Hi-5 (American kids' band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Hi-5

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Img_capt = The Hi-5 Logo
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born =
Died =
Origin = flagicon|Australia Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Instrument =
Genre = Children's music, Edutainment
Occupation =
Years_active = 2003 — Current
Associated_acts = Hi-5 Australia
URL = http://www.hi5us.com
Current_members =

Kimee Balmilero
* Jennifer Peterson-Hind
* Shaun Taylor-Corbett
* Karla Cheatham-Mosley
* Curtis Cregan

"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.

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. [Bucks County Courier Times (September 21, 2007) " [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BURB&p_multi=LBCB&p_theme=burb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11BDCB75B32AC140&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM String thing] " Section: Life local; Page B1. Also see, sesameplace.com. [http://www.sesameplace.com/sesame/pa/eventdetail_sept22_23_hi_5.aspx Sesame Place - Events - Hi-5 Concert.] Accessed March 12, 2008.]

"Hi-5" is currently on hiatus.

Hi-5 characters

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.

Puppets

*Jup-Jup
*Chatterbox Chatterbox is often referred to as Chats.

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".

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.

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.

Credits

Creator and Executive Producer
*Helena Harris

Co-creator
*Posie Graeme-Evans

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 Crawford (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 the Nine Network
* Discovery Kids

International Sales & Distribution
* Southern Star Sales

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

*2008 Hi-5 Hits

Features every Hi-5 song

*2008 Summer Rainbows

Living in a Rainbow

Five Senses

Feel the Beat

CD Titles:
*2004 "Jump and Jive with Hi-5 **Winner of a Parents' Choice Award in 2004**
*2005 "It's a Hi-5 Christmas"

References

* Barrera, Sandra. (August 18, 2007) Los Angeles Daily News " [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LB&p_theme=lb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11B1BBADA68D7220&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Hi-5 cast members talk about what it's like to be pop icons and role models.] " Section: LA.COM; Page L12

External links

* [http://www.hi-5us.com/ Hi-5 Official website]
* [http://www.hi5america.com/ Hi-5 America]