Virginia Stage Company Presents FROG KISS, 1/15-2/3

Virginia Stage Company announced today the cast and creative team has been set for the upcoming World Premiere of Frog Kiss, with book and lyrics by Charles Leipart and music by Eric Schorr, to run January 15-February 3, 2013 at the Wells Theatre in downtown Norfolk, Virginia.

Based on the novella The Frog Prince, A Fairytale for Consenting Adults by Stephen Mitchell, the show is a saucy 'n swinging new musical featuring a scientific-minded princess who is determined to turn her frog into a prince to save her kingdom. The production is by special arrangement with producers Tamara Tunie, commercial theater producer and stage, television and screen star, and Susanne Adamski, film and theater producer.

"As it turns out, this really is a fairytale cast and design team," said Chris Hanna, VSC's Artistic Director. "Thanks to our relationship with Tamara Tunie and Susanne Adamski, we are able to bring many of Broadway's top talent to work on this magical show."

Directing Frog Kiss will be Kenneth L. Roberson, choreographer for the 2004 Tony Award-winning Avenue Q and director/choreographer for a host of other stage and film projects. Roberson will head a creative team featuring a wealth of Broadway and stage talent including Tony Award nominee Musical Supervisor Zane Mark; Choreographer Lorna Ventura; Scenic Designer Neil Patel, scenic designer for the Tony Award-winning Side Man; Tony Award nominated Costume Designer Paul Tazwell, known for Broadway's Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk who will design costumes; Tony Award winning Lighting Designer Howell Brinkley; Tony Award nominated Sound Designer Peter Fitzgerald; and Tony Award winning Orchestrator Daryl Waters.

Frog Kiss has made a splash at industry showings at the New York Musical Festival, where it earned more NYMF Award Citations for Excellence than any other musical, at the Crossroads Festival in Kansas City, and at the famed Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2005.

Virginia Stage Company is Hampton Roads' only fully professional resident theater company, serving an annual audience close to 80,000. Since its founding, Virginia Stage Company has made significant contributions to the quality of life in Hampton Roads: presenting more than 190 plays through more than 3,700 performances; revitalizing and renovating the historic Wells Theatre; providing educational programs for students of all ages; and preserving the legacy of live theater for future generations. Seasonal support for VSC's 34th Season is provided by Norfolk Southern Corporation. www.vastage.com