“Bows and Arrows” highlights archery like it’s never been seen before, promising fantastical imagery and movement that is sure to elicit “ooh”s and “ahh”s from astounded audience members.

In 2004, just a year before FROGZ! debuted to sellout crowds in Boston, Jerry Mouawad and Carol Triffle started experimenting with fellow tinkerer, Mark Forrest. Forrest had just finished work with renowned designer Michael Curry, on his follow-up production to Disney’s “The Lion King”.  Alongside Mark, Carol and Jerry created a number of dazzling effects and creatures, including a 25’ dinosaur.

Then, last summer, over a quarter-century after FROGZ! first premiered, the three began playing with concepts built around archery.  Almost a year has passed since then and the tinkering trios’ work is done. The results of their collaboration will be unveiled with the World Premiere of “Bows and Arrows” when FROGZ! opens in Boston at the Cutler Majestic Theatre on the 31st of May. 

From that point forward, “Bows and Arrows” becomes the new finale to FROGZ!.

The international sensation that is FROGZ! has been through many changes. This is understandable if one knows just how much Imago’s Artistic Directors, Jerry Mouawad and Carol Triffle, are tinkerers in the art of stagecraft.  With their latest addition, an original and unique piece entitled “Bows and Arrows”, the dynamic duo behind the long-evolving show feel contented. 

To arrive at their current version of FROGZ!, Triffle and Mouawad experimented for almost three decades, succeeding and failing with their incessant trial and error. They are passionate perfectionists. Over the years, they introduced dozens of versions of expensive masks and costumes.  Lighting and special effects have been designed and re-configured time and again.

Carol Triffle, FROGZ! co-director/creator, grew up in a family of ten girls and one boy, becoming the family clown. During her youth, she’d turn the bedroom, dining room and kitchen into a three-ring circus. Years later in the mid-70's, she debuted on the legitimate stage, performing contemporary dance and ballet. Seeking a more theatrical medium, Carol became inspired by movement theatre after discovering the teachings of Lecoq. She is a third year graduate of the acclaimed L'Ecole Jacques Lecoq and has worked directly with Mr. Lecoq. Carol Triffle is one of 40 people authorized to teach his work. 

For his part, Jerry Mouawad, FROGZ! co-creator/director, had been stage-struck ever since performing in a seventh grade one-act. He picked up the stage bug again in high school even to the sacrifice of his wrestling career (13 losses, of which 10 were pins).  In 1977, he stumbled upon the Hayes-Marshall School of Theatre Arts in Portland, a world leader in teaching Lecoq’s approach before it shuttered. At the Hayes-Marshall School, Jerry became hooked on physical theatre and performance art.

Carol Triffle and Jerry Mouawad met in Portland in the late 1970s. The two discovered that they shared a love of comedic physical theatrics, mime, the avant-garde and, of course, a mutual adoration and reverence for theatrical legend… Jacques Lecoq. 

The duo began work toward today’s FROGZ! in 1979.  They labored and tweaked. This tireless effort resulted in the international success of FROGZ! and a more recent complementary production, “Biglittlethings”. 

Their cerebral approach to live performance imparts an experience that audiences find both amusing and full of depth. For example, what does “Frogz!” really say about the typical human take on animals? Are our perceptions too narrow? Do we miss many of life’s miracles as we buzz through the mainstream that is everyday life?