A Year with Frog and Toad

Chris Talarico Frog

Don McMahon Toad

Austen Finlay Man Bird
Lizard
Father Frog
Mole

Katherine Nemec Lady Bird
Turtle
Mother Frog
Mole

Bailey Giroux Lady Bird
Mouse
Young Frog
Mole

Spencer Hari Snail

Production Team

Mary Davis Director

Nathalie Roy Director's Mentor

Josée Lauzon Stage Manager

Taylor Onski Assistant Stage Manager

April Brown
Nathalie Roy
Emily Sousa Stage Hands

Jessica Krasnichuk Musical Director

Cady Dreger Choreographer

Maranda Dumas
Austin Campbell
Josée Lauzon
Katie Maki
Katya Arifin
Kristina Schroeder
Shannon Vancook
Shan Krupa Production & Publicity
Manager / Management Team

Scott Legros Sound Design

Ken Horton Lighting Design

Chris Servais Assistant Lighting Design

Andrea Jacobsen
Chris Servais
Ken Horton
Raunak Singh
Richard Pepper
Shannon Burkinshaw
Trevor Russell
Zoe Clara Sound &
Lighting Technicians

Eva Burkowski
Gayle Tuominen
Marie-Bastienne Revel Costume Design

Mary Davis Set Design

Emma Dagenais
Natasha Broadbent
Kaitlyn Rut
Stefani Celine
Violet Ahtila Set Painting

Bryan Davis
Jerry Silen Set Construction

Austin Campbell
Maranda Dumas Set Crew

April Brown Props Design

Ariana McLean
Julie MacCoy
Jerry Silen
Natasha Broadbent
Sandra Sutherland-Byers
Chris Servais
Raunak Singh
Peter Schultz
River McLean Props Team

Mary Davis Poster & Graphic Design

Bryan Davis Program Design

Matthew Goertz Photography

Sheena Larson Social Media

Kris Tonkens
Josée Lauzon
Cheryl Silen Front of House Managers

Andrew Paulsen
Ariana McLean
Beverly Gravelle-MacLeod
Cara O'Brien
Cathi Winslow
Dennis Dubinsky
Hilke Grunys
Jeff Tchen
John Condon
Katie Maki
Lorraine Onski
Minic Winters
Nathalie Roy
Nico Harding
Rob Paularinne
Sandra Sutherland-Byers
Stefani Celine
Trish McGowan Front of House
Volunteers

Cast

Chris Talarico Frog Chris is a Thunder Bay born and raised musician and acting enthusiast. He is usually found frontmanning for his band, Throwback. His love of musicals, however, has led him to take part in a variety of productions including, James And The Giant Peach (Superior Theatre Festival), The Addams Family and Something Rotten (Badanai Theatre). This is the first time he takes the Cambrian stage and thinks it's an honour that it just so happens to be during Cambrian's 75th anniversary!

Don McMahon Toad Don is thrilled to be 'treading the boards' for Cambrian's 75th Season! While usually found lurking in Props storage, Don occasionally finds time to flex a paint brush now and then. Last seen onstage for Elizabeth Rex and Love/Sick; he is looking forward to showing his loveable but slightly curmudgeon-like side. A big 'thank you' to the cast and crew who are a dream team to work with. Much love to Eric, as always.

Austen Finlay Man Bird/Lizard/Father Frog/Mole Austen is so excited to be making his debut with Cambrian Players, and is thrilled to work with this director and cast & crew. He hasn't been seen acting on stage since he was half his age! When not practicing lines or music, he is spending time with his partner & pet birds, or tending his beehives. He hopes you are as abuzz to experience this production as he is to help bring it to life.

Katherine Nemec Lady Bird/Turtle/Mother Frog/Mole Katherine Nemec (she/her), a newcomer to the Cambrian stage, is no stranger to the Thunder Bay theatre scene. Most recently seen in Elf: The Musical (Magnus Theatre), she has been involved in various local productions such as 9 to 5: Judy Bernly (TBSO x Badanai Theatre) The Marvelous Wonderettes: Betty Jean and The Addams Family Musical: Wednesday Addams (Badanai Theatre). A graduate of Lakehead University receiving an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music, Katherine finds any way she can to work on her craft - including releasing her very first EP last year titled Glow - available on all streaming platforms. Endless appreciation for her family and friends and their love and support.
Find Katherine on socials!
IG: @katherinenemecmusic
Facebook: Katherine Nemec Music

Bailey Giroux Lady Bird/Mouse/Young Frog/Mole As a child, Bailey was introduced to the adventures of Frog and Toad through the pages of Arnold Lobel's books, and now she is thrilled to bring these stories to life on the Cambrian Stage. She would like to thank her family, friends, partner Kenny, their pup Ginny-girl, and her lovely coworkers for all of their support and enthusiasm. "Chirp chirpity chirp!" (Enjoy the show!)

