PRESS RELEASE
Press contact: Jay Kelly, L.C. Williams & Associates
jkelly@lcwa.com or 312.565.4623
LEO LIONNI’S FREDERICK, A RAUCOUS, PLAYFUL WORLD PREMIERE
MUSICAL ABOUT A DAY DREAMING MOUSE, KICKS OFF
CHICAGO CHILDREN’S THEATRE’S 10TH BIRTHDAY SEASON, OCT. 15-NOV. 16, 2014
Go to http://chicagochildrenstheatre.org/press/high-res-photos/2014-2015-season-advanced-photos/
to download hi-res images for CCT’S 2014-15 season.
CHICAGO, August 20, 2014 - A raucous, playful new production of Leo Lionni’s Frederick, a world premiere
musical based on beloved children’s author Leo Lionni’s Caldecott Award-winning book about Frederick the
mouse, is the big kick off to Chicago Children’s Theatre’s 10th birthday season.
Stuart Carden, the Chicago-based director and new play specialist responsible for Writers Theatre’s wildly
acclaimed The Old Man and The Old Moon, will make his CCT debut with this new family musical. The
production is adapted for the stage by Suzanne Miller, and features original songs by Sarah Durkee and Paul
Jacobs, an Emmy-winning husband and wife duo who have teamed on music for Sesame Street and Between
the Lions on PBS, National Lampoon and even rock legend Meat Loaf.
Leo Lionni’s Frederick will debut October 15-November 16, 2014 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts,
1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Press and opening weekend activities are Friday, October 17 at 7 p.m., and
Sunday, October 19 at 11 a.m. This production is ideal for ages 3 and up.
Single tickets are on sale now, starting at $28. Or, cost-conscious, theater-loving families should entertain
purchasing a Membership Pass to save up to 20 percent on single tickets to Chicago Children’s Theatre’s 201415, three-play season, which also boasts a remount of CCT’s 2008 smash hit, The Selfish Giant by Blair
Thomas and Michael Smith (January 23-February 22, 2015) and a second world premiere musical,
Wonderland, Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, co-created by Michael Mahler and Rachel Rockwell (April 22May 24, 2015).
Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (872) 222-9555 to purchase tickets or CCT membership passes. For
information on deeply discounted group rates for schools, playgroups, birthday parties and scouting groups,
email GroupSales@chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (773) 227-0180 x 13.
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Chicago Children’s Theatre presents Leo Lionni’s Frederick - pg 2 of 5
More about Leo Lionni’s Frederick
While other mice are gathering food for the winter, Frederick daydreams the summer away. When dreary
weather comes, it is Frederick who has stored up something special for the long cold winter. The classic, muchloved early reading book celebrates the idea that there is a place for all of us in this world.
In Chicago Children’s Theatre’s hands, Frederick is getting a rambunctious adaptation via a new musical
featuring spirited folk and blues music performed by six actor-musicians: Richard Juarez (Frederick), Sophie
Grimm (Nellie), Emily Casey (Sunny), Christine Bunuan (Baby) and Shawn Pfautsch (Ernest).
The world of Frederick will also feature an inventive, homemade, do-it-yourself, trunk show style of
production that will be highly physical and transforms ordinary objects and everyday ideas into the
extraordinary. Bringing this idea from concept to reality are the Frederick production team: Nicholas Davio,
music direction; John Musial, set design; Lee Fiskness, lights; Mikhail Fiksel, sound; Rachel Healy,
costumes; and Meredith Miller, props. Carrie Taylor is production stage manager.
When can we see Frederick?
Previews are Wednesday through Friday, October 15-17 at 10 a.m. Press and opening weekend activities are
Friday, October 17 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, October 19 at 11 a.m. (There is a public performance Saturday,
October 18 at 6 p.m., not open to the press.)
The performance schedule continues through November 16: Tuesday at 10 a.m., Wednesday through Friday at
10 a.m. and 12 p.m., Saturday at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Sunday at 11 a.m. The run culminates with an added
2 p.m. performance on Sunday, November 16. Run time is approximately 75 minutes with no intermission.
Chicago Children’s Theatre performs at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., located in the
heart of Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood just steps from the Magnificent Mile. Via public transit, the Ruth
Page is a short walk from the CTA Red Line Clark/Division and Chicago stops, and the Clark, Broadway,
Division and Chicago Avenue bus lines. Neighborhood street parking is available, and the Ruth Page offers
discounted garage parking with ticket validation at 1250 N. Dearborn and 1030 N. State. Nearby familyfriendly restaurants include Chicago Q (1160 N. Dearborn), Epic Burger (40 E. Pearson), Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
(1120 N. State), The 3rd Coast Café (1260 N. Dearborn), and Dave and Busters (1030 N. Clark).
