Hi-5 (American kids' band)
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| Hi-5 | |
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 The Hi-5 Logo
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| Background information | |
| Origin |  Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Genre(s) | |
| Years active | 2003 — Current |
| Associated acts | Hi-5 Australia |
| Website | http://www.hi5us.com |
| Members | |
Hi-5 is a children's television program, based on the original Australian TV show. The show has been nominated for an Emmy Award three years in a row, and has won countless other awards since its debut in 2003. Aside from being a television show, Hi-5 is also a children's band. The group frequently tours the U.S. and Canada and performs to sell-out crowds of preschoolers.
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[edit] History
As Hi-5 was such a hugely popular show in Australia, an American group was assembled and Hi-5 made its U.S. debut in February 2003 (featuring American performers in the same roles as the original Australian version). The American version is shot in the same studios that the Australian version is shot in Sydney. The American show has episodes airing every weekday on The Learning Channel and Discovery Kids, and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2005, 2006, and 2007. In addition, the Fall 2004 Parent's Choice Award was given to their first CD, Jump and Jive with Hi-5.
As the show became increasingly popular, the cast appeared and performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, on CBS's Early Show, and NBC's Today Show, among others. During one Today Show appearance, Matt Lauer, the show's host, compared the group's popularity to The Beatles.
Hi-5 toured theatres and arenas in the U.S. in 2005, on the "Move Your Body" Tour, playing live to sold-out crowds in Hartford, Boston, Columbus, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, Tallahassee, and Raleigh. Beginning August 19, 2006, over two weeks of concerts were held at Vancouver's PNE, with additional concerts at Sesame Place and at Target book festivals in Minneapolis and New York City. Their second tour, "Hi-5 Live", was also a sell-out.
The members of Hi-5 visit families and kids alike during their 'off' time, helping in relief efforts for victims of both Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina, visiting children at Target House (a facility servicing St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis), and helping with other benefits. Individual members often work with their own project or charity, such as Karla's work with middle school-aged kids at an after-school program.
Original cast members Curtis, Jenn, Kimee, Karla and Shaun last performed together on September 23, 2007 at the Sesame Place theme park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.[1]
Hi-5 is currently on hiatus.
[edit] Hi-5 characters
[edit] Cast members
- Curtis Cregan, from Okemos, Michigan, starred on Broadway in Rent.
- Jennifer Peterson-Hind, a native of Madison, Wisconsin, toured with The American Folklore Theatre for three summers. Her solo album, Give a Girl a Reason, was released June 12, 2007. Her first single is "Good Night Tonight".
- Kimee Balmilero, a Filipina born and raised in Hawaii, performed in Miss Saigon on tour and made her Broadway debut in Mamma Mia!.
- Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Native American, appeared on All My Children and studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He left the series in the summer of 2006 to perform in the off-Broadway show Altar Boyz.
- Karla Cheatham-Mosley, was raised in Westchester, New York. She left the series in the summer of 2006 to concentrate on working in New York musical theatre.
[edit] Puppets
Chatterbox is often referred to as Chats.
[edit] New Hi-5 cast members
In July 2006, Karla Cheatham-Mosley, and Shaun Taylor-Corbett left Hi-5 to pursue other opportunities. The episodes featuring Shaun and Karla are still broadcast on television. Replacing Karla and Shaun are
- Sydney James, an African-American performer who auditioned for American Idol and made it to Hollywood. He played Simba in the Lion King on Broadway.
- Yasmeen Sulieman, an African-American singer born in Oakland, California and raised in Hawaii. She toured with Little Shop of Horrors.
[edit] Segments of the program
- Kimee specializes in "Puzzles and Patterns" to help with math and logical thinking.
- Karla focuses on "Body Move" to emphasize physical activity and coordination.
- Curtis creates "Music" to show melody, rhythm and beat.
- Jennifer works with "Word Play" to expand children's vocabulary, often using rhyming and song.
- Shaun helps identify "Shapes in Space" - visual and spacial awareness, shapes, colors and sizes.
[edit] Series
Series 1 (Recorded late 2002)
- Five Senses (Senses)
- So Many Animals (Animals)
- Robot Number One (Machines)
- North South East West (Adventure)
- Ready or Not (Games)
- Move your Body (Bodies)
- Three Wishes (Wishes)
- Feel the Beat (Music)
- Living in a Rainbow (Colors)
Series 2 (Recorded early 2005)
- Making Music (Making)
- Action Hero (Action)
- T.E.A.M (Teams)
- Some Kind of Wonderful (Wonderful)
- Underwater Discovery (Journeys)
Hi-5 is also translated in Spanish and Portuguese.
[edit] Credits
Creator and Executive Producer
- Helena Harris
Co-creator
Composer
- Chris Harriott
Song of the week Lyrics
- Leone Carey (Five Senses, North South East and West, Making Music)
- Lisa Hoppe (Action Heroes, T.E.A.M)
- Helena Harris (Feel The Beat)
- Chris Phillips (Action Heroes, Some Kind Of Wonderful)
- Chris Harriott
- Kellie Hoggart (Move Your Body)
- Rob Cotterill (Robot Number One, Three Wishes)
- Russel Burton
- Andrew Einspruch (So Many Animals)
Song of the Week Choreographer: Kim Fowler
- Three Wishes
- So Many Animals
- North South East and West
- Robot #1
- Feel The Beat
Originally by Catherine Thiele. Modified by Kim Fowler.
- Ready Or Not
- Move Your Body
- Living In A Rainbow
- Five Senses
Originally by Cameron Mitchell. Modified by Kim Folwer.
- Making Music
- Action Heroes
- T.E.A.M
- Some Kind Of Wonderful
- Under The Sea
Song of the Week Directors
- Ian Munro
- Rob Cotterill
- Russel Burton
- David Summons
Executive In-Charge Of Production
- Martin Hersov
Executive Producer
- Helena Harris
Produced By
- Kids Like Us
- Nine Films & Television
- for Nine Network / Discovery Kids
International Sales & Distribution
- Southern Star Sales
[edit] Discography/Videography
Video Titles released on DVD/VHS in America (Region 1):
- 2004 Game Time:
Ready or Not
- 2004 Color Craze:
Living in a Rainbow
- 2004 Music Magic (Winner of the iParenting award for 2004):
Feel the Beat
- 2006 Move Your Body:
Move Your Body
Five Senses
North, South, East, and West
- 2006 Action Heroes:
Action Hero
T.E.A.M
Under the Sea
- 2007 Making Music:
Making Music
Feel the Beat
Robot Number One
- 2007 Wonderful Wishes:
Some Kind of Wonderful
Three Wishes
Sleigh Ride
- 2008 Animal Adventures
So Many Animals
Underwater Discovery
North, South, East, and West
CD Titles:
- 2004 Jump and Jive With Hi-5 **Winner of a Parents' Choice Award in 2004**
- 2005 It's a Hi-5 Christmas
[edit] References
- ^ Bucks County Courier Times (September 21, 2007) String thing Section: Life local; Page B1. Also see, sesameplace.com. Sesame Place - Events - Hi-5 Concert. Accessed March 12, 2008.
- Barrera, Sandra. (August 18, 2007) Los Angeles Daily News Hi-5 cast members talk about what it's like to be pop icons and role models. Section: LA.COM; Page L12
[edit] External links
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