For Immediate Release
Contact: Metro Media Group, Inc
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Janine Knop chosen as
star of Omaha's
"Aunt Molly & Friends"
Marilyn Tipp, Jordan Somer, Ashley
Smith and,
of course, "Rusty"
Round Out Cast
Nearly 200 people packed the upper level of Westroads Mall on Saturday, while auditions were being held for a new children's television show that is being shot in Omaha called "Aunt Molly & Friends". The show, geared for kids 5 to 10 years of age, is a half-hour children's show that will take some of the nostalgic features that parents may remember from shows like "Captain Kangaroo", "Bozo the Clown" and "Romper Room", and join it with interactive video and more, to create one of the most unique children's programs on television.
After more than 5 hours of auditions, the show's Executive Producer, Christopher Ewing, chose Janine Knop of Atlantic, Iowa to star as "Aunt Molly". "I knew as soon as Janine came on stage and started to audition that she was going to play a major role in this show," says Ewing. "She has this wonderful warmth and gentle spirit that is "Aunt Molly" and I know that that warmth and sincerity will reach through the television and embrace every kid who watches." Knop, a 55 year old, self described "farm wife", says she is thrilled to have been chosen for the role. "As a mother, I have searched the television channels for safe, wholesome, educational children's programming. 'Aunt Molly & Friends' will be this type of program", Knop says. "It is a humbling and awesome responsibility to have been selected as 'Aunt Molly' and I am thankful for the heartfelt desire of Executive Producer Christopher Ewing to provide wonderful children's programming that parents can trust."
The "Aunt Molly & Friends" TV studio will also prove to be unique. Following the example of shows like "The Today Show", where people can watch the show being filmed "live" through large glass windows, "Aunt Molly & Friends" will be filmed from the inside of an empty store at Westroads Mall in Omaha that will be transformed into a television studio and visitors to the mall will be able to view the taping through the windows. "This will be a 'first-of-its-kind' for children's television," says Ewing, "and we really think that it will give everyone a really neat opportunity to watch a television show being produced, right there on the spot. It will be very cool!" Interactive video will also play a major part in each episode and the "Aunt Molly Learning Series", a fun, educational internet-based teaching series designed to help kids learn, will also be available on-line for parents and kids to work with together.
Also chosen to star on "Aunt Molly & Friends" are:
"Rusty"
This lovely, shaggy "Goldendoodle" is Aunt Molly's dog. The character was
conceived by Ewing and was hand-crafted, and is performed by, the shows Puppet Master,
Brad Lowe, an award winning puppeteer in television, film and theater for over 30
years. "I am very excited and honored to be a part of a fresh and exciting
new children's television show like 'Aunt Molly & Friends'. I know that
this show will provide an entertaining and educational experience that will
spark the imagination of any child who has ever wanted a closer look, a question
answered, or a dream inspired!" Lowe, has been delighting
audiences with his large colorful puppets on stage, television and film for more
than 35 years. His unique combination of music, comedy and
state-of-the-art puppetry has garnered him several coveted awards from Action
for Children's Television, the Broadcast Communication Arts Department of San
Francisco State University, a Broadcast Media Award for highest
standards in television broadcasting and two Emmy Awards. He earned the
"Seal of Approval" from
the Committee for Children's Television, as well
as an Honorary Ringmaster Award from Ringling Brothers and Barnum &
Bailey Circus.
Marilyn Tipp
Marilyn will play the role of "Tippy", one of Aunt Molly's friends,
who will take young viewers on various outings and adventures, such as
behind-the-scenes at a fire station, an ice
cream plant, a newspaper plant to see how
newspapers are made and more.
The Bennington, Nebraska resident is an outstanding character actress whose film
credits include "About Schmidt", "Citizen Ruth" and more.
"Marilyn has incredible comedic timing with this funny, zany energy that is sure
to be a huge hit with the kids. She is a riot!", Ewing says.
"I am thrilled to be chosen to be associated with such a fine program," says
Tipp. "I feel that bringing back the wholesome, fun, informative
children's television of my childhood, is a much needed alternative for our
youngsters today. To be a part of that wonderful process is truly a blessing."
