NGU’s upcoming theater production: “A Year with Frog and Toad”
C.J. Eldridge, News and Feature Editor
North Greenville University’s theater department will unveil its next production, a musical adaptation of children’s book series “Frog and Toad,” to audiences on Sept 21.
“A Year with Frog and Toad” lasts about an hour, telling the story of a frog and a toad as they go through adventures over the course of the four seasons. They have to face their fears and overcome challenges. It is a story of friendship and unconditional love.
The department is doing the theater for a young audience version of the show, so they reached out to local elementary schools to see if they could tour them. They will be going to Mitchell Road Elementary, O.P. Earle Elementary and East North Street Academy.
Associate Dean Amy Dunlap said, “It would be great for their students, great for our students to have the experience with touring and also great community outreach for North Greenville.”
Junior, Logan Stewart is starring as Toad and Junior, Alyse Barrett is Frog. Jaylan Brinson, Caleb Riley and Isabelle Western are playing multiple other roles. These five actors will run the show from beginning to end, never fully leaving the stage. The opportunity to see a show performed this way does not come often.
“This is perfect for people of all ages . . . The show is really, really fun. It’s upbeat. It’s energetic. There’s a lot of singing. There’s dancing. There’s familiar characters that they [NGU students] might remember from their childhood,” Dunlap said. “It’s a virtuoso performance of nonstop energy from beginning to end.”
This is a musical that has been a long time in the making. It was cast last spring semester, and multiple rehearsals were held over summer to learn the music. Full time evening rehearsals began at the start of fall semester and will lead up to the first tour date.
Not only is this an opportunity for NGU students to see the work their peers have put into the production, but it also counts for a cultural event credit.
“A Year with Frog and Toad” will run from Sept 21 through 23 and 28 through 30. These showings will be at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. opening day.