Sign language interpreted and Autism-Friendly performances of Frederick
The Saturday, November 1, 6 p.m. performance of Frederick will be interpreted in American Sign Language.
Tickets are $28 children/$38 adults.
The Saturday, November 8, 6 p.m. performance of Leo Lionni’s Frederick is Autism-Friendly. All 235 seats
are reserved for families with children on the autism spectrum. This creates a safe, welcoming environment for
children with autism, where nobody needs to worry if a child gets loud or active. All tickets are $20.
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Behind-the-scenes of Frederick: Meet the principal creators
Leo Lionni (1910-1999) gained international renown for his paintings, graphic designs, illustrations and
sculpture, as well as for his books for children. He was born in Holland, but settled soon after his marriage in
Milan, where he became a graphic designer. When he moved to America in 1939, Lionni was hired by a
Philadelphia ad agency as art director. Later he became design director for the Olivetti Corporation, and then
art director for Fortune magazine. At the same time, his reputation as an artist began to flourish. In 1959 he
launched his career as an author/illustrator of more than 40 highly acclaimed chilldren’s books. He was a fourtime Caldecott Honor Winner for Inch by Inch, Frederick, Swimmy and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse.
Stuart Carden (director and choreographer) is a Chicago-based freelance director and new play specialist. He
has continued to develop The Old Man and The Old Moon with PigPen Theatre Co. which just opened at
Williamstown Theatre Festival, building on the acclaimed 2013 Chicago-area production at Writers Theatre in
Glencoe. Other credits include Nina Raine's Tribes in a co-production with Philadelphia Theatre Company
and City Theatre Company and the U.S. premiere of Scottish playwright David Greig's Yellow Moon at
Writers Theatre. Other select projects include: Annie Baker’s Circle Mirror Transformation, Sarah Ruhl’s In
the Next Room, Curt Columbus and Marilyn Campbell’s adaptation of Crime and Punishment and Martin
McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; David Harrower’s Blackbird,
Stephen Massicottes’ Mary’s Wedding, Jeffrey Hatcher’s A Picasso and Tristine Schyler’s The Moonlight
Room at City Theatre; Shishir Kurup’s The Merchant on Venice, David Henry Hwang’s Golden Child and
Yussef el Guindi’s Back of the Throat and 10 Acrobats at Silk Road Theatre Rising; and Martin McDonagh’s
The Pillowman, Martin Crimp’s adaptation of The False Servant and Marie Jones’ Stones in His Pockets for
Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre. An alum of Carnegie Mellon University, Carden is husband to art
curator Neysa Page-Lieberman and dad to twin two-year olds Griffin and Dashiell.
Suzanne Miller’s (book) plays include Young Love, Flirting with the Deep End, Beatrice, The Handwriting,
The Soup and The Hats and Abigail’s Atlas. Her work has been seen in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle,
Providence, New Haven and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Current projects also include a musical stage
adaptation of the popular children’s book series Pete the Cat and the new play No Place for a Man. Miller was
an original company member of Annex Theater in Seattle, and a founding member of the Seattle Playwrights
Alliance. She is on the faculty of the English Department at the New York City College of Technology/CUNY.
Since her days performing and writing comedy for National Lampoon shows and platinum-earning songs for
Meat Loaf, Sarah Durkee (lyricist) has enjoyed a successful career writing scripts and songs for children’s
television for over 25 years. With composer Paul Jacobs, she’s written Emmy-winning songs for Sesame Street,
performed by artists as diverse as Mel Torme, Kermit the Frog, Brian McKnight and Trisha Yearwood. Her
scripts and songwriting have been featured on Dora the Explorer, Arthur, Wonder Pets, Peep and the Big Wide
World and others, and she recently won her fifth Emmy for her writing for Between the Lions. Her
scriptwriting for the claymation series Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures is featured on Sesame Street and in
the preschool series Lomax: The Hound of Music. Current projects include songwriting for musical adaptations
of the Kate Feiffer children’s book My Mom is Trying to Ruin My Life, a children’s book series with an antibullying theme called Captain McFinn and Friends and an educational video series for Curious George.