Jordan Somer
This 12 year old Omaha resident is an
incredibly gifted young dancer who Ewing chose on-the-spot to appear as the
"dance instructor" on "Aunt Molly & Friends", who will teach young viewers and
members of the studio audience various dance moves, from ballet to jazz to
hip-hop. "Jordan is extremely talented and very mature for her age.
She blew us all away during her audition and when I announced on the spot that
she was for sure going to be a cast member on the show, the whole place erupted
with applause in agreement. She is great," Ewing says.
Ashley Smith
From Omaha, this 13 year old animal expert will introduce to young viewers and
audience members of "Aunt Molly & Friends" all kinds of unusual and rare animals
from all around the world. Ashley, who has appeared on such shows as "Regis & Kelly"
is the youngest animal expert ever to work
as part of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.
Kids!
Each episode of "Aunt Molly & Friends" will feature a
studio audience completely comprised of between 50 to 100 kids from the Omaha
area who will get the chance to play games, sing songs, meet interesting guests
and more. There will also be puppets and
special "friends" on the show, such as animals from the area zoo.
Interactive video will also play a major role in each episode and the "Aunt
Molly Learning Series", a fun, educational tool that will help kids learn, will
also be available on-line for parents and kids to work with together.
"Mr.
Mulligan & Toby" Cartoon
Charles Goll has joined the "Aunt Molly" family as
the animator of the
humorous animated cartoon, "Mr. Mulligan & Toby". Mr.
Mulligan is an older wealthy gentleman who lives with his bird, "Toby", an
animal of a thousand voices, who is always causing Mr. Mulligan trouble because
of all of his sound effects!
"Chuck" is a native Detroiter who attended Michigan State University, where he
was a contributing cartoonist to the Michigan State News. He later transferred
to Eastern Michigan University, where he was a contributing cartoonist to the
Eastern Echo student newspaper. He moved to Chicago in the ‘80’s where he
worked as a playwright and actor. Eventually he devoted all his efforts to
freelance cartooning. He has been published in national magazines such as
Woman’s World and The Saturday Evening Post, books, and advertising companies.
While working as an illustrator at The Encyclopedia Britannica he learned Flash
animation and has since done animations for online greeting card companies and
websites. He currently does the animation work for award-winning cartoonist Joe
Martin’s comic strip “Mr. Boffo”.
"Chuck is, by far, one of the best animators in the business today," says
Ewing. "When I called him and told him I had an idea for a cartoon for
the show that involved a man who has a bird that is always causing trouble, he
took my concept and put it in color and motion better than anyone could. Kids
are going to LOVE these cartoons and I couldn't be more proud to have Chuck as
part of Aunt Molly's family." To view samples of the "Aunt
Molly & Friends" opening sequence, as well as 2 of the "Mr. Mulligan & Toby"
shorts, "click here" and
then click on the "Aunt Molly & Friends" link.
Christopher
Ewing
Executive Producer
"Aunt Molly & Friends" is the
production of the Hang On to the Dream Foundation and is the creation of the
organization's founder, Christopher Ewing, who has an impressive history in
television. An actor who has appeared on such shows as "All My Children",
"One Life to Live", Ewing won an Emmy
Award in 1995 for "Best Children's Program" as the creator, producer and host of a teen-oriented program called "Hang On to the
Dream". On the show Ewing showcased kids who were positive role models for other kids,
and then presented them with needed items, opportunities and money in an effort
to help them reach their goals in life. That same year, Ewing was
presented with a "Service to Children Television Award" at a black-tie reception on Capitol Hill
hosted by the National Association of Broadcasters, who named Ewing's show one of the "Top-10"
children's programs on television, out of over 200 shows evaluated. Ewing
has since formed the Hang On to the Dream Foundation, which rewards kids from
around the country with needed items and funding that will help them with their
dreams. Through "Aunt Molly and Friends", Ewing
hopes to help even more kids. "I feel that children's television needs
to return to a time when kids could just be 'kids', and to a time when parents
could feel rest-assured that what their children were watching on television was
not something violent or negative," Ewing says. "We think that through
'Aunt Molly & Friends', it will be refreshing to be able to recreate that kind
of programming where parents brought their kids to the local TV studio and
family and friends got to tune in and see their kids on television, just having
fun being kids." Ewing is the Executive Producer of "Aunt Molly & Friends"
and does not plan on appearing on-camera on the show.