Constantine Maroulis Brings Down the House at D23 Expo with Rock Star Mickey from Fisher-Price® and Disney

ANAHEIM, Calif., Aug. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Constantine Maroulis, star of Rock of Ages and former finalist on American Idol, joined Fisher-Price®, a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT), and Disney Consumer Products to bring down the house at D23 Expo in Anaheim, Calif. today with a rockin' concert to introduce the new Rock Star Mickey interactive feature plush. The rocker jammed on stage with Mickey Mouse to show kids and Disney fans classic rock star moves featured in the interactive plush including Rock Star Mickey's signature move, the Mickety-Split.  The two have also teamed up for the Rock Star Mickey TV commercial, which is set to air Sept. 6.  With strong pre-sales currently underway, Rock Star Mickey (#RockStarMickey) is expected to be a fan favorite this holiday season.  

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"It was awesome to get to rock out with such a beloved, global icon. I know what it takes to get people up on their feet, and Rock Star Mickey really has all the right moves," said Constantine. "As a new dad and a musician who loves to rock, I think it's important to help kids appreciate the magic of music and its impact on their lives.  It's great to see how Rock Star Mickey can get kids rockin' at an early age."

Rock Star Mickey, the highly anticipated follow-up to last year's holiday favorite, Dance Star Mickey, gives kids the chance to bring the concert home with them as he lights up the stage with his jammin' guitar and rockin' moves.  Mickey will show little rock stars how to jam along with the "Rock Star 101!" mode and show off their own moves as he takes to the stage with rock songs including "You Really Got Me."  Mickey really gets things going as he sings, bobs his head, kick-steps and finishes with his signature move — the Mickety-Split where he plays the guitar with his nose.  Mickey is hip, decked out from head to toe in rock star gear and cool shades, ready to give his fans the best show ever! Now that's one talented mouse!

"We've been able to take the unprecedented movement introduced in Dance Star Mickey to the next level with Rock Star Mickey to bring him to life for today's kids.  The new Rock Star Mickey really gets things going with authentic rock star moves and songs that will have the entire family up and rocking along," said Diana Dunn-Graves, vice president, marketing, Fisher-Price.

"We collaborated with Fisher-Price to create realistic rock star moves for Rock Star Mickey that would provide a fun and engaging play experience for kids," said Sunny Lauridsen, director preschool toys, Disney Consumer Products. "D23 Expo is the perfect playground to unveil the magical moves of Rock Star Mickey to the best fan base in the world."  

Rock Star Mickey will retail for $54.99 and will be available on Sept. 6 at retailers nationwide.  For additional information, log onto www.RockStarMickey.com.  Inspired by Rock Star Mickey, fans can download Constantine's version of the classic rock song that is also featured in the plush, "You Really Got Me," now available for purchase on iTunes.

About Fisher-Price:

Fisher-Price, Inc., a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT) located in East Aurora, N.Y., is the leading brand of infant and preschool toys in the world.  The Company has a more than 80-year legacy of high quality toys that enhance early childhood development.  Its often-emulated Play Laboratory was the first child research center of its kind in the toy industry, allowing researchers to observe the way children play and how play benefits their development.  Some of the Company's best-known "classic" brands include Little People®, Power Wheels® and View-Master®.   Fisher-Price is also a leading developer of baby gear products (infant swings, bouncers, high chairs, nursery monitors), as well as a wide array of character-based toys inspired by high quality children's programming such as Dora the Explorer™, Kung Fu Panda 2™, Penguins of Madagascar™ and Thomas & Friends™.  The Company's web site, www.fisher-price.com provides valuable information and resources to parents.

About Disney Consumer Products:

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) and its affiliates that extends the Disney brand to merchandise ranging from apparel, toys, home decor and books and magazines to foods and beverages, stationery, electronics and fine art. This is accomplished through DCP's various lines of business which include: Disney Toys, Disney Fashion & Home and Disney Food, Health & Beauty. Other businesses involved in Disney's consumer products sales are Disney Publishing Worldwide, the world's largest publisher of children's books and magazines, and www.DisneyStore.com and www.DisneyStore.co.uk, the company's official shopping portals. The Disney Stores retail chain, which debuted in 1987, is owned and operated by Disney in North America, Europe, and Japan. For more information, please visit Disney Consumer Products or follow us at www.YouTube.com/DisneyLiving, www.Facebook.com/DisneyLiving and www.Twitter.com/DisneyLiving.

About Constantine Maroulis:

Constantine Maroulis just finished starring in the acclaimed national tour of the Tony Award Nominated Best Musical, ROCK OF AGES, and received a best actor Tony nomination for his role as Drew while on Broadway.  He also helped make American Idol's Season 4 one of the most memorable to date with his delivery of the Queen classic "Bohemian Rhapsody" that electrified audiences and became that year's must-see performance.  Mr. Maroulis has a rich history of successful roles on and off Broadway including the lead role of Roger in the national tour of RENT, his Broadway debut in the Tony Nominated 2007 production of "Wedding Singer" and in Off Broadway's critically acclaimed production of "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris." He made a return to television on CBS's "The Bold and The Beautiful," which featured songs from his debut album "Constantine" released under his own Record Label, "Sixth Place Records" via (SONY/Red).  In addition to role as an entertainer, Mr. Maroulis has done extensive work with many charities and non profits including Make-a-Wish, Hellenic Scholarship Fund, The Actors Fund, Broadway Cares and more.

About D23 Expo 2011:

The D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings the entire world of Disney under one roof, providing attendees with unprecedented access to Disney films, television and theme parks. For schedules, live updates, interactive features and tools, polls and much more, check out the D23 Expo mobile app at www.D23mobile.com! To be part of the D23 Expo conversation, make sure to follow @DisneyD23 and tag your tweets with #D23Expo. For questions during the D23 Expo, get answers by sending tweets to @D23Expo.

Fisher-Price has sponsored Mr. Maroulis' appearance at D23 Expo.

CONTACT:
Amber Pietrobono/[email protected]
716-687-8121
Fisher-Price, Inc.

Kate Greenberg/[email protected]
818-544-0039
Disney Consumer Products

Erica Kuehn/[email protected]
973-470-0400 x. 18
Freeman Public Relations

SOURCE Fisher-Price