Willie Reale News

Once a Bonnie, always a Bonnie. That's a commonplace phrase creeping into conversations around springtime on the Olean, N.Y. college campus, but it rings true for Alexandra Herryman, a 2004 Bonaventure graduate returning to her former home to bring her puppetry skills to SBU Theater's production of Robert and Willie Reale's musical A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD.

With 5 shows together under their belts, Bonaventure seniors Brett Keegan and Ian Rogers are preparing to share the stage in SBU Theater's production of Robert and Willie Reale's musical A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD. Keegan, a philosophy major playing Frog, and Rogers, a modern languages major playing Toad, sat down to talk about their favorite parts of the show, future plans and playing best friends onstage.

Ready to hop into its first musical in more than five years, SBU Theater's production of A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD directed by Ed. Simone opens Wednesday evening at the Rigas Family Theater at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

The Hangar Theatre's 2013 KIDDSTUFF Season, a series of sparkling live theatre based on favorite children's books and stories, returns with another exciting lineup of plays and musicals for young audiences.

Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced at a press conference in Williamstown today the roster of Main Stage and Nikos Stage productions for the 2013 Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF) Season, the Festival's 59th season and third under Ms. Gersten's leadership.

The national tour of Dreamgirls, currently playing at the Capitol Theatre, is exceptionally well produced and performed. It is an experience that is not to be missed.

Park Square Theatre presents the regional premiere of Johnny Baseball, a touching new musical that deals with baseball, love, and the "Curse of the Bambino"-on stage tonight, January 18-February 10, 2013. With a lively score, and a grand finale that features a curse-busting home run, Johnny Baseball delivers a whole lot entertainment.

FOX OPERATOR BILL MALONE OF FX ARTS will present the second production of its 2012-2013 BROADWAY SERIES of shows with the Tony Award-winning masterwork, DREAMGIRLS. DREAMGIRLS will dazzle audiences on Thursday, January 10 at the Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Avenue in Riverside.

Park Square Theatre presents the regional premiere of Johnny Baseball, a touching new musical that deals with baseball, love, and the "Curse of the Bambino"-on stage January 18-February 10, 2013. With a lively score, and a grand finale that features a curse-busting home run, Johnny Baseball delivers a whole lot entertainment.

As Red, the first play of the new season, closes to audience and critical acclaim, Park Square Theatre announces casting updates for two upcoming regional premieres at the Theatre.

Village Theatre was back this last weekend with their 12th Annual Village Originals Festival of New Musicals. A weekend packed with five new musicals presented as script in hand, staged reading workshops; the festival aids in the fostering and growth of these exciting new works. Some previous works have even gone on to Broadway success as "Next to Normal" (previous title "Feeling Electric") and "Million Dollar Quartet" had their start through the Village Originals Festival of New Musicals and went on to win multiple Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize ("Next to Normal"). And, as they did with last year's "Cloaked" Village also took a previous festival entry and gave it a larger production as "Lizzie Borden" had a three performance off book workshop of it's own at the First Stage Theatre down the street from their main stage Francis J. Gaudette Theatre.

Over one jam packed weekend, August 10-12, six new musicals will be brought to life with help from more than 100 artists and one dozen directors and authors from across the country.

While A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD is not a wildly well-known or popular show, it still is a fantastic piece. Brought to life by a talented ensemble of young actors, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD is a whimsical child's storybook world come to life, and it will delight both kids and adults.

Over one jam packed weekend, August 10-12, six new musicals will be brought to life with help from more than 100 artists and one dozen directors and authors from across the country.

Like Clockwork: The 52nd Street Project's Party Time Benefit is set for this Monday, May 7, hosted by Tony Award nominee Bobby Cannavale at Ars Nova. The benefit will feature songs with lyrics by Project kids, set to music and performed by professional artists.

Recently, noted DREAMGIRLS composer Henry Krieger was generous enough to take a comprehensive look back at his many accomplishments onstage and onscreen with me, turning back the pages of time and sharing memories of DREAMGIRLS, both on Broadway and in Hollywood, THE TAP DANCE KID, SIDE SHOW, KEPT, ROMANTIC POETRY and beyond, as well as discuss many aspects of his exciting new family-friendly musical opening next week at the New Victory Theater, LUCKY DUCK. Over the course of our compelling conversation, Krieger also revealed new details about the forthcoming 2014 production of SIDE SHOW, to be directed by DREAMGIRLS film director and TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN helmer Bill Condon - to premiere first at the La Jolla Playhouse and then at the Kennedy Center, as it makes its way towards Broadway - as well as first news on a musical collaboration with lyricist David Yazbek based on the life of television evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker set to star Tony and Emmy-winning Broadway and GLEE standout Kristin Chenoweth. DREAMGIRLS to LUCKY DUCK and much, much more awaits!

The Children's Playhouse of Maryland, in residence at the Community College of Baltimore County, Essex, has chosen A Year with Frog and Toad as its March musical. Performances will be 1 p.m. March 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, and 18 and 4 p.m. March 11 in the J Building Lecture Hall, CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Boulevard in Rosedale. The 4 p.m. show will be sign-language interpreted by students from the CCBC Catonsville Interpreter Preparation Program. Tickets are $10 general admission and $8 for birthday parties or scout troops. Tickets can be reserved through the CCBC Box Office, 443-840-2787 (ARTS) or purchased at the door (space permitting).

The Children's Playhouse of Maryland, in residence at the Community College of Baltimore County, Essex, has chosen A Year with Frog and Toad as its March musical. Performances will be 1 p.m. March 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, and 18 and 4 p.m. March 11 in the J Building Lecture Hall, CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Boulevard in Rosedale. The 4 p.m. show will be sign-language interpreted by students from the CCBC Catonsville Interpreter Preparation Program. Tickets are $10 general admission and $8 for birthday parties or scout troops. Tickets can be reserved through the CCBC Box Office, 443-840-2787 (ARTS) or purchased at the door (space permitting).

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) will present nearly 1,000 public events throughout the year and offers free admission to many of its performances.

Now onstage at Dickson's Renaissance Center, in a sparkling production from The Center's Mind Enriching Theatre sure to delight, A Year With Frog and Toad is a delightful romp of a tale that explores the importance of friendship between two very similar, yet very different, people. 'People?' you ask. Yes, people; anthropomorphic though they may be, Frog and Toad are as multi-dimensional as any person could possibly be. Richly drawn, artfully crafted and winningly enacted by the five-person cast, A Year With Frog and Toad is sweetly charming, featuring a musical score that's sure to set your feet a-tapping.