The Carnival of Curi-Oddities show is licensed by Mills Entertainment and The Booking Group
Ripley Entertainment, Mills Entertainment & The Booking Group have announced a new license and touring agreement that will put the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! franchise on the road in 2018. As part of Ripley’s 100th anniversary celebration, the tour will launch this fall visiting performing arts theaters across the United States.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our 100th anniversary than to bring Ripley’s directly to our fans,” said Amanda Joiner, senior director of publishing with Ripley Entertainment, in a statement. “Partnering with Mills Entertainment, we’re excited to be able to bring to life the odd, unusual and absolutely incredible things that have made Ripley’s Believe It or Not! the most beloved source of the unbelievable for the past 100 years.
Mills Entertainment will produce The Carnival of Curi-Oddities Tour, with CEO Michael Mills calling the tour a “one-of-a-kind show will integrate variety acts from the Ripley’s universe with theatrical representations of the people and events from the brand’s rich history.”
The Ripley’s Believe It or Not! moniker was originally created by Robert Ripley to headline a newspaper cartoon series in 1918 and Ripley became one of the most famous, highly-paid personalities in the world at the time.
“This show is sure to delight all ages, from those that have grown up with the books and museums, to audience members that are discovering the magical world of Ripley’s for the first time,” added Mollie Mann, exec. v.p. of The Booking Group.
Today, the Ripley’s franchise is best known for its destination-based attractions that entertain more than 14 million visitors a year — from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums to Ripley’s Aquariums and Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks — and for its best-selling annual book of unusual stories and images. It is a subsidiary of the Canadian-based Jim Pattison Group.
Full tour details and itinerary will be released at a later date.
About Ripley Entertainment
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. www.ripleys.com family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 14 million people visit its 100-plus attractions in 11 countries each year. In addition to its 30 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in countries around the world. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the second-largest privately held company in Canada.
About Mills Entertainment
Mills Entertainment collaborates with top networks, agencies, and licensors to create original, world-class live experiences. With full global distribution and partnerships worldwide, Mills Entertainment takes shows from concept to stage, serving as a complete solution in realizing the vision. In April 2015, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) made an equity investment in Mills Entertainment. Current projects include Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience, Mel Brooks: Back in the Saddle Again, Bring It! Live, #IMOMSOHARD, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live!, and Chefs: A Sizzling Kitchen Showdown. www.millsentertainment.com.
About The Booking Group
Since its inception in 1996, The Booking Group (TBG) has represented 24 Tony Award winning Best Musicals and Plays including the revolutionary smash Hamilton: An American Musical, as well as many other blockbuster hits: “Best Musical of the Century” The Book of Mormon, the most Tony Award winning musical in history Mel Brooks‘ The Producers, the worldwide hit Mamma Mia!, and the groundbreaking musical Rent. The Booking Group is committed to bringing the Best of Broadway to theatres across North America.
