Lineup Announced for Arthur Ashe Kids Day

The USTA has announced that pop band The Wanted, chart-topping singer Carly Rae Jepsen, special guest performer Owl City, and from Nickelodeon’s "How to Rock,"  Cymphonique Miller and Max Schneider, will team up with reigning U.S. Open Champion Novak Djokovic, U.S. number one men’s singles player John Isner, three-time U.S. Open Champ Kim Clijsters and Mardy Fish at the 17th Annual Arthur Ashe Kids Day Presented by Hess, set for Saturday, Aug. 25 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. from 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Hosted by AAKD alumnus Jordin Sparks and TV personality Quddus, the full-day tennis and music festival will feature interactive games, musical entertainment and tennis activities. Arthur Ashe Kids Day Presented by Hess will kick off the 2012 U.S. Open, which runs from Aug. 27-Sept. 9.

From 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., kids and their families can enjoy an exciting schedule of free tennis games, live music and attractions taking place throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Inside Arthur Ashe Stadium from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., the live tennis and music show will feature fun exhibition matches and skills competitions with Djokovic, Isner, Clijsters, Fish and other top players and celebrities with musical performances by The Wanted, Carly Rae Jepsen, Owl City, Cymphonique Miller, Max Schneider and other talent to be announced.

Stadium show tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster (1-866-OPEN-TIX), usopen.org and at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center box office. General admission promenade tickets cost $10 each and loge tickets are $20. Arthur Ashe Kids Day will be broadcast nationally by CBS on Sunday, Aug. 26, from noon-1:30 p.m (ET). Kids 12 and under with stadium show tickets will receive a free Arthur Ashe Kids Day hat from the USTA and Hess on a first-come, first-served basis.

Over the years, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day has featured many of music’s biggest acts including Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Sean Kingston, Britney Spears, Ne-Yo, Gavin DeGraw, Jessica Simpson, Backstreet Boys, Cody Simpson, Bow Wow and Hanson.

This year’s lineup will feature:

The Wanted: Since the release of their debut number one UK single, “All Time Low,” two years ago (from their self-titled debut album of 2010), The Wanted–Tom Parker, Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, and Nathan Sykes–have become a global sensation. After piling up a string of five top three singles in the UK, success has come quickly in the U.S. Their breakthrough U.S. single, “Glad You Came” spent 15 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100 top 10, reaching number three. Their follow up, “Chasing the Sun” is currently the number one song on the Billboard Dance/Club Play chart and is the featured song in the movie Ice Age: Continental Drift. The Wanted have artfully transcended the ‘boy band’ mold and brought a blast of much-needed fresh air to pop music.

Carly Rae Jepsen: lthough she’s been an established artist in her native Canada for several years—with two gold singles, two Juno Award nominations and three MuchMusic awards to her name—singer and songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen was a virtual unknown in the U.S. until February when fellow Canadian Justin Bieber tweeted about a song he heard on the radio while home for Christmas vacation—a track Jepsen co-wrote titled “Call Me Maybe.” The now ubiquitous ‘song of summer,’ sparked an unprecedented viral video craze, racing up charts worldwide, reaching number one in over 10 countries and is currently in its fifth consecutive week atop the Billboard Hot 100. Jepsen’s follow-up single, “Good Time,” a duet with Owl City, has recently hit radio and is already lodged in the top five on iTunes. Her debut album is out this fall on 604 Records/Schoolboy Records/Interscope. Carly will also hit the road with Justin Bieber as a very special guest on the multi-platinum Pop/R&B sensation’s 2012 headlining tour of North America.

Owl City: After achieving worldwide success with his platinum selling major label debut album Ocean Eyes and his first U.S. number one single, “Fireflies” in 2009, when it came time to record The Midsummer Station, Adam Young’s third album as Owl City, the Minnesota native set himself the following challenge: “Over the past several years I’d become fascinated with trying to capture magic in a jar through simple, concise pop songs,” he says. On the album’s first single, the incredibly infectious pop gem “Good Time,” Young is joined in a duet by “Call Me Maybe” star Carly Rae Jepsen. Young being a fan of Jepsen, reached out to her about collaborating on a song upon learning that she was also a fan of his. This mutual admiration and excitement to work together can be heard on “Good Time”–an undeniable summer anthem.

Cymphonique Miller: Sixteen year-old Cymphonique Miller stars as Kacey Simon on Nickelodeon’s How To Rock, a hit live-action comedy series featuring original music. Prior to being cast in the lead role in How To Rock, Miller appeared as a guest star on several Nick series, including Big Time Rush, True Jackson, VP, Just Jordan and The Troop. In addition to her acting roles, Miller is an accomplished singer and has performed at numerous national school tours and theme parks across the country. She also performs the theme song and provides the voices of “Nova” and “Krystal” on the Nickelodeon animated series Winx Club.

