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BY MOLLY WOULFE
mwoulfe@nwitimes.com
219.852.4329 | Saturday, March 01, 2008 | (No comments posted.)
Tots, get ready to rock.
The Doodlebops, Canada's answer to the Wiggles, bop into town next Friday for two shows at the Star Plaza Theatre.
Lift those sippy cups high! All together now: "Let's get on the bus/Let's get on the bus/Let's get on the bus/It's time to go!"
Not to worry -- mosh pits rarely form during "Doodlebops Live!" It's hard to slam-dance in diapers.
If you're baffled, relax. Only preschoolers (and their parents) are hip to Deedee, Rooney and Moe Doodle, the stars of "The Doodlebops" in the Playhouse Disney lineup.
Launched by Cookie Jar Entertainment in 2004, the TV show follows the color-coded Doodle sibs, their pop band and their G-rated adventures on the road. Deedee (Lisa J. Lennox) is the pink keyboardist and Rooney (Chad McNamara) is the blue guitarist. Moe (Jonathan Wexler) is the orange drummer.
The plots are simple, hinging on getting along. As for tunes like "The Clean Up Song" and "Communicate," they foster social skills and get tykes movin' and groovin'.
The 90-minute stage show "has a rock concert feel," said McNamara, 25.
"Every kid or teenager remembers their first concert, whether it was Madonna or Garth Brooks. We want young kids saying, 'My first real concert was the Doodlebops.' We sing all the hits, like 'Let's Get on the Bus,' 'Wobbly Whoopsy,' and Moe does 'Let's Get Loud,' which gets the kids going."
In real life, the trio -- fast friends after four years together in candy-colored makeup and wigs -- are 20something Ontario natives. Lennox has described her and McNamara as joined at the hip, but all the Doodles are close.
He's on a rare vacation, McNamara reported in a phone chat. But he recently called Wexler to wish him a happy 23rd birthday.
"He had a barbecue at his place in L.A.," he said.
"I was invited, but I was in Toronto."
McNamara was fresh from a tour of "Mamma Mia" in 2003 when his agent mentioned a casting call for a new children's show. He went for fun, and was sized up -- with 200 other hopefuls -- for his singing, dancing and ability to tap into his inner kid.
Hours later, "there were about 40 people left," he recalled.
"They put us in different groups of three and throughout the day they would switch one person out, to see if the vibe was different. My original group was me, Lisa and Jon.
They never switched us with anyone else. I remembering thinking, 'We could be the good group.' " They were.
The three clicked, their voices harmonized and the rest is history. The Doodlebops have logged two U.S. tours, a children's album ("Superstars" is up for a Juno, Canada's Grammy Award) and a whole lotta merchandise in pink, blue and orange.
Little boppers are teething on toy instruments, backpacks and sleepwear. The pop-rock trio will shoot their fourth and fifth seasons this summer in Toronto, and there's talk of a Doodlebops movie and European tour.
An ailing Greg Page recently retired after a 15-year stint with the Wiggles, the wildly popular tot-rockers from Down Under. The show has gone on, with a new man in yellow. But McNamara -- who has learned to play guitar like alter ego Rooney -- expects the Doodlebops won't bop 'til they drop. He'd like to see the show live on in reruns then evolve into a cartoon.
Touring is hard on the trio, he noted, "and we've never, ever had understudies," he said.
"And none of us has ever missed a show. We've done it through food poisoning, laryngitis, a broken ankle -- we cover for each other.
"We can read each other like a book. We know when to step in."
Overall, though, he has no complaints with kiddie iconhood. He does wish his signature color was green, though green hair, skin and a wig "might not look too good," he agreed.
What amazes him is how little ones seem to recognize him when he's out of costume. "When I'm in an elevator, I find them staring at me," he said.
"I can just catch (a baby's eye) and can tell they think they know who I am. It must be my voice."
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"Doodlebops Live!" by Cookie Jar Entertainment and Feld Entertainment
When: 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. March 7.
Where: Star Plaza Theatre, US 30 and Interstate 65, Merrillville
Cost: $18, $24, $37
FYI: (219) 791-1234 or (312) 559-1212 or www.starplazatheatre.com
When: 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. March 8
Where: Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont, Ill.
Cost: $16, $25, $34, $46. Parking: $11.
FYI: (847) 671-5100 or (312) 559-1212
Calling all Doodleboppers!
You, too, can see the Fab 3 in living color! We're giving away tickets to "Doodlebops Live!" at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville.
The grand prize winner bags four free VIP tickets (premium seating) to the 4 p.m. show March 7. Five runners-up will each win a family four-pack (four tickets) to the same performance.
Entering is simple. Ask a parent to call (219) 852-4329 between 9:30 a.m. and 9:40 a.m. today. The first caller wins the VIP package. The next five will each win a family four-pack.
The catch: Voicemail doesn't count. You have to get through to a Times staffer at this number. No calls will be accepted after the 10-minute "giveaway window" ends.
Good luck!
The contest is open to all readers except Times employees and their families. Tickets must be picked up within five days at the Times office (601 45th W. Ave. in Munster) or they will be forfeited. Prizes cannot be exchanged or substituted and are void where prohibited.
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