From press release

MOUNT CARROLL, Ill.—Artistic Director James Beaudry and General Manager Melissa Mattingly Parsons announce Timber Lake Playhouse’s preseason production of Hyronomous A. Frog, The Frog Prince, starring returning TLP favorites Courtney Crouse and Brandon Ford. The Frog Prince jump-starts the 49th season at Timber Lake Playhouse, northwestern Illinois’ professional summer theater, May 11-14 with shows at 9:45 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Crouse will appear as the title character, Hyronomous A. Frog, in this hilarious and heartwarming adaptation of the Grimm brothers’ classic fairy tale. Ford takes on the role of Sir Lancelot Pantsalot, who competes with Hyronomous for the affections of the princess. The rest of the company includes Kristina Kennedy as Princess Gladiola; Julia Mitchell as Delphinium; Sarah Beth Moseley as Aunt Queen Bee, and Chris Lewis as Arthur, page to Sir Lancelot.

Crouse last appeared on TLP’s stage in last season’s The Buddy Holly Story. He was a full-time resident of TLP’s summer company in years 2004 and 2006.

Crouse is best known for his roles as Bobby Strong in Urinetown, Dick in Tom, Dick and Harry, Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Billy in Anything Goes. He resides in Chicago and was last seen in Chess at Theo Ubique Theatre. Ford was a full-time resident at TLP in 2008. Audiences may remember him as the leading role, Chad, in All Shook Up, Diesel in West Side Story and Frans in The Producers. Ford has performed in productions with Writer’s Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Recently, he shot a short film called The Last Sunflower Summer.

Timber Lake Playhouse offers preseason production for local schools and youth organizations every year. This season, there will be more than 37 local schools in attendance.

Parsons said: “Children who attend these productions are often experiencing live theater for the first time. These productions are a very important part of TLP’s mission.”  The production is funded in part by The Community Foundation of the Great River Bend and by The Mount Carroll Rotary Club.

This year, TLP is extending the invitation to community members who would like to attend the performance. Individuals are invited to attend by reservation only. Call (815) 244-2035 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday-Friday, to make reservations. Tickets are $4 per person.

Hyronomous A. Frog, The Frog Prince is recommended for children up to third grade. Visit the Web site at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org ^[1] for a new, downloadable Preview Guide for Parents and Teachers.

Timber Lake Playhouse will open its 2010 main stage season June 3 with the dazzling musical Chicago, followed by the funny and touching comedy Steel Magnolias, the American musical Oklahoma!, the wild farce Love, Sex and the IRS, the whodunnit murder mystery musical Curtains, and will close with the new interactive musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Season subscriptions are still available. The box office opens for reservations May 25.

A few tickets are still available for the bus trip Sunday, May 23, to see The Lion King in Madison, Wis. The bus will leave from Mount Carroll early Sunday morning and arrive at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison for the 1 p.m. performance. Cost is $120 per person and includes the bus trip and tickets to the performance, located in the second and third row of the mezzanine. For more information or to place a reservation, call (815) 244-2035.

For more information, visit the Timber Lake Playhouse Web site at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org ^[1].