Award-Winning Troupe’s Performances Highlight Humane Education

ROYAL OAK, Mich., June 20, 2008 – In celebration of 2008 Year of the Frog, the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit will perform “AM-TV: All Amphibians, All the Time” at the Detroit Zoo’s Ford Education Center Theater every weekend from June 29 to September 7.  The free, 30-minute performances will take place at 12 noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on June 29, July 5, 13, 19 and 27, August  2, 10, 16, 24 and 31 and September 7.

Originally commissioned by the Detroit Zoo in 1998, “AM-TV” is a trilogy of vignettes presented in an entertaining television-style format to enlighten audiences about the global predicament of endangered amphibians.  Sponsored by the Madeleine Berman Academy for Humane Education, the performances coincide with the 2008 Year of the Frog Youth Art Exhibition on display in the Ford Education Center Exhibit Gallery throughout the summer.

Year of the Frog is a global public awareness campaign to focus attention on endangered amphibians and the critical work being done by zoos and aquariums to save them.  The Detroit Zoological Society is supporting the worldwide initiative with special events, fundraising activities, educational opportunities and community outreach efforts throughout the year.

In addition to the “AM-TV” performances, Mosaic Youth Theatre’s “Humane Education Medley” and other medleys can be heard at the Zoo’s main entrance at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on June 28, July 6, 12, 20 and 26, August 3, 9, 17, 23 and 30 and September 6.  A quartet of singers will perform tunes set to the music of popular songs.

The Mosaic Youth Theatre performances highlight humane education in a way that is fun and entertaining for audiences of all ages, according to the Detroit Zoological Society’s Humane Education Specialist, Lisa Forzley.  “Our goal is to inspire everyone to take care of the earth and the animals that inhabit it.  We look for different ways to do that, and theatre is a wonderful way to reach people.”

The Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit is an award-winning professional performing arts training program.  Its mission is to empower young people and maximize their potential through professional performing arts.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October (open at 9:30 a.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day) – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March.  Admission is $11 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 

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