A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD - Carousel...

MEDIA CONTACT: Jessie van Rijn [email protected] 604-669-3410

A Year with Frog and Toad PRESS KIT

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD Book and Lyrics by WILLIE REALE Music by ROBERT REALE Based on the books by ARNOLD LOBEL

FEATURING Frog ....................................................................... Todd Talbot Toad........................................ ............................... Josue Laboucane Bird, Snail, Lizard, Mole ................................... Darren Burkett Bird, Mouse, Squirrel, Mole… ......................... Rebecca Talbot Bird, Turtle, Squirrel, Mole ............................ Janet Gigliotti (March 3 – 18, March 27 – April 8, 2012) Bird, Turtle, Squirrel, Mole .............................. Kayla Dunbar (March 20 - 25, 2012)

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director ................................................................. Carole Higgins Choreographer .................................................. Melissa Young Musical Director, Pianist ................................ Angus Kellett Costumes Designer .......................................... Yulia Shtern Set Designer ....................................................... Heidi Wilkinson Lighting Designer ............................................. Darren Boquist Stage Manager .................................................. Dani Fecko Apprentice Stage Manager........................... Sarah Galligani Technical Director ............................................. Al Frisk Head of Wardrobe ........................................... Darryl Milot

VENUE Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright Street, Vancouver) DATES March 3 – April 8, 2012 (Various Times) SHORT DESCRIPTION BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND—Carousel Theatre’s hit production returns after an award-winning sold-out run in 2010. Arnold Lobel’s well-loved characters hop, sing and dance their way from the page to the stage! A Year With Frog and Toad follows the cheerful and popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad through four fun-filled seasons.

MEDIA WEBSITE/LOGIN with HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS: http://media.carouseltheatre.ca (user: media, password: comeplay)

TICKETS/ INFO (604) 685-6217 www.carouseltheatre.ca FACEBOOK Carousel Theatre TWITTER @ CarouselTheatre



CAROUSEL THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE presents

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD Based on the Frog and Toad children’s stories by ARNOLD LOBEL Book and Lyrics by WILLIE REALE, Music by ROBERT REALE

MARCH 3 TO APRIL 8, 2011 At the Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright Street on Granville Island) For Ages 3+

VANCOUVER, BC – After playing to sold out houses and critical acclaim in 2010, Carousel Theatre is proud to bring the musical treat A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD back to the Waterfront Stage for an encore run. Join Frog, Toad, and friends for four seasons of adventures, and enjoy your favorite songs and stories all over again. Arnold Lobel’s beloved amphibian heroes come to life on stage in this charming musical exploration of friendship and fun.

This year Artistic and Managing Director and A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD Director CAROLE HIGGINS is excited to welcome JOSUE LABOUCANE as Toad, having delighted audiences as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz earlier this season. TODD TALBOT returns as Frog, and is joined by his lovely wife REBECCA TALBOT – this marks their first time back on stage together since meeting and falling in love while in West Side Story at the Arts Club Theatre. Carousel Theatre audiences will recognize Rebecca as Mayzie la Bird from Seussical the Musical! Josue, Todd and Rebecca are joined by DARREN BURKETT, JANET GIGLIOTTI, and KAYLA DUNBAR, all of whom skipped down the Yellow Brick Road in The Wizard of Oz.

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD swept the Jessie Richardson Awards in 2010, and director CAROLE HIGGINS reunites the team that created the original Outstanding TYA Production: HEIDI WILKINSON (Jessie winner for Best Design), Costume Designer YULIA SHTERN (Jessie Nominee), Choreographer MELISSA YOUNG (Jessie Nominee) and Musical Director ANGUS KELLETT.

So come on down and visit with Mice, Moles, Birds, Snails, and of course your old friends Frog and Toad for another season of adventures at Carousel Theatre’s A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD!

