James Earl Jones II & Mark David Kaplan to Lead CCT's A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, Begin 10/9

Chicago Children's Theatre (CCT) is kicking off Season 8: Grow with a delightful new production of A Year with Frog and Toad, the Tony-nominated musical based on the Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel, directed by Henry Godinez, resident artist at the Goodman. Performances start October 9, 2013 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Press opening is Friday, October 11 at 7 p.m. Performances run through November 24. Single tickets start at $25 and are on sale now at chicagochildrenstheatre.org or by calling the Chicago Children's Theatre box office, (872) 222-9555.

When kids, parents and teachers arrive at the Ruth Page Center, where Chicago Children's Theatre is in residence all season, they will be treated to a talented, all-star cast of veteran Chicago actors newly cast in the roles of Frog, Toad, and all of their animal friends. Namely, James Earl Jones II, an award-winning actor who most recently played Donkey in Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's Shrek, the Musical, makes his CCT debut as FroG. Jones also boasts a long list of musical credits at Writers Theatre, Marriott Lincolnshire, Lookingglass, Drury Lane Oakbrook, and Court to name a few.

Playing Toad is Mark David Kaplan, who happily returns home to Chicago after recently completing his second national tour as Zazu the hornbill in The Lion King. Kaplan, also making his CCT debut, has spent the past two decades performing locally, nationally and internationally, has twice won Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Award, and is a longtime collaborator as an actor and director with the New York-based classic Forbidden Broadway.

Completing the cast is Christine Bunuan as Mouse/Young Frog, Shawn Pfautsch as Snail, andBrittani Arlandis Green as Turtle/Mother Frog. Bunuan's credits include Jasmine in Aladdin at Marriott Lincolnshire, the national tour of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and shows at Goodman, Silk Road Rising, Steppenwolf and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Pfautsch is a founding member of The House Theatre of Chicago where his credits include Death and Harry Houdini and the title role in Cyrano.Green's most recent credits include Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill and Alice in A Catered Affair, both with Porchlight Music Theatre.

Behind-the-scenes, some of Chicago's best designers are creating a fun, woodsy world for A Year with Frog and Toad including Andra Velis Simon and Nicholas Davio (music directors), Geoffrey Curley(set), William Kirkham (lights), Ray Nardelli (sound), Rachel Healy (costumes), Tommy Rapley(choreography) and Kimberly Morris (props). JoHannah Hail is production stage manager.

Tickets are $25 for children and adults to Friday night performances. Single tickets to weekend shows are $28 for children, $38 for adults. To purchase, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (872) 222-9555. For discounted school, scout, playgroup, extended family and other group rates, visitGroupTix.net or call (773) 327-3778.