Chicago – Chicago Children’s Theatre’s kicks off its thirteenth season with its own, smash hit family musical Leo Lionni’s Frederick, based on Leo Lionni’s Caldecott Award-winning book about Frederick the mouse.
Performances are October 9-November 11, 2018 at Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, 100 S. Racine Ave. in Chicago’s West Loop.
Lionni’s early-reading picture book is much loved for introducing children to the idea that there is a place for all of us in this world, with a special shout out to the importance of artists in our society.
Who doesn’t love Frederick the mouse, who appears to be daydreaming the summer away while his fellow field mice work hard gathering food for the winter? But when cold weather arrives, it is Frederick who has a surprise stored up – something special to help his friends survive the long, dreary winter.
“Very charming and poignant…adapted delightfully for the stage” was how the Chicago Tribune welcomed Frederick when Chicago Children’s Theatre first premiered its new musical in 2014. homemademothering.com agreed “any event that can captures the imagination and wonder of two, four and six year olds is truly special.”
Perfectly timed for families preparing to brave the Chicago winter, Chicago Children’s Theatre brings Frederick back this fall for the city’s newest generation of young theatergoers with an A-list team of Chicago’s top professional theater artists on stage and behind the scenes.
Tommy Rivera-Vega, critically acclaimed in the Goodman Theatre’s Support Group for Men and Teatro Vista’s La Havana Madrid and Parachute Men (Jeff nomination, best supporting actor), looks forward to his leading role as Frederick in Leo Lionni’s Frederick, Chicago Children’s Theatre’s fall opener.
Playing Frederick’s fellow field mice are Chicago stage veterans Liz Chidester (Lizzie Borden in Firebrand’s rock musical Lizzie, and a Chicago Children’s Theater teaching artist) as Sunny; Joe Dempsey (Lookingglass’ 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Northlight’s Faceless) as Ernest; Nicole Laurenzi (Mamma Mia! national tour, also a CCT teaching artist) as Nellie; Leslie Ann Sheppard (CCT’s The Hundred Dresses, Northlight’s The Legend of Georgia McBride) as Baby; and multi-instrumentalist Jess McIntosh, a frequent composer/performer for The House Theatre.
Leo Lionni’s Frederick, a 2014 CCT world premiere, was adapted for the stage by Suzanne Miller and features a spirited folk and rock blues music score by Sarah Durkee and Paul Jacobs.
The world of Frederick is inventive, do-it-yourself and highly physical, with the cast and crew working together to transform ordinary objects and everyday ideas into the extraordinary. Bringing this to reality is the Frederick production team: Matthew Muñiz (music director), John Musical (scenic design), Izumi Inaba (costume design), Lee Fiskness (lighting design), Kevin O’Donnell (sound design), Eleanor Kahn (properties design) and Jamie Abelson (casting director).
Frederick show times, ticket and subscription information
Leo Lionni’s Frederick runs October 9-November 11, 2018 at Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, 100 S. Racine Avenue in Chicago’s West Loop.
Public performances are Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
School matinees are Tuesdays through Fridays at 10 a.m.
Frederick is an all-ages show. Single tickets are $39 including fees. For subscriptions, single tickets and information on group rates, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call Chicago Children’s Theatre Guest Services, (312) 374-8835.
Mama and papa mouse might want to save their nuts and include Leo Lionni’s Frederick in a 2018-19 Chicago Children’s Theatre subscription package. Soon after Frederick comes Chicago’s newest holiday family tradition, The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party, a trunk-style puppet show starring everyone’s favorite Beatrix Potter characters, this year with two new stories, coupled with a festive tea and cocoa party.
In January, CCT presents the world premiere of X-Marks The Spot, a new, inclusive sensory work conceived by Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell highlighting the experience of blind and low vision audiences.
Next, New York’s Spellbound Theatre arrives to teach Chicago’s youngest theatergoers, kids one to five, about their bodies in the world premiere of The World Inside of Me.
CCT’s 2018-19 season finale is an all-new, world premiere staging of The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, directed by Wardell Julius Clark, based on the groundbreaking book by Christopher Paul Curtis, adapted by Cheryl L. West, who also adapted CCT’s 2018 smash hit, Last Stop on Market Street.
Book early and save on a variety of subscription packages, on sale now at chicagochildrenstheatre.org, or call CCT Guest Services at (312) 374-8835.
Frederick Musical Theatre Workshop for kids 6 to 10 is Sunday, November 4
In addition to performances, Chicago Children’s Theatre is committed to training the next generation of actors and performers.
On Sunday, November 4, from 2 to 4:30 p.m., CCT’s education department will offer the Frederick Musical Theatre Workshop, part of a new series of workshops based around the company’s mainstage shows. Under the direction of Frederick cast member and CCT teaching artist Nicole Laurenzi (Mamma Mia! national tour), students a song and dance scene from the show and then perform for family and friends on the Pritzker Family Studio Theatre stage. The fee is $59. Recommended for ages 6 to 10. Space is limited. Register your Frederick fan today at chicagochildrenstheatre.org/leo-lionnis-frederick.
Access Weekend for Frederick is October 27 and 28
CCT continues to grow its commitment to all Chicago children at The Station by expanding services for patrons with disabilities. Access Weekend for Leo Lionni’s Frederick is October 27 and 28, 2018. Services include:
Pre-show Touch Tour of the set prior to the show for guests who are blind or have low vision:
Saturday, October 27 at 9:30 a.m.
American Sign Language (ASL) and live open captioning for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing:
Saturday, October 27 at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Sensory friendly performance for children on the autism spectrum or with Down Syndrome:
Sunday, October 28 at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Note: Modifications are made to lighting, sound and music to avoid sensory overload, with a nearby Quiet Room.
For more information about Access services, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/access or contact CCT’s Access and Inclusion department at [email protected].
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