Spencer Hari Snail Spencer Hari returns to the Cambrian stage after very recently playing Harold Hill in The Music Man (Badanai Theatre/TBSO). Cambrian Players credits include A Lion in Winter, The Full Monty & My Favorite Year. As a director, Spencer has brought to the stage Mamma Mia, Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act, The Play that Goes Wrong & The Music Man. Special thanks to Mary and the entire, wonderful F&T family. Much Love to family and friends!

Production Team

Mary Davis Director As someone who's more used to being on the stage than in front of it, (Vino Veritas, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike with Cambrian Players, The Play That Goes Wrong with Badanai Theatre Co.) Mary is thrilled to experience her first show from the director's chair! To the cast - you blow my minds. To my crew - endless thanks for keeping things humming when I needed it most. To Bryan & Eleanor - in the words of Toad, BLAH! Love you both.

Josée Lauzon Stage Manager Josée Lauzon is a long-time Stage Manager/ASM and theatre volunteer; you can usually find her backstage, in the Front of House or working in the background somewhere. Recent shows include Sleuth, Snow Queen and A Christmas Carol with Cambrian Players; Something Rotten and the Play That Goes Wrong with Badanai Theatre; as well as the 10x10 Showcase with Magnus Theatre.

Taylor Onski Assistant Stage Manager As a fan of musicals and children's literature, it's no surprise Taylor found her way onto the production crew of A Year with Frog and Toad. She's thrilled to dust off her ASM/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle skills with this lovely cast and crew! Taylor would also like to apologize in advance just in case someone gets a cookie in the face.

Jessica Krasnichuk Musical Director Jessica is thrilled to be a part of A Year With Frog and Toad! Hopping back into the world of theatre after a bit of a hiatus has been a whirlwind and a joy. This is her first time being Musical Director, but has been involved in theatre as an actor/singer/dancer/instructor and administrator for many years. Huge thanks to Mary for her vision and dedication, to the cast and crew for always going above and beyond, and to Scott and Harper for giving her the time to nourish her creative soul.

Cady Dreger Choreographer Cady is delighted to be making her TBay choreographic debut with A Year With Frog and Toad! Cady was last seen on the Cambrian stage as Francine in Of Marriage Minded Misses, and most recently portrayed Marian Paroo in The Music Man (TBSO/Badanai Theatre). Huge thanks to all cast, crew, and critters involved in making this fairytale a reality!

Scott Legros Sound Design Scott loves sounds and his family.

Ken Horton Lighting Design Lights. Ya'll wouldn't see much without them. Sound would still be great, even awesomer cause you'd be paying attention like a radio play. Wouldn't see the props good tho. Love me that prop lady. Also her kids and my kids Emily and Eaden. Also amazing cast and crew. Luv em.
@ken_pg_horton

Willie Reale Willie Reale is a free-lance writer, living in New York. He has collaborated with his brother, Robert, on a musical called Once Around The City, which was produced by New York Stage and Film and at the Second Stage Theatre in New York. Quark Victory, another musical written with his brother, was produced by the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Other plays have been produced at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, the Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Circle Repertory Company. With his brother he has written A Year With Frog and Toad, which was performed at the Childrens' Theater Company in Minneapolis, the New Victory Theatre and at the Cort Theater on Broadway. Willie received two Tony nominations for his book and lyrics. In 1981, he founded The 52nd Street Project, an organization that brings inner-city children together with professional theater artists to create theater. He served as the theater's artistic director for 18 years. With the Project, he produced hundreds of plays. The programs of The 52nd Street Project are currently being replicated at 12 sites across the country through a series of publications entitled The Kid Theater Kit. For the kit he wrote "52 Pick Up," the Project how-to manual, as well as numerous plays, and the lyrics to hundreds of songs, including two full-length musicals, all of which are available through Dramatists Play Service. In June of 1994, he was awarded a MacArthur in recognition of his ingenuity in creating theater and theater education programs for young people. For television, Mr. Reale has written for the NBC dramas Homicide: Life on the Streets, Deadline and Mr. Sterling. For Fox he has written for Keen Eddie and The Jury. He created a series called Out There for Sesame Workshop and the BBC, which shot in Australia. His work on the show was recognized by an Australian Film Institute Award (The Australian Emmy) and Prix Jeunesse and Writers' Guild of America nominations. He has taught at New York University and the Yale School of Drama. Willie is married to producer Jenny Gersten. They have two children, Augustus and Leonardo.

