Dora the Explorer Hits the Road.

Nickelodeon and Clear Channel Entertainment are teaming up to create Dora the Explorer Live! — Search for the City of Lost Toys, the first ever family stage show starring a Latina heroine. Dora the Explorer Live! — Search for the City of Lost Toys is scheduled to perform in 32 cities across the United States. The national tour officially kicks off April 4, 2003 at the Palace Theatre in Louisville, KY. The tour includes a 10-day stop at New York City’s legendary Radio City Music Hall from April 18-27.

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

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

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

We are excited to bring this show to theatrical venues across the country,” says Joanna Hagan, senior vice president, Clear Channel Theatrical Production — Family Entertainment. “Nickelodeon has been a dream partner for us and Dora the Explorer Live! is the latest theatrical production from this collaboration to push the boundaries of family theater.”
Featuring familiar songs, a captivating storyline and all the characters children have come to love, Dora the Explorer Live! showcases her friends, special helper Backpack, best friend Boots, Map, Swiper the Fox, Tico and Benny. The “Search for the City of Lost Toys” storyline is also the basis of the upcoming Nickelodeon primetime TV special schedule to air Monday, Feb. 24, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).

Dora the Explorer Live! is directed by Gip Hoppe, who first worked with Nickelodeon and Clear Channel on Blue’s Clues Live! and Blue’s Clues Live! — Blue’s Birthday Party. Hoppe wrote and directed the Broadway play Jackie: An American Life. He is a founding member and co-artistic director of the Wellfleet Harbor Actor’s Theatre.

Dora the Explorer Live! is written by Chris Gifford. He created the TV show with Valerie Walsh and Eric Weiner. Gifford serves as executive producer of the TV show, with Walsh as producer and Weiner as producer and head writer.
Title sponsors for Dora the Explorer Live! are Crest and Teddy Grahams. Pampers, Mervyns and Bounty are associated sponsors.

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

Dora the Explorer airs from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. (ET/PT) weekdays on Nick Jr. and Saturdays on CBS (check local listings). Nick Jr. is a specially designed programming block airing on Nickelodeon weekdays from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. (ET/PT). Two signature Nick Jr. shows, Blue’s Clues and Dora the Explorer, also can be seen weekends on CBS. 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. At Nick Jr., kids play to learn with innovative, original shows created just for them.

To view dates CLICK above on ‘More Images’.