Public Performances March 3 to April 8, 2012 School Matinees March 2 to April 5, 2012 Preview Performance (Reduced Rate Tickets Available) March 3 at 10AM Opening Night Saturday March 3 at 2PM NEW! Families can now attend weekday matinees. Call the box office for more info.

TICKETS Adults $29, Students with ID/Seniors $25, Youths (Ages 3‐17) $15

Discounts Available for groups of 10+

For tickets contact Carousel Theatre Box Office @ 604.669.3410 or purchase online at www.carouseltheatre.ca.

“…a sweet treat for the very young and the young at heart.” – Vancouver Courier “ It’s great to see theatre for extremely young audiences done so masterfully… This warm‐hearted show will be a first experience of theatre for a lot of toddlers..” – Georgia Straight Carousel Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of the following groups:



ABOUT CAROUSEL THEATRE

Carousel Theatre, now in its 37th season, has produced 147 plays for young people. In its early years, the company performed at several different venues in Vancouver including the Arts Club Seymour Street and the Vancouver East Cultural Centre before moving to our home on Granville Island, where we operate a small arts complex that includes administrative offices and two rehearsal halls. Carousel is one of the long-term resident tenants at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island. Each season more than 40,000 young people and their families benefit from Carousel Theatre’s unique programming. Under the vision of Artistic Director Carole Higgins, Carousel Theatre stages a mainstage season of Literary Classics at the Waterfront Theatre, a Teen Shakespeare Program each summer and a year-round Theatre School for young people ages 3 to 17 years. Carousel Theatre also runs a mentorship program for fledgling theatre for young audiences companies and a new play development program. Carousel Theatre plays a unique role in the ecology of our community, and is the only theatre company in BC that produces a fully professional season of mainstage programming especially for young people.

THE CONCEPT – DIRECTOR’S NOTES

We are so delighted to bring back A Year with Frog and Toad. This sweet production charmed our audiences in 2010 with its tale of two friends and their ups and downs throughout the four seasons. At its heart, A Year with Frog and Toad is about friendship and the little things in life that make us smile, dance and laugh. Planting gardens, picnics, writing and receiving letters (by mail!), baking, swimming, raking leaves, sledding and drinking warm cocoa- these are all wonderful things made all the more special by sharing them with a dear friend.

We’ve had some cast changes since we last played in our little glen. Kaylee Harwood who originated the role of our Mouse/Lady Bird/Squirrel is currently appearing on Broadway in the Stratford production of Jesus Christ Superstar and Carousel veteran Allan Zinyk will be tackling the role of Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Ernest at the Arts Club, so I’m thrilled to welcome some Carousel audience favourites Josue Laboucane to the role of Toad and Rebecca Talbot to the roles of Mouse/Lady Bird/Squirrel and we look forward to the special magic these two will bring. They join Todd Talbot (Frog), Darren Burkett (Snail/Bird/Lizard) and Janet Gigliotti (Lady Bird/Turtle/Squirrel) in our lovely glen. We hope you’ll join us for another Year with Frog and Toad as we sing and dance, and revel in friendship and life’s simple pleasures!

- Carole Higgins, Artistic Director

A Year with Frog and Toad Allan Zinyk as 'Toad' and Todd Talbot as 'Frog' Carousel Theatre, 2010. Photo by Tim Matheson



THE SYNOPSIS Our story begins with the coming home of the birds after a long winter away – it’s spring! Frog decides to wake up his friend Toad from hibernation. Once awake, Toad decides to plant a garden; Frog gives Toad some seeds. Toad plants them, but is very impatient and wants them to grow – quickly! He yells at them and stays up all night watching. He soon feels bad for yelling at the seeds and is worried he’s scared them. To make the seeds happy again he dances, sings, and plays music for them. Soon they begin to grow.

Its morning and everyone is expecting their mail to arrive. Toad is sad, because he never receives any mail. Frog decides to write Toad a letter, and goes home. He asks Snail to deliver it for him.

