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QIKPR 148 West 76th Street, • 4A • New York • NY • 10023 • Phone: (212) 799-3753 www.qikpr.com |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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TAKING YOUR TODDLER TO THE THEATER DOESN’T HAVE TO BE TERRIFYING
Vital Theatre Company, creators of the 19-year Off-Broadway hit Pinkalicious The Musical, returns
New York, NY. Here’s a thing no press release ever admits. Bringing a two-year-old to the theater is a gamble. Will they sit? Will they cry? Will you spend the whole show crouched in the aisle mouthing “I’m so sorry” to strangers?
PERFORMANCES Selected Sundays at 1:30 PM. March 15 through May 17, 2026 March 15 | March 22 | March 29 April 5 | April 12 | April 19 | April 26 May 3 | May 17 Actors Temple Theatre 339 W 47th Street (just west of 8th Ave), New York, NY 10036 TICKETS $35.00 Standard Seating $55.00 Premium Orchestra $75.00 VIP Experience (includes a free Gold Sparkle Wand and an exclusive backstage tour starting 30 minutes before the show) For tickets and information visit vitaltheatre.org/calling-all-toys or call (212) 799-3753. Box Office opens 1 hour before each performance. ###
NOTES TO EDITORS CAST Emmalee Diaz (Alexis), Jackson Cline (Bear), Danielle Scheller (Rag Doll), Taylor Feldman (Etch-a-Sketch) PRODUCTION TEAM Michael Schloegl (Director/Writer), John Gregor (Music & Lyrics), Francesca Endres (Production Stage Manager), Ella Martin (Stage Manager) CAST BIOGRAPHIES Emmalee Diaz (Alexis) (she/her) is a recent BFA Musical Theatre graduate from Manhattanville University, originally from Del Rio, TX. Emmalee was last seen onstage as a cover for Pinkalicious/Alison in Pinkalicious with Vital Theatre Company. Select Manhattanville credits include Celeste in Plane Girl and Valerie Clark in A Chorus Line. Select regional credits include West Side Story (Rosalia, Maria U/S) at Milton Theatre and Legally Blonde (Elle Woods) at the College Light Opera Company. Jackson Cline (Bear) is delighted to be joining the cast of Calling All Toys. He has previously performed in Vital’s Pinkalicious the Musical, The Wizard of Oz, and Fancy Nancy the Musical. Off-Broadway credits include The Importance of Being Earnest. Other recent credits include The Polar Express, Schoolhouse Rock Live Too, At the Stroke of Midnight, Entr’acte, and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Jackson also served as the Global Producer and co-host of The Ensemblist podcast for six years. CAP21 graduate. Danielle Scheller (Rag Doll) grew up in Texas and has studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy as well as The Acting Studio in New York City. She is excited to be returning to Vital Theatre Company, where she previously appeared in Pinkalicious The Musical. Taylor Feldman (Etch-a-Sketch) is thrilled to be performing in Calling All Toys. She recently graduated from Syracuse University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Favorite credits include Red: A New Musical at NY Summerfest, Lady Parts at The Davenport Theatre, Velma (West Side Story), and Fritzie (Cabaret). Taylor also loves doing improv and sketch comedy at The Peoples Improv Theatre. CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES John Gregor (Music & Lyrics) is the composer and lyricist of Pinkalicious The Musical, based on the book by Elizabeth and Victoria Kann, now in its 19th year Off-Broadway and produced across the world. His musical With Glee (Book, Music, and Lyrics) opened Off-Broadway at the Kirk Theatre for an extended run presented by Prospect Theater Company. His musical adaptation of Gogol’s tragicomic short story The Overcoat (Book and Lyrics) has been presented in London at the Bridewell Theatre, at Barrington Stage Company, and at The New York International Fringe Festival. An accomplished writer of musicals for young audiences, John has collaborated on The Bully, The Changeling, and The Nastiest Drink in the World for Vital Theatre, NY, and The Invention of Edison at Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. John holds an MFA in musical theatre writing from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and a degree in musical theatre from Emerson College. Michael Schloegl (Director/Writer) is one of the founding members of Vital Theatre Company. His original show, Three Bears and A Babe, started the first Vital children’s theatre season. He works regionally and internationally as a director-choreographer (Chicago, Footloose, Grease, Legally Blonde, Mamma Mia!, Nunsense 2). Michael is also a costume designer, playwright, and children’s book author/illustrator. His original writing credits include It’s Up In the Air!, Calling All Toys, The Chrismouse Story, and the school musical touring show History Time Henry. He has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe in shows such as West Side Story, Oklahoma, The Will Rogers Follies, and A Chorus Line. As a theatre educator, he directs musical theatre shows and master classes for students throughout the New York tri-state area and Canada. Calling All Toys is based on his children’s book of the same name (Kindle Direct Publishing ISBN 9781506150093). Francesca Endres (Production Stage Manager) is an NYC-based performer and stage manager. Past stage management credits include Trees (MorDance), Cinderella: A Traditional English Panto (The Winnipesaukee Playhouse), Transcending Souls (Woman in Motion), Red Brass Dream Project (DanceBoissiere), Find Your Way (Women in Motion), and Free to Be (Elizabeth Troxler). ABOUT VITAL THEATRE COMPANY Vital Theatre Company is dedicated to producing entertaining and educational theatre for young audiences. The company commissions new musicals for children each season. Since its founding in 1999, Vital Theatre Company has been honored with the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Family Musical and two Awards for Excellence by the Off-Off Broadway Review, and has received high acclaim from audiences and critics alike for being “a wonderful place for parents to introduce their kids to the glories of live theatre, done well and at modest prices” (Off-Off Broadway Review). The company has presented over 100 original productions to tens of thousands of children and their families Off-Broadway in New York City and across North America on tour. Vital Voices, Vital Theatre Company’s Arts-in-Education program, engages NYC public school students by integrating theatre arts into the core curriculum to stimulate academic progress and inspire creative achievement. Throughout the year, Vital Theatre Company offers Performance Camps for children. Junior Performance Camps are week-long theatre skills camps which culminate in a final musical sharing for family and friends, open to children ages 4 to 6. Play In A Day camps take place on one weekend day from 10am to 3pm, in which campers create a performance for family and friends followed by a reception and autograph signing, open to children ages 4 to 6 and 7 to 10. For dates and information, visit vitaltheatre.org. |