TMNT: Coming Out of Their Shells

Coming Out Of Their Shells was a studio album, and subsequent live musical tour that occurred in 1990. The tour was endorsed and sponsored by Pizza Hut. The very first showing of the tour was broadcast live on Pay-Per-View. A VHS recording of the broadcast was made released, as well as a "Making Of" direct to home video. The tour is generally lambasted for its terrible costumes and wafer-thin plot. The band featured Donatello on keys, Leonardo on bass guitar, Michelangelo on guitar/lead vocals & Raphael on drums/percussion/tenor saxophone/vocals. Guest vocalists include Master Splinter, April O'Neil, and The Shredder.

A spin-off from this concert lead to a smaller concert set called "Gettin' Down in Your Town".

Summary

File:Tmntcoots sewer.jpg

The Ninja Turtles have decided to travel around the world to meet their fans face to face. Singing songs they wrote such as "Coming Out of Our Shells", "Pizza Power", "Skipping Stones", "Walk Straight", and "Tubin'". Though while the Turtles are enjoying their time singing and dancing for the fans, Shredder decides to make an attempt to stop the Turtles from making people happy. Shredder, with the help of Baxter Stockman comes forth with his De-Harmonic Convergence Converter. Using this device they will steal all the music in the world; it also weakens the Turtles if they stand in front of it. Once Shredder arrives on stage with the De-Harmonic Controller the Turtles have to retreat and come up with a plan to save the day.

Album

File:COOTalbumcover.jpg

Album Cover

The album was recorded in a studio with the singers listed as "Vocal Coaching" their various characters on the album. It was released on MCA Records on cassette tape in 1990, during that year it went "Triple Platinum", {3 million albums sold}. The songs were credited as being written by: "Michaelangelo, Raphael, Bob Bejan, and Godfrey Nelson, with the exception of 'Count On Us', which was written by the above and Keith Forsey."

Album credits

• Bass – Barry Johnson, Donald Triggs, Jimmy Johnson
• Executive-Producer – Bob Bejan, Steven E. Leben
• Guitar – Spaceman, Godfrey Nelson, Michael Thompson, Paul Pimsler
• Keyboards – Donald Blackmon, Phil Shenale, Lorraine Wolf
• Percussion – Basheri Johnson, Michael Finlayson
• Programmed By, Effects – Phil Shenale
• Saxophone – Roger Byan
• Vocal Coaching [April O' Neil] – Dana Calitri
• Vocal Coaching [Donatello] – Frank Simms
• Vocal Coaching [Leonardo] – Lawrence Forsey
• Vocal Coaching [Michaelangelo] – Bob Bejan
• Vocal Coaching [Raphael] – Scott Maynard
• Vocal Coaching [Splinter] – Godfrey Nelson

Tracklisting

The tracklist of the studio album is as follows:

• "Coming Out of Our Shells!" performed by Raphael
• "Sing About It" performed by Raphael
• "Tubin''" performed by Michelangelo
• "Skipping Stones" performed by Master Splinter
• "Pizza Power" performed by all four turtles
• "Walk Straight" performed by Raphael
• "No Treaties" performed by Raphael
• "Cowabunga" performed by Michelangelo
• "April's Ballad" performed by April O'Neil
• "Count On Us" performed by all four turtles

Single

A single was released, its extremely hard to find however. Some dine-in Pizza Huts that have jukeboxes had the single to promote the soundtrack and tour.

• "Coming Out Of Our Shells! (Rock Version)" performed by Raphael
• "Count on Us (Dance Mix)"performed by all four turtles

Tracks Not Included on Album

Also used in the tour but not included on the soundtrack

• "I Hate Music" performed by The Shredder
• "Follow Your Heart" performed by Michelangelo

Tracks Not Included On VHS

These tracks appear on the album but not on the VHS, but later added to the "Getting Down in Your Town" concerts.

• "Sing About It" performed by Raphael

Appearances

According to the scroll at the end of the Pay-per-view, the band played at these locations on the following dates:

September 26, 1990- October 7, 1990: Radio City Music Hall, New York City, New York

October 10, 1990- October 14, 1990: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

October 17, 1990- October 21, 1990: Masonic Auditorium, Detroit, Michigan

October 23, 1990- October 28, 1990: Airie Crown Theatre, Chicago, Illinois

October 31, 1990- November 4, 1990: Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri

November 6, 1990- November 8, 1990: Grand Old Opry, Nashville, Tennessee

November 10, 1990- November 11, 1990: Kansas Coliseum, Wichita, Kansas

November 14, 1990- November 18, 1990: Denver Coliseum, Denver, Colorado

November 22, 1990- November 25, 1990: Universal Amphitheater, Universal City, California

