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Attorney: Louisville has ‘effectively fired’ Pitino amid scandal

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Police: 17-year-old stole over $4,000 in goods from Wilkes-Barre Twp. store

<p>An internationally popular toy brand has become the basis for a theatrical production that is touring the United States and making a stop in Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>&#8220;Shopkins Live!,&#8221; a show tailored around the Australian-created Moose Toys phenomenon Shopkins, will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the F.M. Kirby Center on Public Square.</p><p>Actress Mychele Lebrun said the plot follows two groups of characters &#8212; the Shopkins, lovable personifications of grocery items, and the Shoppies, the female leads &#8212; as they ready for the Funtastic Food and Fashion Fair in Shopville.</p><p>&#8220;Things go wrong at the end of Act I, and the girls have to work through it with the help of the Shopkins,&#8221; Lebrun said.</p><p>Educated in musical theater at Sheridan College in Toronto, Calif., Lebrun spent a year performing for Disney Cruise Line before she earned her part as Rainbow Kate in the Shopkins production.</p><p>&#8220;She&#8217;s super enthusiastic and loves everything in color,&#8221; Lebrun said of her character. &#8220;Rainbow Kate is so much fun, because she&#8217;s extremely high energy and is a very positive Shoppie.</p><p>&#8220;She&#8217;s always trying to find ways to brighten up the things around her, and she loves to party. I think that she&#8217;s best known for her popular song, &#8216;This Is How We Party,&#8217; which she sings as she&#8217;s showing the other girls how to add color to their fair stands.&#8221;</p><p>Along with Kate, audience members can expect to see Shoppies Jessicake, Peppa-Mint, Bubbleisha, Cocolette and Polli Polish as well as Shopkins Kookie Cookie, Shady Diva, Lippy Lips, Apple Blossom, Strawberry Kiss, Terry Taco and Slick Breadstick.</p><p>Eye-catching set design and costumes, original music and dance numbers, video highlights, and audience interaction come together for a true multi-media presentation of the story.</p><p>&#8220;I honestly believe that every single one of these elements adds a bit of magic to the show,&#8221; Lebrun said. &#8220;The kids are so excited to see the characters live on stage, and hearing them cheer is extremely encouraging and heart-warming for us.&#8221;</p><p>Playing characters based on a beloved brand, Lebrun said, is her favorite part of the show.</p><p>&#8220;For me, the most important thing in live theater is creating magical moments and inspiring people to perhaps join the arts themselves,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I find that the best way I can achieve that is by portraying characters that children admire.&#8221;</p><p>The production, while focused on fun and entertainment, carries a lesson for young audience members.</p><p>&#8220;Kids leave the theater reminded that they can do anything and to dream big,&#8221; Lebrun said. &#8220;We really want to instill in the children watching the show that anything is possible and to always be considerate to those around you.</p><p>&#8220;Jessicake learns this herself, and I think it&#8217;s important that the kids learn this message along with the Shoppies.&#8221;</p><p>Catered to children ages 5 to 10, the show offers moments for people of all ages.</p><p>&#8220;There are a few cultural references that are in the show specifically for the adults,&#8221; Lebrun said. &#8220;The cast really likes to play these moments because it is our way of including the parents in the world of Shopville.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">A production of &#8216;Shopkins Live!&#8217; will be presented Friday at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_17_09_Shopskins_Live_2082.jpg</photo0><caption0>A production of &#8216;Shopkins Live!&#8217; will be presented Friday at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre. </caption0><photoCredit0>Cylla von Tiedemann </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_17.09_Shopskins_Live_3667.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The storyline of &#8216;Shopkins Live!&#8217; follows the Shoppies and Shopkins as the prepare for the Funtastic Food and Fashion Fair in Shopville. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_17.09_Shopskins_Live_3667.jpg</photo1><caption1>The storyline of &#8216;Shopkins Live!&#8217; follows the Shoppies and Shopkins as the prepare for the Funtastic Food and Fashion Fair in Shopville. </caption1><photoCredit1>Cylla von Tiedemann </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_17.09_Shopskins_Live_3428.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Along with Rainbow Kate, audience members can expect to see Shoppies Jessicake, Peppa-Mint, Bubbleisha, Cocolette and Polli Polish as well as Shopkins Kookie Cookie, Shady Diva, Lippy Lips, Apple Blossom, Strawberry Kiss, Terry Taco and Slick Breadstick. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_17.09_Shopskins_Live_3428.jpg</photo2><caption2>Along with Rainbow Kate, audience members can expect to see Shoppies Jessicake, Peppa-Mint, Bubbleisha, Cocolette and Polli Polish as well as Shopkins Kookie Cookie, Shady Diva, Lippy Lips, Apple Blossom, Strawberry Kiss, Terry Taco and Slick Breadstick. </caption2><photoCredit2>Cylla von Tiedemann </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_17_09_Shopskins_Live_2082.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A production of &#8216;Shopkins Live!&#8217; will be presented Friday at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_17_09_Shopskins_Live_2082.cmyk_.jpg</photo3><caption3>A production of &#8216;Shopkins Live!&#8217; will be presented Friday at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre. </caption3><photoCredit3>Cylla von Tiedemann </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_17.09_Shopskins_Live_3667.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The storyline of &#8216;Shopkins Live!&#8217; follows the Shoppies and Shopkins as the prepare for the Funtastic Food and Fashion Fair in Shopville. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_17.09_Shopskins_Live_3667.cmyk_.jpg</photo4><caption4>The storyline of &#8216;Shopkins Live!&#8217; follows the Shoppies and Shopkins as the prepare for the Funtastic Food and Fashion Fair in Shopville. </caption4><photoCredit4>Cylla von Tiedemann </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_17.09_Shopskins_Live_3428.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Along with Rainbow Kate, audience members can expect to see Shoppies Jessicake, Peppa-Mint, Bubbleisha, Cocolette and Polli Polish as well as Shopkins Kookie Cookie, Shady Diva, Lippy Lips, Apple Blossom, Strawberry Kiss, Terry Taco and Slick Breadstick. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_17.09_Shopskins_Live_3428.cmyk_.jpg</photo5><caption5>Along with Rainbow Kate, audience members can expect to see Shoppies Jessicake, Peppa-Mint, Bubbleisha, Cocolette and Polli Polish as well as Shopkins Kookie Cookie, Shady Diva, Lippy Lips, Apple Blossom, Strawberry Kiss, Terry Taco and Slick Breadstick. </caption5><photoCredit5>Cylla von Tiedemann </photoCredit5></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Production based on toy brand to visit Wilkes-Barre</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Matt Mattei</p><p>mmattei@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>IF YOU GO</strong></p><p><strong>What: </strong>&#8216;Shopkins Live!&#8217;</p><p><strong>Where: </strong>F.M. Kirby Center, 71 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre</p><p><strong>When: </strong>6:30 p.m. Friday</p><p><strong>Additional information: </strong>Ticket range from $40.50 t0 $103 and are available at the Kirby Center box office, online at kirbycenter.org and by phone at 570-826-1100.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Matt Mattei at 570-991-6651 or on Twitter @TimesLeaderMatt.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

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‘Shopkins Live!’ to take stage at F.M. Kirby Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre