Kids Rule The Great White Way and Experience the Magic of Theatre for Free When Macy's Presents the Ninth Annual Kids' Night on Broadway

Kids Rule The Great White Way and Experience the Magic of Theatre for Free When Macy's Presents the Ninth Annual Kids' Night on Broadway

Kids' Night Also Unfolds in 30 Markets Nationwide

Due to Increased Popularity, Kids' Night Is Extended to Four Dates, January 25, February 1, 8 and 15

Macy's Unveils Special Kids' Night Window and Hosts Special Pre-Theatre Party and Performances for Thousands of Youngsters

NEW YORK, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to its extraordinary popularity, Kids' Night on Broadway -- that once-a year opportunity for kids, age 6-18, to attend a Broadway show for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult -- has been extended to four dates: January 25, February 1, 8 and 15. This year marks the Ninth Annual Kids' Night on Broadway, an audience development program of the League of American Theatres and Producers (http://www.livebroadway.com/), and the second year that Macy's is serving as presenting sponsor.

In addition to theatre tickets, Kids' Night offers loads of fun for families including a pre-theatre party with Broadway performances at Macy's Herald Square. Sutton Foster (currently starring in Little Women: The Musical, and a Tony Award-winner for Thoroughly Modern Millie) and popular recording artist Maureen McGovern, also starring in Little Women: The Musical, will unveil a special Kids' Night window at Macy's Herald Square (151 West 34th Street) to kick off the pre-theatre party on January 25, which will take place from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event will include performances by Julie Foldesi of Little Women: The Musical and by Matt Caplan and Cary Shields of Rent, along with surprise appearances by performers of current Broadway shows.

Beginning at 3:00 p.m., young people will have the opportunity to experience for themselves how live theatre is created through special activities hosted by the cast and crew of participating shows. The activities include: theatrical makeup stations, Broadway dance lessons, karaoke with a live deejay, and much more. Stars will also be on hand to sign autographs in Autograph Alley. Macy's will host a similar party on the next three Kids' Night dates.

After the party, area restaurants are offering family-friendly dinner discounts. Most shows have arranged a special, early 7:00 p.m. curtain time, an hour earlier than usual. Cast members of participating shows add special fun to the evening with individual post-performance curtain speeches welcoming kids in the audience. Special parking discounts are available. Theatre Development Fund (TDF) is also providing a special souvenir Playbill, written entirely by local teens that love theatre.

According to Jed Bernstein, President of The League of American Theatres and Producers: "Through Kids' Night on Broadway, we want to share the message that Broadway is an open and accessible experience for kids and parents. Our research shows that sixty-two percent of current theatergoers went to see Broadway shows with their families when they were children, creating a lifelong pattern of theatergoing. Our research also has found that children and teens accounted for nearly 1.3 million tickets last season, the second largest number in the past decade. This is a good indicator that audience development initiatives such as Kids' Night are working to draw in younger audiences."

"One of Macy's proudest traditions is its long association with Broadway, so naturally we're thrilled to be working with Jed and everyone else at the League as a presenting sponsor of Kid's Night on Broadway, which will bring the excitement of live theatre to a whole new generation," commented Robin Hall, group vice president, Macy's Annual Events.

This year, there are 17 shows participating in Kids' Night, including Avenue Q; Beauty and the Beast; Brooklyn Boy; Brooklyn The Musical; Chicago; Fiddler on the Roof; Hairspray; La Cage Aux Folles; Little Women: The Musical; Movin' Out; Rent; The Phantom of the Opera; The Producers; Wicked; Wonderful Town; and the Off-Broadway productions of Stomp; and Cookin'.

Over 25,000 tickets have already been sold, with limited availability for many of the participating shows. To purchase tickets, or for more information and to view the list of discounted restaurants and parking garages, log on to http://www.kidsnightonbroadway.com/.

Kids' Night on Broadway is a program of the League of American Theatres and Producers, the national trade association for the Broadway industry, which created this audience-building program (with TDF) in 1997. Kids' Night on Broadway is a national program that takes place in as many as 30 cities a year throughout the winter and spring months when touring Broadway shows come to town (list attached).

Additional sponsors of Kids' Night on Broadway include The New York Times, NBC-4 and Z100.

Upcoming Kids' Night Events
On The Road

Date Venue / Presenter CITY Show Curtain
1/26/2005 Sioux City Municipal
Auditorium /Jam Theatricals Sioux City Les Miserables 7:30

2/15/2005 Civic Center of Greater
Des Moines Des Moines Peter Pan 7:30

2/16/2005 Civic Center of Greater
Des Moines Des Moines Peter Pan 7:30

2/22/2005 Weidner Center Green Bay Peter Pan 7:00

3/16/2005 The Milwaukee Theatre Milwaukee Thoroughly
Modern Millie 7:30

3/29/2005* Wang Center Boston Peter Pan 7:00

4/6/2005 Palace Theatre / Broadway
in Columbus and CAPA Columbus Peter Pan 7:30

4/12/2005 The Bushnell Center Hartford Peter Pan 7:30

4/20/2005 Fox Theatre St. Louis Big River 8:00

4/21/2005 Providence Performing
Arts Center Providence Peter Pan 7:30

4/27/2005 The Milwaukee Theatre Milwaukee Peter Pan 7:30

6/TBD/2005 Tulsa Performing Arts Center Tulsa Peter Pan TBD



Source: League of American Theatres and Producers

CONTACT: Alan Cohen of the League of American Theatres and Producers,
+1-212-703-0225, or Cell - +1-917-533-9050, acohen@Broadway.org; or Deanna
Williams of Macy's, +1-212-494-5450, Pager - 1-800-513-4341,
Deanna_Williams@fds.com

Web site: http://www.livebroadway.com/


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