Salt Lake Acting Company - A Year with Frog and Toad

We're proud to announce our lineup of 22/23 programming for Salt Lake Acting Company's 51st Season! Join us for two Utah premieres, two world premieres, and a remounting of a beloved children's musical.

Opening the season (from September 21 - October 16) is the Utah premiere of Sleeping Giant by Steve Yockey. Having been developed in the New Play Sounding Series in May 2022, Sleeping Giant marks the third premiere of Yockey’s work at SLAC (after Blackberry Winter and Mercury).   

SLAC will celebrate its return to in-person professional children’s theatre (in a season add-on) after two years of virtual offerings with a re-mounting of A Year With Frog and Toad. The Tony-nominated musical by Willie Reale and Robert Reale will play SLAC’s Upstairs Theatre from December 2-18, 2022.

The standard subscription season then resumes with Hairy & Sherri by Adrienne Dawes. The dramedy was originally developed during SLAC’s 2021 virtual New Play Sounding Series Festival and will have its world premiere at SLAC from February 8 through March 5, 2023.

Following is Yoga Play by Dipika Guha, a comedy having its Utah premiere following productions at South Coast Repertory Theatre, SF Playhouse, Gateway Theatre, among others. Guha’s play was named as a 2017 Kilroys Honoree and will run at SLAC from April 12 - May 7, 2023.

The season will conclude with the third iteration of Salt Lake Acting Company’s summer tradition, SLACabaret. The 2023 production will see the return of cabaret-style table seating and a fresh, satirical take on the Beehive State from a writing team yet to be announced. SLACabaret 2023 will run from July 12 through August 20. 

Casts and creative teams for SLAC’s 51st Season will be announced at later dates. Season subscriptions are currently available by calling our Audience Relationship Team at 801-363-7522. Single tickets will be announced at a later date.

Our 51st Season At a Glance

Sleeping Giant 
by Steve Yockey
September 21 - October 16, 2022
Utah Premiere
Developed in SLAC’s 2022 New Play Sounding Series

When a firework-filled marriage proposal goes very wrong, the accompanying explosions wake up something very old that’s been sleeping in the nearby lake for thousands of years. What follows are intimate, darkly comic, and sometimes startling vignettes about the lengths people go when they desperately want something to believe in.


Hairy & Sherri
by Adrienne Dawes
February 8 - March 5, 2023
World Premiere
Developed in SLAC’s 2021 New Play Sounding Series Digital Festival

Hairy and Sherri are an “adorkable” interracial couple living in gentrified East Austin. When they very graciously and publicly open their home to Ryshi, a 12-year-old former foster care youth with special needs, Hairy and Sherri are confronted with the ugly realities of their marriage and “good” intentions.

Yoga Play
by Dipika Guha
April 12 - May 7, 2023
Utah Premiere

When the yoga apparel giant Jojomon’s reputation takes an unsavory hit, Joan, its newest CEO, embarks on a treacherous path to save not only the company but her career.  This uproarious comedy explores the western world’s often misguided quest for enlightenment, deep breathing, and yoga pants at any cost.

SLACabaret 2023
Playwrights TBA
July 12 - August 20, 2023
World Premiere

Summer fun returns to SLAC with the latest iteration of SLACabaret. What will be in store? Only the stranger-than-fiction news cycle will tell. One thing is for sure: laughter and celebration will once again take center stage. Don’t miss it!

Children’s Play Season Add-On: A Year With Frog and Toad
Book and Lyrics by Willie Reale 
Music by Robert Reale
December 2 - 18, 2022

Back by popular demand and based on the highly acclaimed books by Arnold Lobel, SLAC will once again invite audiences of all ages into the world of two best friends who celebrate and rejoice in the differences that make them unique and special.  This holiday season don't miss the chance to delight the children in your lives (as well as your own inner child) with this charming, heartfelt musical.

Episode 4: Nate Waite. In this episode, host PJ Caywood sits down with actor Nate Waite to discuss his role as Toad in "A Year with Frog and Toad".

Ellen Fagg Weist | December 12, 2014 | Salt Lake Tribune

About halfway through a school matinee of Salt Lake Acting Company's "A Year With Frog and Toad," a first-grader in the audience let the cast know he had figured out what live theater was all about.

"Hey. You were the monster," he yelled to actor Terry Lee McGriff, who, after a quick costume change, had made his stage entrance as a bird.

