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News Releases 
Heightened Amphibian Activity at CTC: Frog and Toad to be taped live at CTC, multiple casts in place, and run extension 
For Immediate Release: November 10, 2004
The Children's Theatre Company's production of the Tony® Award nominated musical, A Year with Frog and Toad began rehearsals last week with two casts, professional tapings of the production in the works, and an extended run necessitated by ticket demand.
"This incredible production just continues to create enormous energy," said CTC artistic director Peter C. Brosius. "We are thrilled to share that energy once again with Twin Cities' audiences. It is very exciting that our young people and their families can be a part of a broadcast quality taping, have the opportunity to see one of two tremendous casts, and celebrate this production in the spirit of the holidays."
A five-camera, high definition videotaping of several performances is scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend in front of CTC audiences. Bob Boyett, one of the original producers of A Year with Frog and Toad has been working with CTC and Frog and Toad's original creative team to collect performance footage that will be used to create a master DVD. Twin Cities Public Television is serving as a consultant to CTC on the project. The nearly original cast will appear in the taped performances, which will be directed by David Petrarca, the production's original director. Petrarca has directed over 40 world premieres including A Year with Frog and Toad, Marvin's Room, The House of Martin Guerre, and Fuddy Meers. He served as a director at the Goodman Theatre from 1987-2004 and has extensive television directing credits including "Jack and Bobby," "Everwood," "Joan of Arcadia," and "Dawsons Creek," Upcoming projects include films of Fuddy Meers, Schoolgirl Figure, and Four Letters of Love. No distribution network for the DVD has been announced.
The 2004 production of A Year with Frog and Toad has essentially two casts to accommodate the demands of the shooting schedule for pre and post performance segments as well as the busy holiday performance schedule. The additional taped segments will include interviews with the actors and behind the scenes moments associated with the musical. CTC has designated the two casts as "Home" and "Away." The "Away Team" consists primarily of the original New York cast with Jay Goede as Frog, Mark Linn-Baker as Toad, Frank Vlastnick as Snail, and Danielle Ferland as Bird et al. Joining them is Broadway veteran Sarah Litzsinger as Bird et al, a role originally performed by Kate Reinders. The "Home Team" cast consists of Minnesotans Sean Michael Dooley as Frog, Reed Sigmund as Toad, Dieter Bierbrauer as Snail, Becka Ollman as Bird et al, and Autumn Ness as Bird et al. Both casts will rotate in and out of the production schedule through the entire run with the exception of Mark Linn-Baker who will be leaving the production after December 12 to be home for the holidays with wife Adrianne Lobel and young daughter Ruby.
The run of A Year with Frog and Toad has been extended by 10 performances, moving the closing date from Friday, December 31, 2004 to Friday, January 7, 2005. The demand to extend the run was clear when ticket sales significantly exceeded those of previous years for holiday shows. To date, the production has sold to 77% of capacity for performances through December 19. By comparison, CTC's 2003 production of The Wizard of Oz sold 61% of capacity for the entire run at this time last year and ended the run at 95.4% of capacity.
"Although we are very rarely able to extend runs because of our tight production schedule, ticket sales have been so strong that we wanted to let A Year with Frog and Toad step into the New Year with us and our audience," said CTC managing director Teresa Eyring. "We were very fortunate that the actors' schedules allowed for this extension."
A Year with Frog and Toad is based on the Newbery and Caldecott Honor books about Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel, with book and lyrics by Willie Reale and music by Robert Reale. The production is directed by David Petrarca, with set design by Adrianne Lobel, costume design by 2002 Tony® award winner Martin Pakledinaz, lighting design by Jim Ingalls, sound design by Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen, music direction by Andrew Cooke, and choreography by Daniel Pelzig. The production is assistant directed and stage managed by Stacy McIntosh Holt.
Frog and Toad are best friends. This delightful musical follows their adventures through four fun-filled seasons collected from Arnold Lobel's classic, award-winning series of children's books. Charming Frog and "worry-wart" Toad leap onto the stage, 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.
The show previews November 16-18, opens November 19, and runs through January 7, 2005. Ticket prices for A Year with Frog and Toad are $19-$29 for adults and $14-$23 for children, students and seniors Monday through Thursday. Tickets prices are $25-$35 for adults and $20-$29 for children, students and seniors Friday through Sunday.
Photos are available at www.ctcpix.org.
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