Elephant Ensemble Theater Launches New Tour at the Ronald McDonald House in L...( NEW YORK Jan. 13 -- Elephant En...),Health

NEW YORK, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Elephant Ensemble Theater, a company that brings free performances to children in NYC hospitals, will launch their 2009 tour of The Pirate & the Squid at Long Island's Ronald McDonald House on March 9th.

The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island is a "home away from home" providing comfort and shelter to families experiencing the pain of having a sick child in an area hospital. Their goal is to offer comfort, both physical and emotional to families in Long Island, the five boroughs, nationally and across the globe.

Elephant Ensemble presents valuable role models for children and leaves them with a heightened sense of morale. They have also performed at Mt. Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital, the Children's Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx, and New York Presbyterian Children's Hospital, among others. Elephant Ensemble Theater first performed at the RMHLI last May with their highly acclaimed debut tour of Thumbelina: The Story of a Brave Little Girl.

Elephant Ensemble Theater's current show, The Pirate & the Squid, tells the tale of a swashbuckling pirate with a soft heart who finds himself in an unexpected friendship with a benevolent squid. In effort to find his way back to shore, they meet, and learn all about, a sea snail, crab, seahorse, and potentially dangerous shark. What ensues is an audience-participatory, educational escapade, which embodies the themes of trust and friendship.

Written and Directed by Creative Director Liza Lentini, the cast of The Pirate & the Squid includes Christopher Van Jura (as the Pirate), Elephant's Managing Director Christine Seisler (as the Squid), Lindsay McNaughton, Cheri Haller, and Mollie Lohinski.

The performance is closed to the public. If you'd like more information please visit