Backyardigans drop by the Paramount

ASHLAND -- Your backyard friends are landing at the Paramount Arts Center today in two performances at 4 and 7 p.m.

"The Backyardigans Live!" will come to life for preschoolers (and moms and dads) in "The Tale of the Mighty Knights!" Ticket prices range from $10 to $30.

The latest hit show from Nick Jr. -- following "Dora the Explorer Live!" and "Go, Diego, Go Live!" -- the Backyardigans tour will visit 50 cities across the country as knights Uniqua and Tyrone babysit King Pablo's egg that grows legs and runs away. Throughout the show with a rock opera soundtrack, the "knights" pursue their egg, encounter goblin Austin, visit Fairyland fairy Tasha, and make it to Dragon Mountain where they face a mighty dragon.

Parent Ashley Quinn, who has a 5-year-old son and 21/2-year-old triplets, said she is excited for the production to make its way to the Tri-State.

"Our oldest son has a Backyardigans CD that he listens to every night before bedtime. A few weeks ago, he was sent to his room for misbehaving ... he stomped all of the way there, turned on his Backyardigans CD, turned it way up and sat on his bed with Pablo, Uniqua, Austin, Tyrone and Tasha blaring until his time was up. My husband I thought we had a teenager already," explained Quinn, who attended both the Dora and Diego presentations at the Paramount. "It's really exciting to be able to have live, family-friendly entertainment in Ashland.

"Living in a smaller town, so often we have to drive at least an hour or so to enjoy these kinds of productions," she said. "I love that my kids are being exposed to theatre at a young age and can, hopefully, instill a lifetime enjoyment of the arts."

Since its debut in Nick's preschool weekday lineup, "The Backyardigans" has become the No. 2 rated preschool show on all of commercial television for kids ages 2 through 5. The live stage show will include many of the features parents and kids have come to love about the cartoon.

"As a parent, it's the most entertaining kids' show on TV. The variety of musical genres is always interesting and something many different ages of kids and parents can relate to," Quinn said, adding a confession. "I often find myself singing Backyardigans songs throughout the day."

For more information, call 606-324-3175 or visit www.paramountartscenter.com.