Schedule change (11/6) -Blue's Clues & You! will premiere on Nickelodeon on Monday, November 11, 2019 at the new time of 1:00 p.m. (ET/PT)! Following launch, new episodes will continue to air weekdays at 11:00 a.m. (ET/PT) during the Nick Jr. programming block on Nickelodeon.

Update (9/28) - The first three episodes of Blue's Clues & You are now available to watch on Vudu! The episodes are "Meet Josh!", "Playdate with Magenta" and "Big News with Blue". The episodes are free to view, however, you do need to sign in to watch them.

Original Nickelodeon Press Release:



Share it: @NickJr #BluesCluesAndYou

August 26, 2019 11:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time


NEW YORK--It’s time to pull up the Thinking Chair and follow the paw prints as Blue and her crew return in Nickelodeon’s brand-new preschool series Blue’s Clues & You!, debuting Monday, Nov. 11, at 9 a.m. (ET/PT). Steve Burns (Steve) and Donovan Patton (Joe) will reprise their roles in the series premiere, “Meet Josh!,” and help new live-action host Josh (Joshua Dela Cruz) and the audience solve their first game of Blue’s Clues.

Blue’s Clues & You! will feature brand-new elements alongside refreshed iconic items from the original series, including:

• New CG-animation for Blue and Magenta;
• An updated Handy Dandy Notebook equipped with a new blue crayon and smartphone technology, allowing Josh and Blue to receive emails and video calls;
• An all-new Handy Dandy Guitar;
• The return of fan-favorite characters: Tickety Tock, Slippery Soap, Shovel, Pail, Mr. Salt, Mrs. Pepper, Cinnamon, Paprika, Felt Friends, Sidetable Drawer and Mailbox, plus the original Thinking Chair;
• And the introduction of Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper’s newest additions—twins Sage and Ginger.

Nickelodeon is further deepening the interactivity of Blue’s Clues & You! with the launch of brand-new play-along videos in Noggin, Nick’s top-ranked interactive learning subscription for preschoolers. Launching alongside the series’ linear premiere, the play-along videos will allow users to explore the stories in an immersive way, and engage with live-action host Josh and the animated characters, by tapping, touching or swiping to navigate through enhanced learning experiences. Preschoolers will also have the ability to customize elements, like the color of the clues or the creation of birthday cards for Blue, and then see their designs appear throughout the video. The classic Blue’s Clues library is currently available on Noggin and additional Blue’s Clues & You! play-along videos will continue to roll out into next year.


Following the series premiere of Blue’s Clues & You!, NickJr.com and the Nick Jr. App will feature original short-form content and full-length episodes. Episodes will also be available on Nick Jr. On Demand and Download-To-Own services.


A remake of the groundbreaking, curriculum-driven interactive series Blue’s Clues, Blue’s Clues & You! follows Blue as she invites viewers to join her and Josh on a clue-led adventure and solve a puzzle in each episode. With each signature paw print, Blue identifies clues in her animated world that propel the story and inspire the audience to interact with the characters.


The original Blue’s Clues series launched in September 1996 to critical praise from educators, parents, and preschoolers and ran for six groundbreaking seasons. Created by Traci Paige Johnson, Todd Kessler, and Angela C. Santomero, Blue’s Clues drew acclaim and high ratings for its unique interactivity that helped change the way kids watch television and has remained one of the most popular preschool shows of all time. The landmark series also raised the bar in preschool television by exploring advanced subject matter such as sign language, geography, physics, emotions, and anatomy.

Nickelodeon, now in its 40^th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com/. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).



To celebrate today's announcement, Nick Jr. released brand-new clip of the Blue's Clues reboot. As you can see above, this new clip follows Blue as the famous pup makes a request, but the new host Josh has trouble figuring out what's going on.

The clip begins with Josh telling fans he's unsure of what Blue wants with their snack, but he doesn't get too upset. He pulls out his handy dandy notebook which has gotten a big upgrade. Now, the book is part paper and part phone, so Josh takes a second to ring up some familiar faces.

First, Josh calls up Joe who is working at a present store. The pair talk for a moment before Steve is added to the call. The original host is working at the Blueprints Detective Agency where finding clues is what he does. As the pair all talk about Blue, Steve and Joe decide to chat with Blue directly, and they solve the mystery.

As it turns out, there is only one thing to do. Blue wants to play Blue's Clues, but the pair do one last thing before hanging up. Steve asks to talk to the viewers for a second, and he asks everyone to help Josh.

"Will you help my cousin Josh? Great because I can tell he's going to need a lot of help like I did," Steve says.

From Romper:

'Blue's Clues & You!' Brings Blue Back For New Adventures — EXCLUSIVE

Blue's Clues is back, in a slightly different — but nevertheless familiar — form on Nickelodeon. The revival, Blue's Clues & You!, exclusively debuts three episodes on the streaming service Vudu on Sept. 27 before it officially premieres on Nick on Nov. 11. Blue's Clues & You! brings Blue back for new adventures, along with some old friends and a new host, Joshua Dela Cruz. You can see them all in this exclusive clip [here on romper.com].

In many ways, the revived series is a lot like the original show. It follows a dog named Blue who leaves paw print-shaped clues on various objects to help her pal (owner? roommate?) Josh solve a puzzle. The level of audience interaction remains the same; there are gaps left in the dialogue so viewers can chime in and answer questions. The show still makes kids feel like they're part of what's going on. But there are a few technological updates, too.

This clip offers a glimpse at the new series, along with a hearty dose of nostalgia. In the episode "Playdate with Magenta," several fan favorite characters find themselves back on that beloved red couch. Blue's bestie Magenta is over for a visit, but when it comes time to take a photo together, several more friends pile into the frame. It doesn't look like Blue's Clues & You! has forgotten anyone.

The clip opens with Blue and Magenta bounding onto the couch while Josh walks by, with what looks like his Handy Dandy Notebook in his hands. Right away it's clear that the show is visually a little different, thanks to advances in animation since the original. But the vibe remains the same. Josh happily announces that it's picture time while Blue and Magenta act adorable in the background: they high-five their ears and tumble around just like the playful puppers they are.

Josh takes no notice of the explosion of cuteness behind him because he's focused on snapping a picture. To do that, he needs help from you, the viewer. He asks the viewer to hold his phone, which is when the update to the classic notebook becomes obvious. The notebook is no longer just a notebook, it also includes a handy dandy smartphone. Josh hands it over and the viewer brings it up to eye-level, so while you're watching it seems like you're looking right at the phone screen.

The pups are more than ready for their closeup, but when Josh tells them to move closer together, some other characters take the opportunity to jump into frame. Shovel and Pail arrive, with Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper joining soon after. The crew's all here! Josh excitedly gets them into position and encourages them to smile, at which point the viewer snaps the perfect shot. Then Josh asks Blue to take a picture of him with you, which she does using her ears. Unfortunately, you don't get to see how that one turned out.

The clip concludes with Blue using her ears to take a ton of selfies, because it's 2019 now and dogs know how to take selfies. Blue's Clues & You! has definitely been updated for a modern audience, but it seems to share its predecessor's fun spirit.

Blue's Clues & You! premieres on Nick on Nov. 11, with three episodes debuting early on Vudu on Sept. 27.

###

From the Los Angeles Times:

Why Nickelodeon’s new ‘Blue’s Clues’ may feel very, very familiar

It won’t take an expert detective to sniff out the similarities between Nickelodeon’s upcoming series “Blue’s Clues & You” and its source material, “Blue’s Clues.”

After comparing the first three episodes of “Blues Clues & You” — currently available on Vudu — to their original counterparts on Amazon Prime, The Times has concluded the forthcoming reboot of the popular children’s program will follow mysteries nearly identical to those of its namesake. Key differences, such as a fresh host and updated technology, will separate the old from the new.

“Blue’s Clues,” which ran on Nickelodeon from 1996 to 2007, followed Steve Burns and his dog, Blue (voiced by co-creator Traci Paige Johnson), as Steve deciphered the meaning behind Blue’s barks by tracking strategically placed paw prints — with assistance from the show’s young viewers.

Each episode adhered to the same easily digestible formula: The live-action host collects three clues — drawing a symbol for each in his handy-dandy notebook along the way — that add up to Blue’s message of the day. Once Blue’s owner and the audience find every hint, the host returns to his “thinking chair” to solve the puzzle. The learning program earned eight consecutive Emmy nominations for preschool children’s series between 1998 and 2005.

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“Blue’s Clues & You” sees Johnson reprise her voice role as the title pup opposite newcomer Josh, played by Joshua Dela Cruz, who takes up Steve’s mission to hunt for Blue’s clues. In the pilot, Josh also benefits from additional guidance, courtesy of former “Blue’s Clues” hosts Steve and Joe (Donovan Patton), who replaced Burns’ character in 2002.


Though the series uses newly recorded voice performances, the scripts and animated movements remain largely unchanged, as each episode closely matches the corresponding original — with a few exceptions. Because the new show runs about two minutes shorter than “Blue’s Clues’” 25 minutes, certain sequences that aren’t crucial to the plot — such as Blue painting elephants or assembling doll outfits out of felt — have been cut, while others more integral to the story have been shortened.

Among the modern elements to be featured in the reboot are Broadway star Dela Cruz’s jazzy spins on classic “Blue’s Clues” tunes, advanced CG animation for Blue and her canine pal, Magenta, and a tricked-out take on the host’s trademark notebook, which now doubles as a smartphone. In the second episode of “Blue’s Clues & You,” “Playdate With Magenta,” Josh’s notebook/phone comes in handy as the final clue, hinting that Blue wants to take a photo with Magenta during her visit. In the original, “Magenta Comes Over,” the final clue is a camera from the pre-smartphone era. Similarly, instead of receiving handwritten letters in the mail like Steve, Josh simply opens emails from pen pals on his phone.



Familiar friends such as Tickety Tock, Slippery Soap, Shovel, Pail, Mr. Salt, Mrs. Pepper, Cinnamon, Paprika, Felt Friends, Sidetable Drawer and Mailbox will return to accompany Josh and Blue on their adventures, along with some small additions — two of whom make their debut in the third installment of “Blue’s Clues & You.” While the original episode “Blue’s News!” introduced Paprika as Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper’s new baby girl, the updated version, “Big News With Blue” reveals Paprika’s littlest siblings, twins Sage and Ginger.

Amid an industrywide influx of new franchise installments, there are no set rules for remakes or revivals, though “Blue’s Clues & You” sticks closer to its predecessor than other animated TV reboots. The Times compared writing credits and episode synopses on more than 30 animated remakes — nearly all geared toward children — to their respective originals and concluded that none hewed as tightly to their initial iteration as the first three chapters of “Blue’s Clues & You.”

“For me, it’s kind of an homage to what I did, coming back to exactly the ... format that I created, which, at the time — and still, now — is completely unique to television,” “Blue’s Clues” co-creator Todd Kessler, who is not involved in the production of “Blue’s Clues & You,” told The Times in a phone interview, referring to the episodes now streaming on Vudu.

A pioneer in interactive TV, the first “Blue’s Clues” engaged its preschool-age fans by breaking the fourth wall and inviting them to help solve Blue’s riddles. In 2019, “Blue’s Clues & You” will take the interactivity up a notch with play-along videos available on Noggin, Nickelodeon’s youth-facing educational subscription service.

“They made a couple minor changes,” Kessler said. “But, literally, you’ll see they follow the shots and the animation pretty much in a paint-by-numbers way.”

“With any property, there’s a need to refresh it,” he added. “Our budget for ‘Blue’s Clues’ was about one quarter of what the budget for other Nickelodeon shows was at the time. So now the animation and the backgrounds are much more robust than they were originally. ... And also, they have a host who’s from mixed cultures and will have a much easier time being identified with around the world.”

The network also offered its perspective on how the updated “Blue’s Clues” nods to the show’s earlier days.

“The new series is not a shot-for-shot remake. We have refreshed a number of the original scripts and added modern touches,” a representative for Nickelodeon, which declined to make the producers of the reboot available for comment, said in a statement to The Times. “There are similarities, including ‘Easter eggs’ for the fans, and there are instances where the scripts adhere closely to the original as well as having many new moments.”

“Blue’s Clues & You” premieres Nov. 11 on Nick Jr.

###

From TBI Vision:

MIPCOM 2019 Kids Hot Pick: Blue’s Clues & You!

Nickelodeon’s 1996 curriculum-driven interactive series Blue’s Clues followed an animated blue-spotted dog called Blue as she left a trail of clues/paw prints for the host and the viewers, to figure out her plans for the day.

Combining concepts from child development and early-childhood education with innovative animation and production techniques that helped viewers learn, the original incarnation became the highest-rated show for pre-schoolers on US commercial television.

The part live-action part animated series was syndicated in 120 countries and translated into 15 languages, becoming the longest-running Nick Jr. series until it was surpassed by Dora The Explorer in 2011.

The new series is a ‘reimagining’ for a new generation of pre-schoolers by its original creators, Traci Paige Johnson, Todd Kessler and Angela C. Santomero

Now called Blue’s Clues & You! (20 x 30 minutes), it will feature new elements alongside refreshed iconic items from the original series – including new CG-animation for Blue and Magenta, provided by Dublin-based Brown Bag Film’s Toronto studios, as well as several new characters.

The show’s new Filipino host Joshua Dela Cruz has already been declared “a grade-A hottie” by fans on Twitter, according to Huff Post, and distributor Viacom International Studios expects the programme to perform strongly in markets with a local host. “We’re in the initial phases of exploring which territories would be most effective and looking at potential hosts,” says Lauren Marriott, Viacom’s VP of International programme sales.

But will today’s generation of discerning multiplatform-consuming pre-schoolers, who expect their shows to be cross-platform and interactive, like the series?

Blue’s Clues & You!
Distributor: Viacom International Studios
Producer: Nickelodeon Animated Studios, Brown Bag Films, Out of the Blue Enterprises
Broadcaster: Nick Jr. (US)
Logline: A reimagining of the beloved 1990s blue-spotted dog Blue

###

From The New York Times:

‘Blue’s Clues’ Returns, and Silence Is Still the Star

But will today’s overstimulated preschooler find a springy dog and her human sidekick a little basic in a noisier digital age?


TORONTO — Two decades ago, “Blue’s Clues” stormed children’s television with something colorless, low-tech and ordinary: silence.

Last winter, on the Toronto set of “Blue’s Clues & You!” — a reboot premiering Nov. 11 on Nickelodeon — silence was still the star, even though the host was new and (relatively) loud. Joshua Dela Cruz, 30, bounced around an empty stage in a striped shirt (blue, not the original host’s signature green), strumming his handy dandy guitar. His co-star was a dot made by a laser pointer, a stand-in for his “best friend,” Blue, the waggy puppy who would be added later by animators, with a subtle 3-D revamp to increase her cuddle factor.

Dela Cruz sang about how smart and hardworking you, the imagined viewer, are, then leaned close to the camera to ask a question: “What’s your superpower?” Then came the silence: one, two, three, four beats long, an eon in TV time. Finally, Dela Cruz’s pie-eyed face lit up as if you’d responded brilliantly, and he gushed, “Great job!”

“Blue’s Clues,” which debuted in 1996 and ran for six seasons, followed by a spinoff called “Blue’s Room,” was the first children’s cable show built entirely around direct address, inviting preschoolers to play along with games and solve mini-mysteries (like “What snack does Blue want?”). The show was interactive before interactivity became mundane; those built-in silences left open for child participation.

Now it’s back, riding the twin entertainment trends of 1990s nostalgia and the resuscitation of corporate intellectual property, joining a fleet of children’s shows born of a backward glance. Elsewhere at Nickelodeon, “All That” and “Rugrats” are getting their owns remakes and “SpongeBob SquarePants” is getting a spinoff, “Kamp Koral” — while “Carmen Sandiego” has returned on Netflix, and “Animaniacs” has been revived by Hulu.

With anxieties about an uncertain world percolating among adults, fleeing to the familiar is a retreat to safety. So why not take the kids, too? “People want that comfy blanket feeling of the good old days,” said Traci Paige Johnson, one of the show’s creators.

For broadcasters like Nickelodeon — confronted with cord-cutting and depleted, fragmented viewership — the vaults of old shows look like a lifeline, a direct path to an intergenerational audience. A potentially lucrative one, too: The original “Blue’s Clues” was the first billion-dollar consumer brand for Viacom, its parent company.


But even then, “Blue’s Clues” was something of a throwback: a leisurely paced, unflashy show with the educational bona fides of its public TV predecessors “Mr. Rogers” and “Sesame Street.” An unlikely smash for a cable network, it paved the way for more learning-centric programs like “Dora the Explorer.” But the new “Blue” enters a much-altered viewing landscape where attention is diverted not just to streaming services, but to social media (#kidstagram) and the algorithms of the YouTube Kids app.

The other challenge is the show’s totemic status to a generation that feels ownership over Magenta, the Thinking Chair, Mrs. Pepper and the other inhabitants of Blue’s storybook world. Don’t panic — they’ll all be back, plus a few new citizens.

Still, Vince Commisso, president and chief executive of 9 Story Media Group, the production company behind the new show along with the animation studio Brown Bag Films, understands the risks. “Blue has the legacy and brand equity, but there’s a lot of pressure, because you can only screw it up,” he said, laughing.

Johnson and Angela Santomero, another creator, are determined not to let that happen. (A third creator, Todd Kessler, left “Blue’s Clues” in 2000.) Now in their 50s, the pair met at Nickelodeon in their early 20s when Santomero was using her master’s degree in child developmental psychology in the research department and Johnson was working as a freelance producer and animator. “We wanted to do something very simple and graphic and slow,” Santomero recalled. “Something where preschoolers were treated like they were smart, and felt empowered, emphasizing those social emotional skills. We were thinking of my hero — ”

“Mr. Rogers!” Johnson broke in, finishing the sentence, which they tend to do for one another.


“We were young, and Nickelodeon took a chance on us,” Santomero said. “They were busy with other things, like working on Dr. Seuss. They left us alone in a little room to come up with something.”

Most children’s TV at the time was built around male characters, but Blue would be a girl in the “boy” color of blue. She would never wear a bow. Using Johnson’s cutout animation style, her cartoon world would be clean and tactile, like a layered felt board, with lots of empty space. And while the storytelling would bolster kindergarten-readiness skills (at a time when the intensive parenting ethos was taking hold), it would also be silly — a half-hour with a single story line that would push children to actively listen.

In the mid-1990s, however, relaxed Federal Communications Commission regulations about educational content in children’s TV had made room for a different type of programming; it was a time when “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” dominated. “Parents were afraid. ‘Ren & Stimpy’ was on right before preschool shows,” Johnson said. “It was very hard to promote something that was soft and gentle.”

Yet, within months, “Blue’s Clues” was beating both “Sesame Street” and “Barney” in ratings. There were reams of merchandise, a straight-to-video movie featuring Ray Charles, a Macy’s balloon — as well as a Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting.

The show’s success demonstrated that educational research combined with advocacy could be profitable, said Alison Bryant, the author of “The Children’s Television Community.” “The fact that all TV shows today have educational curriculum consultants is definitely because of ‘Blue’s Clues,’” she said.

In 2004, the show was canceled, an event Santomero described as devastating, though the creators moved on. Fred Rogers’s estate approached Santomero to create a new series, which became “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” on PBS. Johnson joined her, but while they’ve worked together on other projects — including “Creative Galaxy” and “Super Why!” — every few years they would return to Nickelodeon to sniff out the possibility of bringing Blue back.

In 2017, they got the go-ahead to develop a reboot from Sarah Landy, a development executive at Nickelodeon Preschool, who just happened to be a former assistant on “Blue’s Clues.” Not long after came an order for 20 episodes.


Burns will appear as a guest, alongside Dela Cruz, on “Blue’s Clues & You!”

But will today’s overstimulated 2- to 5-year-olds find a springy dog and her human sidekick a little basic? “Kids have more access to technology. They’re more visual. But from a child development perspective, emotionally, they’re the same. If anything, they need to slow down and take a step at a time more than ever,” said Santomero, quoting the show’s theme song.

Creators of the new “Blue’s Clues” acknowledge the realities of children’s lives today with small tweaks, like updating the handy dandy notebook to include a phone. At mail time, an email arrives. But the most notable change is the host.

An open casting call led to about 1,000 hopefuls showing up in Los Angeles, many dressed like the original host, Steve Burns. After setting anchor in a generation’s collective imagination with his guileless persona and pleated khakis, Burns left in 2000 (his character went to college), to be replaced by Donovan Patton as “Joe.” “I had given all of the smiley energy I had,” Burns said. “I was truly pretty exhausted.”

But his tentative forays into social media revealed fans’ fierce devotion to “Blue’s Clues,” which helped persuade Burns to take ownership of his legacy. He is writing and directing on “Blue’s Clues and You!” and making guest appearances. He also weighed in on the new host, casting a vote for Dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz had been understudying Aladdin on Broadway for five years when his agent mentioned an audition for the new “Blue’s Clues.” Growing up in New Jersey, he used to watch the show with his superfan little sister and walked around belting, “Mail time!”

Any working actor might be drawn to the steady paycheck of a Nickelodeon gig, but Dela Cruz, who is Filipino-American, was also eager to break barriers as the show’s first Asian-American host. “Growing up, I never saw anybody like me on TV,” he said. “Especially somebody who was Asian that didn’t have an accent, who didn’t have value because they could fight.”

There’s a good chance that a year from now, Dela Cruz will be a preschool idol around the world: a stripy, human Elmo. Viacom recently announced the first licensee partners for plush toys, play sets and digital games. While the reboot machinery churns, Dela Cruz said he was trying to focus on the imaginary scene partner on the opposite side of the lens. Burns offered him a key piece of advice: “Lean into the silence. It’s your friend.”

###

From Hidden Remote:

Blue’s Clues and You: Host Joshua Dela Cruz chats diversity, hopes for new series and more!

Blue is back on Nick Jr. in Blue’s Clues & You to entertain and help educate a new generation of preschoolers. Below, host Joshua Dela Cruz chats about taking on Steve and Joe’s duties, what he hopes the new series accomplishes, and more!

Josh, like so many of us, grew up watching Blue’s Clues on Nickelodeon, never imagining that he would one day be the host of the series after Steve Burns (and later Joe, portrayed by Donovan Patton). A New Jersey native, Josh is a triple threat and has appeared in Disney’s Broadway production of Aladdin as the understudy for Aladdin. One might also recognize Josh from his appearances on CBS’s Bull and ABC’s Time After Time. But the actor always had his eyes and goals set on bigger things. And really, what’s bigger than hosting the reboot of Blue’s Clues?

The series, Blue’s Clues & You, premiers on Nick Jr. Monday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. (ET/PT). In the premiere, original hosts Steve Burns and Donovan Patton appear. They have passed on the duties to their “cousin” Josh and give audiences a warm hello. Those who grew up watching Blue’s Clues, whether on their own or with their younger siblings, will find this very heartwarming.

They don’t make TV like they used to, especially programs for children! Now that most of us original-Blue’s Clues fans are parents, it feels great to have the adorable puppy Blue back for a new generation to enjoy and love.

Josh shares how he and his little sister didn’t have cable at their home, so visits to their aunt’s house were particularly exciting since they would tune in to Nick Jr. in the morning to watch Blue’s Clues. Diversity wasn’t in high-demand back in the day, unfortunately, so appearing on TV, let alone host Blue’s Clues was not something Josh thought possible.

“[Watching TV] I never experienced [seeing ] Asian actors –forget filipino, just any Asian actor that wasn’t acting out caricatures of stereotypes. I didn’t connect with anyone.” Josh remembers.

This led Josh to pursue theater, where he was able to find more diversity, commenting:

“I realized that it was never a dream [to be an actor] of mine, just because I didn’t consider it possible. To be able to take on this role [on Blue’s Clues and You], I hope future generations that are watching can take away that it could be you on screen. You can have whatever dream job you wish.”

Steve Burns is credited as having created magic with Blue’s Clues, quickly rising to popularity and easily becoming one of the best and most popular TV shows for kids of all-time. Donovan Patton carried on Steve’s duties and the series continued to be successful. Now, a big weight is on Josh’s shoulders, but I, and those who have already caught snippets of the new show, know there’s nothing to worry about.

When we asked Josh what he believes he has to offer and how he stands out from Steve and Joe, he says:

“I think everyone brings their own person and history to the part. It’s just going to be me, Josh, bringing ME into this character. I can only be myself. Steve talked to me about it. He is the sweetest, most encouraging, supportive person I know. Steve really is how he appears to be on the show. I hope to do the same and portray myself into this character.”

With Josh being the only real thing in front of the camera, we wondered if any improv was possible, but filming is tougher than it looks!

“No improv. You have to be pretty specific with everything. Like when it’s Mail Time, I dance with the letter. I have to be starring right at Blue, which could be green tape or a tennis ball, a figurine, if I’m really lucky.”

Finally, on what he hopes children take away from Blue’s Clues & You, Josh says:

“To feel empowered and want to have fun while learning. When they go to school, to feel joy about working hard. To learn that it’s about working hard, not how smart you are. I hope kids have a good time learning to laugh and be silly, walking away better learners.”

Blue’s Clues & You premieres on Nick Jr. Monday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. (ET/PT).

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From NPR.org:

'Blue's Clues' Returns With A New Host

The children's TV show Blue's Clues is back after 15 years, with a new host. NPR's Scott Simon talks with Josh Dela Cruz about what it's like solving mysteries with an animated dog.


(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "BLUE'S CLUES AND YOU")

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: (As characters) A clue.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

"Blue's Clues" is back.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "BLUE'S CLUES AND YOU")

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As character) Oh, a clue. Wait. Where's the clue?

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: (As characters) There.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As character) Oh, a clue.

SIMON: For the Blue's Clue-less, it's a kid's TV show on Nickelodeon with an animated blue dog and her companion who rely on viewers to help them solve mysteries. Started in 1996, that companion was Steve. Joe followed. It was never BJ Leiderman, who writes our theme music. But there were no new episodes for 12 years. Well, that wrong will be righted Monday. Blue returns with new puzzles for preschoolers and with a new human, a nice guy named Josh Dela Cruz, who joins us now from New York. Thanks so much for being with us.

JOSH DELA CRUZ: Thanks for having me, Scott.

SIMON: This new version, I gather, of the show is called "Blue's Clues And You." And besides you, what else is new?

DELA CRUZ: (Laughter) Well, since it is 2019 and it's been years since a new episode has been released, we've updated a lot of things, starting with Blue and Magenta. Traditionally, they were 2D animation. And now they will be 3D. They will be furry and fluffy and...

SIMON: Aw.

DELA CRUZ: ...So huggable. And I guess the most notable is the handy dandy notebook. It'll still have the classic yellow pages. And we'll still draw on it with the crayon. But now on the other side, it's a smartphone. So that opens up an entire world of possibilities, and it's really exciting.

SIMON: Aw. Were you Aladdin on Broadway?

DELA CRUZ: Yeah. I was with the show for about five years. And I was originally an understudy. And I understudied Aladdin and Iago. And then I took over for three months, which was a dream. Yeah.

SIMON: What's it like to go from being on Broadway to playing to a green screen?

DELA CRUZ: The most notable difference is the silence (laughter)...

SIMON: Yeah.

DELA CRUZ: ...Because, you know, there's always an audience there with you when you're on stage. After I finish a take, I'll usually turn to somebody and be like, did we get it? Was that funny because I have no idea (laughter).

SIMON: Let's advise all youngsters to turn away from the radio for just a moment while I ask you this next question. They add Blue later, right?

DELA CRUZ: Yes. Oh, my gosh. She's the biggest diva. She's never there for any of my scenes.

SIMON: (Laughter).

DELA CRUZ: You know (laughter) she's like Marlon Brando was during...

SIMON: Oh, with Rod Steiger...

DELA CRUZ: ..."On The Waterfront." Yeah. That's right.

SIMON: ...Or without Rod Steiger. Right, exactly.

DELA CRUZ: Yeah. That's right (laughter).

SIMON: Oh, my word.

DELA CRUZ: No. Yeah, she's usually a piece of green tape, or if I'm lucky - if I'm lucky, Scott - a green tennis ball.

SIMON: Well, it's a tribute to your acting ability that that doesn't throw you off. Did you watch the shows as a youngster?

DELA CRUZ: I did. I did. You know, I was about seven at the time. And I was watching with my little sister. And that was my first brush with the show.

SIMON: And I have to note. You're a Filipino American...

DELA CRUZ: I am.

SIMON: ...Which - we haven't seen a lot of Filipino Americans front and center on children shows, have we?

DELA CRUZ: Yeah, not on children's television. You know, it's - I really feel honored that I've been given this opportunity to be in a role where it didn't require somebody that was Filipino American, you know, where I could just be myself. And they didn't cast me because they needed to cast a Filipino American. I think that's what the powerful part is for me and hopefully for other generations to come was that growing up, I never saw anybody that looked like me or that I could identify with that wasn't a caricature of a stereotype or somebody that didn't resort to violence or was a foreigner. So it's really an amazing thing to be in a children's show where I'm being silly, and the comedy has nothing to do with my nationality or my ethnicity or whatever I identify with.

And my most favorite thing that I've heard so far comes from friends or friends of friends from their kids saying that they point at the TV screen or the computer screen and they go, hey, he looks like me. And I think that's the coolest part.

SIMON: "Blue's Clues And You" with Josh Dela Cruz premieres Monday, 1:00 p.m. Eastern on Nickelodeon. Thanks so much for being with us.

DELA CRUZ: Thank you so much, Scott.

###

From NextShark:

Filipino-American Actor Who Grew Up Watching ‘Blue’s Clues’ is Now Hosting It

It was through watching “Blue’s Clues” and singing the “Mailtime” song with his little sister at the age of 7 when Josh Dela Cruz knew that he wanted to sing and act.

Now, after more than 20 years since it premiered on Nickelodeon, the live-action/animated children’s show is returning to TV with Cruz as the new host of the reboot series “Blue’s Clues & You!”

While attending high school in New Milford, N.J., Dela Cruz joined the theater program to audition for “High School Musical” as a way to make friends. He still wasn’t sure if he wanted to be an actor until he received a scholarship to study at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn during the summer of his junior year.

“That was the first time I was surrounded by people who knew that that’s what they wanted to do,” he told NextShark.

Dela Cruz feels fortunate to have parents who were supportive of his ambitions, but he remembers his mom and dad being hesitant.

“It’s a scary thing whenever your kid wants to go into the arts, especially my family, they’re from the Philippines,” he said.

Dela Cruz went on to graduate from Montclair State University with a degree in musical theater before booking his Broadway debut as Aladdin’s understudy and holding the lead role for three months in 2017. He also took on the role of Iago, the sarcastic parrot who served as Jafar’s right-hand man.

But after five years with the theater company, Dela Cruz was still yearning to do something more with the skills that he had acquired and learned on his journey so far. That’s when his agent sent him the audition for “Blue’s Clues & You!”

View this post on Instagram

Blues Clues, Green Room. #greenscreen #bluescluesandyou #nickelodeon

A post shared by Josh Dela Cruz (@itsjoshdelacruz) on Jun 21, 2019 at 4:27am PDT

He never thought much about children’s television being a possible career path until people around him would reminisce about “Blue’s Clues.”

“The show is such a huge part of our lives,” he said. “And I think this is the thing that I was waiting for.”

While preparing for the show, Josh says he received some advice from Steve Burns — who was the original host of the long-running program — and Donovan Patton — who replaced Steve as his younger brother Joe — that came in handy dandy.

“First, when you’re talking into the camera, the person on the other side of the glass is a real person and you need them. If you’re asking them a question, it’s not because they happen to be there. It’s because they are the leading authority on whatever it is that you’re asking them. And you can’t move on until they help you with the answer,” he explained.

Burns and Patton also encouraged him to be himself no matter what.

“I should never feel like I need to do anything or replicate anything that they have done, that they hired me because they love me and what I bring and what I do,” he recalled. “It’s pretty incredible to be talking to the people that you watched on TV that were empowering you to be yourself and to be silly.”

View this post on Instagram

The Aesthetic Evolution of Blue’s Clues Hosts is an exponential curve. The next host will be Thor, obv. Almost too much fun working with these guys.

A post shared by Steve Burns (@steveburnsalive) on Sep 1, 2019 at 9:12am PDT

Dela Cruz will introduce “Blue’s Clues” to a new generation of kids and Asian American families who may feel underrepresented on the small screen.

“Growing up the roles that Asian Americans were cast in were because of what they looked like and the stereotypes or caricatures that go along with it. While I think that martial arts is awesome, I never quite identified with being a villain, foreigner,” he went on. “So I feel really honored to have that privilege to be ‘Josh,’ who is also Filipino.”

What else can fans expect from the new “Blue’s Clues & You!”? Besides Steve and Joe, many of the iconic characters from the original series will make a return, including the Shaker family, and Magenta, who, along with Blue, will appear in 3D this time around.

For any millennials who grew up watching the show, the handy dandy notebook is now a smartphone.

Josh points out that technology encroaching in every aspect of our lives is something the reboot acknowledges.

“Now we can get video calls and emails and we can Skype with Joe and Steve and Mr. Salt, Mrs. Pepper and anyone,” he explained.

That adventure continues when “Blue’s Clues & You!” premieres on Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. EST, as Steve and Joe pass the torch to Josh and teach him how to solve Blue’s mysteries.



###

From Character Media:

‘Blue’s Clues’ Is Back—With Joshua Dela Cruz Leading The Show

If you’re a ’90s baby, chances are that the words “handy-dandy notebook” and “mail time” will conjure up some nostalgic memories of your childhood: memories of Steve in his bright green stripes hunting for blue pawprints with his adorable dog, Blue. Or memories of singing like a pretend opera star every time the “Mail Time Song” came on, or even of crying your eyes out when Steve left the show to go to college. But a new generation of kids will soon know the references to this famous children’s show.

That’s right. “Blue’s Clues” is back. And while old friends like Blue, Magenta, and even the original hosts—Steve Burns (Steve) and Donovan Patton (Joe)—will be returning for the Nickelodeon show’s premiere on Nov. 11, there’s a new addition to the family that will carry the show’s legacy. Introducing the new “Blue’s Clues & You” host, Joshua Dela Cruz.

A former musical theater actor in the original Broadway cast of Disney’s “Aladdin,” Dela Cruz spent most of his childhood indulging in his love for music. Whether it was singing karaoke (a favorite pastime in the Filipino community, as he notes) or participating in school music programs, music played a significant role in his life. It wasn’t until high school that his older sister encouraged him to audition for the school’s musical, which ultimately made him fall in love with theater. Soon, he landed a scholarship to Papermill Playhouse—the regional theater in New Jersey—which eventually led him to pursue musical theater at Montclair State University. It was there that he met his wife, Amanda, and other aspiring artists. “That was the first time I had ever been around people that wanted to pursue acting in any form as a career,” Dela Cruz says. “ It’s not something that I’d ever been exposed to, especially culturally. To be surrounded by people—particularly such a diverse groups of kids—who wanted to do this for a living because it was their passion was an awakening for me.”

Straight out of college, he found himself on the right career path, booking a role in a production of “The King and I” at Kansas City Starlight, opposite acclaimed Pinoy actor Lou Diamond Phillips. “I doubt he remembers who I am, but Lou Diamond Phillips played such a huge role in my progression,” says Dela Cruz. “During that production, I said I was nervous, and he pulled me aside and told me, ‘You belong here.’ And that was such a huge thing for someone to say, especially a Filipino actor who has done so much that had nothing to do with him being Filipino.” As a Filipino American, Dela Cruz says that he often struggled to find representation within the theater world. “I’ve never seen anybody like me outside a production of ‘The King and I’ or ‘Miss Saigon,’ or really do anything other than playing an Asian person in an Asian musical,” says Dela Cruz.

“I love that with ‘Blue’s Clues’ we’re celebrating the fact that I’m Filipino, but I wasn’t cast because I’m Filipino.”

And perhaps that’s why when Nickelodeon announced him as the new “Blue’s Clues” host, the AAPI community went wild. For once in American children’s television, there would be an Asian American in a show and role that’s not necessarily about being Asian. “I love that with ‘Blue’s Clues’ we’re celebrating the fact that I’m Filipino, but I wasn’t cast because I’m Filipino,” says Dela Cruz. “And that’s what’s beautiful. I’m just so stinkin’ lucky that I get to grow into me and be myself while impacting kids in a positive way.”

For his first leading role on the small screen, Dela Cruz has some big shoes to fill. After all, “Blue’s Clues” lives fondly in the memories of those who grew up watching Steve and Blue, as they solved puzzles and taught preschoolers everything from American Sign Language to how to tell time. But after watching Dela Cruz sing the iconic “Mail Time Song,” you’ll quickly realize your childhood is in safe hands—in other words, he’s perfect for the role. Not only does he retain the original show’s energy and charm, he brings his impressive singing and dancing chops to the table. Even the show’s original host, Steve Burns (who is now the consulting producer and director on the new series) attests that Dela Cruz is taking the show to a new level. “He’s a Broadway-level singer and dancer, and that is adding so many dimensions already,” says Burns via email. “Neither Donovan nor I can sing. Or dance. At all.”

“Josh is genuinely imaginative and engaging, and he had an inherent sense for the blue screen demands of the role,” says “Blue’s Clues” original host, Steve Burns.

Dela Cruz was picked because he was the perfect guy for the job. Out of a pool of more than 3,000 auditionees, he was chosen for the role. Burns was also a part of the search, and who better than the original host himself to deem who’s right for the role? “It always has to be real,” says Burns. “Even when it’s goofy. Even when you’re freaking out because the mail arrived. The relationship between the host and the home viewer must be specific and real.” When Dela Cruz went into his green screen test, Burns knew he had what it took. “Josh is genuinely imaginative and engaging, and he had an inherent sense for the blue screen demands of the role,” says Burns. “Also, he’s a great guy in general, and we all liked him immediately. Still do!”

