Haylofters family-friendly production runs next two weekends
The Haylofters, again in cooperation with Plymouth Congregational UCC, begin the 2013 theater season with the family-friendly Broadway musical “A Year With Frog and Toad.”
Performances are scheduled for Feb. 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, and March 1, 2, 3, at Plymouth Congregational UCC, 124 W. Washington St., Burlington. Thursdays through Saturdays the curtain is at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m.
“A Year With Frog and Toad” is written by brothers Robert (music) and Willie Reale (book and lyrics), based on the award-winning Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel. The musical follows the seasonal adventures of good friends Frog and Toad and various other woodland creatures over the course of one year.
“A Year With Frog and Toad” was proposed as a Haylofters winter bonus show by co-director Megan Schroeder who remembers the books fondly from her childhood. She is responsible for the show’s “look,” preferring de-saturated colors more like the illustrations in the book, to more vibrant colors.
Schroeder is joined by her co-director mother Pamela Schroeder, who has directed various productions at the Malt House Theater over the years. Both are finding that collaborating together on Frog and Toad is an easy fit.
The cast is relatively small for this production, consisting of six actors and two dancers. Frog and Toad have only one role each but the rest of the cast play several parts. The role of Frog is played by Preston Smith, a musical theater and theater double major at Carthage College. Smith last performed in Burlington in the Haylofters production of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” but has had numerous roles in the area.
Toad is played by veteran actor Mike Cha. Cha’s resumé includes last winter’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” as well as many Lakeland Players’ productions.
The birds, played by Rachel Oldenburg, Grace Caringello, and Rachel McLafferty; the snail, played by Bryce Clark; and the dancers, Melissa Rodriguez and Megan Schroeder; have all performed on the Malt House stage before.
Tickets are $12 and are available at The Coffee House on Chestnut and Pine and The Grater Tater during business hours or online through PayPal at www.thehaylofters.com.
Discounted tickets are available for groups of at least 10. Call the Malt House Theatre at 763-9873 for more information.
To help promote this production, there will be a an opportunity for children to create an original toad- or frog-themed work of art or color the show’s logo (created by Aaron Gafner) for a chance at prizes. The submitted artwork will not be judged; winners will be drawn from all submissions. The grand prize is four tickets to see the show. The coloring page can be downloaded from The Haylofters’ Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/TheHaylofters?ref=ts&fref=ts.
If you go…
What: Haylofters production of “A Year With Frog and Toad.”
When: Feb. 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, and March 1, 2, 3. Thursday-Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday shows at 2 p.m.
Where: Plymouth Congregational UCC, 124 W. Washington St., Burlington.
Tickets: $12; available at The Coffee House on Chestnut and Pine; The Grater Tater during business hours; or online through PayPal at www.thehaylofters.com.
The show: The Family-friendly musical, based on the award-winning Frog and Toad books, follows the seasonal adventures of good friends Frog and Toad and various other woodland creatures over the course of one year.
Information: Call the Malt House Theatre at 763-9873.
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