Frog and Toad bring family fun to UWP Heartland Festival

PLATTEVILLE - Arnold Lobel's well-loved characters hop from the page to the stage in Robert and Willie Reale's musical "A Year With Frog and Toad," which will open at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Center for the Arts on June 27. This is the third offering in the 2008 Heartland Festival season.

The show 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. Anne Dillon Farrelly, professor of theater at UWP and director of the show, explained the allure of the story in her Director's Notes.

"This story is about friendship. It is the story of the fun and enjoyment that friendship brings to all of us. It does not matter that Frog is a frog and Toad is a toad. Their differences make their connection even more interesting because they can share with one another the beauty of what makes each of them special. Along the way, they are joined by other friends of all different types: birds, squirrels, moles, a mouse, a turtle, a lizard and a snail. Together, these characters play, work and help one another. The true moral of "Frog and Toad' is that friendship and love are life's true joys. Our differences should not stand in the way but rather, only enhance our relationships," Farrelly wrote.

John Hassig, Executive Director of the Heartland Festival director of Performing and Visual Arts, Programs and Facilities, said that this new show is destined to become a classic and is "inventive, exuberant and totally enchanting."

The cast features Kelsey Klug of Platteville; Abby Schultz from Dubuque, Iowa; Paul Helm of Wind Lake; Ryan Bartscher of Byron, Ill. and Jay Cullen from Dublin Ohio. Scenic Design is by Brad Carlson of Platteville and Costume Design is by Daniel’e Taylor of DeKalb, IL. Music Direction is by Paul Helm, Orchestra Direction is by Terry Dillon of Platteville and Sound Design is by Nathan Manwiller of Platteville.

The production opens on June 27 at 7:30 at the Center for the Arts. The opening night performance includes a post-show reception sponsored by Platteville Dairy Queen. Other evening performances, beginning at 7:30 p.m., will be held on July 15, 23 and 29. Matinees will be held on June 28; July 5, 13 and 20; and Aug. 2, beginning at 2 p.m. A morning show, beginning at 10 a.m. will be held on July 26. Ticket prices are $17 for adults or $9 for children under 18 and UWP students with I.D.

Anyone interested in learning more about this or other Heartland Festival shows may call the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or visit the Heartland website at http://www.uwplatt.edu/arts/heartland. The University Box Office is open Monday through Friday 9am-5pm and is located on the ground floor of the newly renovated Ullsvik Hall at the intersection of Hickory and Main streets. The CFA Box Office location opens 1.5 hours before scheduled performances. Tickets are also available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu.