GLOBALSTAGE VIDEO RECEIVES 'KIDS FIRST!' ENDORSEMENT

July 14, 1998 -- San Francisco – ‘KIDS FIRST!’ The Coalition for Quality Children’s Media awarded Globalstage’s "Pinocchio" a quality children’s media endorsement.

Filmed by the BBC at Louisville’s Stage One Children’s Theatre, "Pinocchio" is the second release in Globalstage’s series of the world’s best children’s theatre. The company’s previous releases include "Frankenstein" also by Stage One and "Cyrano" by Blauw Vier, a theater in Antwerp, Belgium.

The Coalition for Quality Children’s Media is a national non-profit organization that evaluates children’s videos, television, and CD-ROMs. Its KIDS FIRST! panel approves only a handful of high quality children’s programs and publishes the titles in an annual directory for parents, educators, and media distributors. Each title selected must meet the combined adult-kid jury’s criteria of ‘no gratuitous violence, no racial/gender bias, no condescension toward children, and no unsafe behavior.’

Surpassing the coalition’s criteria, Globalstage’s "Pinocchio" presents an innovative revisit of Carlo Collodi’s classic children’s story. Performed in the Italian Renaissance ‘commedia dell’arte’ style of theatre with vibrant sets and harlequinesque costumes, the play features an African American lead, Mr. Omar Morris, in the role of Pinocchio. Superb acting and original music by Scott Kasbaum make the play an unforgettable experience for children of all ages.

"Pinocchio" was also awarded a "Parents’ Choice Gold Award" by the Parents’ Choice Foundation and has received rave reviews in ‘The Dallas Morning News,’ ‘Houston Chronicle,’ ‘Video Business,’ and ‘Video Librarian.’

Giving "Pinocchio" 3 ½ out of 4 stars in her children’s video review column, ‘Dallas Morning News’ columnist Nancy Churnin wrote, "once the show begins, the skillful filming recalls the heights of BBC’s wonderful old Masterpiece Theatre – this time, crafted for kids, with enough depth for their adult companions to explore and enjoy."

‘Video Librarian’ also assigned 3 ½ stars to Pinocchio, giving it a "highly recommended" review.

Globalstage travels the world to find the best professional children’s theatre available. Families can order the videos through a subscription, with a new release arriving every other month. Globalstage has just completed filming its fourth production based on Thomas Hardy’s, "Far From the Madding Crowd" by SNAP People’s Theatre in London, due for release August 15.

For more information about Globalstage or to schedule an interview, please call Toni Tabora at 1.888.324.5623; (415-217-5800 x221); email or visit www.globalstage.net.