Signal Mountain siblings Jordan and Holly Grace Alexander share the same school, home, and now the same role in the Chattanooga Theatre Centre Youth Theatre production of "A Year with Frog and Toad," opening Friday, Feb. 25.
"A Year with Frog and Toad" will be the second CTC production in which both siblings have starred, the first being last winter's "Antigone."
Jordan said he had been interested in getting back on the stage for a while, and he encouraged Holly Grace to accompany him to try out for "Frog and Toad."
Signal Mountain residents Jordan and Holly Grace Alexander will share the role of Toad in separate casts of the Chattanooga Theatre Centre Youth Theatre production of the musical "A Year with Frog and Toad," running Friday, Feb. 25 - Sunday, March 13.The Signal Mountain Middle/High School students said they were excited to find they had been selected for the lead role of Toad, which turned to surprise and more excitement when they realized they would be portraying the same character.
"If both of us tried out and only one of us got the part, we would both be just as happy about it," said Jordan.
Directed toward elementary students, the musical is based on the classic children's books by Arnold Lobel. The CTC Youth Theatre production will alternate between two separate, 11-person casts.
"Possibly the director thought we would be the best fit in this character who is more quiet, the odd ball out that's different from everyone else," said Holly Grace on which Toad-like qualities she and her sibling share. "It's one of the more difficult roles to play."
"They both had great auditions with a lot of energy and enthusiasm," said CTC Youth Theatre Director Maria Chattin-Carter. "We didn't plan for them both to play the same role."
She said when the decision was made to have all-male and all-female leads in each cast, both seemed to fit best in the role of Toad.
Holly Grace said the role leaves little room for improvisation or improvement, minimizing the degree of sibling rivalry when rehearsing.
"It's easier because we can practice with each other, since we're both doing the same thing," she said.