November 28, 1990- December 2, 1990: San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California

December 5, 1990- December 9, 1990: The Desert Sky Pavilion, Phoenix, Arizona

December 13, 1990- December 16, 1990: Suncoast Dome, St. Petersberg, Florida

December 19, 1990- December 23, 1990: Miami Night Center, Miami, Florida

December 27, 1990- December 31, 1990: Philadelphia Civic Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

January 2, 1991- January 6, 1991: Patriot Center, Fairfax, Virginia

January 9, 1991- January 13, 1991: Baltimore Arena, Baltimore, Maryland

January 15, 1991- January 20, 1991: Wang Center, Boston, Massachusetts

January 23, 1991- January 27, 1991: Springfield Civic Center, Springfield, Massachusetts

January 31, 1991- February 3, 1991: Mid South Coliseum, Memphis, Tennessee

February 6, 1991- February 10, 1991: Louisville Gardens, Louisville, Kentucky

February 14, 1991- February 17, 1991: Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana

February 19, 1991- February 24, 1991: Fox Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia

February 28, 1991- March 3, 1991: Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida

March 7, 1991- March 10, 1991: Boutwell Coliseum, Birmingham, Alabama

March 14, 1991- March 17, 1991: Astrodome, Houston, Texas

March 18, 1991- March 24, 1991: Convention Center Arena, Dallas, Texas

March 28, 1991- March 31, 1991: Lawlor Arena, Reno, Nevada

April 1, 1991- April 7, 1991: Cow Palace, San Francisco, California

April 8, 1991- April 14, 1991: Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington

April 16, 1991- April 21, 1991: Chiles Center, Portland, Oregon

April 22, 1991- April 23, 1991: Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah

April 25, 1991- April 28, 1991, Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada

May 1, 1991- May 5, 1991: Target Arena, Minneapolis, Minnesota

May 8, 1991- May 12, 1991: Dayton Hara Arena, Dayton, Ohio

May 15, 1991- May 19, 1991: Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio

May 22, 1991- May 26, 1991: Franklin Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, Ohio

May 29, 1991, June 2, 1991: Palumbo Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

June 5, 1991- June 9, 1991: Toronto Skydome, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

June 12, 1991- June 16, 1991: Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

June 19, 1991- June 23, 1991: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York

June 26, 1991- June 30, 1991: Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Some of the names of the areas may be different as the last show was over 30 years ago.

The band had made special appearances on:

• Live! With Regis & Kathie Lee (aired Sept. 24, 1990)

• Larry King Live

• Oprah Winfrey Show

Cast

File:Cootsshredder.jpg

Beau Allen as The Shredder

Leonardo

• Roger Kachel
• Lawrence Forsey (singing voice)

Donatello

• Gregory Garrison (later replaced by Eric Anzalone)
• Frank Simms (singing voice)

Raphael

• Ronn K. Smith
• Scott Maynard (singing voice)

Michelangelo

• David Shatraw
• Bob Bejan (singing voice)

April O'Neil

• Sherie Rene Scott (original run, was replaced by an unknown actress during the tour's second run)
• Dana Calitri (singing voice)

Splinter

• Mark Enis
• Godfrey Nelson (singing voice)

Shredder

• Beau Allen

Baxter Stockman

• Jack Scott

Kip Reading

• David Ruprecht

Footclanners

• John Bantay
• Gregory Butler
• Clete Larkey
• Alfredo Miller
• Jack Scott
• Michael Steuber
• Jim Testa

Crew

• Written by Bob Bejan
• Directed by Thomas White
• Produced by Bob Bejan, Steven E. Leber, Godfrey Nelson, Adrian Selby and Thomas White
• Songs written by Bob Bejan and Godfrey Nelson
• Casting by Stuart Howard, Howard Meltzer and Amy Schector
• Costume Design by Jonathan Bixby

Home Releases

• Coming Out of Their Shells The Concert (VHS 1990, 90 mins.). Full concert live set at Radio City Music Hall, New York City.
• The Making of Coming Out of Their Shells (VHS 1990, 30 mins.). In depth documentary and behind the scene look how the concerts were arranged and set up. Also see the story behind why the Turtles decided to use musical instruments. Note: This documentary is set up as if the concert and Turtles are real.

