“A Year with Frog and Toad” is a Tony-nominated musical by brothers Robert and Willie Reale that follows the adventures of two amphibious neighbors, friendly Frog and grumpy Toad, through four seasons. They are joined by others in their community including a flock of birds, a snail mail carrier, a mouse and a lizard. No matter the trials Frog and Toad face, they remain friends season after season, just as the six Harding cast members have remained friends throughout their time in the theater department.
“Everyone in this cast I have been with since freshman year,” junior Dustyn Stokes said. “It’s like a family. I’ve watched them grow and they’ve watched me grow. We fight like brothers and sisters and goof off like the best of friends because that’s what we are.”
Dottie Frye, director and choreographer, said they have wanted to do this show for a while and decided to both end the Searcy Summer Dinner Theater program and kick off the fall season with “A Year with Frog and Toad.”
“We wanted to do something family friendly and we were enamored with the music,” Frye said. “The music has so many fun cords and jazz harmonies, which lift it out of being just a children’s show. For me, Frog and Toad are adults and they have a strong, lasting friendship and are there for each other and those in their community season after season.”
Even though the show is primarily light-hearted and comedic, lessons of friendship and remembering what’s important in life are woven into the storyline, senior Benji Holder said.
Alumnus Dillon Holden replaced Joshua Little for the shows this weekend; and while he is the new guy on cast, he said that everyone has been supportive and it is an honor to be a part of the show.
The cast includes sophomore Jon Andrew, senior Benji Holder, junior Blake Hunter, junior Erin McBride, junior Dustyn Stokes and alumnus Dillon Holden.
Harding’s theater season will also include “Pirates!?! A Pillaging of Gilbert and Sullivan” in October, “A Company of Wayward Saints” in November, “Macbeth” in February, “Radium Girls” in March and “An Evening of One Acts” in May.
“A Year with Frog and Toad” will be performed in the Ulrey Performing Arts Center tonight, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. There will also be a matinee show on Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets are ten dollars each or free with the Campus Passport and can be purchased in the UPAC box office before each performance.
