A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD Plays During Spring Break at MST-Chelsea; Runs thru 4/5

Playing at Main Street Theater over spring break is A Year with Frog and Toad, running through April 5, 2014 at Chelsea Market.

"My family and I were summering by a lake in Vermont. One day I came in from the woods with a small animal in the palm of my hand. "What a nice frog you have there," said my father. "This is not a frog," I replied. "This is a toad." And I explained all of the differences in appearance and life style between these two amphibians. Not long after that, the first Frog and Toad book was born!" --Adrienne Lobel, Arnold Lobel's daughter

Main Street Theater presents A Year with Frog and Toad, based on the books by Arnold Lobel. A Year with Frog and Toad will play Saturdays, March 1 - April 5 at 1:00pm and 4:00pm and Mondays - Fridays, March 10 - 14 and 17 - 21 at 1:30pm. Performances will be held at Main Street Theater-Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Boulevard in the Museum District. Ticket prices for public performances are $17 - $13. Tickets are on sale in person at the Main Street Theater Box Office at 2540 Times Blvd. in Rice Village, via phone at 713.524.6706 or online at mainstreettheater.com. Group rates are available. Special performances and rates are available for school matinees. Call 713.524.9196 ext 101 or visit the website.

A Year with Frog and Toad - This whimsical musical follows two best friends - the eternally optimistic Frog and the rather grumpy Toad - through four, fun-filled seasons. Frog and Toad plant gardens, swim, rake leaves, go sledding, eat cookies and learn life lessons along the way. A sweet tale of friendship and what makes each of us unique and special.

Recommended for Pre-Kindergarten and up. No children under 3 allowed in the theater (including sleeping babies).

Brunch at Brazos - On Saturday, March 29 at 10am, meet best friends Frog and Toad; enjoy whimsical brunch treats; make a springtime craft; get your face painted; and read the book with Frog and Toad! At Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet. $25 per child / $15 per adult. Purchase online or by calling the MST box office.

Arnold Lobel wrote and/or illustrated over 70 children's books. He received the Caldecott award as well as two Caldecott honors including one for Frog and Toad are Friends. He also received the Newbery Honor for Frog and Toad Together.

Mr. Lobel grew up in New York. He always thought of himself as an illustrator. About his writing he said, "I know how to draw pictures. With writing, I don't really know what I'm doing. It's very intuitive." Mr. Lobel was married to Anita whom he met at the Pratt Institute and had two children, Adrianne and Adam. He died on December 4, 1987 in New York.

Andrew Ruthven is the director. Kathy Elder is the music director. The cast includes Stephanie Dew, Scott Gibbs, Beth Lazarou, Scott Lupton, and Zack Varela. The design team includes Jodi Bobrovsky (set design), David Gipson (lighting design), Macy Lyne (costume design), Alex Worthington (sound design), and Rodney Walsworth (properties design). Lauren Dolk is the choreographer. Danielle Docwra is the Production Stage Manager.

Main Street Theater was founded in 1975. The organization produces plays at two locations, 2540 Times Boulevard in Rice Village and 4617 Montrose Boulevard at Chelsea Market. Our MainStage is in its 38th season and its 13th season operating under an Actors' Equity Association union contract. The MainStage features new works (including numerous world and regional premieres), rediscovered classics, passionate revivals, works by female playwrights, and neglected musicals in the intimate setting of our Rice Village location. Our Theater for Youth is Houston's most-attended theater for young audiences, serving over 135,000 children and families from the greater Houston area in school performances, weekend family matinees and tours to schools and community centers across the state of Texas. Plays are selected based on literature children are reading at home or at school. Our Education Department offers students a performing arts playground where professional theater artists serve as mentors. In support of Main Street Theater's mission, our Education Department provides a significant resource in the community for education in theater and classical theater for children, families and educators and provides classes and camps (on and off-site) as well as programs in residential treatment facilities for Harris County youth.

Main Street Theater is a founding member of the Fresh Arts Coalition, which recently merged with Spacetaker here in Houston, a founding member of Houston Arts Partners, and a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for not-for-profit theaters. Main Street Theater is also a member of Actors' Equity Association and of Theatre for Young Audiences/USA (formerly ASSITEJ), the world theatre network of theatre for children and young people. Main Street Theater is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Main Street Theater is funded in part by grants from the Houston Endowment and the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Pictured: Toad (Zack Varela) and Frog (Scott Gibbs). Photo by Kaitlyn Walker.

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