Quotes

• Kip (during the PPV preshow): There's no need to be buggin' when it's a Ninja Turtle you're huggin'!
• (During the preshow, April is trying to get the Turtles out of their dressing room for an interview)
• Michelangelo (in a woman's falsetto): Oh April, we're not dressed yet. Ha ha!
• Raphael: Yeah, we're out of our shells!
• Michelangelo: "Sometimes you feel like a foot, and sometimes, you don't!"... Uh.....what?

• Donatello (beating up Foot Soldiers with the bo staff): This is the one thing that bo don't know! Get it, bo?

[NOTE: The following exchange only appeared on the Live Pay-Per-View broadcast. It was edited out of the VHS release]

• Kip (interviewing random kids during intermission): Doesn't Shredder scare you a little bit?
• Random Boy: No!
• Kip: Boy, he scares me! What does he even look like? He looks kinda silly doesn't he?
• Random Boy: I'd say he looked better in the movie!
• Kip (Trying to hold back laughing): Oh, ya did?
• Kip: Did you see Shredder?
• Raphael: Duh!
• Michelangelo: Of course, we were up there fighting him! Aw, god!

• Baxter Stockman: AHAHAHAHAHAHA....AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
• Shredder: Oh....shut. UP.

[NOTE: The following exchange appears exclusively on the VHS Tape]

• Shredder: *pointing to kid in audience* What's your name?

• Kid: Peter!

• Shredder: ....is that your sister?

• Kid: Cousin!

• Shredder: Cousin? What's the matter, couldn't get a date?

• Shredder: Ah, Flo and Eddie. I hate these Turtles much as I hate the Ninja Turtles!      

• Shredder: Does anyone want a New Kids On The Block album?
• (Girls in the audience can be heard screaming)
• Shredder (Throwing the album in his music destroyer): I hear they're breaking up!

Notes

• There was a special behind-the-scenes VHS made of this show called "The Making of: The Coming Out of Their Shells Tour."
• The tour's very first show at Radio City Music Hall was broadcast live on Pay-Per-View. The broadcast was released on VHS, though it was edited. The Pay-Per-View showing contained a pre-show made to look like Channel Six were the ones broadcasting the concert live, with reporter Kip Reading  giving some back story on why the Turtles started a band (Including a "home movie" of Raphael and Michelangelo writing and practicing the studio version of "Coming Out of Their Shells"  in the sewer, which was only shown during the pre show) and explaining that Donatello created all the Turtles' instruments and that they could be set to play by themselves (As an excuse as to why the music would keep playing i even if the Turtles weren't seen playing them). They also showed April warming up the audience as well as her going around the lobby asking kids who their favorite turtle was. This pre-show was removed from the VHS release. During the intermission, an extra scene with Kip interviewing the kids on the second floor of the lobby was removed (Probably because of the one quote listed above. Instead, the VHS just cuts from the end of the first act to Kip on the ground floor of the lobby. As a result Kip is also given no introduction on the VHS), as well as ads that were played to give the pay-per-view audience something to watch while Kip moved from the Radio City lobby to his scene with the Turtles in the basement (The most strangest of these ads was an environmental awareness one with a spinning Mother Earth with a human face bashing us for tearing down the rain forest and such).
• Kip Reading only appeared in-person during the Pay-Per-View broadcast because the main point of the character was to entertain the live audience before the show and during the intermission. Kip's scenes with him stumbling around looking for the Turtles and his meeting with them was just for the live broadcast and VHS tape. On the actual tour, Kip was only shown twice using pre-recorded footage of him in the Channel Six newsroom; once to introduce April before her preshow audience warm-up, and later in the second act when Shredder stole his voice.
• Most of the songs were lip-synced but on occasion the normal voice actors would speak during the song.
• After the tour's first run, it then went out on a second run of smaller cities. However, the show was scaled down due to a reduced budget. April was played by a different actress, and the only characters that appeared on stage were the Turtles, April, Shredder, and Baxter. Splinter was only shown on the stage monitors in footage shot for the second run. The giant prop for Shredder's machine was too expensive to carry around on the smaller budget and was reduced to just the small console on stage. All extra characters that would randomly appear on stage and dance with the Turtles did not appear. Most notably, the hula dancing alligators (See below in Trivia) were replaced with Leonardo and Donatello in grass skirts.

Gallery

Coming Out of Their Shells/Gallery

Errors

Continuity Errors

• During the Pay-Per-View broadcast preshow, Kip mentions that they have a "home movie" of the Turtles writing and practicing their first song, which is shown to be Raph and Mike writing the studio version of "Coming Out of Their Shells" in the sewer (Mike is shown writing the lyrics on a Pizza Hut box before Raph sings the song). However, in the actual show Mike says the first song they wrote was "Pizza Power."
• Shredder says that to prevent the audience from leaving the building, "he's locked all the doors." Obviously, in reality that wasn't true and people could still walk out.

