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LogoA Year With Frog & Toad

A musical Comedy in 2 Acts.

Book by: Willie Reale; Lyrics by: Willie Reale; Music by: Robert Reale
Based on the books by Arnold Lobel

First produced 13, April, 2003

Synopsis

Arnold Lobel's well-loved characters hop from the page to the stage in Robert and Willie Reale's musical A Year With Frog And Toad. Conceived by Mr. Lobel's daughter, Adrianne Lobel, A Year With Frog And Toad remains true to the spirit of the original stories as it follows two great friends, the cheerful and popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad through four fun-filled seasons. Waking from hibernation in the spring, they proceed to plant gardens, swim, rake leaves and go sledgeing, learning life lessons along the way, including a most important one about friendship and rejoicing in the attributes that make each of us different and special.

A score that bubbles with melody and wit, it's jazzy upbeat sound is a perfect match for the hopping, crawling and flying denizens that inhabit Frog and Toad's world. Featuring a small cast that doubles in several roles and simple, suggestive costumes and staging, A Year With Frog And Toad is a perfect show for an ensemble group of actors. It’s clever book and lyrics and snazzy music can serve as a great introduction to theatre for youngsters, while keeping adults entertained as well.

A new show, destined to become a classic, A Year With Frog And Toad is inventive, exuberant and totally enchanting.

Story

The Birds have come back at the end of winter ready for spring. They look in on Frog and Toad, still in hibernation in their respective beds in their respective homes. While still asleep, Frog and Toad sing about their friendship and the new year ahead. Frog then wakes and decides to get his friend out of hibernation for the new year.

Once convinced its spring, Toad decides that he wants to plant a garden. Frog gives him some seeds. Toad plants them but is very impatient that they grow quickly. He sits up all night with his seeds. He feels bad because he’s yelled at them and worries that the seeds are afraid to grow. He sings for them. He dances for them. He plays the tuba. By morning, they have begun to grow.

Now that it’s morning, Toad knows mail should be delivered. He is sad, however, because he never receives mail. Frog goes home to write Toad a letter. He asks Snail to deliver it for him.

Frog and Toad go to the pond for a swim. Toad is uncomfortable that Frog will see him in his bathing suit. Frog promises not to look until Toad is in the water. Toad asks Frog to instruct Turtle to leave so she won’t see him come out of the water. Instead, Turtle calls mouse and lizard over to look at Toad. Freezing, Toad must eventually leave the water and everyone gets a good look at Toad in his bathing suit.

Later Toad brings lunch to Frog. But Frog is not home. He’s left a note that he wants to be left alone on the island. Toad worries that Frog is sad. He rides a log out to the island and accidentally falls in the water, getting all their sandwiches wet. It turns out that Toad is not sad. He is happy. He just wanted time alone to think about how happy he really is. Together, they eat wet sandwiches.

Meanwhile, snail is still on his way to deliver Frog’s letter to Toad.

Frog and Toad are at Toad’s home preparing dinner. They make cookies intended for desert but can’t stop eating them.

Frog has a kite which Toad tries to help him fly. The birds laugh at their failed attempts. Finally the kite flies.

It’s now the end of summer and leaves cover the ground. Both Frog and Toad plan a surprise by secretly raking the other’s garden. They clean one another’s garden but as soon as they leave the squirrels come and mess up their neat piles of leaves. Neither ever finds out the good deed they’ve done for one another.

Toad visits Toad at home. It is a dark and stormy night. Frog thinks it’s a good night for a scary story. He tells the tale of a young frog, presumably himself, who escapes the clutches of a Large Terrible Frog before he is eaten.

Meanwhile, Snail is still on the way to deliver Frog’s letter to Toad.

It’s now winter. Frog and Toad are on top of a hill and prepared to toboggan down it despite Toad’s fear. On the way down, Frog accidentally falls off the sleigh. Toad continues down the hill. He takes the wrong path – the dangerous and bumpy path. When Toad reaches the bottom of the hill he is so mad that Frog made him sleigh that he swears never to talk to Frog again. Snail arrives with Frog’s letter to Toad. In the letter frog tells Toad how he can’t be happy unless his friend Toad is happy. Toad decides to talk to Frog again. Snail, having delivered his first letter, is very proud.

It’s now Christmas Eve. Toad is in his kitchen. He’s terribly worried because Frog is late. He imagines all the terrible things that could have happened to Frog and then Frog arrives. He’s been wrapping Toad’s present. Toad tells him how worried he’s been.

Now back in hibernation, Frog and Toad are in their respective beds. It’s almost spring again! The Birds sing as Frog and Toad get ready for another fun-filled year.

Musical Numbers

  1. Opening - Orchestra
  2. A Year With Frog And Toad - Birds, Frog, Toad
  3. It's Spring - Frog, Toad, Birds
  4. Seeds - Toad
  5. The Letter - Snail
  6. Getta Loada Toad - Toad, Frog, Turtle, Mouse, Lizard
  7. Underwater Ballet - Orchestra
  8. Alone - Frog
  9. The Letter (reprise) - Snail
  10. Cookies - Frog, Toad, Birds
  11. Entra'acte - Orchestra
  12. The Kite - Birds, Frog, Toad
  13. A Year With Frog And Toad (reprise) - Birds
  14. He'll Never Know - Toad, Frog
  15. Shivers - Young Frog, Father Frog, Mother Frog, Toad, Frog
  16. The Letter (reprise) - Snail
  17. Down The Hill - Frog, Toad, Moles
  18. I'm Coming Out Of My Shell - Snail
  19. Toad To The Rescue - Toad, Moles
  20. Merry Almost Christmas - Frog, Toad, Moles
  21. Finale - Birds, Frog, Toad