Frog and Toad go to the pond for a swim. Toad is uncomfortable with Frog seeing him in his bathing suit. Frog promises not to look until Toad is in the water. Toad asks Frog to tell Turtle to leave so she won’t see him in his bathing suit. Turtle calls over Mouse and Lizard to come look at Toad. Toad is soon very cold, and eventually leaves the pond - everyone sees Toad in his bathing suit.

When Toad brings lunch to Frog he finds Frog is not at home. He has left a note saying he would like to be left alone. Toad is worried that Frog is sad and decides to join him. He rides a log out to the island and accidentally falls in the water getting the sandwiches wet. It turns out that Frog is not sad at all, he’s happy! Frog wanted time alone to think about how happy he is. Together they eat wet sandwiches.

Snail is on his way to deliver Frog’s letter to Toad (quick as he can).

Frog and Toad are at Toad’s home making dinner. They make cookies for dessert, but can’t help themselves from trying a few. To stop themselves from finishing them they give them to the birds instead.

Summer is almost over and colourful leaves are all over the ground. Both Frog and Toad plan a surprise to secretly rake the other’s garden. They each tidy the others garden, but the squirrels are tempted by the neat piles of leaves and jump in them, messing the gardens back up again. Neither finds out about the good deed they’ve done for each other.

Meanwhile, Snail is still on his way to deliver Frog’s letter to Toad.

It’s now winter, and Frog and Toad are getting ready to go tobogganing; Toad is afraid. Frog accidently falls off on the way down leaving Toad alone to speed downhill. He takes a wrong turn to a dangerous and bumpy path. When Toad reaches the bottom he is so mad at Frog for leaving him alone, he swears never to talk to Frog again. Snail finally arrives with Frog’s letter to Toad. In the letter Frog tells Toad how he cannot be happy unless his friend Toad is happy. Toad decides to talk to Frog again. Snail, having delivered his letter, is very proud.

Christmas Eve has arrived; Toad is in the kitchen and worried because Frog is late. Toad imagines all the terrible things that may have happened to him till Frog arrives. He’s been wrapping Toad’s gift. Toad tells him how worried he has been.

Back in hibernation, Frog and Toad are in bed. Spring is nearly here!



THE CAST (in alphabetical order)

Josue Laboucane -Toad Josue is an actor, teacher, director and mask designer. His masks have been seen onstage with Carousel Theatre and the Vancouver Opera. Acting credits include The Wizard of Oz, Seussical, Robin Hood, I Love You Forever and More Munsch, (Carousel Theatre); The Emperor's New Threads (Axis Theatre); four seasons of Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival. Look for Josue this April in Relephant Theatre’s remount of The Exquisite Hour at the Vancouver Playhouse. He is a graduate of Studio 58.

Kayla Dunbar - Bird, Turtle, Squirrel, Mole (March 20 - 25, 2012) Kayla is delighted to be back at Carousel. She is a recent graduate of Studio 58. Past acting credits include: The Wizard Of Oz (Carousel),The Crucible (Studio58), Hairspray (Arts Club), 1984 (Studio58/The Virtual Stage), Comedy Of Errors (Studio58), Secret In The Wings (Studio58), Annie (TUTS), West Side Story (RCMT), Oliver! (Vancouver Playhouse), Grease (TUTS), 42nd Street (RCMT), Emily (Gateway), and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Blockhead Productions). Kayla was choreographer of the new musical The Park at Studio 58.

Darren Burkett - Bird, Snail, Lizard, Mole Darren is thrilled to be back in the saddle playing a role that he loves so much. Favourite theatre credits include Glory Days (The Boys Upstairs Co-op), The Wizard of Oz, a Jessie award for A Year With Frog and Toad and Seussical (Carousel Theatre), Hairspray, White Christmas, Beauty and the Beast (Arts Club), Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma! (CTF), Annie Get Your Gun (TUTS), A Chorus Line, West Side Story, The Music Man (RCMT). Thanks to his family for their never ending love.