Max Schneider:  Max Schneider stars as Zander, the guitarist for Gravity 5 on the Nickelodeon’s How To Rock, a hit live-action comedy series featuring original music. He began his professional career in the Broadway musical, 13. Schneider has also starred in several off-Broadway productions including: Gypsy of the Year, Recoil, Macbeth Fleance, West Side Story, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, HAIR and The King and I. Schneider recently co-starred in the hit Nickelodeon TV movie Rags, available on DVD Aug. 28.

Jordin Sparks: It has been nothing short of a whirlwind: The then youngest-ever winner of American Idol, Jordin Sparks was just seventeen years old when she won the coveted title. In the four years that have followed, Jordin has released two albums on 19 Recordings/Jive Records. The first three singles of "Jordin Sparks" went top 5 and the album’s second single, “No Air” selling 4 million digital downloads. Jordin’s second release, 2009’s Battlefield, debuted on the Billboard Album chart at number seven and the first single, also called "Battlefield," reached the top ten on the Billboard Singles Chart and the second single, "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play),” topped the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, becoming Jordin’s first #1. Sparks has toured with Alicia Keys, The Jonas Brothers, New Kids On The Block/Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. 2012 is notable as it is the year that Jordin makes her feature film debut as the lead in the upcoming Sony Picture film Sparkle, set to be released August 17th. The film also stars the late Whitney Houston, Cee Lo Green and Mike Epps. The first official single from the soundtrack of the film, Sparkle: Music from the Motion Picture, features a duet by Jordin and Whitney Houston.

Quddus: With his stunning good looks, broad creativity, and charming personality, Quddus was destined to impact the world. As an established Television Host and Personality, Quddus’ love for Music and the Arts has swept Generation Next as he has skillfully positioned himself as one of the Hottest Talents in Entertainment. Currently, Quddus is the host of Duets, ABC’s summer music competition franchise. Quddus’ popularity among MTV fans and celebrities alike earned him a 2003 “Favorite TV Personality” nomination at the Teen Choice Awards. In 2005, TV Guide named Quddus as one of TV’s "Hottest New Stars,” USA Today featured him as a “young hunk worth watching" and Teen People named him one of the "50 Sexiest Men Ever." In 2008, the New York Times called him “the Ryan Seacrest of the Hip-Hop Generation” while The Associated Press declared him "the Coolest Guy on Television.”

The Grounds Festival offers a wide range of interactive activities as well as a chance for children of all ages to test their skills, hit with top tennis pros, win prizes and enjoy music:

►Hess Express Stage: The Grounds Festival’s free concert featuring a line-up of up-and-coming musical talent including urban supergroup Love Jones Girlz, Interscope Records prodigy Ahsan, and from Disney Channel’s “Shake It Up!” Caroline Sunshine! More acts to be confirmed.

►10 & Under Tennis: A chance for kids to learn real tennis and have real fun doing it. 10 & Under Tennis follows almost every other youth sport and uses racquets, balls and courts that are sized right for kids so that they enjoy the game right from the start.

►Hess Express Obstacle Course: Kids can test agility, balance, running and tennis skills.

►Hess Target Time:  Intermediate and advanced-level kids have a chance to test their skills hitting targets on this court.

►Nike Tennis: Tennis and skill activities on two courts featuring Nike sponsored athletes.

►IBM Speedzone: Two radar guns on court test the speed of kids’ serves.

►Xerox Beat the Pro: Kids will have the chance to challenge the pros on this fast-paced court.

►Mario Tennis Open for Nintendo 3DS: Players of all ages and skill levels can enjoy friendly competition and fast-paced tennis action with Mario Tennis Open, a video game for the Nintendo 3DS hand-held system. Join Mario and Luigi in the South Plaza for some fun photo opps and check out this new attraction.

►USTA Serves/Aetna Tennis Skills: This court will have six to eight various stations for very young kids or special populations. Stations may include things like rolling the ball with a racquet and bouncing a koush ball.

►PTR Speed Tennis: Children can hit with PTR certified professionals on mini-courts at full speed and with complete strokes using a special restricted flight foam ball.

►USPTA Little Tennis: Ideal for younger participants to hit and learn, USPTA certified teaching professionals host this court consisting of 30 colorful hitting stations using a variety of teaching aids.

►USRSA Pro Racquet Round-Up: Kids can see what it feels like to hit with a top pro’s personal racquet such as Venus and Serena Williams using actual racquets weighted and balanced to each player’ s specifications.

►World TeamTennis: Co-ed relay races, targeting beginner players, particularly the youngest children attending AAKD. Activities tailored to the age, size, strength and experience level of participants.

►Also: Watch the Pros Practice, Player Autographs, Juggling Workshop, Face-Painting, Hair Braiding, Storytelling, and more.