Opera House: “A Year With Frog & Toad, KIDS”

27 Apr Opera House: “A Year With Frog & Toad, KIDS”

Telluride’s Sheridan Opera House’s Young People’s Theater announces a production of “A Year With Frog & Toad, KIDS” live at the historic Sheridan Opera House, Friday, May 5- Sunday, May 7, 2017, 6 p.m. nightly. The program stars 29 kids in grades 3 – 5. Tickets are $13 for adults; $11 for students 18 and under. Lap kids are free. Tickets will be $1 more the day of, so buy your tickets in advance to receive a discounted price. Tickets are on sale now at SheridanOperaHouse.com. 

Adapted from the three-time, Tony-nominated Broadway hit comes “A Year with Frog and Toad, KIDS.” The adaptation is based on Arnold Lobel’s well-loved books. Its jazzy, upbeat score bubbles with melody. Part-vaudeville, part make-believe, and all charm, “A Year with Frog and Toad KIDS” tells the story of a friendship that endures throughout the seasons.

Director Allie Scherich’s production follows two great friends – the cheerful, popular Frog, and the rather grumpy Toad – through summer, fall, winter, and spring. After they wake up from hibernation, Frog and Toad plant gardens, swim, rake leaves, go sledding, and learn life lessons along the way. Throughout the year, the two best friends celebrate and rejoice in the differences that make them unique and special.

The play stars fifth-graders Kassidy Atherton, Owen Blount, Eliza Jane Brown, Katie Cahalane, Cooper Cantor, Holden Coppage, Clara Kunz, Sage Gianola, Vanessa Ramirez, Ryann Singer, Rowan Stephens, Jerzy Tokarz and Kiara Warren; fourth-graders Fianna Ahern, Savannah Baize, Matthew Charlton, Lilly Jones, Eva Henschel, Gia Neyens, Mae Scarborough, and Lily Somers; and third-graders, Henry Deppen, Zoe Hampton, Hugh Hatcher, Emmy Kunz, Delia Noel, Madeline McNamara, Lila Muffelmann, and Lucy Walbridge.

“I’m having such a great time with this group of 3rd-5th graders! We have such a large and energetic cast for this show, which is one of my very favorite musicals. It is charming, witty, and has so many fun characters for these creative kids to play. And they have really taken to the action. We are having such a great time with rehearsals and are constantly laughing. This unique script lends itself so well to showcasing each and every student, especially our 13 fifth-graders, since the show follows Frog and Toad through the four seasons, with a different pair of actors playing Frog and Toad in each season. I really can’t wait to show Telluride what we’ve been working on! With a run time of under an hour, this is the perfect show to introduce the youngest of audience members to the theater, so I hope to see a lot of families coming out and supporting these wonderful kids,” said YPT Artistic Director Allie Scherich.

Again, the show is directed by Scherich, and choreographed by Danielle Jenkins. They are joined by Rob Wagner on sound design, Tommy Wince on light design, and Buff Hooper on set design.

Scherich was also assisted by older YPT students, Claudia Betz, Cassidy Craige, Macy Desmarais, and Dietz Woehle.

“I love being able to work with these fantastic student assistants, and believe that it adds so much to the experience. The younger kids really look up to the older students, having recognized them from the productions of ‘Elf and Footloose.’ It’s a really special dynamic.”  

The concessions stand will be open for each show so bring the whole family down for a night of laughter and entertainment.