Dela Cruz says that he found incredible support and new friends in the original hosts, Burns and Patton. “I used to watch them on TV, it’s crazy!” Dela Cruz says. “And now I have their phone numbers and we’re talking about old movies. They made me into family. They’re the two big brothers that I need, especially with this show, they’re just great role models and super supportive.” But he also found a role model in another certain legend from children’s television. While still working on “Aladdin,” Dela Cruz felt he wanted to do more with his life than just entertain, he wanted to use his gifts to help other people. During the audition process for “Blue’s Clues,” the Mr. Rogers documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” came out. “It was one of those moments where it was the right place, right time,” says Dela Cruz. “After my callback, I went to see the Mr. Rogers documentary and thought, ‘Yup. This is the right thing. I want this so badly.’ Mr. Rogers was so huge in my life growing up. And our creator, Angela [Santomero], got into this business because of Mr. Rogers. I knew this is what I wanted.”

Parents, and old and new “Blue’s Clues” viewers alike, are all ready to see what this new chapter of the show has in store for Blue and her friends. “More music, more songs, lots of dancing and super mega cool animation,” Burns teases. “Also, his new notebook is like the coolest thing ever, and I’m jelly.”

“I hope that kids learn that whoever you are and whatever you identify as, it’s okay to be silly and step out of your comfort zone.”
Speaking of the new notebook, did you know it also has a phone now? In order to keep up with the times, the show has updated a few things. “We get emails now, which is fun,” says Dela Cruz. “I think it’s amazing that they were able to marry a notebook and a phone. We never lose the fact that we draw each clue, but we also don’t ignore the fact that technology is such a huge part of our world. I think kids are going to have a great time. Although, I apologize to any parent if the show becomes something that’s on repeat all the time!”

While the new series will introduce more modern elements to the adventures of Blue and Josh, the heart and soul of the original will still remain the same. And just like his idol Mr. Rogers, Dela Cruz hopes that children will have fun learning while watching his show. “I hope that kids learn that whoever you are and whatever you identify as, it’s okay to be silly and step out of your comfort zone,” says Dela Cruz. “To be kind and to communicate to each other and the people around them, so that they can live life as full as they deserve. All of our content is focused on the well-being of our viewer—and that’s all we’re ever concerned about.”

###

From Multichannel:

Top Kids’ Producer Returns With ‘Blue’s Clues & You!’

Angela Santomero excited about reuniting the gang on Nickelodeon

Angela Santomero, who helped create the iconic kids show Blue’s Clues, was concerned about being a one-hit wonder.

Six series later, Santomero is chief creative officer of global production company 9 Story Media Group, and Blue’s Clues is being revived as Blue’s Clues & You!, starting Monday (Nov. 11) on Nickelodeon.

“Relaunching it now is taking me back,” Santomero said. And though kids’ viewing behaviors have changed and so has the TV business, “there’s still a need and a niche for quality educational kids media and that’s what empowers me.”

Santomero left Columbia University with a master’s degree in child developmental psychology with a specialty in technology and media and went to work in the research department at Nickelodeon. “I was going to change the way kids watch TV,” she recalled.

At the time, Nickelodeon had a hit in Double Dare and was looking for a game show for preschoolers. “From my background, I wanted to figure out a way to get to play and be active in the media, but learn while they’re playing,” she said. “And so Blue’s Clues became that show.”

The show, unique in the way it paused to let kids interact with what was happening on screen, went on the air 23 years ago and ran for 10 years. (There was also a spinoff called Blue’s Room.)

After Blue’s Clues ended, Santomero started a company called Out of the Blue and began creating a series of shows. One was Super Why! for PBS, another is Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (she was great friends with Fred Rogers, aka Mr. Rogers; Fred Rogers Productions produced Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood). Santomero, who has been nominated 21 times for Emmys, finally won one for Daniel Tiger.

Santomero also created shows for streaming services, with Wishenpoof! and Creative Galaxy for Amazon Studios and Charlie’s Colorforms City for Netflix.

Out of the Blue was acquired by 9 Story Media Group in 2018 and Santomero was named chief creative officer, overseeing its studios in New York. When Nickelodeon decided to reboot Blue’s Clues, Santomero got the call. “Angela has always been wanting to bring it back. We’ve always been in touch with her and the second the idea was brought out there, she was just really so excited and just jumped at the opportunity,” Sarah Landy, senior vice president of production and development at Nickelodeon Preschool, said.

“A lot of the people who have grown up on Blue’s Clues are starting to have families of their own,” Landy, who worked on the original show, said. “It just felt like the right time to bring a fresh perspective to the show.”

She said Santomero “has amazing creative ideas and that stems from knowing our audience so well because of the research she does.”

Though their media habits have changed, what preschoolers want to watch really hasn’t. “They’re more tech-savvy, but at the core, they’re the same emotionally as they were 22 years ago,” Landy said. “Some of their expressive vocabulary is bigger, but they still haven’t caught up emotionally. Development is still development, so we have to make sure we’re not constantly aging up and making everything older.”

Blue’s Clues & You! still has “the same entertainment parts, it still has the great characters and still looks really different than anything else on TV right now,” Santomero said. With computer graphic technology Blue is more fluffy and huggable, she said. “Educationally, it still has the same level of higher order thinking skills and kindergarten readiness skills. What I’m most proud of is it empowers kids.”

Also new is the host, Josh Dela Cruz. “We looked at 3,000 actors and actresses to find the right person,” Santomero said. “He is amazing. He talks to the camera like nobody’s business. Not too many people can talk to the camera. He can.”

Steve and Joe Return

Original Blue’s Clues hosts haven’t been forgotten. Both are a part of the new show, with Steve Burns writing and directing and Donovan Patton, who played Steve’s replacement and brother Joe, directing. They’re also on the show.

Blue’s Clues co-creator Tina Paige Johnson is also back, as co-creator and co-executive producer.

“It’s like a family affair,” Santomero said. “I love that Steve and Joe come back and teach Josh how to play Blue’s Clues and really pass the torch over to him.”

With new technology from Nick’s Noggin app, there is also a more interactive play-along version of Blue’s Clues & You! available to kids.

The show has already been available on Walmart’s Vudu streaming service and episodes are on YouTube. “I’m hearing everyone is ridiculously happy,” she said.

The first order of 20 episodes of Blue’s Clues & You! has been completed. Have more been ordered?

“We haven’t announced anything,” Santomero said, pausing. “We’re going to announce pretty soon.”

###

Update (9/12) - Vudu, the Walmart-owned ad supported streaming service, will exclusively debut the first three episodes of Blue's Clues & You on Friday, September 27, 2019, ahead of the show's premiere on Nickelodeon in November!

More Nick:Nickelodeon Announces First Licensing Partners for 'Blue’s Clues & You!'!

Originally titled: Nickelodeon’s Brand-new Preschool Series 'Blue’s Clues & You!' Bows Monday, Nov. 11, at 9 A.M. (ET/PT).

Originally published: Monday, August 26, 2019 at 19:28 BST.

Press release via Business Wire; H/T: TheWrap; Additional sources: ComicBook, Deadline, Nickandmore!, Anime Superhero Forum /@kanc.

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Слаймолёт летит вперёд! ✈️| 15 серия | Nickelodeon Россия



А тебе хотелось бы принять участие в шоу Всеология?

http://www.nickelodeon.ru/show-vseologia/

Больше Nick:November 2019 on Nickelodeon Russia: Infinity Nado | Всеология | SpongeBob | Rise of the TMNT | Noobees | Henry Danger + More!

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Match the Colors! 🌈 Find Colors for PAW Patrol, Bubble Guppies, Dora & Butterbean! | Nick Jr.



Do you know your colors? Find the right colors that match up with your Nick Jr. friends like Chase, Dora, and Bubble Puppy! You can find more of your favorite shows weekday mornings on Nickelodeon and everywhere you find Nick Jr.

More Nick:'Blue's Clues & You' Bows onto Nickelodeon!

Kids can watch their favorite Nick Jr. shows weekdays on Nickelodeon and all week long on the Nick Jr. channel: http://nickjr.com/tvschedule/

Preschoolers can watch full episodes online, play games, and discover silly surprises in the free Nick Jr. App and at NickJr.com. Stream Nick Jr. for free in the Nick Jr. App on Roku and Apple TV or download full episodes for offline viewing on iTunes or Google Play.

You can also download premium apps featuring your child's favorite Nick Jr. shows on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon, including Nick Jr. Draw and Play and Nick Jr. Let’s Learn!

Watch more Nick Jr. everyday for FREE on Nick Jr. Pluto TV!

More Nick:Nick Jr. Live! "Move To The Music" U.S. Theatrical Tour Dates!

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Get ready for the First Annual All That Music Video Award Show Presentation Program Special Show, hosted by Beyoncé, best known from being.. Beyoncé, and Jay Z, best known for being married to Beyoncé!



Don't miss nominees such as Cooper and His Best Friend ("I Wear Everything"), Miss Monica's Kindergarten Class, and Siblingz feat. Young Dylan ("We Need A Dog"). Featuring a special performance by Adam Sandler. Make sure to catch the All That Music Special, the most realistic fake awards show of all time, premiering Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT) following an all new Henry Danger at 8, only on Nickelodeon USA!

Disclaimer: Not a real awards show, not the real Beyoncé and Jay Z, not real nominees, and not the real Adam Sandler.

Beyoncé, Jay-Z & Adam Sandler at the All That Awards Show 🏆#AllThatTuesday



The All That Music Awards show is here! And there’s a special performance by “Adam Sandler” debuting his brand new song “Sticky Song”. “Jay-Z” and “Beyoncé” host this star-studded event, celebrating the best music in All That history! Who do you think will take home all of the All That Awards? Watch Saturday at 8:30/7:30c on Nick to find out!

Subscribe to the official All That YouTube channel!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6UzskfVDPkJ5aSe755ZGgQ

More Nick:Nickelodeon Renews 'All That' for 13 Additional Episodes; Aria Brooks to Join Cast!

Originally published: Sunday, November 10, 2019.

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COWABUNGA! Nickelodeon Greece (Ελλάδα) has teamed up with Sportime which will see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics featured in the sports publication!


Judging from the cover, the TMNT comics being published in Sportime are from Dreamwave Productions'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Animated comic book series which launched in 2003 and is based on the characters from the iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. The first four stories in the comic book series, which ran for seven issues, are based on episodes of the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV series, but told from the view of supporting characters, before the creation of new stories, just as the original issues of TMNT Adventures followed the 1987 TV series before developing new stories. The series is written by David Lesean.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles issue #1, titled "Χελωνονιντζάκια: Τα πράγματα αλλάζουν", was published in the Saturday 9th November 2019 issue of Sportime, which subsequent issues being released in Sportime every Saturday.

From nickelodeon.gr:

Τα Χελωνονιντζάκια κάθε Σάββατο με το Sportime!

07.11.2019

Τα Χελωνονιντζάκια βγαίνουν από τους υπονόμους και μεταφέρουν τις περιπέτειες τους σε comic!

Οι θρυλικοί Ραφαέλο, Λεονάρντο, Ντονατέλο και Μικελάντζελο έρχονται κάθε Σάββατο με το Sportime και μας κάνουν μάρτυρες των πιο νίντζα ιστοριών και καταστάσεων!

Αυτό το Σάββατο 9 Νοεμβρίου μη χάσετε στην εφημερίδα Sportime το συλλεκτικό 1ο τεύχος "Χελωνονιντζάκια: Τα πράγματα αλλάζουν"!

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More Nick:Geocaching HQ and Nickelodeon Partner on Limited-Edition 'Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Trackable Game Pieces!

Additional sources: Google Translate, Wikipedia, The Technodrome, Amazon.com.

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The cast and crew of Blue's Clues & You!, a remake of the Nickelodeon's groundbreaking, curriculum-driven interactive series Blue’s Clues, recently filmed a Holiday special of the brand new preschool series! The news was revealed by BuzzFeed News.


It looks like the holiday-themed episode, which was filmed in October 2019, could also feature an extra holiday treat for fans: In one of the PAWsome behind-the-scenes photos published by BuzzFeed News, below, Steve Burns, who played Steve in the original Blue’s Clues series, can be seen sitting at a desk on the green scene set with Blue's new friend Josh (played by Joshua Dela Cruz)! It's currently unknown whether Burns will be making a cameo in the Christmas episode, however, as he is writing and directing a few episodes of the new series. However, he - and Donovan Patton (Joe) - did reprise their respective roles to guest star in the series premiere of Blue's Clues & You!!



In additional news, Angela C. Santomero, a co-creator of Blue’s Clues and Blue's Clues & You!, has revealed in a super interview with Multichannel that Nickelodeon is on the cusp of announcing that Blue's Clues & You! for a second season! When asked if season two has been ordered, Santomero shared: “We haven’t announced anything. [...] We’re going to announce pretty soon.”

A remake of the groundbreaking, curriculum-driven interactive series Blue’s Clues, Blue’s Clues & You! follows Blue as she invites viewers to join her and Josh on a clue-led adventure and solve a puzzle in each episode. With each signature paw print, Blue identifies clues in her animated world that propel the story and inspire the audience to interact with the characters. Blue’s Clues & You! airs daily on Nickelodeon. For more Blue’s Clues & You!, visit NickJr.com, Nick Jr. App and the Noggin app.

More Nick:Nickelodeon Announces First Licensing Partners for 'Blue’s Clues & You!'!

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Mumbai, 12th November 2019: Viacom18, India’s fastest growing entertainment network is all set to expand its digital ecosystem with the launch of its first subscription play – VOOT Kids. Leading kids’ content on broadcast, Viacom18 now extends its thought leadership with a unique digital service for kids, which creates a seamless experience for both fun and learning in a safe, parentally controlled environment. Certified by Early Childhood Association (ECA), VOOT Kids is India’s first and only multi-format Kids app offering Fun & Learning, with its largest and most versatile collection of over 20,000 videos, e-books, stories and quizzes, aims to usher in the next evolution in the kid’s digital ecosystem. Priced at INR 799 for a year and 99 per month with Free Trials in both packages, the VOOT Kids app is available to download on iOS and Play Store.

“Viacom18 has grown over the years by focussing on white spaces that are challenging and yet have tremendous potential. As a network, we have been the undisputed leader in kids’ entertainment content since the past 5 years. Our digital play VOOT is the second largest video-on-demand platform in the country today.” said Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO & MD, Viacom18, adding, “VOOT Kids is a synergy of these two growth stories from the house of Viacom18. Marking our sharper segmented foray into the world of subscription based VoD, VOOT Kids is India’s first and only multi-format Kids app offering Fun & Learning. No other kids app offers Watch, Read, Listen & Learn all at one place”


With a mission to make screen time meaningful for Kids, the app strikes a balance between fun learning and entertainment for kids between the age of 02 to 08 years. The app will achieve this by delivering a holistic experience focussed on viewing, reading, listening and playing all in one place. The app encompasses Kids’ favourite toons, best of pre-school and learning shows, beautifully crafted picture e-books, audio stories and fun quizzes and will empower parents with relevant and superior quality engagement options for their children. Behind this impressive content line-up are partnerships with best in class brand owners and leaders like Nickelodeon, Oxford University Press, Warner Media, Green Gold, Ceebeebies, TV Asahi, Sony Music, Hasbro, Mattel, Lego and many more.

Speaking about VOOT’s venture into the premium subscription space, Gourav Rakshit, COO, Viacom18 Digital Ventures said, “The foray into the subscription space with VOOT Kids is the first step in our journey towards building an entire digital ecosystem under brand VOOT. VOOT Kids has been built on the 3 pillars of Product Experience, Content and Safety. In VOOT Kids, we are bringing an offering that is child-friendly, yet parent focussed and gives them an opportunity to bond with an immersive co-consumption experience. Our brand philosophy of ‘Masti Mein Acchai’ reflects our mission to make screen time meaningful.”


VOOT Kids is a key enabler that enhances the bond between parents and children through immersive co-consumption experiences. The curated ad-free content library has parental control features that allow parents to evaluate progress, limit screen time and track content consumed which makes VOOT Kids India’s safest one-stop online destination that entertains, engages and enriches kids, all under one roof.

Elaborating, Saugato Bhowmik, Business Head, VOOT Kids said, “VOOT Kids is a category creating product in the space of digital fun learning that caters to needs of discerning Indian parents who seek meaningful screen-time that aids in holistic development of the child’s mental, emotional and social faculties. The app has the largest and most versatile offerings in the space of toon videos, e-books, audio stories and fun quizzes that provides children with a parent-controlled, safe and entertaining content destination.” He further added, “We believe masti should never be served up without acchai and the same holds true the other way around. And this is our guiding philosophy at VOOT Kids”

VOOT Kids will be Viacom18’s first ever digital subscription service providing immersive content delivered through an elevated product experience and seamless gameplay. With this launch, VOOT Kids will bring alive the ‘Masti Main Acchai’ brand idea through a high decibel integrated marketing plan that will reach over 50 mn households driven by a mix of print, on-air, on-ground activations and digital outreach. Priced at INR 799 for a year with a 30 day free trial and 99 per month with a 7 day free trial, the VOOT Kids app is available to download on iOs and Android.

About VOOT Kids

VOOT Kids is India’s first and only multi-format Kids app offering Fun & Learning. The app has four major categories: WATCH, LEARN, READ AND LISTEN including hours of Indian and International content. The rich content library also consists of MCQ’s covering 5 skill set domains, audio books from Karadi Tales, Jataka Tales and audio originals with character led stories and best-selling e-books. The content on VOOT Kids will help a child create a perfect balance between learning and having fun. The app is available on iOS and Android phones.

About VOOT

VOOT is India’s second largest digital video-on-demand streaming service from the house of Viacom18. With a content library of more than 60,000 hours across Viacom18’s network content, exclusive content around network shows and VOOT Originals, the platform caters to varying needs of discerning audiences across segments. With over 80 million monthly active users, VOOT is the most engaged platform in the ad-supported service space. VOOT continues to take the leadership mantel on innovation, across content, technology and marketing initiatives, aimed at providing an immersive experience to its users.

About Viacom18

Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd. is one of India's fastest growing entertainment networks and a house of iconic brands that offers multi-platform, multi-generational and multicultural brand experiences. A joint venture of TV18, which owns 51%, and Viacom Inc., with a 49% stake, Viacom18 defines entertainment in India by touching the lives of people through its properties on air, online, on ground, in shop and through cinema.

From Livemint:

The idea of catering to kids is very close to Viacom’s DNA given that we own the top kids television channels, said Gourav Rakshit, COO, Viacom18 Digital Ventures

Viacom18 launches multi-format kids app, VOOT Kids

The app will be entirely separate from Viacom’s advertising-led video-on-demand platform VOOT and target kids aged between 2 to 8 years
The app is priced at Rs. 99 per month and Rs.799 per year and available for download on both iOS and Android formats

NEW DELHI : Media and entertainment conglomerate Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd announced the launch of VOOT Kids, a new kids app that combines audio, video and text along with puzzles and quizzes. It is priced at Rs. 99 per month and Rs. 799 per year and available for download on both iOS and Android formats.

The app will be entirely separate from Viacom’s advertising-led video-on-demand platform VOOT and target kids aged between 2 to 8 years.

“The idea of catering to kids is very close to Viacom’s DNA given that we own the top kids television channels. We were running some content on VOOT itself but making it more meaningful wouldn’t have been possible on a video-on-demand platform," Gourav Rakshit, chief operating officer, Viacom18 Digital Ventures said.

Rakshit said the app will provide full security and parental control not just in terms of the content kids consume and engage with but also the amount of time they spend on the app. The 20,000 pieces of content on the service includes animation shows like Chhota Bheem, Motu Patlu and Rudra: Boom Chik Chik Boom, e-books from leading publishers and folk tales and fables narrated on audio besides games, puzzles and quizzes. These have been collated in collaboration with brand owners like Nickelodeon, Oxford University Press, Warner Media, Green Gold, Ceebeebies, TV Asahi, Sony Music, Hasbro, Mattel, Lego and others, whom the platform has a long-term partnership with.

“Viacom18 has grown over the years by focusing on white spaces that are challenging and yet have tremendous potential. VOOT Kids is a synergy of the two growth stories from the house of Viacom18—our broadcast network and VOOT (the OTT platform). Marking our sharper segmented foray into the world of subscription-based VoD, VOOT Kids is India’s first and only multi-format kids app offering fun and learning," said Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO and MD, Viacom18, said in a statement.

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From Kidscreen:

Viacom18 enters India’s kids SVOD market

For two- to eight-year-olds, VOOT Kids offers a mix of Indian animated series like Nickelodeon's Golmaal Jr. and international acquisitions including Peppa Pig.

India-based entertainment conglomerate Viacom18 has launched VOOT Kids, the company’s first subscription app for children.

VOOT Kids targets children ages two to eight and is available for iOS and Android devices at US$1.39 per month (INR 99) and US$11 (INR 799) for a yearly subscription. The monthly offer includes a seven-day free trial, while the yearly package has a month-long free option.

The ad-free service provides a library of more than 15,000 episodes of animated series such as local Indian Nick shows Motu Patlu and Golmaal Jr., as well as international series like Peppa Pig, Pokémon, Ben 10 and PAW Patrol. The platform’s brand partners include Nickelodeon, Oxford University Press, Warner Media, Green Gold, CBeebies, TV Asahi, Sony Music, Hasbro, Mattel and Lego.

VOOT Kids also features more than 500 kids eBook titles from brands including Chhota Bheem, Dora The Explorer, Thumbelina, Masha & the Bear, Wheels on the Bus, Aladdin, Gulliver’s Travels, The Ugly Duckling, Jack and The Beanstalk and Little Red Riding Hood.

In addition, 150-plus curated audio stories are available spanning Indian folktales to princess stories like Cinderella and Princess and the Frog. More than 5,000 educational games and quizzes are featured, too, covering areas such as language skills, math and creative expression.

For parents, a special zone lets them assess their child’s learning progress, set screen time limits, track content consumption and create up to four kid profiles each with their own viewing preferences, recommendations and settings.

The app follows Viacom18′s AVOD service VOOT for older audiences. It features more than 60,000 hours of exclusive original and acquired content and, to date, has generated more than 80 million monthly active users.

VOOT Kids arrives in a crowded Indian mobile streaming market and will compete with the likes of Netflix, Apple TV+ and Amazon. Whether or not Disney+ launches in the region as part of its international rollout remains to be seen.

Disney-owned streaming service Hotstar currently leads the Indian online content market with more than 300 million monthly active users, according to recent findings by Bangalore-based research and consulting firm RedSeer. Chinese social media streamer TikTok is fourth on the list at 129 million, while Amazon Prime and Netflix land at 13 million and 11 million, respectively.

To increase its user base in the region, Netflix introduced a low-priced mobile-only tier in July that costs US$2.80 (INR 199) per month. It’s also investing more in local original animated content. Mighty Little Bheem, its first original Indian kids series, was renewed for a third season in August. On the linear TV side, Nick India has been launching more originals, too. Bollywood spin-off Golmaal Jr. premiered in May on Nick’s Sonic kids channel for 10 to 13-year-olds.

Meanwhile, Viacom18′s strategy for developing exclusive original toons for VOOT Kids is yet to be revealed.

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From TVKIDS:

India’s VOOT Unveils Subscription App for Kids’ Content

Viacom18’s on-demand platform VOOT in India has launched an ad-free kids’ app priced at 99 rupees ($1.40) a month.

VOOT Kids will offer up more than 20,000 videos, e-books, stories and quizzes targeted at kids between the ages of 2 and 8. Content is available from Nickelodeon, WarnerMedia, Green Gold Animation, CBeebies, TV Asahi, Sony Music, Hasbro, Mattel, Lego and more.

“Viacom18 has grown over the years by focusing on white spaces that are challenging and yet have tremendous potential,” said Sudhanshu Vats, group CEO and managing director of Viacom18. “As a network, we have been the undisputed leader in kids’ entertainment content for the past five years. Our digital play VOOT is the second-largest video-on-demand platform in the country today. VOOT Kids is a synergy of these two growth stories from the house of Viacom18. Marking our sharper segmented foray into the world of subscription-based VOD, VOOT Kids is India’s first and only multiformat kids’ app offering fun and learning. No other kids’ app offers watch, read, listen and learn all at one place.”

Gourav Rakshit, COO of Viacom18 Digital Ventures, added, “The foray into the subscription space with VOOT Kids is the first step in our journey towards building an entire digital ecosystem under brand VOOT. VOOT Kids has been built on the three pillars of product experience, content and safety. In VOOT Kids, we are bringing an offering that is child-friendly, yet parent-focused and gives them an opportunity to bond with an immersive co-consumption experience. Our brand philosophy of ‘Masti Mein Acchai’ reflects our mission to make screen time meaningful.”

Saugato Bhowmik, business head for VOOT Kids, noted, “VOOT Kids is a category-creating product in the space of digital fun learning that caters to needs of discerning Indian parents who seek meaningful screentime that aids in holistic development of the child’s mental, emotional and social faculties. The app has the largest and most versatile offerings in the space of toon videos, e-books, audio stories and fun quizzes that provides children with a parent-controlled, safe and entertaining content destination.”

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More Nick:Madame Tussauds Delhi Unveils Motu Patlu Waxwork Figures!

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SpongeBob Is Back! The Man Behind the Voice, Tom Kenny, on Returning for a Big Screen Adventure

The SpongeBob Movie Sponge on the Run will be out in May 2020.

SpongeBob SquarePants returns to the big screen in the brand new SpongeBob movie, Sponge on the Run, coming out in May 2020. (See the new poster, below!)


Tom Kenny, the man who has voiced the lovable cartoon sponge for over 20 years (and voices several other characters on the Nickelodeon show, including Gary the Snail) opened up to People about what we can expect from the newest adventure from SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward and the rest of the Bikini Bottom gang. (Which will include Tiffany Haddish and Keanu Reeves.)

What can you tell us about SpongeBob and Patrick’s latest adventure, if anything?

As a great poet once said: “There is no love like the love of a sponge for his snail”…..There’s a lot that I can’t talk about yet, but I CAN say that when SpongeBob‘s precious pet Gary goes missing, SpongeBob and his trusty pink pal Patrick hit the road on our wildest road trip yet to try and get him back.

Will there be amazing music like there was the last time?

Yes, some fun musical numbers and new SpongeSongs. I hope to write one or two of ‘em myself! Fingers crossed!

Do you ever get sick of people asking you to do the SpongeBob voice in real life?

I can honestly say I don’t get sick of it! Not once in 20 years! I love the character, and after two decades of frying impressionable young minds, SpongeBob has been very impactful in folks’ lives. It’s always fun for the cast to watch people’s reactions when we do the voices “live“, or when we insert a fan’s name into a famous line from the show.

Will the movie honor the show’s creator Stephen Hillenburg?

We try to honor Stephen with everything we do. He was the captain of the ship, and everything that makes SpongeBob work came directly from his head and his hands. Steve is always in our consciousness as we carry on the legacy of his timeless characters. As long as SpongeBob is in the world, Stephen Hillenburg is in the world. That’s our mission, and we think of him every day.

Who’s your personal favorite character (other than yourself!) on the show?

I love all of the characters, (and the actors who portray ‘em!). They all have great moments, but Squidward never fails to fracture me. He is the diametric opposite of SpongeBob. The Sponge embodies wide-eyed optimism and being 100% comfortable with who you are. The Squid embodies suspicious cynicism and pretentious delusions of grandeur. It’s a great juxtaposition for us to play with.

The SpongeBob Movie Sponge on the Run (formally SpongeBob Movie: It's a Wonderful Sponge) will be out in May 2020.

Since its launch in July 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has emerged as a pop culture phenomenon. The series has been the most-watched animated program with kids 2-11 for more than 15 consecutive years, and over the past several years, it has averaged more than 100,000,000 total viewers every quarter across all Nickelodeon networks. SpongeBob SquarePants is the most widely distributed property in Viacom International Media Networks history, seen in more than 208 countries and territories and translated in 55+ languages. The Paramount Pictures feature film The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water premiered Feb. 6, 2015, landing at #1 opening weekend. The character-driven cartoon chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurably optimistic and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom. Among those friends are SpongeBob's best friend, a pink starfish named Patrick Star, his neighbor and co-worker octopus Squidward Tentacles, and Sandy Cheeks, a squirrel from Texas.

SpongeBob SquarePantshas been renewed through to at least the show's 13th season, will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2019, has its own critically acclaimed Broadway show, which is set to tour the U.S. from Fall 2019, and has a third upcoming movie, The SpongeBob Movie: It's a Wonderful Sponge, set to be released in Summer 2020! Nickelodeon is also developing spin-off's inspired by the series, including the recently greenlit CG-animated Kamp Koral.

More Nick:Nickelodeon Marks 20 Years of "SpongeBob SquarePants" with the "Best Year Ever"!

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To celebrate the United Nations'Universal Children's Day, Nickelodeon Italy (Italia) has announced that it will be hosting Italy's first-ever Nickelodeon Worldwide Day of Play at the MUBA Children's Museum Milan in Milan on Saturday 23rd November 2019! The event will be free, and will feature many activities inspired by popular Nick shows, as well as meet and greets with beloved Nickelodeon characters, including SpongeBob SquarePants, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Shimmer and Shine, PAW Patrol and Jay. For more information, visit http://www.nicktv.it/info/spongebob-muba


NICKELODEON ARRIVA AL MUBA

In occasione della Giornata Internazionale dei diritti dell'infanzia promossa dall'ONU, Nickelodeon e NickJr organizzano una giornata di festa al MUBA per ricordare a tutti che il gioco è un diritto per ogni bambino.

Spongebob, Tartarughe Ninja, Shimmer&Shine, Paw Patrol e Jay vi terranno compagnia per tutta la giornata (10.00 -18.30) con tante attività gratuite presso il MUBA.

A Spongebob saranno dedicati anche i 5 turni di visita della mostra-gioco Natura e del centro permanente REMIDA (10.00, 11.30, 14.00, 15.30, 17.00) che, per la giornata del 23 novembre, saranno ad ingresso gratuito.

Attività ad ingresso gratuito accessibili solo su prenotazione:

NATURA con Spongebob
(per bambini dai 2 ai 6 anni)
Ingressi alle ore 10.00 | 11.30 | 14.00 | 15.30 | 17.00

I bambini andranno alla scoperta della Camera delle Meraviglie della mostra-gioco Natura che per l'occasione sarà arricchita con materiale marino (conchiglie, spugne, sassi e sabbia) da esplorare attraverso i sensi, in un'indagine che va dal macro al micro e ritorno, anche attraverso l'uso di ingrandimenti.

REMIDA con SpongeBob
(per bambini dai 2 agli 11 anni)
Ingressi alle ore 10.00 | 11.30 | 14.00 | 15.30 | 17.00

REMIDA MILANO è il centro di riuso creativo, aperto da MUBA nel 2010. È il luogo dove i materiali scartati dalla produzione industriale e artigianale si trasformano in preziose risorse creative. È un luogo dove in maniera giocosa e creativa si sensibilizzano le giovani generazioni su temi importanti come quello del rapporto tra uomo e ambiente. I bambini troveranno un allestimento che richiama i colori, le cromie e le sfumature del mare: le tonalità dall'azzurro al blu, i bianchi, le trasparenze.

REMIDA è un progetto dell'Istituzione Nidi e Scuole d'Infanzia del Comune di Reggio Emilia e di Iren Emilia, ideato a Reggio Emilia nel 1996, gestito dalla Fondazione Reggio Children e il Centro Loris Malaguzzi. Intorno a questa esperienza è nata la rete dei REMIDA che oggi si compone di 14 centri nel mondo di cui REMIDA MILANO è parte.

Attività nell'area di libera fruizione del Museo:

Ma non è tutto. Nel giardino del MUBA e in alcune aree interne, Nickelodeon organizza durante tutto l'arco della giornata attività, sempre gratuite, senza obbligo di prenotazione. Si potrà giocare, imparare, divertirsi e scatenarsi con le property di Nickelodeon ma anche scattare una foto con il proprio costume character preferito.

L'ingresso gratuito è su prenotazione fino ad esaurimento dei posti disponibili.
I biglietti saranno a disposizione del pubblico a partire dalle ore 10.00 di martedì 12 novembre 2019.

Per prenotare i biglietti è necessario andare sul sito di ticketing di MUBA e selezionare l'evento ("Natura con Spongebob" o "REMIDA con Spongebob") e l'orario desiderato.

REGISTRATI SUL SITO DEL MUBA

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Worldwide Day of Play is Nickelodeon's pro-social initiative which celebrates kids' love of play, highlighting the importance physical activity, and encourages the whole family to take part in creative and imaginative sports and games in a safe environment.

Worldwide Day of Play was created by Nickelodeon in conjunction with its “Let’s Just Play” campaign, and has since become a worldwide movement which goal is to encourage a healthy lifestyle, balancing watching television and playing video games with taking part in traditional leisure activities, whilst respecting and taking into account everyone's differences.

Originally published: Saturday, October 19, 2019.

Additional sources: Google Translate, DeepL Translator, Google.

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Artifex Scares Up 200 Shots (and 10K Scorpions) for Nick’s ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark’


Vancouver’s Artifex Studios provided over two hundred sophisticated visual effects shots for the reboot of fondly-remembered frightener Are You Afraid of the Dark, which returned for a three episode arc on Nickelodeon in October 2019. The series focuses on the evil character of Mr. Tophat (Rafael Casal) and his Carnival of Doom, as he battles against heroine Rachel (Lyliana Wray) and the iconic Midnight Society, known for telling terrifying tales around the campfire.

Artifex was the sole VFX provider for the limited series, with VFX Supervisor Rob Geddes handling set supervision and even providing test footage shot with a 360 panoramic Ricoh Theta camera that informed new shots that were created for the final show. Artifex utilized a large array of skills from the studio’s toolbox, including matte paint environments, set extensions, magical effects … and literally tens of thousands of CG scorpions.

“This was a tremendously fun project for us, giving us the opportunity to bring a lot to the table both creatively and technically,” Adam Stern, Artifex Studios Founder told Animation Magazine. “Supervisor Rob Geddes and our whole team had their hands full, delivering terrific shots on a tight timeline, but you can see how much fun and passion they put into Are You Afraid of the Dark by the quality of the work.”

The studio’s work can be seen throughout the three-episode arc, beginning with several character reveals. Graham (Jeremy Ray Taylor; IT), who viewers soon learn is a member of the Midnight Society, is introduced when he is narrowly missed by a hurtling CG football, created to avoid any chance of injury to the actors. Additionally, a creepy ticket-taking clown wearing sunglasses who plays a recurring role is shockingly shown to have no eyes under the lenses.

While the series was shot in Vancouver, Canada, the setting is in several rural American towns, which required Artifex to step in with matte painting to augment the physical carnival sets with backgrounds of rolling farmlands. When the members of the Midnight Society travel to their secret hideaway by a rope-pulled boat, Artifex brought the night forest to them to complete the scene.


CG assets were created and leveraged in several scenes. In episode two, "Opening Night", Artifex brought a self-aware pencil to life, which etches a menacing message to Rachel. Later, in a creepy Tunnel of Love, zombified actors were made to look like animatronic automatons by virtue of cleverly created CG metallic chest plates, including virtual LED lighting and wires. To round out the episode, a character goes missing and the ink on the “missing child” posters mysteriously melts away.

The final episode, "Destroy All Tophats" brought the most robust work in the series. One particular sequence involving a police officer in a rest stop bathroom called for CG scorpions emerging from the sinks, ceiling, toilets and every other opening to trap their victim. The scorpions were spawning at a rate of 600 per second, with over 10 thousand scorpions skittering and pinching in the scene by its finish. Artifex created every scorpion seen in the series, save one shot of a physical specimen (which thankfully wasn’t the one that Mr. Tophat consumes in episode one, "Submitted for Approval").

The show concludes with an epic battle, as Rachel faces off with Mr. Tophat — highlighting the “Devil’s cane” from which he draws his power, and for which Artifex added lens flares, distortion and Tesla coils. When the evildoer is vanquished (and with him, his ageless visage) the studio helped age Mr. Tophat 100 years in roughly two seconds, before making him disappear in a cloud of dust.


In total, Artifex provided 217 shots for Are You Afraid of the Dark, using 18 artists. Hardware and software applied during the project included Maya / V-Ray for modelling, animation and rendering; sculpting in Zbrush; tracking in Syntheyes; Houdini for FX simulation work; matte painting in Photoshop; compositing in Nuke; scheduling and production tracking in ftrack and I/O in Resolve.

Founded by industry veteran Adam Stern in 1997, Artifex Studios is a fully staffed creative service studio servicing global TV, film and OTT clientele with best-in-class effects on a streamlined and client-centric timeline. Artifex is based in Vancouver and provides VFX services for North American and international clients like Disney, DreamWorks, AMC, Blumhouse Pictures, History Channel, Nickelodeon, Paramount, FOX, Netflix and others. www.ArtifexStudios.com

What did you think of Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark? limited series? Vote in the poll here!: http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2019/10/what-did-you-think-of-all-new-are-you_29.html

Would you like to see Are You Afraid of the Dark? revived as a full series? Let me know here!: http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2019/10/should-are-you-afraid-of-dark-be.html

More Nick:Nickelodeon USA's November 2019 Premiere Highlights | Thanksgiving!

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Nickelodeon Benelux has acquired the rights to Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny, and will premiere DreamWorks Animation and Amazon Video's laugh-filled CG-animated series, based on the popular Kung Fu Panda franchise on Nickelodeon Netherlands (Nederland) on Monday 25th November 2019 at 16:30 uur. Following launch, new episodes will continue to air weekdays at 16:30 uur on Nick Nederland. It's currently unknown whether the series will also air on Nickelodeon Flanders and Nickelodeon Wallonia.


As the Dragon Master, Po has endured his fair share of epic challenges but nothing could prepare him for his greatest one yet-as a Kung Fu teacher to a group of rambunctious kids from Panda Village who have been imbued with a mysterious and powerful chi energy. Together they embark on amazing adventures, battle ferocious villains, and become legends!

Set after the events of Kung Fu Panda 3, Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny follows Po the panda on a fresh adventure featuring four panda cubs (Nu Hai, Jing, Bao and Fan Tong) who happen upon a mystical cave beneath the Panda Village. The panda kids accidentally absorb the chi of ancient and powerful Kung Fu warriors known as the Four Constellations: Blue Dragon, Black Tortoise, White Tiger, and Red Phoenix — each of which represents the core weakness of its user. They realise they are now destined to save the world from an evil force, landing Po with his biggest challenge yet — teaching this ragtag band of kids how to wield their newfound Kung Fu powers.


From Emmy Award-winning executive producers Mitch Watson (Tak and the Power of Juju, Invader ZIM: Enter the Florpus, Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man, All Hail King Julien), Elliott Owen (All Hail King Julien) and Lane Lueras (The Adventures of Puss in Boots), Paws of Destiny features the voices of Chrissy Metz (This Is Us) as Mei Mei, Mick Wingert (Lucky, Breadwinners, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Kid Danger, Kung Fu Panda) as Po, Haley Tju (Middle School Moguls, The Loud House, Bella and the Bulldogs, The Massively Mixed-Up Middle School Mystery, Rufus) as Nu Hai, Laya DeLeon Hayes (Game Shakers, Santa Hunters, The Thundermans, Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie, Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, Mutt & Stuff, Just Add Magic, Doc McStuffins) as Jing, Gunnar Sizemore (The Casagrandes, Lucky, Ben 10) as Bao, Makana Say (The Loud House, The Casagrandes) as Fan Tong, James Hong (The Thundermans, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kung Fu Panda franchise) as Mr. Ping, Amy Hill (The Legend of Korra, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, The Wild Thornberrys: The Origin of Donnie, American Dad!, Mom, Black-ish, King of the Hill, Max Keeble's Big Move, 50 First Dates) as Grandma Panda, Grey Griffin (Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, The Loud House, El Tigre, Wow Wow Wubbzy, As Told by Ginger, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Mighty B!, Rugrats, The Simpsons) as Xin, and Sumalee Montano (The Loud House, The Casagrandes, Nashville) as Mei Mei.

Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny is the second television series in the Kung Fu Panda franchise following Nickelodeon and DreamWorks'Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.

Currently in its first season, Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny (26 x 23-minute episodes) debuted on Amazon Video on November 16, 2018.

Nickelodeon Benelux has also recently acquired the rights to Amazon Video's Niko and the Sword of Light and Lost in Oz, and Netflix's The Boss Baby: Back in Business.

Original source: Anime Superhero Forum /@Lkoui; Additional sources: Wikipedia, Animation Magazine (II), IMDb,

More Nick:'De Ludwigs' Returns with a Sixth and Final Season on Nickelodeon Benelux!

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Following the success of the Nickelodeon Slime Factory interactive retail activation that has been touring shopping centers across Brazil throughout the year, Nickelodeon Brazil (Brasil) is once again partnering with interactive activations specialist 2a1 Cenografia to launch a brand-new Nickelodeon-themed retail activation for the Christmas holidays!


Each year, shopping malls invest in a variety of innovative attractions to entice the public and win over children. For this reason, Shopping ABC shopping centre in Santo André in ABC Paulista will host the very first "Mundo Nick" ("Nick World") experience!

Designed and developed by 2a1 Cenografia, "Mundo Nick" will feature some of Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.'s most beloved characters, including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants and his BFF Patrick Star, Dora the Explorer, Nella the Princess Knight and her unicorn sidekick Trinket, Rusty Rivets and the Top Wing team.

The Christmas attraction will open at Shopping ABC on Saturday 9th November 2019. Admission to the attraction will be free.

"We created the concept and scenery exclusively from scratch. Mundo Nick is designed to entertain the children and transform Christmas into a special moment, with the characters loved by the children, generating interest in families to stimulate the year-end programming," says said Caio Paulino, diretor de Marketing da 2a1 Cenografia.

"Mundo Nick" will have a giant, interactive and very entertaining attractions. It's impossible to talk about Nickelodeon without talking about slime. And, therefore, "Mundo Nick" will feature the large pipes of the slime factory that represent the Nickelodeon universe very well.

“These are new attractions and we are sure kids will love interacting with Mundo Nick. It will be a different and very special Christmas,” added Paulino.

Mundo Nick Service
When: 09 November
Where: Shopping ABC – Av. Pereira Barreto, 42, Santo André
Hours: 11hrs
Price: Free

Below is the official press release announcing the aweslime news, via EP GRUPO!


24/10/2019


A cada ano os shopping apostam em mais inovação e variedade para atrair o público e conquistar as crianças e os adolescentes. Por essa razão, o Natal do shopping ABC, localizado em Santo André, no ABC Paulista, vai receber o Mundo Nick, com os personagens mais famosos da Nickelodeon, em uma ação inédita e exclusiva idealizada e desenvolvida pela 2a1 Cenografia.

As Tartarugas Ninjas, Nella e sua unicórnio Trinket, Bob Esponja e Patrick, Rusty Rivets, a equipe Top Wing, todas as garotas do Sunny Day e a famosa Dora Aventureira farão parte da atração natalina no Shopping ABC, a partir do dia 9 de novembro.

“Criamos do zero todo o conceito do cenário exclusivamente para este ano. O Mundo Nick foi pensado para entreter as crianças e transformar o Natal em um momento especial, com os personagens preferidos pelas crianças, gerando interesse nas famílias para estimular a programação de fim de ano”, destaca Caio Paulino, diretor de Marketing da empresa.

O local terá atrações gigantes, interativas e muito divertidas. É impossível falar da Nickelodeon sem lembrar do slime. E, por isso, não poderia faltar na cenografia os grandes tubos da fábrica de slime que representam muito bem esse universo. Além disso, as crianças poderão brincar em um gira gira de slime e subir e descer em uma cama de gato super divertida que ficará embaixo de uma árvore gigante.

“São atrações inéditas e estamos certos que as crianças vão adorar interagir no Mundo Nick. Será um Natal diferente e muito especial”, destaca Caio Paulino.

Serviço Mundo Nick
Quando: 09 de novembro
Onde: Shopping ABC – Av. Pereira Barreto, 42, Santo André
Horário: 11hrs
Entrada: Gratuita

Fonte: Bendita Imagem – Carol Silva.

###
From Portal do ABCdoABC:

Shopping ABC apresenta Natal do Mundo Nick

Bob Esponja de 7 metros de altura e meet & greet estão entre os destaques da festa

Os personagens mais queridos da Nickelodeon desembarcam no Shopping ABC junto com o Papai Noel e apresentam o Natal do Mundo Nick.

Bob Esponja e Patrick, Dora Aventureira, As Tartarugas Ninja, Princesa Nella e a sua melhor amiga unicórnio, Trinket, além de Rusty Rivets, a equipe TOP Wing e todas as garotas do Sunny Day são os personagens que saem da telinha e vão direto para a decoração de Natal do empreendimento.

Com cenografia rica em detalhes, o público será surpreendido desde a entrada principal do shopping, onde um Bob Esponja de 7 metros de altura recepciona os visitantes.

Como é impossível falar da Nickelodeon sem lembrar do famoso slime verde, a cenografia traz em diversos ambientes os tubos da fábrica da massa de modelar para representar esse universo. A Praça Principal, no piso térreo, abrigará uma árvore master de 6 metros de altura que remete estar plantada em um gigante tubo da ‘geleca’ onde as crianças poderão se aventurar em uma cama de gato. O espaço interativo contará também com xícaras giratórias, uma área para dança e um painel virtual com atividades para os pequenos.

Topiárias e árvores recheadas com laços, enfeites e elementos dos personagens da Nick também se destacam e trazem vida à magia do Natal.

No Piso 2, um brinquedão de 5 metros com escorregadores que simulam a passagem dos slimes com direito a escalada, promete divertir as crianças de 3 a 12 anos.

O espaço abriga também o trono do Papai Noel que recepcionará os pequenos diariamente das 12h às 20h até o dia 24 de dezembro.

Para que o momento fique ainda mais divertido e inesquecível o Shopping ABC promoverá Meet & Greet com os personagens da Nick nos dias 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 de novembro, 3, 5, 10 e 12 de dezembro das 14h às 19h.

Dora Aventureira e Diego, Bob Esponja e Patrick, Princesa Nella, As Tartarugas Ninja e a turma da Patrulha Canina já confirmaram presença.

Confira a programação:

- 12 de novembro: Dora Aventureira e Diego

- 14 de novembro: Bob Esponja e Patrick

- 19 de novembro: Princesa Nella

- 21 de novembro: As Tartarugas Ninja

- 26 de novembro: Patrulha Canina

- 28 de novembro: Dora Aventureira e Diego

- 03 de dezembro: As Tartarugas Ninja

- 05 de dezembro: Princesa Nella

- 10 de dezembro: Bob Esponja e Patrick

- 12 de dezembro: Patrulha Canina

*Confira regulamento em shoppingabc.com.br

Campanha Promocional

O Shopping ABC inova em sua campanha promocional e comemora a chegada da data mais festiva do ano presenteando um cliente com um apartamento novinho no valor de R$450 mil reais.

A cada R$400 reais em compras no período de 9 de novembro a 5 de janeiro os clientes garantem um cupom para concorrer ao apartamento My Place da Construtora Patriani, de 73 m2 com direito a 2 dormitórios com suíte, 2 vagas na garagem, depósito e localização privilegiada em Santo André, SP. Além disso, no dia 29 de novembro, Black Friday, haverá sorteio de 5 vales-compras no valor de 2 mil reais.

Para aqueles que querem ter ainda mais chances de ganhar, as notas fiscais apresentadas de segunda a quinta-feira e na Black Friday, dia 29, garantem cupom em dobro para o sorteio. O Balcão de trocas, localizado no Piso 2, funcionará de segunda a sexta das 10h às 22h e nos domingos e feriados das 12h às 20h.

O sorteio será realizado ao vivo pelas redes sociais do shopping no dia 6 de janeiro às 15h. Confira o regulamento completo no site: www.shoppingabc.com.br


###

From shoppingabc.com.br:

CHEGADA DO PAPAI NOEL E MEET & GREET


A MAGIA DO NATAL CHEGA AO SHOPPING ABC TRAZENDO OS PERSONAGENS MAIS QUERIDOS DA TELINHA DA NICKELODEON.

NO DIA 9 DE NOVEMBRO, ÀS 11H, BOB ESPONJA, PATRICK, DORA AVENTUREIRA, AS TARTARUGAS NINJA E PRINCESA NELLA CONVIDAM O PÚBLICO PARA A CHEGADA DO PAPAI NOEL COM MUITA DIVERSÃO.

O HO HO HO DO BOM VELHINHO ACONTECE NO PALCO LOCALIZADO NO VALLET (PISO LOFT), ONDE O PÚBLICO PODERÁ CONFERIR UMA PROGRAMAÇÃO RECHEADA COM APRESENTAÇÕES DE NATAL COM DIREITO A PIPOCA, ALGODÃO DOCE, CARRINHOS GOURMET E MUITO MAIS.

APÓS O EVENTO, O NATAL CONTINUA POR TODOS OS AMBIENTES DO SHOPPING, ONDE SERÁ POSSÍVEL CONFERIR UM CENÁRIO EXCLUSIVO E ENCANTADOR QUE PROMETE ÓTIMOS CLIQUES E SELFIES PARA ETERNIZAR O MOMENTO.

O GRANDE DESTAQUE COMEÇA DESDE A ENTRADA PRINCIPAL DO SHOPPING, ONDE UM BOB ESPONJA DE 7 METROS DE ALTURA RECEPCIONA OS VISITANTES. NA PRAÇA PRINCIPAL É POSSÍVEL FAZER UMA VERDADEIRA IMERSÃO NO MUNDO NICK QUE MOSTRA UMA DECORAÇÃO RICA EM DETALHES COM ATIVIDADES INTERATIVAS PARA AS CRIANÇAS COM DIREITO A CAMA DE GATO, XÍCARA GIRATÓRIA E PAINEL INTERATIVO. OS PERSONAGENS RUSTY RIVETS, A EQUIPE TOP WING, E TODAS AS GAROTAS DO SUNNY DAY TAMBÉM FAZEM PARTE DA CENOGRAFIA. BRINQUEDÃO E OUTRAS ESTAÇÕES COM DECORAÇÃO E PRESENTES QUE REMETEM O TEMA TAMBÉM SE DESTACAM PELOS CORREDORES DO SHOPPING ABC.

NO DIA DA CHEGADA DO NOEL, A PARTIR DAS 14H, AS CRIANÇAS PODERÃO PARTICIPAR AINDA DE UM MEET & GREET COM BOB ESPONJA, PATRICK, AS TARTARUGAS NINJA, DORA AVENTUREIRA E PRINCESA NELLA. OS ENCONTROS COM ESSES E OUTROS PERSONAGENS DA NICK ACONTECERÃO TAMBÉM NOS DIAS 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 DE NOVEMBRO, 3, 5, 10 E 12 DE DEZEMBRO.

“REGULAMENTO “MEET&GREET NATAL MUNDO NICK”

ENCONTRO COM OS PERSONAGENS

LOCAL: PISO 2, EM FRENTE AO CLUBE ABC GOURMET

NOVEMBRO

12/11 - DORA E DIEGO
14/11 - BOB E PATRICK
19/11 - NELLA
21/11 - TARTARUGAS NINJA
26/11 - PATRULHA CANINA
28/11 - DORA E DIEGO

DEZEMBRO

03/12 - TARTARUGAS NINJA
05/12 - NELLA
10/12 - BOB E PATRICK
12/12 - PATRULHA CANINA

ENTRADAS:
• 14H ÀS 14H30
• 15H ÀS 15H30
• 16H ÀS 16H30
• 17H ÀS 17H30
• 18H ÀS 18H30
• 19H ÀS 19H30

1) RETIRE SEU CUPOM PELO APLICATIVO “SHOPPING ABC”, DISPONIVEL PELAS PLATAFORMAS ANDROID E IOS;
2) DENTRO DA ABA “CUPONS” RESGATE O SEU DE ACORDO COM A DATA E PERSONAGEM QUE VOCÊ QUER PARTICIPAR;
3) O RESGATE É LIMITADO A 4 CUPONS POR CPF;
4) APÓS RESGATAR SEU CUPOM, VÁ ATÉ O SAC LOCALIZADO NO PISO LOFT, APRESENTE SEU QR CODE E RETIRE SUA PULSEIRA;
5) LIMITADO A 60 PULSEIRAS POR ENTRADA;

###

Originally published: Thursday, October 24, 2019.

Additional sources: Google Translate, DeepL Translator, TripAdvisor, Wikipedia, Google; H/T: ABCdoABC.

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Christmas on Nickelodeon Brazil News and Highlights!

Originally published: Friday, October 25, 2019




East Rutherford, New Jersey, Oct. 25, 2019 -- Today marks the official opening of American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Nickelodeon Universe, the largest indoor theme park in the Western Hemisphere, and The Rink – an NHL-size ice skating and hockey facility, opened to guests, marking the first chapter in the revolutionary destination’s opening.

Don Ghermezian, CEO of American Dream and President of Triple Five, and Ken Downing, Chief Creative Officer of Triple Five greeted guests as they descended the stairs into Nickelodeon Universe. They were joined by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. The crowd of over 2500 was entertained by a host of Nickelodeon characters including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Dora the Explorer and the Clifton Mustang Marching Band surprised and delighted guests in a parade through the park led by SpongeBob Square Pants.

Inside, guests enjoyed 35+ rides, rollercoasters and attractions. Between the shrieks of guests plunging down the world’s steepest roller coaster, the Shellraiser, and the nervous laughter of children meeting their Nickelodeon BFFs for the first time, the park was full of excitement and joy.

Nickelodeon Universe tickets are sold out through opening weekend. Special preview tickets are available at www.americandream.com from October 28 – November 7, 2019. Ticket prices are $39.99 for General Access and $49.99 for All Access. Children 2 and under enter the park for free.

Steps away from Nickelodeon Universe, guests enjoyed indoor ice skating at The Rink – one of the few NHL-size skating and hockey rinks in the region. Adjacent to The Rink, is a window into DreamWorks Water Park, allowing guests a sneak peek at the progress of the second chapter of American Dream’s opening.

In addition to Nickelodeon Universe and The Rink, there is an interactive Fall Festival happening throughout the property, bringing together some of the region’s most unique and exciting seasonal offerings, including a hay maze, pumpkin patch and more autumn fun. The Fall Festival will run through November 3 and is open to the public.

For more information about ticket pricing and hours, please visit www.americandream.com

Complete list of Nickelodeon Universe rides and attractions:

• Aang’s Air Gliders - Hold on tight as you soar and spin like an Airbender! After your flight you can snap a photo with Appa, Aang’s sky bison.
• Blaze’s Monster Truck Rally - Rev up and roll out with Blaze and his friends for an epic race in the Monster Dome.
• Blue’s Skidoo - Blue Skidoo, you can too! Make Blue and Magenta soar up, down, and all around! Then, sit down in the Thinking Chair to think… think… think with a little help from your good friend Blue.
• Dora’s Sky Railway - ¡Todos a bordo! Join Dora for a trip aboard her little blue train friend, Azul. First, a hot air balloon floats you up to the rail station in the clouds. Then you’ll board Azul for a sky-high journey featuring scenic views of the park from the elevated tracks.
• Timmy’s Half Pipe Havoc - Take a not-so-ordinary spin on the halfpipe with Timmy, Cosmo and Wanda. This giant skateboard ride provides the ultimate in airtime!
• Fairly OddAirways - When Timmy wishes to become a pilot, you get to go along for the ride! With the wave of a wand, you’re ready for takeoff. This thrilling flight through the clouds is a wish come true for the whole family.
• Invader Zim’s Flip & Spin... OF DOOM! - You’ve been recruited to battle aboard planet Irk’s latest militarized spacecraft. Aid in Zim’s invasion as you flip, spin, and bump into unsuspecting humans.
• Jimmy Neutron’s Atom Smasher - Jimmy Neutron needs your help to supercharge his latest invention. You control the level of thrill from gentle cruise to a topsy-turvy tumble … all in the name of science!
• Legends of the Hidden Temple Challenge - Olmec challenges all to scale to breathtaking heights in the world’s tallest adventure ropes course. How high will you climb to reach the Shrine of the Silver Monkey? The choices are yours and yours alone!
• Nickelodeon Skyline Scream - The spectacular Skyline Scream is the world’s tallest indoor spinning drop tower. It’s a scenic, scream-filled thrill ride with mesmerizing views of Nickelodeon Universe and the dazzling cityscape of Manhattan!
• Nickelodeon Slime Streak - As this coaster streaks along a twisting, turning track through Nickelodeon Universe, it leaves nothing but a Slime streak of screams in its wake.
• PAW Patrol Adventure Bay - Get on a roll with the PAW Patrol! The slides, climb structures and rescue-play activities in Adventure Bay are specially designed for the younger pups.
• Pup Pup & Away - Join Marshall and the gang on a PAWsome Ferris wheel that’s an adventure for the whole family.
• Ren & Stimpy’s Space Madness - Join Commander Hoëk and Cadet Stimpy on a 36-year mission to the Crab Nebula. Strap in, hold on and prepare for launch… but try to avoid the dreaded SPACE MADNESS!
• Rugrats Reptar Go-Round - Hop on Reptar’s back or take a spin in a giant sippy cup on this double-decker, all-ages merry-go-round.
• Shimmer & Shine Jumping Genies - Climb onto your very own magic carpet as you take a genie-rific ride through the skies of Zahramay Falls.
• SpongeBob’s Jellyfish Jam - Whirl and swirl through Jellyfish Fields in this thrilling family swing ride.
• Bikini Bottom Crosstown Express - Board the Crosstown Express Bus to go spinning and reeling through the streets of Bikini Bottom.
• Sandy’s Blasting Bronco - Yeehaw! Sandy, our favorite Texan squirrel, and mechanic Patrick have built an out-of-control coaster contraption. Saddle up as it blasts you forward, backwards, up, down and even upside-down!
• The Shellraiser (world’s steepest roller coaster) - Help the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles battle the villainous Shredder. First snap a pic with the Turtles in the Shellraiser, then prepare to LAUNCH onto the streets of New York City. This coaster holds the record for the world’s steepest drop. Booyakasha!
• Kraang Prime Pandemonium! - Kraang Prime has the innocent citizens of New York in her clutches. Can you endure swinging back and forth in her giant, slimy tentacles?
• The Shredder (world’s tallest and longest spinning coaster) - Join the Foot Clan as Shredder leads a massive attack against the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You’ll hang on for dear life aboard the world’s tallest and longest free-spinning coaster traversing hairpin turns, plummeting spirals and speeding spins.

