GLOBALSTAGE BRINGS THE WORLDS BEST FAMILY THEATRE TO AMERICAN HOMES

March 21, 1998, San Francisco, California -- Imagine rolling out of bed late Saturday morning, then making your way to the family room where you expect to find your children watching cartoons. The children are there, cereal bowls in hand, and the TV is on, but instead of cartoons, theyre watching quality childrens theatre.

Globalstage is making it possible for every American child to experience the worlds best family theatre. Globalstages first years series of family theatre on video tape includes comedy, high drama, science fiction and even a musical, performed by world-renowned childrens theatre companies in the United States, Scotland, Belgium, and The Netherlands.

"Our productions, which are filmed by the British Broadcasting Company, capture everything that creates the experience of live theatre, including acting, music, beautiful language, props, costumes, sets, lights and stage movement," said Libby Pratt. Pratt is a stock market trader who founded San Francisco-based Globalstage because she wanted an entertainment alternative for her own 12-year-old son.

"In most parts of the U.S., there is limited or no access to theatre companies doing works specifically for children, so until now, most children have not had the opportunity to see great family theatre," said Pratt.

Globalstage today released its second production, Pinocchio by the Louisville Stage One childrens theatre. Globalstages first release, Frankenstein, also by Louisville Stage One is selling briskly all over the country. Also set for the 1998 subscription series is a version of "Cyrano" for young people by Belgiums Blauw Vier Theatre; "Still, the Drummer," based on a Berthold Brecht play by the Huis Aan de Amstel Theatre in The Netherlands; and "A Stranger Came Ashore" and a childrens version of "Macbeth" by Scotlands Royal Lyceum Theatre.

"While we want our plays to appeal to children from the ages of 7 to 14, the entire family will enjoy Globalstage productions because they spark the imagination, delight the senses and challenge the mind," said Pratt.

Many experts believe that exposure to theatre makes children better students and helps them perform better in a number of subjects (see attached fact sheet). "Offering high quality theatre as an entertainment alternative is one of the most significant developments in childrens entertainment since the invention of the VCR," said Pratt.

Each Globalstage production comes with a study guide that probes historical, theatrical and other aspects of the play and production. Serving as host for the plays are Pratts sixth-grade son, Preston Blakeley, and Professor Elizabeth McNamer, whose radio program Tea and Poetry is now in its 11^th year on public radio.

Globalstage productions are available individually or as a series on its web site, www.globalstage.net, or by phone, 1-888-324-5623. The plays also are available in the Book of the Month Club and Barnes & Noble catalogues, and from a growing number of retail toy and entertainment stores across the country. Globalstage is also working with library systems all over the country to help children gain access to its productions through their local library.