In the town of Big Oak lies the Crossroads Cafe, where five locals come together to plan the annual Tomato Parade. With everything in place, the town hopes the parade can sweeten the hearts of potential investors who are considering Big Oak for a new amusement park, which could bring tourists and an end to the town's financial distress. So who else should ride in the show but Ned Durango, beloved idol and star cowboy. Well, to some at least. Norm Foster and Leslie Arden deliver a comedic yet touching musical of big dreams and new beginnings.

Norm Foster was born in Newmarket, Ontario on St. Valentineâ??s Day. Raised in Toronto, he attended West Hill Collegiate Institute and then went on to study Radio and Television Arts at Centennial College in Toronto and then Confederation College in Thunder Bay. Upon completion of his studies, he began a radio career that would span twenty-five years and which would take him from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg to Kingston and finally to Fredericton, New Brunswick. It was in Fredericton in 1980 that Norm was introduced to the world of theatre. Foster fell in love with the theatre right then and there, and two years later he penned his first professionally produced play, Sinners. It was produced by Theatre New Brunswick and directed by Malcolm Black, who would also direct Fosterâ??s next effort, the highly successful, The Melville Boys. The Melville Boys would go on to be produced across Canada and in the United States, including a well-received run Off Broadway in New York. It would become Fosterâ??s signature play, and the one which would bring his name to the forefront of Canadian theatre. Since then, Norm Foster has produced an astonishing output of work. Nearly forty plays in all, including The Affections of May, the most produced play in Canada in 1991. He has also written a musical with composer Leslie Arden (The Last Resort) and three musicals (Jasper Station, Race Day, and Sitting Pretty) with composer Steve Thomas.

Norm Foster's profile page

Leslie Arden is an acclaimed musical theatre composer, lyricist, and librettist. She is best known for her work The House of Martin Guerre, which has played throughout Canada and the US. Leslie is the artistic director and co-founder of the Children's Trio, a company dedicated to theatre for young audiences, and is currently a playwright-in-residence at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

Leslie Arden's profile page

"Ned Durango is musical comedy at its best."

The Wellington Advertiser