BWW JR: THE FRESH BEAT BAND LIVE CONCERT TOUR- The Beatles of Kids' Concerts

This past weekend my Little Guy and I were among the lucky few to get tickets to see the Beatles of kids' concerts, THE FRESH BEATS.  Nickelodeon's popular preschool music group and stars of the hit TV series by the same name hit the road last month after selling out in almost every city they were scheduled to perform in...usually the first day the tickets were on sale!

I think the appeal goes deeper than the quality of the TV show itself, which is actually a really great show.  Nickelodeon describes the popular series which debuted in 2009 and has amassed an amazing core fan base like this:

"The Fresh Beat Band centers on four best friends - Kiki, Shout, Marina and Twist - in a band who love to sing and dance.  Kids are introduced to the fundamentals of music such as melody, rhythm, tempo and performance styles.  In each episode, preschoolers sing and dance along as they help The Fresh Beat Band solve everyday challenges.  Viewers also learn the importance of friendship, working together in a positive way and respecting each other's differences."

Kids love this show and my Little Guy is no exception, but the concert itself has become a huge event in large part because of a certain music video that plays on Nick Jr all the time featuring the Fresh Beats in concert, singing their hit "Just Like a Rock Star".  Something about the enthusiasm of the band is contagious, and my theory is that this video is the reason so many kids have convinced their parents to beg, borrow or steal to get tickets.

Broadway enthusiasts will be interested to know that the Nick Jr. series features Monica Lee as "Mrs. Piccolo" the music teacher.  Monica appeared on Broadway and on tour in "Hello Dolly" and "Grease" under the name Monica Lee Gradischek.   She's also a working mom/actress who really has a way with reaching kids.

For those of you in New York, you'll have to wait until they either add more dates or launch another tour to catch the Fresh Beats live.  For those of you around the country, there are scant seats available but it's certainly worth a look.  Check out http://www.freshbeatbandlive.com/ to see if there are tickets available for your city!

Erin Leigh Peck is a New York based actor, writer and mother. She has performed on and off Broadway, in regional theatre and on tour, in films and on television. She most recently appeared Off-Broadway in The Toxic Avenger Musical and can often be seen on television in various commercials. Erin's play Mother of Mine is a contemporary 'dramedy' about pregnancy, parenthood and postpartum. She is the proud and busy mother of two extremely awesome kids. Please visit her web site, www.ErinLeighPeck.com.

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