``Dora the Explorer Live!'' Comes to Southern California

Business Wire, June 5, 2003

Entertainment Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2003

Tickets On-Sale Sunday, June 8th at 10:00 a.m. for ten shows at Kodak

Theatre and three shows at Long Beach Terrace Theatre

Nickelodeon and Clear Channel Entertainment are teaming up to bring "Dora the Explorer Live! - Search for the City of Lost Toys," the first ever family stage show starring a Latina heroine, to Southern California. "Dora the Explorer Live! - Search for the City of Lost Toys" is scheduled to perform in at Kodak Theatre for ten shows from August 6-10 and three shows at the Long Beach Terrace Theatre from September 9-10. Tickets go on-sale Sunday, June 8th at 10:00 a.m. for both engagements. Recently, over 100,000 people saw the show at New York City's legendary Radio City Music Hall during a 10 day, 18 show sold out run.

Tickets for "Dora the Explorer Live!" at Kodak Theatre are $19.00 - $40.00. Dates and show times are Wednesday, August 6 at 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, August 7 at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.; Friday, August 8 at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, August 9 at 10:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.; Sunday August 10 at 10:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets for the Kodak Theatre engagement can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 213/480-3232, through Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by visiting the Kodak Theatre Box Office.

Tickets for "Dora the Explorer Live!" at the Terrace Theatre in Long Beach are $15.00 - $28.00. Dates and show times are Tuesday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m.; Wednesday, September 10 at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the Terrace Theater engagement can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 213/480-3232, through Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by visiting the Terrace Theatre Box Office.

"Dora the Explorer Live!" is based on the number-one preschool show on commercial television, "Dora the Explorer." The popular Dora is a seven-year-old Latina heroine, whose adventures take place in an imaginative, tropical world filled with jungles, beaches and rainforests. Dora explores her world just as preschoolers do everyday, and both the TV and stage shows are designed to actively engage their audiences using a variety of learning techniques.

Dora and her best friend Boots invite the audience to join them in an exciting adventure. Each step of their journey consists of a problem or puzzle that Dora and the audience must solve in order to move on to the next challenge. Dora is proudly bilingual and uses her knowledge of English and Spanish to communicate with her friends, overcome obstacles and reach her goals. Dora teaches Spanish words or phrases to the audience and then asks them to use them to solve a problem and forge ahead.

"Dora has quickly captured the imagination of the pre-school audience and has become the number-one show on commercial television for kids this age since its debut on Nick Jr.," said Stuart Rosenstein, vice president, Recreation, Nickelodeon. "`Dora the Explorer Live!' is a culturally rich, interactive show for preschoolers and their families that helps her fans experience this wonderful character in a whole new way."

"We are excited to bring this show to Los Angeles," says Joanna Hagan, senior vice president, Clear Channel Theatrical Production - Family Entertainment. "Nickelodeon has been a dream partner for us and `Dora the Explorer Live!' is the latest theatrical production from this collaboration to push the boundaries of family theater."

Featuring familiar songs, a captivating storyline and all the characters children have come to love, "Dora the Explorer Live!" showcases her friends, special helper Backpack, best friend Boots, Map, Swiper the Fox, Tico and Benny. The "Search for the City of Lost Toys" storyline is also the basis of the upcoming Nickelodeon primetime TV special schedule to air Monday, Feb. 24, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).

"Dora the Explorer Live!" is directed by Gip Hoppe, who first worked with Nickelodeon and Clear Channel on "Blue's Clues Live!" and "Blue's Clues Live! - Blue's Birthday Party." 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.

"Dora the Explorer Live!" is written by Chris Gifford. He created the TV show with Valerie Walsh and Eric Weiner. Gifford serves as executive producer of the TV show, with Walsh as producer and Weiner as producer and head writer.

Title sponsors for "Dora the Explorer Live!" are Crest and Teddy Grahams. Pampers, Mervyns and Bounty are associated sponsors.

"Dora the Explorer Live!" features set designs by David Gallo, recently represented on Broadway by "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," "Lion In Winter," "Little Me" and "Thoroughly Modern Millie." He also was production designer for "Jackie: An American Life." Costume Designer Gregg Barnes' Broadway credits include: "Flower Drum Song," "Disney on Ice - Princess Classics," "Side Show," "Scooby-Doo in Stagefright - Live on Stage!," "Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show" and Madison Square Garden's "The Wizard of Oz."