Frog Belly Rat Bone
Book by Timothy Basil Ering | Published by Candlewick Press
Adapted by Chris McGregor
Original music by Erik Gow
Frog Belly Rat Bone 1-2-3, you must be patient then you will see!
Incorporating beautifully handcrafted puppets and an original pop/rock musical score, Cementland comes to life as two enigmatic garbage collectors tell the story of a very special boy whose singular wish is to find a TREASURE!
One day, the boy discovers a rusty tin box packed with colorful envelopes and an old wrinkled note: "Put my wondrous riches into the earth and enjoy." So the boy opens the envelope and tosses the contents - "hundreds of tiny gray specks" - onto the ground. Nothing happens! But night will come and the specks must be protected from junkyard thieves so the boy invents a guard… "he gathers wet smelly socks, moldy old pillow stuffing and scraggly wire bringing his creation, Frog Belly Rat Bone, to life.”
Frog Belly isn’t the sharpest, or the quietest, but it works. In time, Cementland blooms with beautiful flowers and delicious vegetables, and the junk pile of dark grays yields to an explosion of colour. With some strategy, strong communication, a lot of patience and goodwill, we can all grow wondrous riches, transforming dark surroundings into something beautiful.
“Frog Belly Rat Bone” images by Ross den Otter with Pink Monkey Studios. Images feature performers Jyla Robinson and Oliver Castillo and puppets by Dusty Hagerüd.
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Recommended Audience: Pre-K - Grade 5
Run Time: 40 minutesAvailable for theatres, festivals, and schools.
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Includes 'Pre-Performance Activities' to help prepare your students for a live performance. Use the synopsis and vocabulary sections to review concepts and words the play mentions!
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Find a press release, bios, marketing materials, and more in our Presenter Kit dropbox folder.
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THEATRES
Technical Rider: DOWNLOAD [PDF]SCHOOLS
Please review the requirements for hosting a show prior to booking. COMING SOON
SCHOOL PERFORMANCES
Want to book a show to perform in your school? Contact Petrice or submit a booking request.
Petrice Brett
Booking & Marketing Coordinator
petrice@axistheatre.com
604 669 0631
Join us in the theatre at Arts Umbrella Theatre
Available Dates & Times:
Thursday, April 3, 2025 10am & 1pm
Friday, April 4, 2025 10am & 1pm
Fee: $13 + GST per ticket - 1 free ticket for every 20 booked!
Please email or call to BOOK!
From the Blog
“They loved the cool puppetry.”
“Learners of all ages told me that it was really good, even the intermediate kids who are often luke-warm (at best) about everything. They thought the actors were "so funny" and "good singers." They loved the cool puppetry. Our brand new pre-school joined in the audience this time...this is the first time they have been able to join a big school event like this, and they too were raptly attentive.”
— Karie J. Evans, William Konkin Elementary
“I loved the message in Frog Belly Rat Bone.”
“I loved the message in Frog Belly Rat Bone. Anything that supports being an environmental stewart, being calm, being reflective is useful for us.”
— Mr. Johnson, Kay Bingham Elementary
“…the best show that they ever saw.”
“The audience was enthralled. It was, in their words, ‘the best show that they ever saw.’”
— Grania Bridal, École Poirier
