BLUE'S CLUES LIVE! To Leave Paw Prints in Tempe!; National Tour At the Gammage Auditorium May 24-28, 2000; Tickets On-Sale Friday, April 7 At 10:00 a.m.

Entertainment Editors

TEMPE, Ariz.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--April 5, 2000

BLUE'S CLUES LIVE!, a new stage presentation for preschoolers that is revolutionizing kids' theater, began its national tour on October 29, 1999 in Wallingford, CT. The tour will travel to more than 40 markets in the United States and Canada, including the Gammage Auditorium, May 24-28, 2000. Tickets go on-sale Friday, April 7th at 10:00am.

Performances will be Wednesday, May 24 at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 25 at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Friday, May 26 at 7:00 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday, May 27 & 28 at 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.. Ticket prices are $17.50, $22.50 and $27.50. Tickets are available at ASU's Gammage Box Office or by calling 480-965-3434. Additional information is available at www.nickjr.com.

Presented by Nickelodeon and PACE Variety Entertainment, Inc., a division of SFX Entertainment Corporation, BLUE'S CLUES LIVE! is an interactive theatrical production based on the television series that changed the way kids watch TV.

Families will experience an introduction to the wonder of theater from the moment they enter the venue, and "Blue's Clues," which inspired a cultural phenomenon with the preschool set, will explode into life onstage. BLUE'S CLUES LIVE! features familiar and well-loved characters like Blue, Steve and all their friends Mail Box, Slippery Soap, Tickety Tock, Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper along with some brand new characters that are part of the live show. This live theatrical presentation will invite preschoolers and their parents to think, imagine and be an active part of the show as they embark on a search for clues to the most spectacular place.

"With BLUE'S CLUES LIVE!, we're introducing preschoolers to the magic of theater while encouraging the same interactivity, enthusiasm and play-along spirit that we have with the TV show," says Angela Santomero, one of the original creators of Nickelodeon's hit series "Blue's Clues," and the co-author of BLUE'S CLUES LIVE!. "We want the show to empower kids and build their self esteem, so we're giving every kid in the audience their own handy-dandy notebook so they can interact with Steve and Blue to find clues during the show, rather than just passively watch it."

"For many children, this will be their first experience with live theater," adds Gip Hoppe, director of BLUE'S CLUES LIVE!. "So, we've created a charming, smart play that really speaks to children. And we hope BLUE'S CLUES LIVE! inspires them to see even more theater."

BLUE'S CLUES LIVE! creators Santomero and Hoppe are first-time collaborators on the most interactive kids' theater presentation to date. Santomero is currently the Co-Executive Producer and Head Writer for the television show. Hoppe wrote and directed the Broadway play Jackie: An American Life. He is a founding member and Co-Artistic Director of the Wellfleet Harbor Actor's Theatre.

BLUE'S CLUES LIVE! features set designs by David Gallo, recently represented on Broadway by You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Lion In Winter and Little Me. He also was production designer for Jackie: An American Life. Costume designer Gregg Barnes' Broadway credits include: Side Show, Rugrats-A Live Adventure and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show and Madison Square Garden's The Wizard of Oz. Traci Paige Johnson, a co-creator, head designer and co-executive producer of the TV series, is the visual consultant for the tour. Yvette Helin, whose credits include significant contributions to The Lion King on Broadway, the Wizard of Oz National Tour and Toy Story on Ice, is the puppet designer. Mike Rubin and Nick Balaban, composers of the "Blue's Clues" television series' music, collaborate on the original score of BLUE'S CLUES LIVE!

"Blue's Clues" airs Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT) and was created by Johnson, Todd Kessler and Santomero. Currently, "Blue's Clues" is the most watched preschool show on TV with more than 7 million weekly viewers.

SFX Entertainment is the world's largest diversified promoter, producer and venue operator for live entertainment events. SFX owns, partially or entirely, and/or operates the largest network of venues in the country used principally for music concerts and other live entertainment events.

Nickelodeon, which celebrated its 20th birthday in 1999, has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the U.S. and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, magazines, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 75 million households, and has been the number one rated cable network for three consecutive years. Nickelodeon, "Blue's Clues" and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.