MainStreet's New Musical FREDERICK Opens 5/5

What does it mean to be part of a community? What does it take to make it through the darkest days? These are some of the questions that will be answered with joyful exuberance when the beloved 1968 Caldecott Honor Book comes to life on stage! Frederick, based on Leo Lionni's book about a poet mouse who stores up something special for the long winter, opens at the Lewis Family Playhouse on May 5th, and runs through May 20th.

With book by Suzanne Maynard Miller, and music and lyrics by Sarah Durkee and Paul Jacobs, MainStreet Theatre Company is proud to produce the musical's West Coast Premiere. The production is directed by Robert Castro, with musical direction by Janice Rodgers Wainwright, and choreography by Tom Tsai. In addition to the 7 public performances, Frederick will delight thousands of elementary aged children at an additional 24 performances on weekday mornings for school field trips, beginning on April 30th.

This simple but poignant story about a community of mice getting ready for winter combines fabulous blue-grass music with a great message about the importance of the arts to a society's survival. All the mice are busy storing food to get them through the long winter, and are frustrated with Frederick, who tries hard to explain to his more literal-minded friends that they'll need the items that he's collecting, too, and not just the nuts and berries the rest of them are busily gathering. Throughout the course of the story, the mice, and the audience, learn that everyone's contribution is important, and when the mice are running out of food, it's Frederick's collection of sights, smells and colors that get them through the darkest days.

MainStreet's production includes Ricky Abilez as Frederick, with Kevin Trinio Perdido, Brandon Ruiter, Marnina Schon and Rachel Sorsa as the rest of the mouse commune. In addition to the cast, there'll be a 4-piece live band playing the infectious blue-grass score, led by MainStreet regular "mice-tra", Janice Rodgers Wainwright.

Director Robert Castro, whose productions of theatre and opera have been seen across the U.S. and Internationally, is known for his use of stunning visual images and imaginative theatrical storytelling. His previous work for MainStreet includes the Ovation nominated A Wrinkle in Time, as well as Aesop in Rancho Cucamonga, Aladdin's Luck, Treasure Island, Ferdinand the Bull, and Dreams of Anne Frank.

Choreographer Tom Tsai is a dance and video artist with a unique voice, which marries different modern forms. The team is excited to marry the very American Southern Blue-Grass type music with a modern, almost hip-hop movement style, which we hope the kids in the audience will recognize and relate to.

The deceptively simple design takes Lionni's book as inspiration, and embraces not only his use of white space, but also the way the objects are made of pieces of torn paper collage. The creative team, many of whom are frequent collaborators at MainStreet, includes Victoria Petrovich (Scenic Design), Raquel Barreto (Costume Design), Brian Gale (Lighting Design), John Zalewski (Sound Design), and Akeime Mitterlehner (Prop Design). Mary K Klinger is Production Stage Manager.

During weekend performances of Frederick, families can participate in creating a piece of "living art" inspired by the story, in the Lewis Family Playhouse lobby. Children can also meet the cast in the lobby for autographs after the show. There will be a short "talk-back" after the performance on Sunday, May 13th.

On Saturday May 12th, The Playhouse will be hosting a "Spring Time Tea Party", complete with finger sandwiches and other delicious treats, in between the two matinee performances of Frederick. People with tickets to the show receive a discount on the tea.

For more information, including special family discounts and the Study Guide for teachers and parents, visit the Lewis Family Playhouse's website: www.lewisfamilyplayhouse.com. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone or in person at the Playhouse Box Office: 909-477-2752. The box office is open Monday through Friday from noon to 6pm and Saturday from 10am to 6pm.

The Lewis Family Playhouse, an intimate 550-seat venue, is located in the 89,000-square-foot Victoria Gardens Cultural Center. The complex is located off the I?15 at Foothill Boulevard, at 12505 Cultural Center Drive in Rancho Cucamonga. Free Parking is available.

MainStreet Theatre Company, included in American Theatre Magazine's 2016 list of "20 Theatres you should take your kids to", is the resident Equity Company at the Lewis Family Playhouse, producing innovative plays and musicals for the whole family.

For more information - For additional information or to purchase tickets for any of our performances please visit www.lewisfamilyplayhouse.com or call (909) 477-2752 or (877) 858-8422. "Follow," "Like," "Add" and "Subscribe!" Download our new app LF Playhouse available in the App Store and Google Play! #LewisFamilyPlayhouse

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