LOS ANGELES, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Walt Disney Records) - Walt Disney Records' T-Squad and 9 member zoos and aquariums of AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) will kick off a national concert series Disneymania! Concerts for Conservation, July 10 at the Sacramento Zoo. The benefit tour is being presented by Build-A-Bear Workshop.
The tour includes nine major zoos and aquariums throughout the country during the summer and features Walt Disney Records' newest tween sensation, T-Squad, which features actor and martial artist Boo Boo Stewart, dancer Jade Gilley, actress Miki Ishikawa and rapper Taylor McKinney (also known as Kid Karizz). The quartet released their first self-titled CD in April, 2007 and has been a staple on Disney Channel and Radio Disney, with chart-topping hits 'Graduation,' 'Vertical,' 'Flip,' and the recently released, 'No Sleep til Summertime.' The tour's emcees will be stars of Disney Channel's mega-hit movie, High School Musical, Olesya Rulin ('Kelsi') and Chris Warren Jr. ('Zeke').
Disneymania! Concerts for Conservation blends music, dancing and acrobatics with conservation education and information on animals and their natural habitats. As part of the concert, zoo and aquarium staff will talk about and display various animals, and concert goers will have a chance to interact with Disney celebrities.
'We're excited to be part of an incredible event that brings one of America's hottest acts to some of the country's most beloved summer entertainment venues,' said Teresa Kroll, chief marketing bear of the tour's title sponsor, Build-A-Bear Workshop. 'In this environment, kids will enjoy great music and learn about the many conservation efforts underway in accredited zoos and aquariums across America.'
The zoos and aquariums will receive proceeds for their conservation efforts from a portion of tour ticket sales, sponsorships, merchandise sales and donations. The AZA will receive a percentage of each local zoo/aquariums proceeds, which will be determined by each zoo and aquarium.
'Teaming up with the AZA and Build-A-Bear Workshop provides us with unique venues and a way to reach kids with some of our newest and hottest talent, along with an important message about conserving our planet's natural resources,' said Phil Guerini, executive director, broadcast marketing and strategic alliances for Walt Disney Records.
Created by 206, Inc., the lead promotions agency for Walt Disney Records, the concerts will be held in nine cities across the U.S. in July and August.
'This concert series will help us raise awareness of our goal to protect every critically endangered amphibian species in North America and our African and Asian elephants,' said AZA president and chief executive Jim Maddy. 'Many people don't know that AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums may be the only hope for survival for many of these species. The concerts will help children and parents learn more about our efforts.'
Concerts dates and venues include:
July 10 Sacramento Zoo, Sacramento, CA
July 11 Utah's Hogle Zoo, Salt Lake City, UT
July 15 Dallas Zoological Society, Richardson, TX
July 22 Jackson Zoological Park, Jackson, MS
July 29 Toronto Zoo, Scarborough, Ontario
August 5 Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
August 10 Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Pittsburgh, PA
August 18 National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD
August 20 The Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester, NY
Supporting sponsors of the tour include Southwest Airlines, Animal Planet, SanDisk's Sansa Shaker, and Kewl Magazine.
Tickets can be purchased at all participating zoos and aquariums.
Additional information about the tour can be found at www.concertsforconservation.net. For more information, contact Sharon Baker of 206, Inc. at [email protected] or 425-890-9105.
