DORA THE EXPLORER LIVE! Comes To Benedum Center 3/20-3/22

Nickelodeon and Broadway Across America are teaming up to bring "Dora the Explorer Live! Search for the City of Lost Toys," starring the world's most famous Latina explorer, to Pittsburgh from March 20-22, 2009 for seven performances. The last Dora "Lost Toys" U.S. tour was seen by more than 1.2 million people during its 2003-2004 run. The "Dora the Explorer Live!" shows have grossed more than $85 million in sales worldwide, traveled to more than 255 markets across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Southeast Asia and have been seen by 2.7 million kids and parents.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents, "Dora the Explorer LIVE! Search for the City of Lost Toys," at the Benedum Center on Friday, March 20, through Sunday, March 22, 2009, as part of the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series. Performance times are Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., 2 and 5 p.m. Tickets for this interactive family adventure are $15 -$39 and available at pgharts.org, (412) 456-6666 or the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue, Cultural District). To Purchase 10 or more tickets please call, (412) 471-6930.

"'Dora the Explorer Live!' is a culturally rich, interactive theatrical show for preschoolers and their families," said Stuart Rosenstein, Senior Vice President, Resorts and Theatricals, Nickelodeon Recreation. "This show has captured preschool audiences everywhere. We're thrilled to introduce it to a brand-new audience and to work with the same extraordinary team who brought other successful Nickelodeon shows to life."

"Dora is to kids what the Rolling Stones are to parents - she's one of the biggest stars in the world," said Stacey Burns, Vice President of Family Production for Broadway Across America. "‘Dora the Explorer Live!' has proven to be one of the most successful family titles on the road in recent years. It truly is a blockbuster."

Featuring familiar songs, a captivating storyline and all the characters children have come to love, "Dora the Explorer Live!" showcases Dora's friends, including special helper Backpack, best friend Boots, cousin Diego, Map, Swiper the Fox, Tico and Benny. Each step of the gang's journey consists of a problem or puzzle that Dora and the audience must solve together in order to move on to the next challenge. Dora is proudly bilingual and uses her knowledge of English and Spanish to communicate with her friends, teach the audience Spanish words and overcome obstacles.

"Dora the Explorer Live!" is based on Nickelodeon's hit animated series, Dora the Explorer, which currently ranks as the number-one-rated preschool show on all of commercial television. Dora is a seven-year-old Latina heroine, whose adventures take place in an imaginative, tropical world filled with jungles, beaches and rainforests. Both the Dora TV and stage shows are designed to actively engage their audiences using a variety of learning techniques.

"Dora the Explorer Live!" is directed by Gip Hoppe who has worked with Nickelodeon on other successful productions, including: "Blue's Clues Live!" and "Blue's Clues Live! - Blue's Birthday Party"; "Dora's Pirate Adventure"; and "Go, Diego, Go Live!" Hoppe also wrote and directed the Broadway play "Jackie: An American Life." He is a founding member and co-artistic director of the Wellfleet Harbor Actor's Theatre.

"Dora the Explorer Live!" is written by Chris Gifford, who, along with Valerie Walsh Valdes and Eric Weiner, created Dora the Explorer. Gifford and Walsh Valdes serve as executive producers of the TV show.

Performances will feature set and costume designs by Tony Award-winners David Gallo and Gregg Barnes, respectively. Gallo has been recently represented on Broadway with "The Drowsy Chaperone", "Xanadu", "Thoroughly Modern Millie", "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," "Lion In Winter," and "Little Me". He was also the production designer for "Jackie: An American Life."

Tony Award-winning Costume Designer Gregg Barnes' credits include: "Legally Blonde", "The Drowsy Chaperone", 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", "Flower Drum Song," "Disney on Ice - Princess Classics," "Side Show," "Scooby-Doo in Stagefright - Live on Stage!", "Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show" and Madison Square Garden's "The Wizard of Oz."

"Dora the Explorer" airs at 10:30 a.m. and noon (ET/PT) weekdays on Nick Jr., a specially designed programming block airing on Nickelodeon weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (ET/PT). Completely dedicated to preschoolers ages 2-5, Nick Jr.'s Emmy, Peabody and Parents' Choice Award-winning programs are curriculum based, fun and commercial free.

For more information about "Dora the Explorer Live!", log on to www.nickjr.com or www.broadwayacrossamerica.com

Nickelodeon Recreation is one of the leading producers of top quality theatrical and touring shows for kids and their families. Strategically leveraging Nickelodeon's hits into high quality Broadway level stage productions that tour both domestically and in international markets, the division has executive produced 14 unique multimillion dollar theatrical stage productions that have grossed in excess of $100 million in tickets sales.

Nickelodeon, in its 29th 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 company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 96 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 14 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

ABOUT Broadway Across America Broadway Across America (Producer): Owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and led by Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman), Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Current productions include Tony Award-winners BOEING BOEING and SPAMALOT, as well as THE BACKYARDIGANS. Upcoming productions include 13, West Side Story, DORA THE EXPLORER and the Broadway premiere of Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS opening this 2008 holiday season. For more information log on to www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.