Janet Gigliotti - Bird, Turtle, Squirrel, Mole (March 3 – 18, March 27 – April 8, 2012) It’s WONDERFUL to be back in the world of Frog & Toad! Select credits: Glinda-Wizard of Oz (Carousel), Jacqueline-Don’t Dress For Dinner (PAAN), Adelaide-Guys & Dolls (Chemainus), Les Misérables (Arts Club), Seussical (WCT), Mamma Mia! (Mirvish), My Way (Globe), Ado Annie-Oklahoma (Port Hope), The Rainmaker (Stage Centre), Nellie-South Pacific, Rosie-Bye Bye Birdie (TUTS), The Witch-Into The Woods, Godspell (URP). A BIG thank you to Carole and the whole Carousel staff and love to Sophia, Siena, Noah, Alex, & Ryan!



THE PRODUCTION TEAM

Rebecca Talbot - Bird, Mouse, Squirrel, Mole Rebecca is squeaking and tweeting into a Year with Frog and Toad after the birth of her second child. Rebecca has experience playing a bird! Sometimes she tweets at home just for fun, but she also appeared on stage as Mayzie La Bird in Carousel's Seussical the Musical. Other credits include Eponine in Les Miserables (Arts Club) andten years ago as Maria in West Side Story (Arts Club) she met her husband, Todd Talbot. They are happy to be working together for the first time again today!

Todd Talbot - Frog Frog and Toad was one of Todd's favorite books as a kid (and still is) and he just couldn't resist being a part of this musical (for the second time!). Todd is excited to be back at Carousel where he appeared in his first professional Vancouver production playing Tyler in Blueprints from Space. Also for Carousel Theatre, Dicken in The Secret Garden and choreographer for Alice: A Wonderland. Todd's first appearance as a frog (Kermit) came in another collaboration with Carole Higgins called ‘Nucklehead Fever'. Most recently Todd starred in White Christmas at the Stanley Theatre and will return to the Arts Club as Dexter in High Society. As a dad, this show is for my daughter Ashlyn and new baby boy Kesler. Enjoy!

Carole Higgins – Director, Artistic and Managing Director Carole has the best job in the whole world! Some of her directing credits for Carousel Theatre include Aesop’s Fables, The Wizard of Oz, Bird Brain, Seussical, Love You Forever…, The Big League, and Peter Pan. She’s received two Jessie Awards for Directing, and five Jessie nominations. Carole has worked as an actor/director/playwright at Western Canada Theatre, the Caravan Farm Theatre and TheatreOne. For all our little friends, especially Ashlyn and Kesler, whose mommy and daddy are on stage.

Melissa Young - Choreographer Melissa is excited to be back choreographing A Year with Frog and Toad! Recent choreography credits include: The Wizard of Oz, Seussical (Carousel) As You Like It, The Comedy of Errors (Bard on the Beach,) Oklahoma!(Chemainus Theatre Festival.) As an actress, Melissa has appeared in Guys and Dolls (Chemainus Theatre,) Disney's Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, Gypsy (Arts Club.) In the spring, she will be appearing in High Society. Melissa has been nominated for six Jessie Awards.



Angus Kellett - Musical Director, Pianist Angus has been accompanying, music directing, and vocal coaching in and around Vancouver since graduating from the University of Toronto's opera program seven years ago. Recent credits include The Sound of Music and Annie (Gateway Theatre), West Side Story and La Traviata (Vancouver Opera), HMS Pinafore (DragonDiva Operatic Theatre), and Wicked (Broadway Across Canada). Upcoming shows include Victor/Victoria (Metro Theatre) and Gianni Schicchi (The Opera Project). This is Angus's first show with Carousel Theatre. Special thanks to Dani.

Heidi Wilkinson - Set Designer Heidi has been a designer and props builder for the last 16 years. She teaches in the theatre department at Capilano University and is heading into her 14th season as head of props for Bard on the Beach. Heidi is excited to be back with Carousel for Frog and Toad , (she also designed Wizard of Oz, Bird Brain, Love You Forever, and Munch Alley). Heidi has been nominated 7 times and has won three Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards for her work.

