AUGUSTA – Nickelodeon and Broadway Across America will bring the national touring production of “The Backyardigans Live! Tale of the Mighty Knights” to the Augusta Civic Center Tuesday June 17. Tickets went on sale yesterday.

Since its debut on Nickelodeon’s preschool weekday lineup, “The Backyardigans” has become the No. 2 preschool show on all of commercial TV among the target audience of preschoolers (Nielsen Rating Service).

“The Backyardigans Live! Tale of the Mighty Knights,” based on the prime time Nickelodeon special which premiered Jan. 14, follows Nickelodeon’s backyard friends, Uniqua and Tyrone, as they become Knights and embark on a quest to protect King Pablo’s unpredictable egg.

Along the way, Grabbing Goblin Austin and Flighty Fairy Tasha join the medieval mayhem as the runaway egg hatches feet and makes an unexpected dash all the way up to Dragon Mountain. The Backyardigans will need the audience’s help to face a mighty dragon and return the egg to the king.

“The Backyardigans Live!” will have family members singing, dancing and laughing along to songs of courage, friendship and the power of imagination.

“We’re excited about our latest live theatrical endeavor for families,” said Stuart Rosenstein, senior vice president, Resorts and Theatricals, Nickelodeon Recreation. “The Backyardigans has proven to be a huge hit with Nickelodeon families, and based on the enormous success of the Dora and Diego Live shows, we’re confident ‘The Backyardigans Live!’ will have the same fantastic response from kids and parents across the country.”

“The Backyardigans Live!” includes some of the same creative team that produces “The Backyardigans” for Nick Jr. television, including Emmy-nominated writer Adam Peltzman and choreographer Beth Bogush.

On Jan. 22, Nickelodeon and Sony BMG released “The Backyardigans: Born to Play CD” to retailers nationwide. The third CD from the hit series features 22 new tracks, with six songs from “Tale of the Mighty Knights.” including Adam Pascal performing the Zepellinesque rock-opera ballad “Not an Egg.” The CD will also be available digitally on iTunes; and “The Backyardigans Tale of the Mighty Knights,” a one-hour television movie, is available on DVD.

Tickets to the 4 and 7 p.m. performances are $38.50, $29.50, $25.50 and $21.50. All seats reserved. Tickets may be purchased at the Augusta Civic Center box office, 626-2400, or at Ticketmaster, 775-3331.