From the middle of the pond to the book publishers, to the stage and to your community, the Sherman Community Players/Theatricks present A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, a jazzy musical based on the books by Arnold Lobel that embarks on an adventure with the characters Frog and Toad along with the animals of the woods on a year long adventure.
On the day of auditions, talent from all over the Grayson County area and Collin County area came to audition for the play originally played by five cast members on the Broadway stage. The Theatricks Director was presented with an amazing amount of talent, thus increasing the cast size from five to ten. Playing the lead roles of the production are Jeffery Hunter (Frog), a 2009 graduate of Sherman High School, and Derek George (Toad), a junior from Howe High School.
However, the real stars of the show are the chorus members, who for the most part play three separate roles and sing in the barber-shop style, with harmonies and chord progressions that most actors have difficulty singing. The chorus members are as follows: Amber Clay (Bird, Turtle, Mole), a home-schooled senior of Denison, Lauren Fanning (Bird, Mouse, Mole), a freshman of Sherman High School, Darius Thomas (Bird-Man, Father Frog, Mole), a 2009 graduate of Sherman High School, MJ Martin (Bird, Mother Frog, Mole), a mom of two and out of school, Taylor Walker (Bird, Turtle, Mole), a junior of Sherman High School, Samantha Crocker (Bird, Young Frog, Mole), a home-schooled senior of Sherman, Martha Hayes (Bird, Large and Terrible Frog, Mole), a seventh grader of B. McDaniel Middle School, and Zeke Dolezalek (Snail, Mole), a junior of Denison High School.
The production staff of the play consists of: Webster Crocker (Theatricks Director), Chase Fowler (Assistant Director), a senior of Sherman High School, Sylvia Rivers (Vocal Director), Amy Dean (Choreographer), and Tammi Daubenspeck, Betty Harper, Gay Green, and Pam Bellerman (Costume Designers).
For A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, a live combo band that you would see in the Jazz Age of the 1920's will be onstage with the actors. This band consists of professional musicians, highschoolers, and college students. The musicians consist of: Pat and Reese Brentzel, Steve McLean, Kathryn Thompson (a sophomore of Sherman High School), Ben Roelke (2009 graduate of Sherman High School), Henri Roelke (a senior of Sherman High School), Eric Brentzel (a junior of Austin College), Andrew Wilson (a senior of Texas A&M Commerce), Adam Grigsbay (2009 graduate of Sherman High School), Cathy Sauls, and leading the combo band, Pam Hamer. These musicians dedicated hours of rehearsals and a week long rehearsal with the cast in order to bring that old Broadway feel that is evident in the show.
But a show would not be a production without a proper backstage crew, which consists of: Will Reynolds, Joey Oliver, Lexi Thornhill, Jonathan Morris, Meredith Foster, and Peter Bellerman. These dedicated people bring that easy flow that the audience usually doesn't see but is a big contributor in bringing the magic to the stage. These people are lead by Drew Crocker (Prop/Backstage Master), a home-schooled ninth grader and son of Webster Crocker.
While the play is a recreation of the classic children story, this is a
play for all ages and will bring smiles to anyone who sees this jazzy
rendition of the story that we all know well.
So, if you aren't doing much during the first part of July (10th-19th), "hop" on down to the Honey McGee Playhouse and spend some time in Arnold Lobel's world of A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD sponsored by TexomaCare Pediatrics and Family Medicine.