Costume/Special Effect Errors

• Shredder's mouthpiece is actually below his mouth, making it quite visible. This might have been intentional as the audience mightn't understand him talking through a closed mouthpiece, but it looks very odd. More-so when it makes the fact that the actor playing him is trying not to laugh that much more apparent.

• There are black spot splatters all over the Turtles' stage costumes. Not only is this a continuity error with the smooth green costumes we see in the behind the scenes footage, but it looks less organic, and more like somebody sprayed ink all over their heads.

• The backstage costumes don't fare much better. While the stage costumes have their problems, at least they were limber enough to move around freely. This set, on the other hand, is stiff, cause the actors to lean awkwardly to one side, and have a problem where the Turtles' mouths continue to hang open.

Production Errors

• There were times when the Turtles would appear on stage, and the music would begin before the Turtles started to play their instruments (In the Pay-Per-View broadcast preshow, Kip mentioned that Donatello rigged the instruments to play on their own as an excuse to get around this).

• There are way too many times where a Turtle would talk or sing, but his mouth would either stay shut, move completely out of sync with the words, or remain completely open.

• The colors of Mike and Raph's bandannas made it difficult for some people to tell them apart. Luckily, they wear big, black armbands with their initials on them during the show.
• During the show's scaled-down second run, the Foot Soldiers were absent, leaving Shredder and Baxter as the only on-stage villains. During the part where the Turtles are supposed to fight the Foot Soldiers, the dialogue for the fight still played, but all the Turtles did was just walk back and forth across the stage spouting their one-liners despite not fighting anyone.

Logic Errors

• When Michelangelo tells Leonardo that "There's no need to be bugging'!" he strums his microphone on his guitar, producing some notes. However, the way he's rubbing it can't possibly produce those chords (or any at all, since he's basically moving the microphone along the string.)
• Leonardo plays a one-string bass which would make it impossible for him to play more than one cord.

Trivia

• The full version to the Pizza Power song from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time arcade game is heard.

• There was a second tour in continuity with this called the "Getting Down in Your Town" tour, which was featured (mostly) in Six Flags amusement parks, Public Malls, and County Fairs all across the US in 1993. A new character featured was good old Casey Jones. Who rides around on a scooter, shoots the audience with his water pistol, and gives all the kids high-fives, and while it's unknown who he was played as, he was classified as having the same looks and feel as the Casey from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990 film) (expect with unshaven arm pits).
  • On that note, on the VHS tape of that tour, tons of changes we're done due to Union reasons, most of the lines and songs from the actual shows we're cut out, Casey had to keep his mask on the whole time, there were less energy from the actors and actual show, and it had to be filmed in a closed location only specifically for the VHS tape.
  • and on a side-note, the Song from the "Coming Out of Our Shells" tour album, Sing About It, was performed in this show, since the first show didn't perform the song, just played part of it when they were showing the scene where Splinter is telling the Turtles on the Heart of Music

• A VHS recording of the show's Pay-Per-View broadcast was available. In the middle of the show, a reporter (not April) interviewed kids asking about the Turtles' whereabouts. David Ruphrect of Supermarket Sweep (1990) played the reporter.

• There were apparently two sets of Turtle costumes made for this production. One was used for the behind the scenes footage (the ones that leaned awkwardly) and the other set (the ones without the shells) was used for the show.

• Splinter is the one who sings "Skipping Stones" during the concert.

• Leonardo & Splinter are the only characters in the tour to have the same voice actors as in the 1987 cartoon series.

• Splinter's right ear is partially missing as homage to the Splinter from the first two live action movies.

• In the song "No Treaties" Raph starts the song using Shredder's voice filter.

• Shredder mentions "Krang" and "Technodrome" as key words from the 1987 cartoon series.

• There are two studio versions of Coming Out Of Their Shells, one is the slow version, the other, a rock version.

• During "Tubin", one of the gator's tail gets caught in the elevated sewer on the stage as they come up and right when they walk.

• The second set of the turtle costumes (the backstage costumes) were also used in some of the toy commercials.

• Raphael played both the drums and the sax. Recording the studio soundtrack, it's possible for him to play both instruments in a same song using split-track recording, or track dubbing, however, since the fact the music played is actually pre-recorded, the need for having both instruments was rendered null (In the Pay-Per-View preshow, Kip mentioned that the drum set had an "automatic saxophone.")

References

This article uses content from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles wiki.