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News Releases 
"There could be no better friend for me." -Toad, A Year with Frog and Toad 
For Immediate Release: August 2, 2002
Minneapolis, MN - The Children's Theatre Company, by special arrangement with Adrianne Lobel and Bob Boyett, begins its 2002/2003 season with the world premiere of A Year with Frog and Toad with music by Robert Reale, book and lyrics by Willie Reale, based on the Newbery and Caldecott Honor books about Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel. The production is directed by David Petrarca, with choreography by Daniel Pelzig, music direction by Wendy Bobbitt Cavett, set design by Adrianne Lobel, costume design by 2002 Tony® award winner Martin Pakledinaz, lighting design by James F.Ingalls, orchestration by Irwin Fisch, sound design by Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen and stage management by Stacy McIntosh. After running in repertory with A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, A Year with Frog and Toad will immediately transfer to The New Victory Theater, "New York's premier theater for kids and families, in the heart of Times Square."
Frog and Toad are best friends. This delightful new musical follows their adventures through four fun-filled seasons collected from Arnold Lobel's classic, award-winning series of children's books. In this world premiere musical, charming Frog and "worry-wart" Toad leap off Lobel's pages, along with Snail, Mouse and the rest of the animal gang, for some kite-flying, sled-racing and cookie-munching. Each amphibian anecdote comes to life with hilarious and heart-warming songs using jazzy 40's style music to explore the challenges, rewards and tenderness of friendship. A Year with Frog and Toad gloriously celebrates that having a very best friend is about as good as life gets. And, having a friend that is different than you makes that friendship even more special. After all, if each of us is exactly alike, one of us is unnecessary.
CTC artistic director Peter C. Brosius had been looking for an adaptation of the Frog and Toad books for some time when he learned that author Arnold Lobel's daughter, internationally acclaimed scenic designer Adrianne Lobel, was involved in developing a production. "Once I read the touching, funny script and heard the incredibly witty music, I attended specially arranged workshops in New York and began conversations with the core team, including Mark Linn-Baker, who had begun creating a totally hilarious Toad." The talent, energy and potential in those workshops were thrilling for Brosius, and the result of those trips is that CTC is producing the world premiere of A Year with Frog and Toad. CTC's production will then transfer immediately to The New Victory Theater in New York City.
"The New 42nd Street is delighted that The Children's Theater Company of Minneapolis will be presenting A Year with Frog and Toad," said Cora Cahan, President of The New 42nd Street. "It is terrific that kids and families will see this new musical in Minneapolis and then in New York City, on 42nd Street, at The New Victory Theater."
Author Arnold Lobel wrote and illustrated a large number of popular children's books over his 27-year career. He illustrated over 60 works by other authors before he wrote and illustrated 1962's A Zoo for Mister Muster. Frog and Toad Are Friends, published in 1970 and was named a Caldecott Honor Book. The two friends reappear in the sequels Frog and Toad Together, Frog and Toad All Year, and Days with Frog and Toad, all of which received critical acclaim and honors. Lobel's work has won numerous awards and honors. Robert Reale, the composer, and brother Willie Reale, the playwright and lyricist, have collaborated with each other on many projects; Once Around The City, which was produced by Second Stage Theatre last season and Quark Victory, which was presented by the Williamstown Theatre Festival in the summer of 1999. Robert is an award-winning composer whose music can be heard on television each week on 20/20 and Inside Edition. In addition to composing for numerous television shows, Robert's credits include stage plays and film scores. Willie founded the 52nd Street Project in New York City, an organization that brings inner-city children together with professional theater artists to create theater. He has produced hundreds of plays during his 18 years with the Project and dozens at numerous regional theaters. He has written television scripts for ABC, PBS, HBO, and the NBC drama "Homicide: Life on the Streets."
Director David Petrarca has been resident director at The Goodman Theatre Company since 1988, where his credits include the new musical The House of Martin Guerre (Jeff Award), and dozens of productions including world premieres of Schoolgirl Figure and Sin, Down the Shore, Somebody Else's House, Deep in a Dream of You, and Mill Fire. Many of his productions have played on other stages, like Marvin's Room, which ran off-Broadway (Outer Critics Circle nomination), at Hampstead Theatre (London Fringe Award nomination); and in London's West End. Additional directing credits are the long-running off-Broadway musical Dinah Was and the world premiere of Fuddy Meers at Manhattan Theatre Club. A recipient of a TCG/NEA Director Fellowship, his numerous television directing credits include "Nothing Sacred" for ABC/FOX; and "To Have and To Hold" and "Early Edition" for CBS. Choreographer Daniel Pelzig has worked at regional theaters including the Kennedy Center, Seattle Rep, and the McCarter Theatre. He has numerous ballet credits including four years as resident director at Boston Ballet, and numerous opera credits including three years as resident choreographer at Santa Fe Opera. Music director Wendy Bobbitt Cavett has conducted on Broadway, and for the national tour of Tommy She has collaborated with Billy Joel and been involved in developing new and revived works in New York City, including the new Starmites 2001 and the premiere of Long Road Home.
Adrianne Lobel, set designer, and daughter of Arnold Lobel, has received numerous nominations for her work at Second Stage Theater and on Broadway. She has designed shows nationally and internationally at theaters including the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Opera in London. Costume designer Martin Pakledinaz just received a Tony® Award for his design of Thoroughly Modern Millie. He also received a Tony® for Kiss Me Kate. In addition to numerous Broadway credits, Pakledinaz has also worked at various regional and international theaters, designing for dance, theatre, and opera. Lighting designer James F. Ingalls has worked extensively on Broadway, in London and at many regional theaters including the Lincoln Center, Playwrights Horizons, Goodman, La Jolla, Steppenwolf. His credits also include various ballet companies and both national and international opera. Orchestrator Irwin Fisch has composed the scores for 14 television movies and was nominated for an Emmy for his work on ABC-TV's Bye Bye Birdie telefilm. As a studio arranger, composer and keyboardist, he has worked with scores of recording and performing artists on hundreds of jingles, records and films. And the team of Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen designed the sound. Milburn has many Broadway sound design credits and composing credits for productions such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He has worked at many regional theaters in the U.S. including the Arena Stage, the Guthrie Theater, and Seattle Rep. as well. Bodeen has created music and sound for Broadway productions including One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in addition to the many Off-Broadway and regional theaters. He has received several regional award nominations and is the recipient of five Joseph Jefferson awards.
A Year with Frog and Toad is performed by a 5-member cast, all making their debut on the CTC stage. Toad is played by Mark Linn-Baker, a producing director of New York Stage and Film. For many, he is best known as Larry Appleton on TV's "Perfect Strangers." His film credits include Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor and Noises Off. He has worked on Broadway and off-Broadway, as well as at numerous regional theaters. Jay Goede, a native of Minnesota, is playing Frog. He has been in several motion pictures, a BBC miniseries, and Broadway productions including Angels in America and The Play's the Thing. Goede performed in Minneapolis when he was in the cast of the national tour of Cabaret. Danielle Ferland, an ensemble member, was in the original cast of the Broadway productions Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George. She was the in Woody Allen films Mighty Aphrodite and Radio Days, in addition to numerous Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theater and television credits. Another member of the ensemble is Kate Reinders, who was in the first national tour of The Sound of Music, several Broadway and regional theater productions and the movies While You Were Sleeping and Marmalade. And rounding out the cast is Frank Vlastnik, whose credits include Sweet Smell of Success and Big on Broadway as well as several Off-Broadway and regional productions, and guest appearances on television.
A Year with Frog and Toad is presented by special arrangement with Adrianne Lobel and Bob Boyett.
A Year with Frog and Toad previews August 20-22, opens August 23, and runs through November 2, 2002. Ticket prices are $9-22 for children, seniors, and students, and $15-28 for adults. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. For more information, call the CTC Ticket Office at 612-874-0400. The Children's Theatre Company is located at 2400 Third Avenue South in Minneapolis.
Photos will be available at www.ctcpix.org starting August 12, 2002.
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