Ninja Turtles Coming Out Of Their Shells Tour
If you are a 90s kid, there's no way you haven't heard of the Ninja Turtles. Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo – four turtles who were mutated by a radioactive substance and trained in martial arts by their sensei, Master Splinter. Their adventures in saving the city of New York from the evil Shredder were a staple of our childhood entertainment.
But did you know that the Ninja Turtles once went on a concert tour? That's right! The Ninja Turtles Coming Out Of Their Shells Tour was a stage show that toured across the United States and Canada in 1990. The show featured the Turtles performing their original music live on stage, along with dancing and acrobatics.
The Origins Of The Tour
The idea for the tour came from Mark Freedman, who was the licensing agent for Mirage Studios, the creators of the Ninja Turtles. Freedman had previously worked on a similar tour with the Care Bears, which had been a huge success. He saw the potential in creating a live show around the Ninja Turtles.
Freedman teamed up with Tony Spinosa, who had experience in creating stage shows for children. Spinosa wrote the script and directed the show. The music was written by John Du Prez and David Wise, who had worked on the score for the Turtles' animated television series.
The Show
The Coming Out Of Their Shells Tour was a multimedia extravaganza. The Turtles performed their songs live on stage, with the help of a backing band and backing vocalists dressed as April O'Neil and Casey Jones. The Turtles themselves were played by actors in elaborate costumes, and their voices were pre-recorded.
The show also featured a giant video screen, which showed clips from the Turtles' animated series and music videos. There were also elaborate props and set pieces, including a giant inflatable pizza and a spaceship that the Turtles used to travel to different parts of the world.
The show was peppered with jokes and banter between the Turtles, who stayed in character throughout. There were also moments of audience participation, such as when the Turtles invited children on stage to dance with them.
The Music
The Coming Out Of Their Shells Tour featured a whole album's worth of original music, which was released on cassette and CD. The songs were written by John Du Prez and David Wise, with lyrics that were, to put it politely, very 90s.
Some of the highlights include "Dancin' In My Dreams", "Pizza Power", and "Tubin'". The songs are pure cheese, but they are undeniably catchy. And, of course, they are all about pizza.
The Legacy Of The Tour
The Coming Out Of Their Shells Tour was a huge success, selling out venues across the United States and Canada. It was also released as a home video, which became a cult classic among Ninja Turtles fans.
While the tour is often looked back on with affection, it's fair to say that it hasn't aged particularly well. The costumes and sets are very 90s, and the music is very of its time. But for those of us who grew up with the Turtles, the Coming Out Of Their Shells Tour is a beloved part of our childhoods.
The Return Of The Turtles
If you're feeling nostalgic for the Turtles, you'll be happy to know that they've never really gone away. The Turtles have been rebooted numerous times, with new animated series and movies. In fact, there's a new CGI-animated movie coming out in 2023, which promises to be a fresh take on the classic characters.
So, whether you remember the Coming Out Of Their Shells Tour from your childhood or you're just discovering it for the first time, the Turtles are still very much alive and kicking. And who knows? Maybe someday they'll go on tour again.