Be on the lookout for future announcements around American Dream’s next chapters during the holiday season and into Spring 2020:

• November 27, 2019 – Make a Splash: DreamWorks Water Park Opens
• December 5, 2019 – Every Day is a Snow Day: Big SNOW American Dream Opens
• March 2020 – In Grand Style: Over 450+ retail, food, and entertainment offerings join the property

Update - 10/28: Although it's just opened, it seems that the cost of tickets to access the park will be increasing soon.

The current rate (for five hours access to the park) is a special preview admission price that was originally supposed to end November 7, but according to American Dream’s website it will last until November 15. Then, the price you will pay will get you into the park for the full day.

The price for All Access — recommended for individuals over 48 inches who want to ride the most thrilling rides — will be $79.99. General access for individuals under 48 inches or who will skip the most thrilling rides will be $59.99.

That’s a $30 jump from the current rates of $49.99 for All Access and $39.99 for General Access. But the admissions now are sold for specific blocks of time, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The prices don't include parking charges.

Admission for Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream is now available to purchase online at americandream.com through December 30.

Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream also had its first celebrity guest: Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill posted videos of himself taking in the mall for the first time to his Instagram story Sunday. It’s fitting considering Meek Mill’s best known projects incorporate the word “dream” in some way (Dreams And Nightmares, Dreamchasers and Dreams Worth More Than Money).

In some of the video clips, which usually expire after 24 hours, the “Going Bad" rapper shows off some of the new rides at the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park.

It looks like he even got a tour of the indoor ski park — which isn’t open to the public yet.

When asked by someone off-camera what he thinks of American Dream, Meek Mill responds: “It’s a dream. It’s fire.”

A blogger named OooLala Blog posted Meek Mill’s Instagram story on YouTube.


Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream Opening Day Photo Gallery:











































ABOUT AMERICAN DREAM

American Dream, developed by Triple Five Group, will provide customers with an entirely unique experience. The property offers a curated mix of unparalleled entertainment, retail and dining options - all in one location. For more information, visit www.americandream.com or follow us on Instagram @americandream.

@americandream #wearetheamericandream

Update (11/5) - From nj.com:

Prices are going up at the new Nickelodeon Universe, but there’s some good news

Prices at Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream are scheduled to increase next week, jumping $20 to $30 to $79.99 and $59.99 at its peak for a day’s worth of fun with Sponge Bob and the Ninja Turtles.

We actually reported this last week. But we just learned something else. And it’s good news!

Hidden in the Help Center on American Dream’s website is an article about Nickelodeon Universe pricing and it says the park will have different weekday and weekend rates.

Rejoice, bargain hunters. According to American Dream’s website the rates will be:

WEEKDAYS:

All Access: $59.99 - recommended for those 48”+ who want to ride everything

General Access: $49.99 - recommended for individuals under 48” who don’t want access to the biggest rides

Free Access: Children 2 years and younger

WEEKENDS:

All Access: $79.99

General Access: $59.99

Free Access: Children 2 years and younger

NJ Advance Media reached out to a spokesperson for American Dream who confirmed these rates.

The weekend/weekday rates start Friday, November 15. And weekend rates run Friday through Sunday, according to the Nickelodeon Universe ticket calendar on American Dream’s website.

Until next Friday, special preview pricing is still in effect. Every day of the week All Access tickets are $49.99 and General Access tickets are $39.99 and they’re good for the whole day.

Nickelodeon Universe is currently open Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.; and Sunday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Now the question is, when will all 22 rides at the park finally be open?

The Shredder -- the world’s tallest and longest free-spinning roller coaster -- and SpongeBob’s Jellyfish Jam, a family-friendly swing ride, opened last weekend.

“All but one of our rides will be operating this weekend and we anticipate the remaining ride to be fully operational very soon,” said Dana McHugh, public relations director for American Dream.

Five rides were closed Tuesday, according to the park alerts section on the Nickelodeon Universe webpage. They are Sandy’s Blasting Bronco, Timmy’s Halfpipe Havoc, Skyline Scream, The Shellraiser and Invader Zim Flip-And-Spin.

Sandy’s Blasting Bronco, Timmy’s Halfpipe Havoc and Skyline Scream have not been working since the park opened Oct. 25.

Two of the park’s three record-setting rides remain closed. They are, Skyline Scream the world’s tallest indoor spinning drop tower, offering views of Manhattan; and the Shellraiser, which holds the record as the steepest plunge on a rollercoaster in the world. It pauses for 20 seconds at the top of a 122-foot drop, giving riders a glimpse across the Hudson River. (Governor Murphy rode this one on opening day).

Nickelodeon Universe is the largest indoor amusement park in the country. It was designed to be one-third for little kids, one-third for families and one-third for teens and adults.

###

From InterGame: iGaming, Casino & Coin-Op News:

RCI hits the heights at Nickelodeon Universe


The “world’s tallest” aerial attraction, manufactured by RCI Adventure Products, is being enjoyed by guests at American Dream.

October saw the long-awaited opening of the first phase of the huge entertainment complex at the mega-mall in New Jersey, US, and as part of this initial unveiling, the Nickelodeon Universe indoor theme park opened its doors.

Inside is RCI’s 92ft tall Sky Trail installation, a project years in the making and involving collaboration between RCI, its licensed distributor Ride Entertainment and the developer of American Dream, Triple Five Group.

Creatively paying homage to the kid-centric world built around it, the custom six-pole, five-level Sky Trail Explorer and an integrated four-pole, three-level Sky Trail Seeker has a look centred around the 90s television game show that aired on Nickelodeon, Legends of the Hidden Temple.

“Like the classic show, adventurers suit up to climb through history and explore ancient mysteries,” said Adam Sandy, president of business development for Ride Entertainment. “As the tallest aerial attraction in the world, it makes a statement with its impressive collection of different elements.”

RCI explained that the attraction is unique in its design in that the lower portion is for explorers who are between 36-64ins tall to climb alone, while the upper section is for those 48ins and above to search without the need for parental supervision. Up to 90 participants at a time can traverse more than 50 interactive elements at their own pace and even when they reach the summit, there’s more fun to be had.

“Once at the top, participants are then able to free-fall down with a controlled descent or touch the treasure on a precarious platform,” added Sandy.

“To finally see the Sky Trail be fully realised and open to the public is highly rewarding and signifies a job well done by everyone involved,” said Jon Weston, chief sales officer for RCI. “We couldn’t be happier with how it has turned out.”

###

From blooloop:

RCI Adventure Products provides 92 ft. tall Sky Trail for Nickelodeon Universe


RCI Adventure Products, a leading adventure attractions company, has provided a 92 ft. tall Sky Trail for the newly opened Nickelodeon Universe indoor theme park at the American Dream mall.

RCI Adventure Products is pleased to announce that the eagerly-awaited Nickelodeon Universe indoor theme park at American Dream features a huge new Sky Trail installation. The project involved collaboration between RCI Adventure Products and long-term partner Ride Entertainment, as well as American Dream developer Triple Five Group.

Designed to fit seamlessly with the kid-centric theme of the new theme park, this custom installation features a six-pole, five-level Sky Trail Explorer, and an integrated four-pole, three-level Sky Trail Seeker. The theme is the cult classic TV show Legends of the Hidden Temple which aired on Nickelodeon in the 90s.


Tallest aerial attraction in the world

“Like the classic show, adventurers suit up to climb through history and explore ancient mysteries. As the tallest aerial attraction in the world it makes a statement with its impressive collection of different elements,” says Adam Sandy, president of business development for RIDE Entertainment.

This unique attraction is designed to cater for guests of differing ages and abilities. The lower level is perfect for players between 36 and 64 inches tall to climb alone. Then, the upper levels allow those who are 48 inches tall and above to explore without parental supervision.

RCI Adventure Products

There are over 50 interactive elements inside the attraction, and it can be enjoyed by up to 90 participants. When they reach the top, players can find the treasure located on a precarious platform, before free-falling down with a controlled descent.

Long-term collaborators

“It is only fitting that American Dream opens one decade after Entertainment and RCI Adventure Products team up for their first project,” says Sandy. “In 2009, we opened a Sky Trail in the Mall of America, another Triple Five property. Ten years later, we are so excited that the world’s tallest adventure course has opened at American Dream. From the jaw-dropping height to the ability to freefall down to the ground to the beautiful views of the New York skyline, this course has it all.”

“To finally see the Sky Trail be fully realized and open to the public is highly rewarding and signifies a job well done by everyone involved,” says Jon Weston, chief sales officer for RCI. “We couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.”

Ride Entertainment also installed two new coasters at Nickelodeon Universe, Shellraiser and Shredder. The recently rebranded RCI Adventure Products will unveil its new brand identity as well as new products at IAAPA Expo 2019.

###

From https://rciadventure.com:

Sky Trail® Now Open For Guests Inside American Dream Nickelodeon Universe
Nov 06
2019
The 92 ft. tall Sky Trail® inside of the Nickelodeon Universe indoor theme park, a part of the larger American Dream mall and entertainment complex, at last opened to the public on October 25, 2019. The project itself was years in the making and involved
collaboration between RCI Adventure Products, RCI licensed distributor RIDE Entertainment and developer of American Dream, Triple Five Group.

Creatively paying homage to the kid-centric world built around it, the custom 6 pole, 5 level Sky Trail® Explorer and an integrated 4 pole, 3 level Sky Trail® Seeker has a look centered around the beloved 90s television game show aired on Nickelodeon, Legends of the Hidden Temple.

“Like the classic show, adventurers suit up to climb through history and explore ancient mysteries. As the tallest aerial attraction in the world it makes a statement with its impressive collection of different elements,” says Adam Sandy, president of business development for RIDE Entertainment.

The attraction is unique in its design in that the lower portion is for explorers who are between 36-64 inches tall to climb alone while the upper section is for those 48 inches and above to search without the need for parental supervision. Up to 90 participants at a time can traverse more than 50 interactive elements at their own pace and the fun continues even when they’ve reached the summit.

“Once at the top participants are then able to free-fall down with a controlled descent or touch the treasure on a precarious platform,” adds Sandy.

“To finally see the Sky Trail® be fully realized and open to the public is highly rewarding and signifies a job well done by everyone involved,” commented Jon Weston, chief sales officer for RCI. “We couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.”

Published on Blooloop on November 12, 2019.

Photos of the Sky Trail® can be seen on the RCI Flickr page!

###

More Nick:Nickelodeon Embarks on New Direction with its Biggest, Most Wide-Ranging Content Slate Ever | Nick Upfront 2019!

Original source: American Dream press release via Globe Newswire.

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Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Universe News and Highlights!

Click the following link for news and information about Nickelodeon's The SpongeBob Musical: Live On Stage! TV special!: http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-spongebob-musical-live-on-stage-to.html



Full casting has been announced for the upcoming North American Tour of Nickelodeon's The SpongeBob Musical.

This explosively imaginative production will launch at Proctors in Schenectady, New York this September before bringing Bikini Bottom and its beloved residents to previously announced engagements in Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto and more.

The production will feature will star Lorenzo Pugliese as SpongeBob SquarePants, Daria Pilar Redus as Sandy Cheeks, Beau Bradshaw as Patrick Star, Christopher Cody Cooley as Squidward Q. Tentacles, Zach Kononov as Mr. Krabs, and Tristan McIntyre as Plankton.

The ensemble includes Morgan Blanchard, John Cardenas, Natalie L. Chapman, Richie Dupkin, Stephen C. Kallas, Helen Regula, Méami Maszewski, Stefan Miller, Joshua Bess, Mary Nickson, Dorian O'Brien, Caitlin Ort, Elle-May Patterson, Sydney Simone, Ayana Strutz, Teddy Gales, Miles Davis Tillman, and Rico Velazquez.

More Nick:'The SpongeBob Musical: Live On Stage!' to Debut on Nickelodeon in December 2019!

SPONGEBOB MUSICAL 2019-2020 Tour Cities:

SCHENECTADY, NY
09/22/19-09/28/19
PROCTORS

HARTFORD, CT
10/01/19-10/06/19
The Bushnell

MADISON, WI
10/08/19-10/13/19
Overture Center

BOSTON, MA
10/15/19-10/27/19
Boch Center

PEORIA, IL
10/29/19-10/30/19
Peoria Civic Center

HUNTSVILLE, AL
11/01/19-11/03/19
Von Braun Center Concert Hall

NASHVILLE, TN
11/05/19-11/10/19
Andrew Jackson Hall

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
11/12/19-11/17/19
Civic Center Music Hall

DAYTON, OH
11/19/19-11/24/19
Schuster Center

BROOKVILLE, NY
11/26/19-11/27/19
Tilles Center

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ
11/29/19-12/01/19
State Theatre

PHILADELPHIA, PA
12/03/19-12/15/19
Forrest Theatre

TORONTO, ON
12/17/19-12/22/19
Meridian Hall

WILMINGTON, NC
01/13/20-01/14/20
Wilson Center

PADUCAH, KY
01/20/20-01/20/20
Carson Center

CONWAY, AR
01/21/20-01/21/20
Reynolds Performance Hall

LONGVIEW, TX
01/23/20-01/23/20
Belcher Performance Center

SAN ANTONIO, TX
01/24/20-01/26/20
Majestic Theatre

MIDLAND, TX
01/27/20-01/27/20
Wagner Noel PAC

PHOENIX, AZ
01/31/20-02/02/20
Orpheum Theatre

LAS VEGAS, NV
02/04/20-02/09/20
The Smith Center Reynolds Hall

SAN FRANCISCO, CA
02/12/20-02/16/20
Golden Gate Theatre

TACOMA, WA
03/05/20-03/05/20
Pantages Theatre

EUGENE, OR
03/06/20-03/07/20
Hult Center

DENVER, CO
03/10/20-03/22/20
Buell Theatre

LOS ANGELES, CA
03/24/20-04/12/20
Dolby Theatre

WICHITA, KS
04/28/20-04/30/20
Century II Concert Hall

CLEVELAND, MS
05/04/20-05/04/20
Bologna Performing Arts Center

COLUMBUS, GA
05/06/20-05/07/20
River Center For The Performing Arts

ORANGE PARK, FL
05/09/20-05/10/20
Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts

PROVIDENCE, RI
05/12/20-05/17/20
Providence PAC

CHARLOTTE, NC
06/16/20-06/21/20
Belk Theatre

HOUSTON, TX
06/23/20-06/28/20
Jones Hall

DALLAS, TX
07/07/20 - 07/12/20
Winspear Opera House

TAMPA, FL
07/21/20-07/26/20
Straz Center for the PA

For ticket information and additional dates, visit www.TheSpongeBobMusical.com.

Broadway's best creative minds reimagine and bring to life the beloved Nickelodeon series with humor, heart and pure theatricality in a neon-sparkly "party for the eyes and ears" (Daily Beast). Be there when SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face catastrophe-until a most unexpected hero rises to take center stage. This "creative explosion" (Broadway.com) is "nothing short of genius" says TheaterMania, so bring the entire family to celebrate friendship and cooperation, and learn the power of unity and inclusion.

The SpongeBob Musical explodes with energy and features an original pop and rock-infused score by a legendary roster of Grammy Award®-winning songwriters. Led and conceived by visionary director Tina Landau (2018 Tony Award nominee) and a Tony Award®-winning design team, the production brings the spirit of SpongeBob to life with humanity, heart, and pure theatricality. The SpongeBob Musical features a book by Kyle Jarrow, orchestrations and arrangements by Tom Kitt, musical supervision by Julie McBride & Tim Hanson, and choreography by Christopher Gattelli. The design team includes scenic and costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Kevin Adams, projection design by Peter Nigrini, sound design by Walter Trarbach, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, make-up design by Joe Dulude II, foley design by Mike Dobson, and casting by Stewart/Whitley.

The SpongeBob Musical is a one-of-a-kind musical event with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper & Rob Hyman, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T's, They Might Be Giants, T.I., Domani & Lil'C and songs by David Bowie & Brian Eno, and by Tom Kenny & Andy Paley. Additional lyrics by Jonathan Coulton. Additional music by Tom Kitt.

The Original Cast Recording is available now from Masterworks Broadway wherever music is sold and streamed.

Explore the depths of theatrical innovation in The SpongeBob Musical, 2018 Best Musical winner of the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, where the power of optimism really can save the world.

Original post:



The complete cast is set for the upcoming national tour of Nickelodeon's Tony Award-winning The SpongeBob Musical, which will launch in September in Schenectady, New York!

The non-Equity touring production will star Lorenzo Pugliese as SpongeBob SquarePants, Beau Bradshaw as Patrick Star, and Daria Pilar Redus as Sandy Cheeks, with Christopher Cody Cooley as Squidward Q. Tentacles, Zach Kononov as Mr. Krabs, and Tristan McIntyre as Sheldon Plankton.

Rounding out the company are Joshua Bess, Morgan Blanchard, John Cardenas, Natalie L. Chapman, Richie Dupkin, Teddy Gales, Stephen C. Kallas, Méami Maszewski, Stefan Miller, Mary Nickson, Dorian O'Brien, Caitlin Ort, Elle-May Patterson, Helen Regula, Sydney Simone, Ayana Strutz, Miles Davis Tillman, and Rico Velazquez.

Additional tour stops include engagements in Boston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Toronto, Houston, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, and San Antonio.

Inspired by Nickelodeon's hit animated series of the same name, SpongeBob SquarePantsis a one-of-a-kind musical event that explodes with energy and features an original pop and rock-infused score by a legendary roster of Grammy® Award-winning songwriters. Led and conceived by visionary director Tina Landau (2018 Tony Award nominee) and a Tony Award®-winning design team, the production brings the spirit of SpongeBob to life with humanity, heart, and pure theatricality.

The stakes are higher than ever as SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world. Chaos erupts. Lives hang in the balance. And just when all hope seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage.

The musical features a book by Kyle Jarrow and a score from orchestrator Tom Kitt and a variety of pop artists: Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I., Domani and Lil’C, and songs by David Bowie and Brian Eno, and by Tom Kenny and Andy Paley. Additional lyrics by Jonathan Coulton. Additional music by Tom Kitt.

Get ready to dive to all-new depths of theatrical innovation at SpongeBob SquarePants, where the power of optimism really can save the world!

Following a Chicago tryout during summer 2016, the musical opened on Broadway in December 2017 (under the title SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical) at the Palace Theatre, where it ran through September 16, 2018.