Robert Reale Robert Reale, (Composer): Musicals-Broadway: A Year With Frog And Toad (Tony nomination). Off-Broadway: Once Around The City (2nd Stage), Quark Victory (Williamstown Theater Festival). Music for plays: Richard Dresser s Rounding Third (directed by John Rando) Diva, (WTF), Salvation s Moon. Film: Ten-13, Passing Over, Wigstock, Dealers Among Dealers, The Victim, others. Television: PrimeTime, 20/20, Inside Edition, Out There (theme), Invent This (theme), Mugshots, Crime Stories, The System, The Mailman and the Pirhana, Case Closed, Beating The Rap, The Royals: Dynasty or Disaster?, others. As composer and record producer he has worked with Julie Andrews, Mel Torme, Sid Caeser and Imogene Coca.

Arnold Lobel During his distinguished career Arnold Lobel wrote and/or illustrated over 70 books for children. To his illustrating credit, he had a Caldecott Medal book - Fables (1981) - and two Caldecott Honor Books - his own Frog and Toad are Friends (1971) and Hildilid's Night by Cheli Duran Ryan (1972). To his writing credit, he had a Newbery Honor Book - Frog and Toad Together (1973). But to his greatest credit, he had a following of literally millions of young children with whom he shared the warmth and humor of his unpretentious vision of life.

Though he was a born storyteller - he began making up stories extemporaneously to entertain his fellow second-graders in Schenectady, New York, where he grew up in the care of his grandparents. Mr. Lobel called himself a "lucky amateur" in terms of his writing. Viewing himself as a professionally trained illustrator (he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Pratt Institute), he said, "I know how to draw pictures. With writing, I don't really know what I'm doing. It's very intuitive."

In addition to the Frog and Toad books, Owl at Home, Mouse Tales, The Book of Pigericks, and many other popular books he created, Mr. Lobel also illustrated other writers' texts that captured his fancy. He viewed this as "something different and challenging." Often his illustrations for those books showed a different aspect of his personality and his artistic expertise, ranging from his meticulous dinosaurs in Dinosaur Time by Peggy Parish to his chilling pen-and-ink drawings in Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep by Jack Prelutsky, about which Booklist wrote, "Young readers will be amazed that the gentle Lobel of Frog and Toad fame can be so comfortably diabolic."

In 1977 Mr. Lobel and his wife, Anita, a distinguished children's book author and artist in her own right, collaborated on their first book, How the Rooster Saved the Day, chosen by School Library Journal as one of the Best Books of the Year, 1977. They then collaborated on three more books, A Treeful of Pigs, a 1979 ALA Notable Book; On Market Street, a 1982 Caldecott Honor Book; and The Rose in My Garden, a 1984 Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Book.

Arnold Lobel died in 1987.

Music Theatre International (MTI) Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world's leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form.

MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide.

MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre, and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI's Broadway Junior® shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI's School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students.

MTI maintains its global headquarters in New York City with additional offices in London (MTI Europe) and Melbourne (MTI Australasia).

Special Thanks

Director's Note

I discovered Frog and Toad quite accidentally, by way of a "cookies" meme, and the rest is history. I came home one day from buying my own copy of the Frog and Toad storybook treasury, to find one on my pillow - a gift from my husband. A few short years later, we read every story from that very book to my pregnant belly. To be here, now, with that little one telling me how excited she is to see the show, is surreal.

On my birthday one year, Bryan gifted me a copy of the Broadway soundtrack of A Year with Frog and Toad, nestled in a box with Frog and Toad plush animals. How he found out about the musical before I did is beyond me. Nonetheless, the CD snuggled cozily into in my regular rotation, and I found myself sometimes listening to it several times in a row when I didn't have time to change the disc. I never tired of it, and I have enjoyed introducing many theatre friends to the songs over the years.

Being able to share my dream show with my hometown during Cambrian's 75th Anniversary is an honour I can't put into words. Capping off this monumental season with a toe-tapping family show is a dream come true.

I am blessed with an incredible cast who has made me laugh and cry more times than I can count, and a crew who had my back through everything that came our way. Endless thanks to all who came together to make this little slice of magic happen.

Now, I welcome you into this storybook world of a friendship which knows no bounds. I hope you leave this show as I did after every rehearsal - feeling like you've been enveloped in a warm hug, and of course, craving a cookie.

From my husband and I reading every Frog and Toad story to my pregnant belly, to now being able to see these stories come alive on the Cambrian stage - what a wild ride it's been.

Here's to the next 75 years of Theatre for the Love of It!

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Production Team

Special Thanks

Director's Note

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Cast

Production Team

Special Thanks

Director's Note

Upcoming Events

Spotlight on Inclusivity

Sponsors

Media Partners

Our Donors & Patrons

General Inquiries

Board of Directors

Our Donors
& Patrons