A Year With Frog and Toad, the well-reviewed family-friendly musical that emerged in Minneapolis in summer ends its two-week New York City run at the New Victory Dec. 1, but there are plans for a transfer to a Broadway lilypad in the coming months.
The New York Times reported Nov. 29 that producer Bob Boyett will produce the commercial Broadway run of the whimsical not-for-profit-launched tale, based on the children's books by Arnold Lobel. According to the paper, Boyett will transfer the current production, designed by Lobel's daughter, Adrianne, who will also co-produce, to a small Broadway theatre "before the spring school holidays."
The Robert and Willie Reale show debuted at Minneapolis' Children's Theatre Company. Willie wrote the book and lyrics. His brother, Robert, provided the music, written with a 1920s jazz feel. The siblings are known in New York for the Off-Broadway musical, Once Around the City, seen at Second Stage in summer 2001.
David Petrarca (Marvin's Room, Fuddy Meers) directs. The show had several regional readings that included actor Robert Sella (Side Man and the tour of Angels in America).
Boyett (Fortune's Fool, The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?, Dance of the Vampires) previously told the Minneapolis Star Tribune Nov. 24 that he was interested in reopening the show in the spring, possibly on Broadway, and with a national tour to follow. A Year With Frog and Toad is based on the award winning books about a pair of amphibians with an unwavering friendship despite their very different personalities. The small-cast musical, which began at the New Vic Nov. 15 and features five performers — one to play Frog (Goede) and one to play Toad (Linn-Baker), plus Danielle Ferland (the original Little Red of Into the Woods), Kate Reinders (the upcoming Broadway Gypsy) and Frank Vlastnik as menagerie of other creatures. The New Vic run was virtually sold out.
No casting or additional information has been announced about the Broadway run.
Capitalization is reported at about $3 million. The orchestra totals eight, according to the show's orchestrator, Irwin Fisch.
A Year With Frog and Toad marks the New York debut for Children's Theatre Company. The Minneapolis based troupe, one of the largest children's theatres in the country, produces six mainstage productions a year, teaches acting and performing classes in a conservatory environment and tours the Midwest and the world. For more information on Children's Theatre Company, visit http://www.childrenstheatre.org
A Year With Frog and Toad opened at the New Vic Nov. 17. Tickets ranged $10-$30. For tickets and information, call (212) 239 6200. The New Victory is on the web at http://www.newvictory.org.