The immediacy of that audience reaction explains everything about the professional theater company's enthusiasm for its annual children's musical, now in its sixth year. In addition to evening and weekend performances, the actors perform eight matinees for Title I elementary schools in the Salt Lake City and Granite districts. Those performances reach some 1,400 students, many of whom haven't attended a stage show before.

[Read Full Article] 

Danny Bowes | December 10, 2014 | City Weekly

It is tempting—particularly among the childless—to hold children to a higher standard of conduct than their capabilities permit. This thought was inspired—at a matinee performance of Salt Lake Acting Company's sixth annual children's play A Year With Frog & Toad—by the arrival some way into the performance of a child who proceeded to make constant and loud comment on the proceedings, and who was then given a cell phone to play with for the remainder of the show. All of this, naturally, in the front row, some five feet away from any downstage action, because why not?

[Read Full Article]

A Utah Mom's Life | December 9, 2014

Last weekend I announced to my family that we we would be going to see A Year with Frog and Toad by the Salt Lake Acting Company. My kids were not excited to go. Rand was not excited to go. Even though they whined and moaned, I gave them no option. They piled in the car and we headed to Salt Lake. I adore the Frog and Toad children's books by Arnold Lobel but the text is subtle and low key and I had no idea how it would translate on the stage.

As soon as we arrived, I was impressed. The neighborhood is charming and the theater is inviting. Every seat is a good seat. We found our seats and settled in. The crew was friendly and knew that their audience was full of children.

[Read Full Article]

Susie Q | December 11, 2014 | The White House Blog

Last Saturday afternoon my son and I had the opportunity to go and see "A Year With Frog and Toad", by The Salt Lake Acting Company. I was really excited to be able to go and do something like this with him. It was his first musical/play experience and I think he really enjoyed himself.

[Read Full Article] 

Emily Hill | December 8, 2014 | Is This Really My Life?

Our family saw the most enchanting children's play Friday night. It was pure joy from beginning to end—or spring to spring, depending on how you look at it. If you're a fan of the Frog & Toad books by Arnold Lobel, you simply must see Salt Lake Acting Company's production of the Tony-nominated musical A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD.

[Read Full Article]

Episode 3: Jenessa Bowen. PJ Caywood, the daughter of A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD director Penny Caywood, hosts her own interview series called "A Cup of OJ with PJ". In this episode, PJ chats with actress Jenessa Bowen about her many roles in the show.

Episode 2: Amelia Rose Moore. In this episode, host PJ Caywood sits down with actress Amelia Rose Moore to discuss "A Year with Frog and Toad".

Episode 1: Logan Tarantino. PJ Caywood, the daughter of A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD director Penny Caywood, hosts her own interview series called "A Cup of OJ with PJ". In this episode, PJ chats with actor Logan Tarantino about his role as Frog in the upcoming production. 

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD runs at Salt Lake Acting Company from December 5- 27. Go to www.saltlakeactingcompany.org for tickets or call our box office at 801-363-7522.

PRESS CONTACT: CYNTHIA FLEMING | 801.363.7522 |

August 14, 2014
For Immediate Release

Salt Lake Acting Company's 2014-2015 Season
Reflects New Mission Statement to Engage and Enrich Community
Through Brave, Contemporary Theatre

Salt Lake Acting Company (SLAC), with renewed energy and excitement for the future, announces a new, community-centered mission statement as it launches its 44th season of brave, contemporary theatre.

SLAC's Executive Leadership and Board of Trustees recognized the need to revise and simplify the organization's mission to get right to the heart of why the Salt Lake Acting Company exists. Following invigorating and focused conversation at a retreat this past spring, SLAC's leaders have released the company's new mission statement: to engage and enrich community through brave, contemporary theatre.
This new, community-centered mission will be reflected in SLAC's 2014-2015 season, which in addition to the vibrant work onstage, will also cultivate more and deeper partnerships with area non-profits, schools, and community centers. Now more than ever, SLAC recognizes the rich and dynamic culture that exists here in Utah, and is proud to invest and play a role in its continued growth. It's an exciting time to be in Salt Lake City and an exciting time to be at SLAC.

The 2014-2015 season opens with I'LL EAT YOU LAST: A CHAT WITH SUE MENGERS by Tony Award-winning playwright John Logan. Hailed as the first female "super-agent," Sue Mengers was the talk of the entertainment industry, representing the likes of Barbra Streisand, Steve McQueen, and Cher. This one-woman show, starring Utah favorite Camille Van Wagoner and directed by Robin Wilks-Dunn will run September 17 – October 26, 2014. SLAC invites audiences into Sue's glamorous living room for an evening of dish and dirty secrets.

For more information on I'LL EAT YOU LAST: A CHAT WITH SUE MENGERS click here...

RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN by Obie Award-winning playwright Gina Gionfriddo and directed by Adrianne Moore, will run October 22 – November 16, 2014. After graduate school, Catherine and Gwen chose polar opposite paths. Catherine built a career as a rock star academic, while Gwen built a home with her husband and children. This sharp-witted comedy takes an unflinching look at gender politics and asks, 'Can any woman have it all?'

For more information on RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN click here...

SLAC will work on behalf of its youngest audiences with its sixth annual professional children's production, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD with book and lyrics by Willie Reale, music by Robert Reale, and based on the ever-popular books by Arnold Lobel. Two best friends celebrate and rejoice in their differences that make them unique and special. A story of a friendship that endures, weathering all seasons, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD will be directed by Penny Caywood and will run December 5 – 27, 2014. Part vaudeville, part make-believe, all charm.

For more information on A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD click here...

TWO STORIES by local playwright Elaine Jarvik was one of the 5 plays workshopped in SLAC's New Play Sounding Series (NPSS) during the 2013/14 Season. Jarvik said, "Nothing beats hearing your work read by good actors in front of a real, unbiased audience willing to stay afterwards to dissect what they've heard. By hearing the words out loud, by watching how the audience reacted, by listening to their questions and suggestions, I learned what worked and what didn't. This is how new plays get better." After its development last season in NPSS, SLAC has committed to ensuring the continued life of this play, presenting its World Premiere, directed by Keven Myhre, February 4 – March 1, 2015. Jodi is a struggling journalist eager to keep her job in a changing economy. When a Pakistani family moves in next door, Jodi gets more than just a great story. TWO STORIES is an exploration of diverse landscapes, including economic rise and fall, sensationalism and honesty, how we navigate the growing diversity and lingering stereotypes in our communities, and more intimately, how identity is bridged between generations.

For more information on TWO STORIES click here...

SLAC's commitment to new plays continues as it celebrates spring with the World Premiere of a 'sort of' romantic comedy, MR. PERFECT by William Missouri Downs. SLAC is proud to welcome Downs back to Utah after previously working with him on last season's hit, THE EXIT INTERVIEW. Directed by John Caywood and running April 8 – May 5, 2015, MR. PERFECT tells the story of a quirky flight attendant and romance novel junkie who thinks she's met Mr. Perfect. When it doesn't work out, she sets out to connect the random events that make up life, hoping to find the meaning of it all.

For more information on MR. PERFECT click here...

And of course, no SLAC season would be complete without SATURDAY'S VOYEUR, created by Allen Nevins & Nancy Borgenicht, two of Salt Lake City's most celebrated playwrights, and directed and choreographed by Cynthia Fleming. SATURDAY'S VOYEUR 2015 will shake up Salt Lake June 24 – August 30, 2015. This annual musical satire connects SLAC to the community like nothing else. SLAC is the only theatre company in the nation that presents a new play written for us, about us, each year.

For more information on SATURDAY'S VOYEUR 2015 click here...

With its renewed commitment to community, SLAC's 2014/15 Season will promote theatre and the arts in Utah through a variety of programs, several being the first of their kind in the region. SLAC strives to promote theatre, literature, and art to students from kindergarten to university. SLAC's arts education programs include:

Title I Matinee Program:

SLAC believes in the power of the arts to enhance children's literacy, educational performance, and interest in learning. A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD will include eight free matinee performances for over 1,400 Title I schoolchildren. As school curriculums continue to narrow at the expense of the arts, SLAC's free performances provide a live theatrical experience to academically at-risk schoolchildren who often lack access to opportunities as basic as field trips and arts exposure. SLAC will also offer discounted performances for non-Title I schools; literary partnerships with the Salt Lake City Public Library and local bookstores; an online study guide available for schools and students as they prepare for their visits; and collaborations with local organizations and sponsors.
University Professional Theatre Program: For the past two years Salt Lake Acting Company's University Professional Theatre Program (UPTP) has provided the opportunity for over two dozen students from Utah universities to contribute to productions on a professional scale through both performing roles and technical theatre positions. UPTP was developed through the recognition that SLAC had the resources to offer more to students than ticket discounts and internships. Rather, a paid, working experience would allow for tangible exposure to their craft and the chance for students to build a professional resume before even graduating. SLAC has cultivated working relationships with theatre programs from the following schools: University of Utah, Weber State University, Utah Valley University, and Utah State University.

SLAC has always been dedicated to nurturing the work of local theatre artists and providing a home for both new and established playwrights. More recently, Salt Lake Acting Company has created a landscape for local audiences to access a more in-depth exploration of the work. SLAC's programs that continue to elevate the theatre experience for those on both sides of the curtain include:

New Play Sounding Series:

Free and open to the public, the NPSS is an essential component of the SLAC season: four to five staged readings of new plays, each tied to the current production and/or playwright. Celebrating its 20th year, the NPSS gives playwrights an essential testing ground in which to see their work in progress, and involves SLAC's audience in the dynamic process of new play development. The NPSS has workshopped over 70 plays, with nearly 50 percent going on to main stage productions at SLAC and other regional and national theatre companies.

Green Room Gallery:

SLAC maintains an active gallery, showcasing and selling the work of local visual artists in rotating exhibitions inspired by and tied thematically to productions on stage Curated for each play, the Green Room Gallery is a space for local artists to exhibit their work and for SLAC's audiences to reinforce the themes they see onstage. The 2014-2015 season will include work from Terence K. Stephens, Tricia Forsey Terry (TSquared Art), and Stephanie Swift (Pretty Little Pixel).

Discount ticket programs: SLAC's Student and Under 30 ticket programs are designed to meet varying financial needs of these demographic groups, and are the foundation of the company's efforts to create deeper connections with young audiences, making live theatre more accessible. This program has helped SLAC reach a larger, more diverse audience by making theatre more affordable to a younger demographic. SLAC has seen an immense period of growth over the past few seasons and these young theatre-goers are an important part of SLAC's continued vision.

Free discussion programs and performance:

Free and open to the public, these Sunday post-matinee discussions engage our audience with the director, cast, artistic crew, and whenever possible, the playwright. They examine issues and themes particular to each production and help place the relevance and tone of each play. One of the longest-running programs for SLAC, these discussions encourage thoughtful conversation among the audience and SLAC staff and artists.

Panel Discussions:

SLAC offers free panel discussions in conjunction with productions onstage, open to the public and featuring scholars and experts from the community whose work ties directly to themes raised in productions. Holding between 2-4 panel discussions each season, SLAC hosts experts and scholars to share their thoughts on the issues raised in each production. These discussions invite collaborative conversation with the audience as well. The Utah Humanities Council and KUER partner with SLAC during these discussions, which are well attended and create rich dialogue that connects themes from the stage to contemporary life.

In addition to these established community programs and partnerships, Salt Lake Acting Company is proud to announce the following new programs, reinforcing its commitment to playwrights in our community and beyond:

Playwrights' Lab at SLAC is a new program dedicated solely to the development of new scripts. With David Kranes at the helm, and modeled after the Sundance Playwrights' Lab, which he founded, the Playwrights' Lab at SLAC will take a good play, and through exploring and opening the playwright's vision, help make it stronger, deeper, and more of the play it had hoped to be when first conceived.

The David Ross Fetzer Foundation for Emerging Artists honors the memory of SLAC's dear friend and collaborator, David Fetzer. SLAC is proud to partner with the Foundation to offer a grant that will provide a playwright 35 years of age or younger with a week-long opportunity to develop their script with professional actors and a director, culminating in a reading on SLAC's stage August 31, 2015.

Tanner Humanities Center presents their 2015 Artist in Residence, celebrated playwright Tony Kushner, for a 3-day residency and public lecture at Kingsbury Hall on February 5, 2015. To celebrate Mr. Kushner's residency, SLAC will present a reading of his 5 short plays, Tiny Kushner on February 2, 2015 at 7pm.

This is a rich and exciting time to reaffirm support in SLAC's mission and to continue to be inspired by what is possible in the arts. For some, it is the perfect time to visit SLAC's historical space in the Marmalade Neighborhood for the first time... it is more alive than ever.

SLAC NOTES

Salt Lake Acting Company deeply thanks their many season subscribers, without whom this theatre's work would not be possible.

Season tickets are available. For tickets call 801-363-7522, visit www.saltlakeactingcompany.org, or come to the box office at 168 West 500 North, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103.

SLAC is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 professional theatre founded in 1970 and is dedicated to producing, commissioning and developing new works and to supporting a community of professional artists. SLAC has been nationally recognized by the Shubert Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Edgerton Foundation, among others. SLAC operates under a STP Actors Equity Association contract. SLAC is a Constituent Member of Theatre Communications Group, a national organization for non-profit professional regional theatres, and the National New Play Network.