CHOO CHOO DUDE

Hey there, Engineers! So, there's this super-cool model train store here in St. Paul that Alex and I frequent, a place called Choo Choo Bob's. I swear, my kid could watch their window display of moving model trains for hours. Well, the man behind the store, Bob Medcraft, is a local commercial producer. In fact, back in the ol' Production Assistant days, I worked a time or two with the guy. Swell fella. Anyway, a few years back, Bob decided to create a television show about trains, one similar in tone and content to Casey Jones and Captain Kangaroo. The show, aptly titled The Choo Choo Bob Show, produced six episodes, and starred some amazing local talent: Sam Heyn, Rich Kronfeld, Emily Fradenburgh, Dave Tufford, and Charlie Hubbell. Now, I have worked with each and every one of these talented individuals, on commercials, shorts, and even feature-length flicks. They're solid, hard-working peeps. Doubt me? Check the sidebar and marvel at Sam and Rich in two - count 'em TWO - of the 48 Hour Film Festival shorts I co-wrote/directed. Also, many of the crew are people I've worked with for years in the commercial world. So I took the first opportunity to snatch up the DVDs of the show and introduce Alex to the wonderful world of trains.

Okay, so long story longer, the gang is back again, producing an additional 46 episodes! The Choo Choo Bob Show will air locally beginning this June, so be on the lookout for this wacky gang of train-iacs. And I'll be sure to remind you. Why? Because I've become a part of this madcap production! I've currently written two episodes of the show, and I'm the author of the Choo Choo Bob picture book Holy Smokestacks! (coming soon) It's been a joy to work with this group again, and to be a part of a locally-produced children's television show (especially one that my son cherishes so much).

This Saturday, April 14th, from 9:30A.M. to 11:30A.M. the Choo Choo Bob gang are screening new episodes of the show at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis. The cast will be on-hand, signing autographs, hanging with the kiddos, and performing live music. It's going to be a great event. Tickets are $2.00 apiece, and all of the proceeds are going to the Midway Food Shelf. So come on over and check out The Choo Choo Bob Show!

Here's the details again:
Saturday April 14th
The Riverview Theater
Time: 9:30 - 11:30 AM
Tickets: $2.00 apiece

Hope to see some of you there!

B