-do spirit. Interwoven into the storyline are takeaway lessons for kids and good reminders for the grown-ups, including how to:
• Encourage habits such as taking care of the earth and everything that lives on it
• Understand what it means to recycle and reuse
• Identify and define a recycling center and how to find one while understanding its importance
• Define trash and recycling, incorporating the motto, “Trash is only trash if you don’t recycle it.”
In support of the eco-friendly messages of this show, the producers will use all show communications to encourage attendees to read the show programs online. In addition, show materials will include special recycling tips and eco-themed activities for kids. All venues where the live show is performing will be encouraged to use recycling containers and include how to attend the show by using public transportation on their website.

Bob the Builder and his machine team are ready to tackle any project. As they hammer out the solutions that lead to a job well done, Bob and the Can-Do Crew demonstrate the power of positive-thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and follow-through. Most importantly, from start to finish, the team always shows that The Fun Is In Getting It Done! Bob the Builder can be seen building, digging and hauling on PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS Sprout Episodes are also available for download through iTunes. For more information about Bob the Builder, and the Can-Do Crew please visit www.bobthebuilder.com.

Magic Arts & Entertainment, headed by Lee Marshall and Joe Marsh, is one of the foremost tour producing companies in the United States. In addition to Mannheim Steamroller, the company is also currently producing the North American tours of “Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance,” "The Magic of David Copperfield,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” starring Ted Neeley, and “Rain, A Tribute to The Beatles.” They are also producing the upcoming tours of “Bob The Builder Live” and “101 Dalmatians! The Musical!” As former owners of Magicworks Entertainment, Marshall and Marsh produced and promoted some of the world's most successful concerts, theatricals and family
shows. For more information, please visit www.magicentertainment.tv.

Tix Corporation is an integrated entertainment organization offering ticketing services, event merchandising and concert and theatrical productions. It currently operates five prime locations in Las Vegas under the Tix4Tonight marquee - offering up to a 50 percent discount for same-day shows, concerts, attractions and sporting events. It also offers discount golf and dining through its sales locations in Las Vegas. The company sells premium tickets to concerts, theater and sporting events throughout the United States. Its Exhibit Merchandising operation is engaged in branding, product merchandise development and sales activities related to museum exhibitions and other events -- including the King Tutankhamen and Real Pirates tours, selling themed souvenir memorabilia and collector's items in specialty stores in conjunction with the specific events and venues. The company's newest division, Tix Productions is dedicated to concert and live theatrical promotion and production of events throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

HIT Entertainment, owned by private equity investment group Apax Partners, is one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's portfolio includes properties, such as Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™, Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Rainbow Magic™. HIT represents Chapman Entertainment’s Fifi and the Flowertots™ and Roary the Racing Car™ in North America and Japan, as well as Wallace & Gromit™, Shaun the Sheep™, Timmy Time™ and Aardman Classics from Aardman Animations. HIT also acts as a worldwide representative for The Jim Henson Company’s library of classic family brands and 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 events 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.

The North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center serves the Carolinas as a leading cultural, entertainment and education provider. For more information, call 704-372-1000 or visit BlumenthalCenter.org. The Center receives operating support from the Arts & Science Council and the North Carolina Arts Council. The Center is also supported through the generous aid of its sponsors, including Presbyterian Hospital, The Official Healthcare Provider and U.S. Airways,
Official Airline of Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

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