Wexner Center hosts 'The Frog Bride'

You'll want to take in David Gonzalez' The Frog Bride simply to reward him for his efforts in putting the production together -- specifically, his negotiations with the estate of Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev to use his Five Melodies for Violin and Piano and his work to partner with the Guggenheim Museum for access to the works of Russian modernist Wassily Kandisnky.

Oh, and did we mention the show is a captivating setting of the Russian folktale, a feast for the senses tied together by Gonzalez' fertile storytelling? (Yeah, that part will appeal to the kids in the family more.)

Gonzalez lends his considerable imaginative and performing talents to classic folk tales - and tales from his childhood in the Bronx - using media to enhance the telling. A guitarist before he was a storyteller, Gonzalez has always looked to music as a way to aid in telling the story.

"You don't need music and you don't need visuals to tell the story, but if they're brought into the experience with care and craft, it can heighten the experience," Gonzalez told The Beat. "There's something about the performing arts through which we want to transport audiences, and we'll do whatever our inspiration leads us to do."

Gonzalez said he seeks out stories with the classic elements -- conflict, character development -- but also "stories that confuse me, that ask something of me," and, perhaps more intriguing, "stories with surprised earned resolutions."

He described The Frog Bride as a journey of initiation, a "young man's journey through possessiveness into compassion."

The music for The Frog Bride is performed by two formerly-Columbus-based musicians - pianist Daniel Kelly and violinist Christian Howes.

"I've never performed in Columbus before," Gonzalez shared, "but I'm excited to be coming, especially with two homeboys."

"I think audiences familiar with Christian and Daniel -- they're such jazz-heads -- will get to see new things from them."