CCE Takes Barbie For Spin

Clear Channel Entertainment has teamed up with Mattel Inc. to promote a new touring star, and she’s a living doll.

The companies are taking Barbie on the road for an 80-city tour in an effort to revive the plastic pop culture icon’s popularity with the pre-tween set.

“Barbie Live in Fairytopia!,” a live theatrical stage show, should be ready to roll next spring. The role of Barbie, which will be played by a flesh-and-blood actress, hasn’t been cast.

But the musical tour will be based around a direct-to-video movie featuring Barbie and a cast of fairies, and is aimed at 3- to 8-year-old girls (and their moms, of course). CCE Productions in New York City will develop and cast the production.

“We are proud to extend our expertise as a leader in family programming to this new and exciting partnership with Mattel,” CCE Properties Chairman/CEO Scott Zeiger said in a statement. “Mattel has been able to consistently delight consumers with bold new entertainment offerings, and we are pleased to partner with them to present this highly anticipated tour.”

CCE Productions was formed in the wake of the announcement that Clear Channel Communications expected to spin off CCE as a free-standing company by the end of the year.

Zeiger moved from the company’s theatricals division to head CCE Productions in early May.