Redhouse Arts, Appleseed and Rarely Done Kick Off 2nd Annual District Festival Today

A year ago, three local arts organizations came together to create a new collaboration in order to build a performance-based infrastructure throughout Central New York. A year and a successful first season later, The Redhouse Arts Center lead by Executive Director Stephen Svoboda, Rarely Done Productions lead by Artistic Director Dan Tursi, and Appleseed Productions lead by Producing Artistic Director CJ Young, announce the second annual District Festival, today, June 4th-June 22nd.

This year's festival features three shows running in repertory - Redhouse's "A Year With Frog and Toad," Rarely Done's "Company," and Appleseed's "Civil War." All the productions take place at The Redhouse Arts Center at 201 S. West Street.

Tickets are $25 for the general public, and $15 for students/seniors. Tickets are available online at www.theredhouse.org or by calling the Redhouse box office at 315-362-2785. See all three festival shows for $60 for the general public, and $40 for students/seniors. The three show discount is only available by calling the Redhouse box office.

In the Theater For Young Audiences version, A Year With Frog and Toad remains true to the spirit of the original stories as it follows two great friends, the cheerful and popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad, through four fun-filled seasons. Waking from hibernation in the spring, they proceed to plant gardens, swim, rake leaves and go sledding, learning 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. This production features professional actors, community actors, actors with developmental disabilities from Arc of Onondaga, and students from Elmcrest all performing together.

Company opens on the night of confirmed bachelor Robert's 35th birthday as he contemplates his unmarried state. Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks, and even a wedding, his friends -- "those good and crazy people [his] married friends" -- explain the pro's and con's of taking on a spouse. The habitually single Robert is forced to question his adamant retention of bachelorhood during a hilarious, yet accurate, array of interactions.

Drawing on letters, diaries, firsthand accounts, and the words of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass and Walt Whitman, The Civil War is a thrilling, gut-wrenching and awe-inspiring "dramatic theatrical concert" that covers the enormous emotional landscape of the most difficult test our nation has ever endured. It also examines the lives of the lovers and families left behind, as well as the hopes and fears of the slaves whose freedom was at stake. It passionately asks us to consider our beliefs about freedom, honor and faith.

A Year With Frog and Toad will run Wednesday, June 4th at 8pm, Saturday, June 7th at 11am, Sunday, June 8th at 2pm, Friday, June 13th at 8pm, Saturday, June 14th at 11am, Friday, June 20th at 8pm, Saturday, June 21st at 11am, and Sunday, June 22nd at 2pm.

Company will run Friday, June 6th at 8pm, Saturday, June 7th at 8pm, Wednesday, June 11th at 8pm, Saturday, June 14th at 8pm, Sunday, June 15th at 2pm, Thursday, June 19th at 8pm, Saturday, June 21st at 8pm, and Sunday, June 22nd at 7pm.

The Civil War will run Thursday, June 5th at 8pm, Saturday, June 7th at 3pm, Sunday, June 8th at 7pm, Thursday, June 12th at 8pm, Saturday, June 14th at 3pm, Sunday, June 15th at 7pm, Wednesday, June 18th at 8pm, and Saturday, June 21st at 3pm.

Red House Arts Center is a nonprofit, multi-arts organization dedicated to the production and presentation of interdisciplinary works, new theatre, music, visual art, and is a regional provider of community based arts education. Red House supports the creative process by providing a unique platform for regional, national and international artistic expressions. Through their public programs and community engagement initiatives, Red House aims to stimulate cultural activities and contribute to community development throughout Central New York. For more information visit www.theredhouse.org.

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