Atlantyca Entertainment, the Milan, Italy-based company behind the widely popular Geronimo Stilton character, has launched a new division dedicated to creating, producing and developing live branded stage shows, and the company has promoted licensing exec Rachele Geraci to lead the charge.

Atlantyca Live will launch productions based on the company’s owned properties, which, aside from Geronimo Stilton, include Bat Pat and Agatha Mystery.

As Atlantyca’s former licensing manager, Geraci’s new title is stage rights sales and development manager, where she is directly responsible for all aspects of the new business unit, including creative development of the shows. The role also encompasses all licensing initiatives for the live shows in order to develop new theatrical productions as well as smaller-scale live shows that extend to malls, shopping centers and other family-friendly locales.

In kicking things off, the new division will launch its first US stage show on January 16 with the debut of The Oregon Children’s Theater Geronimo Stilton: Mouse in Space. Brokered by the Susan Gurman Agency, Atlantyca’s theatrical literary agent, the 70-minute production features Geronimo Stilton and his friends as they are pitted against Dr. Wicked Whiskers and Suzy Slyrat to save New Mouse City from an astronomical cyber threat.

The launch of the new division comes as Atlantyca sees growing attention for Geronimo Stilton-branded live shows throughout Europe as well as in North America, as the brand continues to build momentum in the US and Canada.