The Frogs

The Frogs
Dionysus, George Bernard Shaw and Shakespeare collide in Sondheim's satirical tribute to Greek comedies.

From the writers behind A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum comes the hilarious send up of Greek comedy and satire, The Frogs. Loosely based on a comedy written in 405 B.C. by Aristophanes, The Frogs playfully explores the great challenges of human existence: confronting our fears, understanding life and death and challenging the distractions that can prevent us from achieving our goals.

This boisterously hilarious, yet poignant, musical follows Dionysos, Greek god of wine and drama, and his slave, Xanthias, on a journey to Hades to collect renowned critic and playwright, George Bernard Shaw, so that he may enlighten the easily misled and coerced masses of Earth. Along this journey, Dionysus and Xanthias meet Chekhov, Congreve, Ibsen, Brecht and, of course, the chorus of frogs. Then, Shakespeare shows up and starts declaiming his greatest hits; before long, he engages in a battle of words with Mr. Shaw. Who will win the honor of becoming reincarnated: The Bard or Bernard?

The Frogs stays true to its heritage, mixing Aristophanic pratfall satire with a Sondheim score that swings from witty to pretty to rambunctious, but it also mirrors the Greek original for the serious issue of the role of the arts in a world beset by war and folly. This musical is ideal for a regional theatre looking to inject a bit of Greek satire into its season.

Full SynopsisMaterials and Orchestration

Concert Selections for The Frogs

Concert Selections are original Broadway orchestrations and exciting new symphonic arrangements of select songs for use in concert performances. Concert Selections are the perfect way to give audiences a taste of the musical theatre experience without the sets, props and costumes.

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  • FROGS, THE
    From
    FROGS, THE
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Type
    SHOW EXTRACTION
    Estimated duration
    12 min 7 sec
    Music by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Lyrics by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Orchestrated by
    Jonathan Tunick
    Instrumentation
    2 Bb Clarinet, 2 Bassoon, 2 Trumpet, 3 Trombone, 1 Piano, 2 Percussion, 1 Harp, (8) Violin I, (8) Violin II, (7) Viola, (6) Cello, (5) Bass, 22 Piano-Vocal Scores.
  • HADES
    From
    FROGS, THE
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Type
    SHOW EXTRACTION
    Estimated duration
    0 sec
  • HYMNOS: EVOE! (PARTS 1 & 2)
    From
    FROGS, THE
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Type
    SHOW EXTRACTION
    Estimated duration
    10 min
    Music by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Lyrics by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Orchestrated by
    Jonathan Tunick
    Instrumentation
    2 Bb Clarinet, 2 Bassoon, 2 Trumpet, 3 Trombone, 1 Piano, 2 Percussion, 1 Harp, (8) Violin I, (8) Violin II, (7) Viola, (6) Cello, (5) Bass, 22 Piano-Vocal Scores.
  • INVOCATION AND INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AUDIENCE
    From
    FROGS, THE
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Type
    SHOW EXTRACTION
    Estimated duration
    0 sec
    Music by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Lyrics by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Orchestrated by
    Jonathan Tunick
    Instrumentation
    Reed 1 (Eb Clarinet, Bb Clarinet, Reed 2 (Bb Clarinet), Reed 3 (Bassoon), Reed 4 (Bassoon), 2 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, (3) Percussion, Piano, Harp, (8) Violin 1, (8) Violin 2, (7) Viola, (6) Cello, (5) Bass, 2 Piano-Vocal Scores.
  • OPENING FANFARE ("FROGS")
    From
    FROGS, THE
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Type
    SHOW EXTRACTION
    Starting Key
    C
    Estimated duration
    2 min 5 sec
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    Instrumentation
    1Trumpet 1, 1 Trumpet 2, 1 Trombone 1, 1 Trombone 2, 1 Trombone 3. 2 Percussion(Timp, Snare drum, Bass drum, Cymbal), 1 Full Score

Show Essentials

Music and Lyrics
Stephen SondheimStephen Sondheim
Freely Adapted by
Burt SheveloveBurt Shevelove
Full Billing

Songs

Opening Fanfare

Invocation and Instructions to the Audience

I Love to Travel

Dress Big

I Love to Travel (Reprise)

All Aboard

On the River Styx

Ariadne

The Frogs

Hymn to Dionysos

Hades

It's Only a Play

Shaw

All Aboard (Reprise)

Fear No More

Hymn to Dionysos (Reprise)

Final Instructions to the Audience

Full Song List

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Questions & Answers

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By Mark P Simon
June 18, 2016
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Related shows or resources: The Frogs
When/where can I see Frogs?
can i be notified if anyone in the midAtlantic licenses this show?
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