[September 09, 2011] Phineas, Ferb bring their high jinks to Bridgeport's arena Tweet Sep 09, 2011 (Connecticut Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- For a kid at heart, there are probably few things more fun than choreographing and directing a "Broadway-style" family show about two mischievous, precocious, endearing boys named Phineas and Ferb. And that's the job of Fred Tallaksen, the 40-something dancer-turned-choreographer-turned director, who brings the new show, "Disney's Phineas and Ferb: The Best Live Tour Ever," to Bridgeport's Webster Bank Arena Thursday, Sept. 8, and Friday, Sept. 9, for two shows, both at 7 p.m. "It's the fun-est," he said, laughing, during a telephone interview from a hotel in downtown Lakeland, Fla., where the tour stopped recently. With a cast of 15 performers, the show follows American Phineas Flynn and his English stepbrother Ferb Fletcher -- two ingenious kid "inventors" -- who are always coming up with some grand new project, which their "annoying" sister, Candace, always attempts to foil. The now-beloved characters debuted on the Disney Channel in August, 2007. Produced by Feld Entertainment, the new stage show follows the pair and their friends: Isabella, Baljeet, Buford and Perry (a pet platypus who has a secret double life as Agent P, who is always combating the evil plans of Dr. Doofenshmirtz). "It's the very last day of summer," explained Tallaksen, "and Phineas and Ferb open the show on a giant video screen by saying: 'Well, what are we going to do today?' "And they decide to put on the best show ever" and, through a bit of stage magic, "go from animated characters as seen on the video to live characters on the stage. "There's nothing baby-ish about the production; it's meant to be cool and hip for kids, and 'tweens, parents, families . . . kids of all ages," he said. One of the reasons that the show is titled "The Best Live Tour Ever" said Tallaksen, laughing, is because it reflects all his passions. Born in Scranton, Pa., Tallaksen said he saw the movie "Fame," the 1980 musical film about a group of talented performers from New York City's High School of the Performing Arts, when he was in high school himself. "I saw that movie and said: 'Get me there ... that's where I belong.' " Tallaksen recalled that he began studying dance in New York City, commuting into the city by bus from Scranton, and trying to get gigs wherever and whenever he could. "These were the 'Fame' years, and whenever you went to an audition, there would be 1,000 others wanting the same jobs." So to gain an edge, Tallaksen learned "everything in addition to dancing: how ride a unicycle, to tumble, skate, crazy gymnastics and tricks of all sorts." And a lot of these skills are reflected in his choreography -- and in this particular production, he said. In addition to working occasionally for Disney, he has collaborated on various productions with Madonna, La Toya Jackson, Kelly Osborne, James Blunt and Enrique Iglesias. Tallaksen has choreographed for many TV shows, including "Modern Family," "Outsourced," and "Wizards of Waverly Place," and was staff choreographer for all seven seasons of the popular television series "Malcolm in the Middle." That work garnered him two Emmy nominations, an American Choreography Award and a second Choreography Media Honors Award. He has also choreographed commercials for the likes of McDonald's, Adidas and Mountain Dew, and worked as a skating consultant for "Austin Powers in Goldmember." A winner of an Esprit Award, a Latin Grammy Award and several Gala Awards, Tallaksen also choreographs skateboarders, cheerleaders, gymnasts and drummers. For "Phineas and Ferb," Tallaksen said being the "director and choreographer is the best situation: the only person I fight with is myself. And since it's all inside my head, no one else hears and sees the drama." ___ (c)2011 the Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, Conn.) Visit the Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, Conn.) at www.ctpost.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]