Tuesday, February 25, 2025
For Immediate Release
A New Musical Just for Kids!
TheatreOne brings the final show in their Just for Kids series – Frog Belly Rat Bone – to the Vancouver Island University’s Malaspina Theatre at 2:00 pm on Sunday, March 30th.
Once upon a time, in a dull, gray endless place called Cementland, there lived a very special boy who wished to find TREASURE… and after much searching among piles of greasy toaster ovens and wet smelly socks, he spied a box filled with specks, and a wrinkled note that said “Put these wondrous riches in the earth and enjoy.”
Horrified to learn that thieves are after his treasure, the boy scrounged through the junkyard and conjures a creature to stand guard – a scarecrow-like gardener with crooked bony arms, a giant belly, and a jaunty crown – Frog Belly Rat Bone!
Based on Timothy Basil Ering’s bestselling book for children, this new musical theatre version was created by Axis Theatre’s Artistic Director, Chris McGregor, and features performers Paige Fraser and Steffanie Davis, along with puppets designed by Dusty Hagerüd.
Beautifully handcrafted puppets and an original pop/rock musical score is coming to Cementland as two enigmatic garbage collectors tell the story of a very special boy, and the treasures he brings to his world.
Suitable for children from kindergarten to grade 7
Frog Belly Rat Bone comes to the Malaspina Theatre with one performance on Sunday, March 30th at 2:00pm. Tickets are $12 or $10 each when buying four or more. Reserved seat tickets can be purchased online through TheatreOne.ca, over the phone by calling 250-754-7587 (Monday to Friday – noon to 5 pm), or at the door (limited to seating availability).
Frog Belly Rat Bone is generously sponsored and supported by the Mid-Island Co-op, City of Nanaimo, Nisa.net+, the BC Live Performance Network, the British Columbia Arts Council, and the Nanaimo News Bulletin. TheatreOne acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
TheatreOne acknowledges and thanks the Snuneymuxw First Nation, on whose traditional territory we live, create, and perform.
Contact:
Michael Cade – Artistic and Managing Director
250-754-7587 michael@theatreone.ca
Photo Credit:
Featuring from left to right, Paige Fraser & Steffanie Davis. Puppet design by Dusty Hagerüd
About TheatreOne
TheatreOne has been bringing professional theatre to Nanaimo and the mid-Island for 40 years. We engage diverse local audiences of all ages and persuasions, including the very young, and in doing so, support theatre professionals and local businesses. We work with playwrights from British Columbia and across Canada, to foster development of new Canadian works; we premier new productions; and through our support to touring artists we give Nanaimo audiences access to great theatre developed elsewhere.
About The Author – Timothy Basil Ering
Timothy Basil Ering is a multi-talented artist, known for his roles as an illustrator, fine artist, concept artist, and children’s book author. His diverse creative pursuits encompass book illustrations, gallery installations, and video game visuals. Each work is inspired by a love for the sea and reflects a spirit of adventure. Ering’s high-energy, captivating author/illustrator presentations have been enjoyed in communities across the United States and Canada and even as far South East Asia.
About the Playwright and Director – Chris McGregor
Chris is a third generation Settler from Scotland and England. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from Bishop’s University and a Masters in Theatre (MFA) in Directing from the University of British Columbia. He has taught physical theatre, Commedia dell’arte, mask, and Red Nose Clown, at the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Bishop’s University and Studio 58. He has directed more than 60 productions across Canada, has won four Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards and been nominated for three Ovation Awards for directing. Chris has adapted several children’s books into puppet plays for the stage: The Little Old Man, Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, Frog Belly Rat Bone, and Cry, Heart, But Never Break. He has directed several plays for Axis Theatre: Hamelin: A New Fable, Raven Meets The Monkey King, Robinson Crusoe and Friday, Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, Quelqu’un T’aime M. Hatch, Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish, Kwi’ah: The Girl Who Heals (film), The Troll Grandfather, Frog Belly Rat Bone, and Where have all The Buffalo Gone?
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About Axis Theatre
Axis’ productions are performed in theatres and schools, enriching curriculum, drawing children into stories, and giving them access to ideas in new ways. Their 59 original works have earned 21 Jessie Richardson Awards, A Betty Mitchell Award and a Drama Desk Nomination for Unique Theatrical Experience.
Lin Bennett, Wendy Gorling, Elizabeth Murray-Byers, and Wayne Specht (who became the founding Artistic Director), came together as a group in 1973-74. Each member trained at either Étienne Decroux or L’École Lecoq and were eager to promote their chosen art form. The Axis Mime Theatre Society incorporated in May 1975 as the next step to access financial support to create the structure needed to administer their activities on a consistent, professional level. Over 45 years later, Axis Theatre Company continues to create original physical theatre productions for the young and young at heart.