COF's A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD Begins 12/16

As part of its 20th season, Company of Fools (COF) is delighted to bring the valley's two favorite amphibians home for the holidays-FROG & TOAD! Last performed in 2010, our community has sent a constant plea to share this favorite with a new generation of children. This smash-hit Broadway musical, A Year with Frog and Toad, with music by Robert Reale, book and lyrics by Willie Reale and developed by Adrianne Lobel, runs December 16-January 3, 2010, at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey.

As Arnold Lobel's much-loved characters hop from the page to the stage in Robert and Willie Reale's musical A Year with Frog and Toad, the play remains true to the spirit of the original stories. It follows two great friends-the cheerful and popular Frog and the rather naive Toad-through four, fun-filled seasons. Waking from hibernation in the spring, they proceed to plant gardens, swim, rake leaves and go sledding. They learn life lessons along the way, including a most important one about friendship and rejoicing in the attributes that make each of us different and special.

A winning combination of engaging music and lyrics by the Reale brothers and Lobel's classic children's books made A Year with Frog and Toad a Broadway success that earned 2004 Tony nominations for best musical, best book and best original score. The brainchild of Adrianne Lobel (the author's daughter and a veteran stage designer) and the Reale brothers, Frog and Toad was originally produced at The Children's Theater of Minneapolis.

As the play turns Lobel's stories into entertaining vignettes starring the titular amphibians, the production is colored by jazzy 30s-style music. "The Kite," for example, is an energetic Charleston; "He'll Never Know" is a soft shoe; and "Seeds" illustrates Toad's gentle love of plant life in a lyric ballad.

Company of Fools' Core Company Artist, John Glenn, returns to direct the show, with music direction by R.L. Rowsey. As well, members of COF's beloved original cast return with some new favorites too! The cast features Andrew Alburger as Toad and Chris Carwithen as Frog. John Glenn, Melodie Taylor-Mauldin and Aly Wepplo complete the cast.

Rounding out the creative team for A Year with Frog and Toad are Dennis Rexroad (Set Design), Lynn Hartman (Light Design), Colleen McDuffee (Costume Design), Ted Macklin (Sound Design) and K.O. Ogilvie (Stage Manager).

Tickets are $35 for full price, $30 for seniors and Center members and $15 for students (18 and under). These ticket prices do not include the "Pay What You Feel" night (December 16), 10 for $10, and Educator Night (December 19). There is also a SPECIAL GROUP RATE-groups of eight or more receive $30 tickets!

Tickets may be purchased online at sunvalleycenter.org, by phone at 208.578.9122 or at the Liberty Theatre box office starting one hour prior to curtain. Company of Fools' box office is located at the Liberty Theatre, 110 N. Main Street in Hailey, with hours from 10AM to 4PM, Monday through Friday. All seats are reserved, with the exception of our "Pay What You Feel" preview (see description below).

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