Check out this Playbill.com article on GrooveLily’s December 28-31st STRIKING 12 run at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, CA:  PLAYBILL.com GrooveLily Returns to TheatreWorks Musical Striking 12, Starting Dec. 28

Brendan Milburn (L) & Valerie Vigoda of GrooveLily

STRIKING 12 is a perfect alternative to standard holiday fare while still being family-friendly. On New Year’s Eve, an over-worked and under-inspired single guy who’s had enough of holiday cheer makes a resolution: to stay home and go to bed early. On another New Year’s Eve, a continent away—and more than a century earlier—Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Match Girl tries unsuccessfully to sell her matches in the snow.

The two stories are brought together when a young woman selling special “full-spectrum holiday light bulbs” to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder shows up at the grumpy man’s door. Though the man (who probably could use the bulbs) seems to enjoy the young woman’s company, he sends her away. It’s not until he reads “The Little Match Girl” that he is finally pulled out of his funk.

All of this unfolds through a tuneful pop/rock/jazz score that retains the vibrant style of its original performers, GrooveLily. The show has now been expanded to 8 or more actors and 6 musicians! The witty and deeply moving script weaves three stories and settings: contemporary New York City, 19th century Denmark, and the very room in which the show is presented. Through simple, unpretentious theater created through the voices and instruments of the performers, Striking 12 reminds us that “the world looks like new… on the first day of the year.”

And…take a listen to the additional unreleased S12 songs recorded in 2008 at the Zipper Theatre in NYC. FREE! Thanks GrooveLily! Click HERE for FREE additional S12 songs.

For more information about licensing STRIKING 12 visit the TRW S12 Homepage!

Cincinnati.com hails the Ensemble Theatre’s new production of TRW’s CINDERELLA! Check out the full review at Cincinnati.com:

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20101202/ENT/12030320/Cast-fits-nicely-into-Ensemble-s-Cinderella

Brooke Rucidlo as "Cinderella" At Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati.

CHICAGO’S BOHEMIAN THEATRE ENSEMBLE, SET TO OPEN STRIKING 12, BLOGS IT LIKE IT IS!

Chicago’s Bohemian Theatre Ensemble is set to open TRW’s STRIKING 12, playing Dec 16-Jan 8. STRIKING 12 is playing at theaters throughout North America and even opened in London this holiday season. Originally created and performed by art-rock sensation GROOVELILY, the show is now a brilliantly conceived evening of musical theatre that brings Hans Christian Andersen’s “Little Match Girl” to modern audiences with humor, warmth and a gorgeous score.

Earlier this fall, the BoHo’s Backstage Blog took a look at the eclecticism of the group’s current season, which features BIG RIVER, THE ELEPHANT MAN, STRIKING 12, DIRTY BLONDE and ICARUS.  Check out the ensembles eloquent defense of rampant eclecticism in this recent blog post:

http://bohonews.blogspot.com/2010/10/fictional-division-of-musical-non.html

And if you’ll be in the Chicago area this month, check out the ensemble’s production of STRIKING 12!

BoHo Theatre Ensemble's Gorillaz-style poster promos their upcoming production!

Allee Willis, one of THE COLOR PURPLE‘s writing team (music & lyrics), teamed-up with the amazingly talented and infectious Pomplamoose for a great new video-song “Jungle Animal.”  Willis, along with Brenda Russell and Stephen Bray, created the musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s seminal novel.

In addition to her work on THE COLOR PURPLE, Willis is a legendary recording business player, producer, writer and star. As well as adding some vox to the new Pomplamoose track, she did the awesome art for the single and video for the group’s recent release.

Pomplamoose

If you haven’t checked out Pomplamoose yet, do it now! Check out the rest of their wonderful music and accompanying vids at: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pomplamoose&aq=0

Meanwhile THE COLOR PURPLE tour marches on throughout the U.S. Catch this epic, beautiful and moving musical now! Check the tour itinerary: The Color Purple On Tour

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre‘s fall 2010 production of BLUES CLUES LIVE! THE MOST SPECTACULAR PLACE was a big hit for the 85 year old organization, which is one of the largest community theatres in America. GRCT was kind enough to share some photos of their production, which show off the amazing costume design by Robert Fowle and Kathie Johnson. We salute GRCT on 85 years of providing Grand Rapids with top-notch theatre and serving their community so tirelessly and with such excellence!

BLUE’S CLUES LIVE! THE MOST SPECTACULAR PLACE begins when the curtain greets and welcomes the audience into the wonderful world of Theatre. On stage, Blue and Steve lead the audience on a clue-based journey, in search of the most spectacular place of all. This quest takes them through Storybook Forest, where Blue and Steve meet The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks, The Big Bad Wolf, and other characters from classic fairytales. Blue and Steve even travel to outer space in search of the most spectacular place, discovering planets and other celestial wonders along the way. When they discover the final clue, Blue and Steve learn that aside from the surprise-filled world of Theatre, home is the most spectacular place of all!

ALL PHOTOS BY: Moments in Life Photography

Ryan Cupp as Steve gets interactive with the adoring audience!

Ryan Cupp as Steve and Malia Huffman as Blue

Blues Clues Live!

Tickety-Tock (Rebekah Karel)

Enraptured kids watching BLUES CLUES LIVE! at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Carson Wanty as...The Wolf!

Breathtaking staging, lighting and costumes from "The Planet Song"

The SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem, Utah has licensed the Utah premiere of TYA Musical NO DOGS ALLOWED, acquired by TRW in 2010.  SCERA was Founded in 1933, as a non-profit charitable arts organization dedicated to the development and advancement of arts and culture, arts education, and wholesome and affordable family entertainment. NO DOGS ALLOWED joins several other family-friendly shows on SCERA’s 2010-2011 season.

NO DOGS ALLOWED knows that sometimes the unexpected is even more fun than the best-laid plans! Eight-year-old Iris, her family, the neighbors – and their stowaway dog – take a road trip from the Bronx to the state park for a picnic. But first, the car breaks down. Then they get lost. And when they finally arrive at the park, they discover their furry passenger — and a NO DOGS ALLOWED sign. What to do? Iris’s family’s make-do attitude saves the day, as they refuse to let troubles get in the way of a having “a great day after all.” Based on the book by Sonia Manzano, best known as Sesame Street’s Maria, and chosen as one of the Best Children’s Books of the Year by Child Magazine, and recipient of the Parents’ Choice Award, the musical version of NO DOGS ALLOWED keeps the humor, the warmth of family and adds phenomenal songs that highlight the fun!

NO DOGS ALLOWED features a great score by the legendary Stephen Lawrence and lyrics by none other than Billy Aronson! Together with a script by book author Manzano, this awesome Theatre for Young Audiences musical is available for licensing worldwide. For more information on booking your production of NO DOGS ALLOWED, check out the show’s homepage at www.theatricalrights.com!