THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES February 13 - March 1, 2009 Julianne Argyros Stage A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD music by Robert Reale book and lyrics by Willie Reale based on the books by Arnold Lobel directed by Nick DeGruccio

Oh, what fun! Caldecott and Newbery Award winner Arnold Lobel tells the adventures of two friends—from planting a garden to flying kites, swimming in the pond (but turn away because Toad looks funny in a bathing suit) or just settling down in a warm house and eating soup. It's a song-filled year in the life of two charming woodland characters and their friends that Variety declared "delights young eyes and minds."

Playwright:
Willie Reale has collaborated with his brother, Robert, on several musicals including A Year with Frog and Toad, which received three Tony nominations. He founded The 52nd Street Project, an organization that brings inner-city children together with professional theatre artists to create theatre. He was awarded a Charles MacArthur prize in recognition of his ingenuity in creating theatre and theatre education programs for young people.

Composer:
Robert Reale is a composer who received a Tony nomination for A Year with Frog and Toad. He has composed for Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theatre and television. As composer and record producer he has worked with Julie Andrews, Mel Torme, Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.

Author:
During his career, Arnold Lobel wrote and/or illustrated over 70 books for children. To his illustrating credit, he had a Caldecott Medal winner and two Caldecott Honor Books—his own Frog and Toad are Friends (1971) and Hildilid's Night by Cheli Duran Ryan (1972). To his writing credit, he had a Newbery Honor Book—Frog and Toad Together (1973). But his greatest credit, was his following of literally millions of young children with whom he shared the warmth and humor of his unpretentious vision of life.

Recommendation and Resources:
Theatre for Young Audiences … and Their Families is just that, a multi-generational experience for all ages (except children under the age of 4 and babes in arms). The only requirement is that each audience member occupy a seat and sit quietly through the performance while having a wonderful time!