HSRT Opens A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD 8/2

The final opening for the Hope Summer Repertory Theatre is A Year with Frog and Toad based on Arnold Lobel's collection of children's stories on Monday, August 2nd at the Knickerbocker Theatre at 8:00 p.m. Book and lyrics are by Willie Reale and music is by Robert Reale.

A Year with Frog and Toad is a special end-of-season event for the whole family! Nominated for three Tony awards, including best Broadway musical, these two well-loved characters from Arnold Lobel's books, will take you on a musical journey through the joy and sharing of the simple pleasures of friendship such as gardening, making cookies, and sharing ice tea and sandwiches. This show is sure to warm your heart, make you laugh, and leave you smiling. It's a limited run, so make your reservations early-and, if you can't bring a friend, bring a kid and make a friend.

Jonathan Spivey, playing Toad, is returning for his fifth summer. Previous HSRT credits include The Cmplt Wrks of Wm Shkspr... Abrdgd (Hamlet, et al), Room Service (Joe Gribble), Forever Plaid (Smudge), Kiss Me Kate (Gangster #1), The Foreigner (Owen), She Loves Me (Sipos), The Hypochondriac (Leonardo Diarrheus), and Godspell. In New York City he has been seen in The Last Chanukah, The Naked Side of Grace, and improv with Epione. Jonathan is a Second City trained improv artist, a jazz pianist, co-author of the musical comedy, Murphy's Law, and a proud member of Actor's Equity Association. He begins work on his M.F.A. at the Old Globe in San Diego this fall.

Noah Putterman is joining HRST for his first season playing Frog, the Baker in Into the Woods and Beauperthuis in An Italian Straw Hat. In 2005, he was named a United States Presidential Scholar in the Arts and is a National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Young Arts winner in Musical Theatre. He graduated from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in May with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.F.A. in Acting from the U of M / Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program. In September, he'll be returning home to play "Seymour" in Little Shop of Horrors at the North Carolina Theatre.

Directing A Year With Frog and Toad as well as both Children's Performance Troupe shows is James Saba, an HSRT favorite, hailing from New York City. Past HSRT shows as director include The Cmplt Wks of Wm Shkspr... Abrdgd, Click, Clack, Moo, Charlotte's Web, Forever Plaid, Petite Rouge, Lost In Yonkers, Junie B. Jones, The Shakespeare Revue, Scapin, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Sylvia, and over 25 productions for the Children's Performance Troupe As an actor, he recently appeared in the premiere stage production of Kite Runner at San Jose Repertory Theatre and Centennial Casting at Virginia Stage Company.

Performances continue on August 3, 6, 9, 11, and 13.

And while at the ticket office, make sure to check out HSRT's other productions

such as Into the Woods, I Do! I Do! at the Knickerbocker, An Italian Straw Hat opening July 9th, The Last Night of Ballyhoo opening July 23rd, and A Year With Frog and Toad opening August 2nd.

Tickets are now on sale through the DeVos Fieldhouse and DeWitt ticket offices. Prices range from $10-$26 for musicals and $8-$19 for plays. Season tickets, ranging from $48-$85, are also available. A Family Four Pack including tickets for two adults and two children is available this year for $55.

The ticket office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Saturdays at opening at noon. On performance dates, the DeWitt Ticket Office will be open through intermission. The ticket office is located in DeWitt Cultural Center at 12th Street and Columbia Avenue. For tickets call the ticket office at 616-395-7890. For more information visit the HSRT website at www.hope.edu/hsrt.

The DeWitt Theatre is located at 141 East 12th street. The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in Holland's downtown on 8th street.

HSRT is now on facebook! Keep up to date with what's happening this season by searching Hope Summer Repertory Theatre on www.facebook.com.