Darren Boquist - Lighting Designer Darren is excited to help light up the four seasons for the return of Carousel’s award winning hit A Year with Frog and Toad. Selected lighting design credits include Aesop’s Fables, Munscha Mia & The Odyssey (Carousel), The Pillowman (Wild Geese Co-op), Bye Bye Birdie & The 13th Chair (Studio 58), Becky's New Car & Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun (TNW), Titus Andronicus (Mad Duck Co-op), Carnage (Pi Theatre), 120 BPM (Upintheair)

Yulia Shtern - Costume Designer Yulia Shtern possesses a BFA in Drawing and Painting from OCAD and an MFA in Scenic Design from UBC. Her other costume designs for Carousel Theatre are Pharaoh Serket and the Lost Stone of Fire and Bird Brain. Other recent design credits include Shadow Catch (Vancouver Pro Musica/TomoeArts), EN and Ten Nights of Dream (TomoeArts) and The Busy World Is Hushed (one2theatre). Yulia is very excited to see A Year with Frog and Toad returning to stage! Enjoy the show!



Sarah Ann Gallagani - Apprentice Stage Manager Sarah fell in love with the magic of Theatre when she was 15. She graduated from Capilano’s Technical Theatre program. Credits include: Assistant Stage Manager for Footloose (Exit 22), and Anything Goes (Theatre Under the Stars), and Stage Manager for The Hobbit (Exit 22), Voodoo (Capilano University Fringe Festival), and Asymmetry (Reality Curve). She recently finished Follow Spotting The Wizard of Oz for Carousel Theatre. She has enthusiasm to work for Carousel Theatre again as an Apprentice Stage Manager!

Al Frisk - Technical Director Al, a graduate from UBC’s Technical Theatre and Design program, is thrilled to be working on A Year with Frog and Toad. He has designed sets for Carousel’s Pharaoh Serket, Robin Hood, The Odyssey and The Hobbit. Al is also a founding partner of Scene Ideas, which does a variety of construction and production management projects. Some of our recent jobs include numerous events for the Olympics, including Opening & Closing Ceremonies, Lilith Fair, Canucks Dice & Ice Fundraiser and the Grey Cup. www.sceneideas.ca

Dani Fecko - Stage Manager Dani last worked with Carousel on Seussical (twice), The Hobbit and The Odyssey. She is excited to be playing here again! Dani spent the last few years stage managing around Vancouver, touring shows around the world, and acting as the Associate Curator for the PuSh Festival. After Frog and Toad she will become Carousel’s full time Production and Facilities Manager. She graduated from Studio 58 and is very excited to share this experience with the man she loves, Angus Kellett.

Darryl Milot – Head of Wardrobe Aesop's is Darryl's second show with Carousel, after the wildly successful OZ! Prior to this, he spent 8 years as Wardrobe Head at the Arts Club, where he helped produce more than 100 shows, and for whom he just finished designing costumes for the premier production of A Craigslist Cantata. Past costume design credits include The Seahorse, Saltwater Moon, Back Kitchen Release Party, and a Jessie nomination for Poster Boys (all Arts Club Theatre).



PRODUCTION PHOTOS – full res and many more options available at MEDIA WEBSITE/LOGIN with HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS: http://media.carouseltheatre.ca (user: media, password: comeplay)

The Cast of A Year with Frog and Toad. Carousel Theatre 2010 Photography by Tim Matheson The Cast: Darren Burkett, Janet Gigliotti,

Kaylee Harwood, Todd Talbot, Allan Zinyk

Photo specific credits available on media

site. Please credit all artists.

Please note that Josue Laboucane and

Rebecca Talbot will be performing in place

of Allan Zinyk and Kaylee Harwood in the

2012 production.

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD - Carousel...

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