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Chicago Children’s Theatre presents Leo Lionni’s Frederick - pg 4 of 5
A native of New York City, Paul Jacobs (composer) started playing classical piano at a young age, attending
the Juilliard School. Forsaking classical piano for rock, he made his mark in the New York theater scene as
musical director and co-writer of National Lampoon’s theatrical hit Lemmings starring Christopher Guest,
Chevy Chase and John Belushi, and writing music for The National Lampoon Show featuring Bill Murray,
Gilda Radner, Richard Belzer and Harold Ramis. Jacobs then worked as the musical director for Meat Loaf,
composing and producing songs that earned gold and platinum records all over the world. His work as a
composer and musical director for the children’s shows Sesame Street and Between the Lions has won him
multiple Emmy awards and the opportunity to write for artists as diverse as Mel Tormé, Roger Daltrey, Faith
Hill, India Arie, Brian McKnight, Wynona Judd, Ziggy Marley, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. His
classical piano and gospel organ playing are featured on the music-based preschool series Lomax: The Hound
of Music, and he’s presently at work on several musical theater projects for both adults and kids.
Nicholas Davio (music director, multi-instrumentalist) regularly works as a music director, teaching artist,
vocal coach and/or pit musician with Chicago Children’s Theatre (Harold and the Purple Crayon, The Houdini
Box, Goodnight Moon, Dot and Ziggy and The Hundred Dresses), The Scooty and JoJo Show (Alien Queen and
Carpenter’s Halloween), Bohemian Theater Ensemble (Jeff Nominated Musical Director for Big River),
American Theatre Company (Hedwig and the Angry Inch and The Original Grease), Columbia College
Chicago (Rent and Floyd Collins), and MDQ Ltd. (Millions Dollar Quartet). Davio also works with Old Town
School of Folk Music as a Wiggleworms instructor and teaches guitar at the Berwyn Park District.
What’s next? More about CCT’s 2014-15, 10th birthday season
Following Leo Lionni’s Frederick CCT presents a remount of its 2008 hit The Selfish Giant by Blair Thomas
and Co. (January 23-February 22, 2015). Based on Oscar Wilde’s classic story of a grumpy giant who forbids
children from playing in his garden, this enchanting musical spectacle delights all ages with inventive puppets
and original music performed live by Chicago folk legend Michael Smith. Opening weekend performances are
presented as part of the closing festivities of the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, January 14-25.
Get ready to rock when CCT presents its 2014-15 finale and second world premiere family musical in one
season, Wonderland, Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, created by top Chicago director Rachel Rockwell and
music director Michael Mahler (April 22-May 24, 2015). Chicago’s theater scene promises to get curiouser and
curiouser when this powerhouse duo of A-list Chicago theater artists, both making their CCT debut, boldly
reimagine Lewis Carroll’s books Alice in Wonderland and Through the Lookingglass.
In addition to its three-show mainstage season, CCT continues its new Later Stages series for older kids ages 8
and up with a presentation of The MLK Project: The Fight for Civil Rights, produced by Writers Theatre,
written by Yolanda Androzzo, January 24-February 6, 2015.
Chicago Children’s Theatre membership passes and single tickets to all 2014-15 productions are on sale now.
Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (872) 222-9555 to purchase. For information on discounted group
rates, email GroupSales@chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (773) 227-0180 x 13.
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Chicago Children’s Theatre presents Leo Lionni’s Frederick - pg 5 of 5
About Chicago Children’s Theatre
The 2014-15 season marks Chicago Children’s Theatre’s 10th birthday season, and third year in residence at
Chicago’s Ruth Page Center, where, in addition to performances, it also offers a growing array of children’s
theatre classes for kids ages 3 to 13.
Chicago Children’s Theatre focuses on the production of first-rate children's theatre, with top writing,
performing and directorial talent and high-quality design and production expertise. Since the company was
launched in 2005, CCT has presented the world premieres of The Selfish Giant, The Hundred Dresses, Jackie
and Me, Dot and Ziggy, The Houdini Box, The Elephant and The Whale (in association with Redmoon) and Mr.
Chickee’s Funny Money. The company aspires to enrich our community through diverse and significant
theatrical and educational programming that engages and inspires the child in all of us. CCT strives to provide
affordable and accessible theatre for families and area school children. To enhance the impact of any given
production's themes, CCT offers extensive educational materials and programs for families and educators.
Led by Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell and Board Chair Todd Leland, Chicago Children’s Theatre is
supported by a committed Artistic Council of Chicago-based actors, directors, musicians and designers and a
dynamic Board of Directors comprised of dedicated individuals from the fields of entertainment, philanthropy
and business. Officers include David Saltiel, President; Jackie Tilton, Vice Chair; Lynn Lockwood Murphy,
Vice Chair and Secretary; and David Chung, Treasurer.
Chicago Children's Theatre is sponsored in part by ComEd, Goldman Sachs Gives and Target.
For more information about Chicago Children's Theatre visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org, call CCT's
dedicated box office line, (872) 222-9555, or the administrative office, (773) 227-0180.
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