AMERICAN GIRL PLACE® CHICAGO WELCOMES BACK THE AMERICAN GIRLS REVUE®

Critically-Acclaimed Musical Returns With New Songs and New Vignettes

Middleton, WI – September 7, 2005 –Fresh from it’s successful two-year run at American Girl Place New York, The American Girls Revue—the engaging live musical that brings to life the stories of the beloved American Girl historical characters—will return to the Theater at American Girl Place Chicago this September. The refreshed show, featuring new songs and vignettes created for the popular Kaya® and Kit® characters, will replace Circle of Friends: An American Girls Musical®, which closed on September 5th following a phenomenal four-year run and nearly 2,500 performances. The American Girls Revue officially opens on Thursday, September 29, with previews beginning September 21, 2005.

The American Girls Revue, which originally debuted when American Girl Place Chicago opened in 1998, tells the story of a group of modern-day girls at a meeting of their American Girls club. Each girl has prepared to act out her favorite American Girls story for fellow club members and a guest who is not familiar with the fictional American Girls characters—Kaya, Felicity®, Josefina®, Kirsten®, Addy®, Samantha®, Kit, and Molly®. As the girls relive the various characters’ experiences, they establish the underlying theme of the play: Look to the past; learn for the future. As each girl in turn brings her favorite story to life and steps into the role of an American Girls heroine, she gains new found awareness of her own strengths, her own voice, and her own feelings. The finale, “The American Girls Anthem” celebrates the girls’ resolve to apply the lessons from the past to their own lives as they sing about what it means to be an American girl of today.

“We’re thrilled to bring this latest incarnation of The American Girls Revue to our Theater in Chicago,” says Scott Davidson, Director of Theater for American Girl Place. “The show embodies the same spirit that lies at the heart of the entire American Girl brand—celebrating girls of yesterday and today. And with the addition of new songs and new vignettes for American Girl fan favorites Kit and Kaya, there is more music and magic for our patrons to enjoy.”

Out of the hundreds who auditioned for this demanding theatrical opportunity, a total of 40 girls and 8 adults were selected to play the various roles. The American Girls Revue is performed on the following days and times:

• Thursdays—One performance:  5:30 p.m.
• Fridays—One performance:  5:30 p.m.
• Saturdays—Four performance:  12:30, 2:00, 4:00, & 5:30 p.m.
• Sundays—Three performances:  12:30, 2:00, & 4:00 p.m.

To order tickets for The American Girls Revue or for more information, call toll free 1-877-247-5223
(1-877-AG PLACE). The performance schedule is subject to change in response to demand and during holidays. American Girl Theater is located inside Chicago’s premiere retail and entertainment site, American Girl Place, located at 111 East Chicago Avenue, across from the historic Water Tower. 

ABOUT AMERICAN GIRL
American Girl, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT, www.mattel.com), the world’s leading toy company. Since American Girl’s inception in 1986, the company has devoted its entire business to celebrating the potential of girls ages 3 to 12. American Girl encourages girls to dream, to grow, to aspire, to create, and to imagine through a wide range of engaging and insightful books, age-appropriate and educational products, and unforgettable experiences. In meeting its mission with a vigilant eye toward quality and service, American Girl has earned the loyal following of millions of girls and the praise and trust of parents and educators.

To learn more about American Girl or to request a free catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005 or visit www.americangirl.com.