A Year With Frog and Toad is a series of vignettes about two animal friends, Frog (Zach Miller) and Toad (Gino Cardoni), as they go through a year of adventures. Frog is optimistic and adventurous; Toad is neither. This makes for tons of comedic fun. For the most part, there is little through storyline, but a few subplots, like Toad’s broken clock and Snail (Josh Schoff) who takes almost the entire year to deliver a letter string the adventures together.

The production and design team has done a very nice job of bringing a cast of children of varying ages together into a quality production that delighted adult and young audience members alike. The set is creative, clean, bright, and interesting with excellent little details. The costumes are adorable. They are regular clothing items with color schemes and just a few touches to turn them into excellent representations of the various animals. The lighting is simple but effective. The music has been well taught, and the kids often sing in nice harmonies. The staging and choreography are cute and creative. The kids have obviously been well-rehearsed and know exactly what to do in every scene and in every scene change. The decision to use a live drum on top of the recorded music gives it the feeling of being live and immediate.

The two young men in the leading roles brought tons of talent and energy to the production. Zach Miller was a great straight man, keeping his performance solid and low-key. Zach also has a strong voice and carried his numbers nicely. Gino Cardoni was delightful as Toad and demonstrated good comedic timing and delivery.

There was also several standouts in the supporting cast. Maddie Ulevich came out of nowhere and was amazing in the scene prior to and the song “Underwater Ballet.” Isabel Gordon and Sheridan Merrick were also extraordinary in joining her in the number. Another delightful song was “Shivers” and Allison Naglieri and Hannah Blau used this as opportunity to show how very talented they are as well. Also, as the tiny little ladybug, Maggie Moloney was just adorable and full of energy. Kudos also to the fantastic ensemble work of all the birds.

In general, all of the young people involved in this production were obviously giving 110% at all times. They were full of energy and excitement, and it paid off and translated into a truly polished production. If you have children…or even if you don’t…this is definitely a production worth making the effort to see sometime in the next two weekends.

Cast

• Frog: Zach Miller
• Toad: Gino Cardoni
• Snail: Josh Schoff
• Bird/Fish: Zoe Feldman
• Bird/Mouse: Isabel Gordon
• Bird: Isabel Ingram
• Bird: Phillip Merrick
• Bird/Lizard: Sheridan Merrick
• Bird/Fish: Rachel Miller
• Turtle: Maddie Ulevich
• Young Frog/Fish/Bee: Allison Naglieri
• Father Frog/Fish/Bee: Mariellen Kemp
• Mother Frog/Bee: Hannah Blau
• Large & Terrible Frog/Bee: Anna Snow
• Ladybug: Maggie Moloney
• Mole: Kelsey Feeney
• Mole/Fish: Lillie Jewell
• Mole/Fish: Ali Radomsky
• Mole: Megan Van Emdn
• Mole/Fish: Maia Vong
• Squirrel: Wesley Brown
• Squirrel: Hanna Ulevich
• Squirrel: Emily Wheeler

Production Staff

• Director: Liz Boyer Hunnicutt
• Artistic Director: Diane M. Smith
• Musical Director: Julie Parrish
• Choreographer: James Hunnicutt
• Stage Manager: Anne Marie Freeburger
• Scenic Artist: Laura Miller
• Costume Designer: Tracy Bird
• Lighting Programmer: Diane Smith
• Lighting Operator: Donna Flaharty
• Spot Operators: Matthew Demetrides, Tiffany Flaharty
• Percussion: Lisa Wood
• Sound Operator: Diane Smith
• Set Construction: Diane Smith
• Stage Crew: Amanda Ellifritz
• Dance Captain: Rachel Miller
• Hair Design: Tiffany Flaharty

Disclaimer: Children’s Playhouse of Maryland provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

Professor Harold Hill proclaims “Ya Got Trouble, Right Here In River City!” Well, there might be trouble in River City, but there is absolutely no trouble in Children’s Playhouse of Maryland’s production of Music Man Jr. This delightful production, written by Meredith Wilson, tells the story of a con man salesman who charms his way into a small town in rural mid-America, conjuring to put together a boy’s band. As he falls in love with the town’s librarian and befriends the townsfolk, the journey changes his plans and changes him.

With a handful of sing-a-long favorite tunes and passionate and energetic performances, the cast shines. The set is heartwarming; the costumes are almost as good as they get in a community theatre production. The choreography is fun and clean. The lighting is gentle and yet affective, and the hot dogs and Chick-Fil-A sandwiches at concessions were a big hit with my son, niece, and nephew.

For those who are not familiar with what exactly is a JR. production, it is a slightly condensed version of the full-scale musical and is entirely performed by children and teenagers. The cast consists of 48 of them. Hats off to Director Liz Boyer Hunnicut, Musical Director Julie Parish, and Chorographer James Hunnicut for their talent, structure, vision, and (I’m sure) PATIENCE.

James Ruth delivers a very energetic and heart-felt performance as Harold Hill, he is reminiscent very much of a young Ray Bolger in every way. He allows his character to grow and allows the audience to laugh with and at him and to love him and wish for a happy ending. Allison Comotto plunges into the uptight non-trusting and protective role of Marian Paroo with one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard from an actress of her age. Her and Ruth’s chemistry is also spot on.

Nicole Smith (Zaneeta Shinn), Thomas Gardner (Mayor Shinn), Matthew Demetrides (Marcellus Washburn), Collette Simkins (Mrs. Paroo), and Zach Miller (Tommy Djillas) are all standouts in their perfectly played supporting roles. Jhonathon O’Neal (Ewart), Philip Merrick (Oliver), Gino Cardoni (Jacey), and Joey Bird (Olin) are OUTSTANDING! Way to go, guys! And Jamie Watson (Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn) takes no prisoners and holds no bars. Her innovative, energetic, hysterical to the point of tears performance would make Lucille Ball and Carroll Burnet very proud.

The production closed this past weekend so if you didn’t see it you missed out. However, Children’s Playhouse of Maryland produces five productions a year so make sure not to miss anymore.

Disclaimer: Children’s Playhouse of Maryland provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

• The Music Man, Jr., September – October 2011 Schedule
• The Mousetrap, October – November 2011 Schedule
• A Christmas Carol, December 2011 Schedule
• A Year with Frog and Toad, March 2012 Schedule
• Fame, May 2012 Schedule

Schedule is subject to change due to performance rights conflicts or other issues.