Photo Flash: Meet the Star of FREDERICK, Beginning Tonight at Chicago Children's Theatre

A raucous, playful new production of Leo Lionni's Frederick, a world premiere musical based on beloved children's author Leo Lionni's Caldecott Award-winning book about Frederick the mouse, is the big kick off to Chicago Children's Theatre's 10th birthday season. Scroll down for a look at the star of the show!

Stuart Carden, the Chicago-based director and new play specialist responsible for Writers Theatre's wildly acclaimed The Old Man and The Old Moon, will make his CCT debut with this new family musical. The production is adapted for the stage by Suzanne Miller, and features original songs by Sarah Durkee and Paul Jacobs, an Emmy-winning husband and wife duo who have teamed on music for Sesame Street and Between the Lionson PBS,National Lampoon and even rock legend Meat Loaf.

Leo Lionni's Frederick will debut today, October 15-November 16, 2014 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Press and opening weekend activities are Friday, October 17 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, October 19 at 2 p.m. This production is ideal for ages 3 and up.

While other mice are gathering food for the winter, Frederick daydreams the summer away. When dreary weather comes, it is Frederick who has stored up something special for the long cold winter. The classic, much-loved early reading book celebrates the idea that there is a place for all of us in this world.

In Chicago Children's Theatre's hands, Frederick is getting a rambunctious adaptation via a new musical featuring spirited folk and blues music performed by six actor-musicians: Richard Juarez (Frederick), Sophie Grimm (Nellie), Emily Casey (Sunny), Christine Bunuan (Baby) and Shawn Pfautsch (Ernest).

The world of Frederick will also feature an inventive, homemade, do-it-yourself, trunk show style of production that will be highly physical and transforms ordinary objects and everyday ideas into the extraordinary. Bringing this idea from concept to reality are the Frederick production team: Nicholas Davio, music direction; John Musial, set; Lee Fiskness, lights; Mikhail Fiksel, sound; Rachel Healy, costumes; and Meredith Miller, props. Carrie Taylor is production stage manager.

Single tickets are on sale now, starting at $28. Or, cost-conscious, theater-loving families should entertain purchasing a Membership Pass to save up to 20 percent on single tickets to Chicago Children's Theatre's 2014-15, three-play season, which also boasts a remount of CCT's 2008 smash hit, The Selfish Giant by Blair Thomas and Michael Smith (January 23-February 22, 2015) and a second world premiere musical, Wonderland, Alice's Rock & Roll Adventure, co-created by Michael Mahler and Rachel Rockwell (April 22-May 24, 2015).

Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (872) 222-9555 to purchase tickets or CCT membership passes. For information on deeply discounted group rates for schools, playgroups, birthday parties and scouting groups, email GroupSales@chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (773) 227-0180 x 13.

Photo Credit: Al Sayed

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