The Broadway cast for SpongeBob SquarePants included Tony Award Nominee Ethan Slater as SpongeBob SquarePants, Tony Award Nominee Gavin Lee as Squidward Q. Tentacles, Lilli Cooper and Christina Sajous as Sandy Cheeks, Brian Ray Norris as Eugene Krabs, Danny Skinner as Patrick Star and Wesley Taylor as Sheldon Plankton.

The ensemble included Brandon Espinoza, Alex Gibson, Gaelen Gilliland, Juliane Godfrey, Jordan Grubb, Kyle Matthew Hamilton, Curtis Holbrook, Jesse JP Johnson, L'ogan J'ones, Jai'len Christine Li Josey, Kelvin Moon Loh, Lauralyn Mcclelland, Vasthy Mompoint, Oneika Phillips, Catherine Ricafort, JC Schuster, Allysa Shorte, Abby C. Smith, Robert Taylor Jr., Allan K. Washington, Brynn Williams, Matt Wood and Tom Kenny as the French Narrator.

The critically acclaimed SpongeBob SquarePants musical was named Best Musical by the Drama Desk Awards and Outer Critics Circle and earned 12 Tony Award nominations - the most nominated musical of the 2017-2018 theatre season - including nods for Best Musical, director Tina Landau, book writer Kyle Jarrow, title player Ethan Slater (in his Broadway debut), and the all-star roster of songwriters (including Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper, and John Legend) who contributed to the score. The production earned 12 Tony Award nominations including best musical, equaling Mean Girls for the most of any show this season, and while The Band's Visit swept the honors, SpongeBob did score a deserved win for Best Scenic Design of a Musical for David Zinn's scenic design. The show’s director, Tina Landau, earned a Tony Award nomination for her inventive and unconventional approach to the material that humanized the characters than creating literal representations of the familiar Nickelodeon cartoon.

Visit TheSpongeBobMusical.com for the full tour itinerary.

SpongeBob SquarePants - The New Musical Original Cast Recording is available to purchase today at https://spongebobmusical.lnk.to/SpongebobMusicalRecording.

SpongeBob SquarePants is produced by Nickelodeon with The Araca Group, Sony Music Masterworks and Kelp on the Road.

From The Boston Globe:

This touring musical promises to reel in Boston’s ‘SpongeBob’ superfans


Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? SpongeBob SquarePants. Except right now, he’s away from Bikini Bottom on tour with “The SpongeBob Musical,” the Tony-nominated adaptation of Nickelodeon’s beloved animated series. After a Broadway run, the zany production will play the Boch Center Wang Theatre from Oct. 15 to Oct. 27 as part of its North American tour.

Most people know SpongeBob from his animated misadventures, packaged into two 11-minute segments per episode. Often, the burger-flipping sponge finds himself in simple situations that escalate to the absurd. For instance: An episode from 2002 finds SpongeBob and his best friend, starfish Patrick Star, going door-to-door selling candy bars. SpongeBob tries to pick a tantalizing loose thread off the shirt of his snobby co-worker and neighbor, Squidward. Things unravel from there.

Instead of ramping things up one step at a time, “The SpongeBob Musical” begins with an explosive revelation. Residents of Bikini Bottom learn that a nearby volcano, Mount Humongous, is set to destroy the entire town in 24 hours. As Squidward (Christopher Cody Cooley), Patrick (Beau Bradshaw), Sandy the squirrel (Daria Pilar Redus), money-grubbing Mr. Krabs (Zach Kononov), and his rival Plankton (Tristan McIntyre) reckon with impending doom, it’s up to one optimistic sponge to save the ecosystem he calls home.

Translating 11-minute-long, action-packed episodes into more than two hours of musical theater proved challenging, director Tina Landau said in a phone interview. The New York City theater artist started developing the show in 2007 and has been working with it ever since.

“The show was not conceived as a musical,” Landau said. “It’s more like a performance art event, and a party, and a carnival, and a rock concert.” A star-studded lineup of musicians contributed to the show’s soundtrack, which includes songs by David Bowie and Brian Eno, Panic! at the Disco, They Might Be Giants, Sara Bareilles, and John Legend, to name a few.

Characters wear clothing that suggests their animated counterparts’ but doesn’t try to replicate it. Squidward wears pants with extra-green legs. SpongeBob wears his iconic suspenders. “But the intention was never to put him in a large, square, foam kind of theme-park costume,” Landau said.

In the animated series, SpongeBob plays his nose like a flute and contorts his malleable body into improbable shapes. In the musical, SpongeBob’s human actor jumps around excitedly and pulls his pet snail Gary behind him on wheels. “We have not shied away from the fact that SpongeBob stretches and contorts,” Landau said. “We have just found really theatrical ways to express that.”

SpongeBob’s first episode ran in 1999, inspiring legions of millennial superfans who grew up watching the show. SpongeBob memes continue to circulate on social media. Fans even petitioned to get the iconic SpongeBob rock song “Sweet Victory” (from the 2001 episode “Band Geeks”) performed at the 2019 Super Bowl. They wanted to honor show creator Stephen Hillenburg, who died last fall.

This production taps into that deep vein of SpongeBob fandom. “We have found that our biggest group of fans are definitely in their 20s and 30s,” Landau said.

Like so many of his peers, Lorenzo Pugliese grew up watching SpongeBob’s antics. The actor, who plays SpongeBob in the touring production, graduated from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia this spring.

“Actually, I don’t even know if I told Tina this,” Pugliese said over the phone, laughing. “But when I was a kid, in the morning, I would wake up, open up the windows and yell, ‘Good morning world, and all who inhabit it!’ ” It’s a quote from a classic SpongeBob scene. And now, Pugliese gets to yell it at the top of every performance.

Bonus: Boston theatergoers can celebrate SpongeBob with an extra treat. J.P. Licks, the ice cream chain founded in Jamaica Plain, will offer a sea salted pineapple ice cream flavor for a limited time as a joint promotional effort. Sounds like it would pair nicely with a Krabby Patty.

The SpongeBob Musical

At Boch Center Wang Theatre, Oct. 15-27. Tickets from $25, www.bochcenter.org.

###

From Beloit Daily News:

OVERTURE CENTER WELCOMES 'SPONGEBOB'

MADISON - He may live in a pineapple under the sea, but SpongeBob will soon be visiting a Stateline Area stage.

The beloved children's cartoon character is being brought to life in "The SpongeBob Musical" Oct. 8-13 at the Overture Center.

"The show has all the things that we know and love from the cartoon, but it has a much more realistic storyline," said actor Cody Cooley.

Cooley, a native of Sykesville, Maryland, is portraying the disgruntled Squidward Q. Tentacles in the brand new traveling Broadway production.

"Squidward is the everyman, just going about his day job and trying to get through it," Cooley said. "He really just wants to be at home playing his clarinet."

Although SpongeBob Squarepants has had many memorable episodes from its years on Nickelodeon, those who attend the show will see something completely new.

The storyline, not based on any previous plots, is that beautiful Bikini Bottom is about to be destroyed by a natural disaster. All the characters must come together to save the day.

"All the characters in the show look at the problem in their own unique way, and the story is all about how a community can be brought together and work together," Cooley said.

Viewers can expect to see the story played out with a fun and colorful set, Broadway numbers and lots of dancing, including a 7-to-8 minute tap routine by Cooley.

There won't be any foam-costumed actors on stage, Cooley added. The show's directors have worked very hard to embrace the human connection the story makes.

"When I saw this show on Broadway, I thought it was so refreshing that you expected it to be like what you'd see in a theme park, but it's not at all," Cooley said.

Families are sure to enjoy the show's production quality, songs, and seeing a brand new cast that is excited to perform for a live audience. Madison will be the third stop on the tour.

"This show has such great heart and such a good message," Cooley said. "The kids will really love seeing SpongeBob on stage and the adults will love the humor...it's all really fun."

Tickets for "The SpongeBob Musical" start at $31 and go up to $141. Shows will take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8-10; 8 p.m. Oct. 11; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Oct. 12; 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13.

A special "Meet the Artist" event will happen after the show on Thursday, Oct. 10, where a brief Q&A session will take place. There also will be a "Best Day Ever" event at noon on Sunday, Oct. 13, featuring art projects and more.

The show is rated as appropriate for children ages 5 and up. For additional information and to purchase tickets, visit www.overture.org or follow the Overture Center on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or Instagram.

###

From Mass Live:

Broadway’s ‘SpongeBob Musical’ coming to Hartford, Boston

When Stephen C. Kallas was growing up in Monroe, Conn., he enjoyed sitting on the couch watching the animated series “SpongeBob SquarePants” on Nickelodeon.

Soon he’ll be on the stage at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford performing as Old Man Jenkins in the “The SpongeBob Musical,” which runs Oct. 1-6. The musical will later travel to Boston for an Oct. 15-27 run at the Boch Center-Wang Theater.

It’s the 20th anniversary of SpongeBob, an incurable optimist and earnest sea sponge, so it’s especially “cool to jump into the (stage) show when there is such a big anniversary for the brand,” said Kallas, 24, speaking from Schenectady, New York, before the production began a national tour there.

Kallas enjoyed SpongeBob as a child because “it was so whacky and so out there,” but he could connect with the characters.

“SpongeBob SquarePants” launched in 1999. The series chronicles the adventures and endeavors of the title character and his friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom. It has been the top children’s animated series on television for the last 17 years, generating a universe of beloved characters, pop-culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony award-winning Broadway musical and a global fan base.

Created by Stephen Hillenburg and produced by Nickelodeon in Burbank, California, the character-driven cartoon chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of the eponymous yellow sponge, shaped like a kitchen sponge.

Moving from cartoon viewer to stage actor in the SpongeBob world is “just as amazing as I thought it would be,” said Kallas, who graduated in 2017 from Wagner College in Staten Island, New York, with a bachelor’s degree in theater with concentrations in performance and design tech management.

He began acting in fifth grade when a friend asked him to get involved with the production of The Music Man. “I said, ‘Sure, why not?’ and was bit by the theater bug,” he said.

He acted during college and after graduation landed roles in regional productions like The Wizard of Oz and Newsies throughout the country.

Kallas is excited to return to Connecticut to act at The Bushnell for the first time; he saw many shows there while growing up in the Constitution State.

He praised the comedy and the music in SpongeBob, saying fans will understand the “Easter eggs” (references to the original cartoon) while newcomers will enjoy it too.

The SpongeBob Musical features an original pop and rock-infused score by a roster of Grammy Award-winning songwriters. Led and conceived by director Tina Landau, a 2018 Tony Award nominee, and a Tony-winning design team, the production brings the spirit of SpongeBob to life with humanity, heart and theatricality.

The musical has original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I., Domani and Lil’C and songs by David Bowie and Brian Eno and by Tom Kenny and Andy Paley.

“SpongeBob SquarePants” was adapted as a stage musical in 2016 by Landau. SpongeBob SquarePants, The Broadway Musical premiered in Chicago in 2016 and opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on in 2017. The musical opened to critical acclaim and tied for most-nominated production at the 2018 72nd Tony Awards with 12 Tony nominations.

Kallas said the production is for audiences of all ages. “It’s definitely an uplifting show” about community, inclusion and “being a positive person and what it means to be a good neighbor.”

“Everybody could use a little positivity in their life,” he added.

###

From Broadway World:

First Look At The National Tour Of THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL!
by BWW News Desk Sep. 25, 2019
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The North American Tour of Nickelodeon's THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL launched at PROCTORS in Schenectady, NY this week before bringing Bikini Bottom and its beloved residents to previously announced engagements in Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto and more.

Check out a first look at the tour's three leads in action!

The 👏 tour 👏 has 👏 begun!

First stop: Schenectady, NY pic.twitter.com/uGFksptOaB

— SpongeBob Musical (@SpongeBobBway) September 25, 2019

Check out the full list of dates and tour stops [above]!

For ticket information and additional dates, visit www.TheSpongeBobMusical.com.

Broadway's best creative minds reimagine and bring to life the beloved Nickelodeon series with humor, heart and pure theatricality in a neon-sparkly "party for the eyes and ears" (Daily Beast). Be there when SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face catastrophe-until a most unexpected hero rises to take center stage. This "creative explosion" (Broadway.com) is "nothing short of genius" says TheaterMania, so bring the entire family to celebrate friendship and cooperation, and learn the power of unity and inclusion.

THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL explodes with energy and features an original pop and rock-infused score by a legendary roster of Grammy Award®-winning songwriters. Led and conceived by visionary director Tina Landau (2018 Tony Award nominee) and a Tony Award®-winning design team, the production brings the spirit of SpongeBob to life with humanity, heart, and pure theatricality. THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL features a book byKyle Jarrow, orchestrations and arrangements by Tom Kitt, musical supervision by Julie McBride & Tim Hanson, and choreography by Christopher Gattelli. The design team includes scenic and costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Kevin Adams, projection design by Peter Nigrini, sound design by Walter Trarbach, hair and wig design byCharles G. LaPointe, make-up design by Joe Dulude II, foley design by Mike Dobson, and casting by Stewart/Whitley.

THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL is a one-of-a-kind musical event with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper & Rob Hyman, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T's, They Might Be Giants, T.I., Domani & Lil'C and songs by David Bowie & Brian Eno, and by Tom Kenny & Andy Paley. Additional lyrics by Jonathan Coulton. Additional music by Tom Kitt.

###

From The Boston Globe:

The VIP Lounge with Morgan Blanchard

Blanchard, from Portsmouth, N.H., plays Patchy the Pirate in “The SpongeBob Musical,” coming to the Boch Center Wang Theatre Oct. 15-Oct. 27.

While Morgan Blanchard was growing up in Portsmouth, N.H., he and his family would drive to Boston to attend theater productions in Boston. “The first musical I ever saw was at the Wang. It was ‘Cats,’ ” recalled Blanchard (who plays Patchy the Pirate in “The SpongeBob Musical,” coming to the Boch Center Wang Theatre Oct. 15-27) in a recent phone interview. “It was so magical to be this young kid seeing these shows, and now I get to be the person I was looking up to at that time. It’s nice to hopefully be [performing at] someone’s first musical -- and I’m assuming with ‘SpongeBob’ that there will be a lot of new audiences.” Blanchard was quick to point out that the Tony-nominated show, based on the beloved animated series on Nickelodeon, is not just for kids. “The show has an incredibly relevant and important message that I think a lot of people need to hear -- especially now -- about community and coming together and celebrating each other and all of our differences,” he said. In addition to seeing family and friends when the national tour lands in Boston, Blanchard said he is most excited about “sleeping in my own bed” at his parents’ home in Portsmouth. “I live out of a suitcase, so it will be nice to be home,” said Blanchard, who graduated from Ithaca College last year and immediately joined the national tour of “The Sound of Music” before joining the cast of “The SpongeBob Musical.“ We caught up with the 23-year-old actor to talk about all things travel.

Favorite vacation destination?

London – no question. While in college, I studied abroad in London for four months and it was a pivotal moment for my personal growth. The city’s history, parks, and commitment to the arts offer a myriad of activities to explore.

Favorite food or drink while vacationing?

Wine. Always wine. And of course any sort of delicacy from the place I’m visiting. I love trying new things.

Where would you like to travel to but haven’t?

Italy. It’s where my family is from, and who doesn’t love Italian food?

One item you can’t leave home without when traveling?

A journal. I always make sure to travel with a journal so I can keep track of my entire trip and look back on the memories.

Aisle or window?

Window – so I can look out and see my destination from above.

Favorite childhood travel memory?

My mother works for a travel agency so we would travel constantly as a kid. But my favorite memory has to be my trip to Japan with a student ambassador group when I was in middle school. It was a complete culture shock . . . and such a beautiful country.

Guilty pleasure when traveling?

Farmers’ markets. I always make sure to find the local farmers’ markets in each destination. Local markets can tell you so much about a city and those who inhabit it. And the food is cheap.

Best travel tip?

Try traveling alone. You’ll get to do exactly what you want and hopefully make some friends along the way. And always strike up conversations with strangers.

###

From MOOSE GAZETTE:

‘SpongeBob’ made a splash on Broadway. Now, he’s headed to Boston.

SpongeBob SquarePants may live in a pineapple under the sea, but for the next few months, he’s taking it on the road. A little more than a year after its Broadway run, “The SpongeBob Musical” is on a 45-city national tour. Its fourth stop? Boston’s Wang Theatre, where the splashy celebration will take the stage from Oct. 15 to 27.

The musical adaptation of the beloved Nickelodeon series follows your favorite absorbent, yellow, and porous sea dwelling played by Lorenzo Pugliese, as well as Patrick (Beau Bradshaw), Sandy Cheeks (Daria Pilar Redus), Squidward (Cody Cooley), and the rest of Bikini Bottom’s usual suspects. In this episode, the town grapples with news that volcano “Mount Humongous” may erupt and destroy their beloved underwater city.

“SpongeBob” originally premiered in Chicago in June 2016 prior to its Broadway debut in December 2017. It quickly earned critical success, snagging 12 Tony nominations to tie with “Mean Girls” for the most nods that year, and won Best Musical at both the 2018 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards.

The show is conceived by Tina Landau, who has served as director for all of its iterations. The musical also features a book by Kyle Jarrow, choreography by Christopher Gatteli, orchestrations and arrangements by Tom Kitt, and music by a slew of Grammy Award-winning artists including John Legend, Lady Antebellum, T.I., and Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Boston-born band Aerosmith.

While the show is an adaptation of the animated hit, it is not a replica. Instead of theme park-style getups, the actors wear clothing reminiscent of their characters — SpongeBob dons a yellow shirt and red tie, Mr. Krabs has red boxing gloves as hands, and Sandy’s costume is accessorized by her signature pink flower. And while the TV series was created for the younger set, that’s not the case for its musical counterpart.

“[Landau] said on Broadway they would say, ”SpongeBob the Broadway Musical’ — it’s so good, you can even bring your kid.’ It’s made for everyone,” cast member Morgan Blanchard told Boston.com over the phone. “It confronts a lot of ideas that we are struggling with right now in terms of community and coming together and the obsession over fear, and how we use fear to either dominate or divide and how destructive that can be, which I think is arguably more relevant to adults than it is to children.”

Blanchard plays Patchy the Pirate, the show’s sole human character and one he describes as a “whack-a-doodle superfan of SpongeBob.” You may remember the character from the animated series’s occasional live-action segments. For Blanchard, a Portsmouth, N.H. native, the Boston leg of the tour holds personal significance. Growing up, he would come into the city around six or seven times a year to see theatrical productions. And although he spent last year on the national tour of “The Sound of Music,” this month will mark his first time taking the Boston stage.

“I’ve been waiting to come to the Wang [Theatre], he said. “It’s just a childhood dream to do that.”

The SpongeBob Musical; Tuesday, Oct. 15 – Sunday, Oct. 27 at various times; Wang Theatre, Boston; $25 – $125; all ages

###

From Easton Journal:

Bikini Bottom comes to Boston with ‘The SpongeBob Musical’

Starring as SpongeBob in the North American tour is Scranton, Pennsylvania, native Lorenzo Pugliese, a 2019 graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. By telephone recently from Hartford, Connecticut, Pugliese talked about what it’s like to be making his road show debut and more.

Of all the leading male characters in Broadway musicals, there’s only one based on a rectangular kitchen sponge – the always absorbing SpongeBob.

The title character in Nickelodeon’s long-running animated television comedy series “SpongeBob SquarePants” stepped onto the stage in June 2016, when “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical” premiered in Chicago before opening on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in December 2017.

Conceived and directed by Tina Landau, with book by Kyle Jarrow, choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli, and orchestrations and arrangements by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Kitt, the Broadway production earned 12 Tony Award nominations in 2018.

It won for Best Scenic Design in a Musical for David Zinn’s recreation of the underwater world of SpongeBob and his friends in Bikini Bottom.

With a refashioned title, “The SpongeBob Musical” is now on a tour coming to Boston’s Boch Center Wang Theatre on Oct. 15, with a score that includes songs by Yolanda Adams, David Bowie, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry, Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, and others.

Starring as SpongeBob in the North American tour is Scranton, Pennsylvania, native Lorenzo Pugliese, a 2019 graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. By telephone recently from Hartford, Connecticut, Pugliese talked about what it’s like to be making his road show debut and more.

Q: Before you landed this role, what would you have thought if someone had told you that you’d be playing a sponge on your first tour in a musical?

A: Someone actually did tell me that. It was my sophomore year in college, and a friend who’d seen “SpongeBob” in New York, told me that I’d be perfect for the role. It sounded kind of crazy at first, because I didn’t know anything about the musical. Not too long after, though, my girlfriend, Julia Toitch, took me to see the Broadway show as “character research.” Then I understood what the person meant.

Q: What is it like bringing an iconic animated character like SpongeBob to life on stage?

A: It’s definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It’s incredibly high energy, but with every moment super calculated. The cool thing, though, is that there’s so much truth and humanity in these characters. Tina Landau directs us to do human portrayals of these characters, rather that caricatures.

One of my favorite things about SpongeBob is that he actively wants to become manager at the Krusty Krab restaurant. He is working toward a goal, which I respect.

Q: Are you fan of the “SpongeBob SquarePants” series?

A: I loved it as a kid. There’s a line that SpongeBob says every day, “Good morning, world, and all who inhabit it.” I used to wake up every morning and scream it out my bedroom window. Now it’s my very first line in the musical.

Q: Who’s your favorite character and why?

A: SpongeBob is definitely my favorite character – always has been, always will be. He’s wacky and outlandish which makes him not only very appealing to the audience, but also great fun for me to play as a performer.

Q: Some amazing songwriters have contributed to this score. What’s it like to get to do their music?

A: Having the music of all these different artists in one score means we can do everything from country and pop to rock. The song by Bowie and Brian Eno, “No Control,” in act one is very panicky and works just perfectly with the story. And that’s just one of the great numbers in this show.

Q: What’s your favorite musical number from the show?

A: My favorite is Squidward’s big number “I’m Not a Loser” by They Might Be Giants. It’s a flawless, perfectly crafted, Golden Age of Broadway number that’s marvelously performed by our Squidward, Cody Cooley, and company. I’m offstage, but I watch it from the wings every night. I love it!

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From Metro US:

New England native sets sail in ‘The Spongebob Musical’

Morgan Blanchard on bringing the show’s first national tour to Boston.

Are you ready kids, because “The Spongebob Musical” ships up to Boston this month as part of the show’s first national tour.

Set to take over the Wang Theatre Oct. 15-27, the hit production based on the beloved Nickelodeon cartoon earned 12 Tony nominations and one win during its initial run on Broadway. After kicking off the national tour in Schenectady last month, Spongebob, Patrick, Squidward and the rest of the Bikini Bottom gang are finally heading to the Hub, and they’re setting sail with a special cast member who knows how to navigate Boston’s dirty water.

New England native Morgan Blanchard takes on the role of Patchy the Pirate in “The Spongebob Musical,” and he is thrilled to bring the show to his old stomping grounds. In fact, the Wang Theatre was where Blanchard saw his first touring show, “The Phantom of the Opera,” as a kid while growing up in Rye, N.H., just outside of Portsmouth.

“I could not be more excited,” Blanchard tells Metro. “Just to perform at the Wang is the craziest thing in the world. It’s where I grew up seeing all the tours coming through.”

Ever since his first school play in kindergarten, Blanchard has been enamored with theater and the arts. He scored his first role with a professional show in fifth grade as part of a production of “The Sound of Music” at Prescott Park, and hasn’t slowed down since.

“I kind of did theater non-stop from that moment on,” says Blanchard, who has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College.

With a slew of regional and national credits under his belt, Blanchard knew early on in high school that he wanted to make a career out of his creative outlets.

“Probably my freshman year of high school is when I knew that this is what I wanted to do,” says Blanchard. “Fortunately I had parents who were so supportive and ready to back me in that regardless of whether it’s stable or not.”

Having been a fan of the franchise since childhood, Blanchard admits that playing Patchy the Pirate in “The Spongebob Musical” is a massive opportunity, and he’s determined to give it his all since so many fans across the globe love the swashbuckling character from the cartoon.

“It’s pretty huge,” says Blanchard. “It’s the biggest opportunity I’ve come across yet and I’m so grateful.”

“It’s such a blast to bring to life these cartoon characters that you think are so surface level,” he adds, “but they’re actually very detailed and can tell a really relevant and truthful story.”

As for why Spongebob and his pals have had such a big impact on culture over the decades, Blanchard notes that part of it is due to the show’s focus on community.

“The whole concept of Bikini Bottom,” says Blanchard. “This idea of community is very relatable. That’s what keeps people coming back to it.”

There’s also the show’s unique brand of humor, which Blanchard believes has influenced an entire generation of fans.

“The humor really has morphed our generation,” says Blanchard. “The way our generation finds things funny is incredibly shaped by Spongebob and other Nickelodeon cartoons.”

Oct. 15-27, Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., $25+, bochcenter.org

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From seacoastonline.com:

Portsmouth native performing in ‘SpongeBob Musical’ in Boston

PORTSMOUTH - The award-winning “SpongeBob Musical” is making its national 45-city tour stop in Boston this week, featuring Portsmouth native Morgan Blanchard who will be performing in his debut tour as Patchy the Pirate.

During its initial run on Broadway, Tina Landau’s Nickelodeon cartoon-based production earned 12 Tony nominations with a win. “SpongeBob” originally premiered in Chicago in June 2016 prior to its Broadway debut in December 2017. The reinvented “SpongeBob Musical” opens at the Boch Center Wang Theatre Tuesday and runs through Oct. 27.

“It is the Broadway production, but we reconstructed it a little so it could work on tour, moving from theater to theater,” Blanchard said. “As much as it’s a Broadway production, it’s kind of a new version. We tried out some new things. It’s cool to be able to work on something that’s kind of transforming.”

Blanchard is a 2014 Portsmouth High School graduate and 2018 graduate of Ithaca College where he earned his degree in musical theater with an acting focus.

“It all basically started in my early-on music class with Tammy Burns, who was the music teacher at my elementary school at the time, who I still keep in touch with and love dearly,” he said. “When I was in fifth grade, I auditioned for ‘The Sound of Music’ at Prescott Park and did that.”

From then on, Blanchard performed in several summer productions at Prescott Park in Portsmouth and went on to do work with Mainstage Theatre and the Seacoast Repertory Theatre along with multiple high school plays.

Almost immediately after college graduation, Blanchard went on tour with “The Sound of Music,” his first professional show and then wrapped up in June 2019, just a month before committing to “SpongeBob Musical.”

“Technically, I live in New York. I have an apartment in the city,” he said. “But really, I live out of a suitcase right now in the middle of the country.”

Blanchard says performing Patchy the Pirate in the “SpongeBob Musical” has easily been his favorite, most entertaining role yet. On top of his main role, he performs in the show’s ensemble as well so he has the opportunity to play a lot of different roles.

Although this performance is anticipated by the crowd to be a reimagining of the beloved television series, it is not the same. While the comedy show was originally crafted for a younger crowd, Blanchard said, this musical is set to attract a much broader audience, and is inviting to all ages.

“It’s made for everyone,” said Blanchard.

Blanchard also mentioned that the performance contains messages that allude to coming together through inclusivity, giving younger audience members first-time exposure to theater in a positive way.

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From The Oklahoman:

What to do in Oklahoma on Nov. 12, 2019: See 'The SpongeBob Musical' at OKC's Civic Center Music Hall

Today's featured event:

Plunge into the colorful undersea world of Bikini Bottom as the national tour of "The SpongeBob Musical," the Tony-winning Broadway hit based on the 20-year-old Nickelodeon animated series, opens in Oklahoma City at 7:30 tonight at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker.

Aimed at multigenerational audiences, performances continue at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday.

As previously reported, the show features musical numbers by John Legend, Lady Antebellum, Aerosmith, They Might Be Giants, David Bowie and Brian Eno, Sara Bareilles, Yolanda Adams, Cyndi Lauper, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T's and Oklahoma City-based art-rockers The Flaming Lips

"I was a huge fan of the show growing up,""The SpongeBob Musical" star Lorenzo Pugliese told me in an interview. "I think when you're able to create something that's so unique and so different but also somehow so relatable and identifiable with the general population, it's really something special. And I think that that's exactly what they did with SpongeBob. And I think that's why it's done so well for so long."

To read more of my preview of "The SpongeBob Musical," click here.

For tickets and information, go to www.okcbroadway.com or call 594-8300.


For more Oklahoma events, go to oklahoman.com/calendar.

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More Nick:Nickelodeon Marks 20 Years of "SpongeBob SquarePants" with the "Best Year Ever"!

Originally published: Wednesday, August 21, 2019.

Original sources: Playbill, Broadway World.

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The Toy Association has announced the exciting news that JoJo Siwa, Power Rangers Beast Morphers, PAW Patrol, Peppa Pig, Baby Shark and Ryan's World have each received nominations in the prestigious 2020 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards!


Known as the "Oscars" of the toy industry, the TOTY Awards program recognizes the top playthings on the market – from STEM/STEAM and innovative toys to dolls, action figures, creative toys, and more. The program is also a vital fundraiser for The Toy Foundation, which annually delivers toys to millions of children in need.

Finalists were announced on Monday, November 11, 2019 by a group of well-known online influencers who serve as TOTY ambassadors. Between now and January 5, 2020 play-lovers of all ages can visit www.ToyAwards.org to vote for their favorite playthings in each of the 16 categories, browse toys, download shopping lists for the holidays, and enter for a chance to win one of 16 toy prize packages.

"From an extraordinary field of nominees carefully reviewed by expert judges, this year's TOTY finalists truly represent our members' ability to bring fun, laughter, discovery, and learning to kids across America and around the world," said Steve Pasierb, president & CEO of The Toy Association. "We are proud to unveil these playthings in advance of the holiday season and celebrate the toy community's enduring ability to inspire generations of play. Everyone is encouraged to cast their votes at ToyAwards.org and help decide the winners!"

Winners in each category, as well as the coveted overall Toy of the Year winner and the People's Choice winner (based solely on consumer votes), will be announced at the TOTY Awards gala on Friday, February 21, 2020 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City. The celebration will kick off Toy Fair New York (February 22-25, 2020 at the Jacob K. Javits Center) and include the induction of three trailblazers into the esteemed Toy Industry Hall of Fame.

Below is a list of awards that Nickelodeon (including acquired properties) have been nominated for in the 2020 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards. A full list of TOTY Awards 2019 nominations can be found at http://www.toyawards.org. Congratulations and good luck to Nickelodeon and everyone who has been nominated for a 2020 TOTY Award!

LICENSE OF THE YEAR

Character or property that has had success spreading its brand through the development and merchandising of products developed from the intellectual property

• Baby Shark by Pinkfong
• Barbie 60th Anniversary Program by Mattel, Inc.
• JoJo Siwa by Nickelodeon
• Marvel Avengers Endgame by Disney / Marvel Licensing
• PAW Patrol Mighty Pups Super PAWs by Spin Master / Nickelodeon
• Pokémon by The Pokémon Company International
• Ryan's World by pocket.watch
• Toy Story 4 by The Walt Disney Company

ACTION FIGURE OF THE YEAR

Toys that represent a person or fictional character intended for active, imaginative and narrative-based play

• Bakugan Dragonoid Maximus Transforming Figure by Spin Master
• Disney Pixar Toy Story Basic Figures by Mattel, Inc.
• Heroes of Goo Jit Zu by Moose Toys
• Jurassic World Destroy 'N Devour™ Indominus Rex by Mattel, Inc.
• Marvel Legends Series by Hasbro, Inc.
• My Hero Academia Katsuki Bakugo Action Figure by McFarlane Toys
• Power Rangers Beast Morphers Beast-X Ultrazord Figure by Hasbro, Inc.

PLUSH TOY OF THE YEAR

Toys that are made of fabric and stuffed with cotton or similar filling, including toys with interactive or electronic features Cutetitos by Basic Fun!

• Dolce Safari Adventure by Magformers/DOLCE
• Little Live Scruff-A-Luvs Real Rescue Electronic Pet by Moose Toys
• Pinkfong Baby Shark Song Puppets with Tempo Control by WowWee
• Pomsies Lumies by Skyrocket Toys
• Shimmer Stars by KD Group
• ZURU Rainbocorns Ultimate Sequin Surprise Series 2 by ZURU

PRESCHOOL TOY OF THE YEAR

Toys that are developed for ages 3-5

• Demo Duke by Spin Master
• Coding Critters by Learning Resources®
• Kid Trax Rideamals Unicorn by Pacific Cycle
• Kindi Kids by Moose Toys
• Myla the Magical Unicorn™ by VTech®
• Peppa Pig's Magical Parade Floats by Jazwares
• Wild Ones™ by Razor USA

The finalists were selected from 633 nominees submitted by 236 companies. Eighteen judges, including toy and play experts, retailers, academics, and journalists, reviewed and ranked the products in categories relevant to their areas of expertise. The judges then participated in a discussion to determine the finalists in each category. They considered each product's creativity, design, play value, and marketing.

The TOTY Awards gala is open only to toy industry professionals. Tickets for the event will be available for purchase on December 2; all TOTY proceeds are donated to The Toy Foundation, which partners with generous toy companies throughout the year to bring brand-new toys to children who are sick, at-risk, in foster care, impoverished, or otherwise in need.


About The Toy Association
www.toyassociation.org / www.thegeniusofplay.org / http://www.playsafe.org/
Founded in 1916, The Toy Association™, Inc. is the not-for-profit trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual U.S. economic impact of $110.9 billion, and its 1,000+ members drive the annual $28 billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry's voice on the developmental benefits of play, and promotes play's positive impact on childhood development to consumers and media. The organization has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, government, consumers, and industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.

As a global leader, The Toy Association produces the world-renowned North American International Toy Fair and Fall Toy Preview; advocates on behalf of members around the world; sustains the Canadian Toy Association; acts as secretariat for the International Council of Toy Industries and International Toy Industry CEO Roundtable; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises America's widely emulated ASTM F963 toy safety standard.

More Nick:Nickelodeon Embarks on New Direction with its Biggest, Most Wide-Ranging Content Slate Ever!

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Blauwe gloed 👀 | De Ludwigs: De Gevallen Ster #4 | Nickelodeon Nederlands



In de vierde aflevering Blauwe gloed helpen Yara en Benny Valerie met haar raadsel. Valerie is al verder met haar avontuur en weet nu waar ze moet gaan zoeken naar de wildste verhalen.

In de online serie De Ludwigs: De Gevallen Ster beleeft de jongste Ludwig Valerie haar eerste eigen avontuur. Nadat ze een pakketje met een magische inhoud ontvangt, begint haar zoektocht naar de betekenis van een spannend raadsel.

Meer informatie:nickelodeon.nl/deludwigs and nickelodeon.be/deludwigs

Meer Nick:'De Ludwigs' Returns with a Sixth and Final Season on Nickelodeon Benelux!

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Spotlight | Lottes Song für Mads - Two of a Kind 🎤💖 | Nickelodeon Deutschland



Spielt sich zwischen Lotte und Mads doch mehr als Freundschaft ab? Was meinst du? Schreib es in die Kommentare!

Gesang: Mike Leon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClEpcp6RUSRN_FqywIaRYKA

Jesina Amweg https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCciwKnPo7Q-AUgUMrGXSHGA

Musik und Text: Fargo (Falk-Arne Goßler) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRmfCMmD6IE4zvAGIJDJyA
Niko Stegmiller
Kris Kraus

Die neue Spotlight-Staffel siehst du täglich 19:50 bei Nick DE, 19:55 CH & AT oder jederzeit in der Nickelodeon Play App oder auf Nick.de/spotlight!

Mehr Nick:October, November and December 2019 on Nickelodeon Germany and Nick Jr. Deutschland | Highlights!

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DRAWING Fairly OddParents with Tic Tac Mints: Art Challenge! | Butch Hartman



ART CHALLENGE: draw Timmy Turner, Cosmo, and Wanda ONLY USING Tic Tacs! Can Butch do it? Watch this video to find out...

Want a drawing from Butch? https://linktr.ee/butchhartman

Watch Butch's brand-new cartoon, HobbyKids Adventures, on NickJr.com!

Butch Hartman - Facebook | Instagram | Butch's Sketchpad On Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat: @realhartman | YouTube | Speech Bubble | Tumblr | Pinterest

The Noog Network - www.noognetwork.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat: @noognetwork | Tumblr | Pinterest

More Nick:Netflix Debuts 'Pinky Malinky'!

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44 Cats | Jingles Bells - Sing and Dance with the Buffycats



44 Cats | "Magical Night" song [VIDEOCLIP]



Have fun singing along with the Buffycats!

The brand new 44 Cats Holiday special premieres Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 7:30 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon USA!

Visit the official 44 Cats show website at 44cats.tv to find out more about the show and its musical stars, as well as watch exclusive video clips, play pawesome games and download purr-tastic activities!

More Nick:Rainbow's '44 Cats' Renewed for Season Two!

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Mutt & Stuff Awards | Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures



It's time for the Mutt & Stuff Awards! Who did it best?

» Watch Mutt & Stuff at http://www.nickjr.com/mutt-and-stuff/

From the minds of Sid & Marty Krofft and Bradley Zweig. Mutt & Stuff is a preschool show that follows Calvin Millan (Son of Cesar Millan "The Dog Whisperer") who runs his Dad's wacky and whimsical school just for dogs! Assisted by his larger than life yellow dog, Stuff, and an ensemble of unique guest stars, Calvin teaches the dogs about managing emotions, building personal awareness, developing social skills, and respecting the bond between dogs and humans.

» SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/SidAndMartySub
» Watch Mutt & Stuff at http://www.nickjr.com/mutt-and-stuff/
SID & MARTY KROFFT WEBSITE: http://www.sidandmartykrofft.com

SID & MARTY KROFFT ON SOCIAL: https://www.facebook.com/sidandmartykrofft | https://www.instagram.com/sidandmartykrofft

MUTT & STUFF ON SOCIAL: https://www.facebook.com/MuttNStuff | https://www.instagram.com/muttnstuff

CREDITS:
TM &© Nickelodeon Viacom (2015)
Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures Corp.

More Nick:Sid And Marty Krofft Produce 'The Bugaloos' Reboot Pilot For Nickelodeon [Updated]!

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