A Year With Frog And Toad (TYA)
April 1 - April 11
Music by Robert Reale; Book and Lyrics by Willie Reale; Based on the books by Arnold Lobel
Originally presented on Broadway by Bob Boyett, Adrianne Lobel, Michael Gardner, Lawrence Horowitz and Roy Furman
World Premiere at The Children's Theatre Company Minneapolis, Minnesota
A hit on Broadway, A Year with Frog and Toad was nominated for three Tony Awards –including Best Musical. Based on Arnold Lobel’s well-loved books, and featuring a hummable score by Robert and Willie Reale, this whimsical show follows two great friends – the cheerful, popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad – through four fun-filled seasons. Waking from hibernation in the Spring, Frog and Toad plant gardens, swim, rake leaves, go sledding and learn life lessons along the way. The two best friends celebrate and rejoice in the differences that make them unique and special. Part vaudeville, part make believe... all charm, A Year with Frog and Toad tells the story of a friendship that endures throughout the seasons. The jazzy, upbeat score of A Year with Frog and Toad bubbles with melody and wit, making it an inventive, exuberant and enchanting musical for the whole family.
A Year With Frog and Toad TYA © 2004 Frog and Toad Company LLC and Fratelli
Reale Music Unauthorized duplication is prohibited by law. MTI's TYA and MTI's TYA Collection are trademarks of Music Theatre International. All rights reserved.
presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
CAST
NOAH JOHNSON (Frog)
Noah Johnson is proud to be at The Harmony Theater once again! Noah is a professional actor/director/author who has performed all over the country in over half of the 50 states! Some of his favorite performance credits include: Gabe in NEXT TO NORMAL, Trotter in THE MOUSETRAP, and Watson in BASKERVILLE. Noah is a published author, with his short story, “The Meaning of Possession” being recently published in “What Hides in the Dark,” a charity anthology. You may have caught him at the Harmony last season in CHARLIE BROWN, OKLAHOMA!, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE and HOLIDAY INN. He has also shared the stage with stars such as Beth Leavel and Emily Skinner in a charity event called Broadway Comes to Greeneville, to support Niswonger Children’s Hospital. Noah would like to thank his mom Glenda in addition to his partner Sophia, his friend and brother Austin, The Harmony Theater cast and crew, and all his friends for their constant support. You can follow Noah on Instagram: @noahmjohnson1
MATTHEW ADAM HAWKINS (Toad)
Matthew Adam Hawkins, from Auburn, Alabama, is honored to be back at The Harmony Theater! Matthew is a proud graduate of the University of Memphis with a BFA in acting. Go Tigers! Some of his favorite credits includes Laertes in HAMLET, Lysander in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Gaston in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Rocky in ROCKY HORROR, Tuzenbach in THREE SISTERS, and Franz Kafka in ASKING STRANGERS THE MEANING OF LIFE. Matthew has also appeared on the INSP Network in “Into the Wild Frontier.” He would like to thank all his family and friends for their support! #WEMEMBOYS. 1 John 4:9-10 @matthewadamhawkins
VICTORIA BEHNY (Bird/Snail/Lizard/Others)
This is my third show at the Harmony theater, it’s wonderful to be a part of such a wonderful cast and company. I’m incredibly excited to reprise my role as the Snail, and to share this story with a whole new community!
LILLIAN A. LESLIE (Bird/Turtle/Others & Choreographer)
Lillian is a dancer, singer, actress, and choreographer from Indianapolis, IN. Lillian first began her dance training at the age of four, and her love for the art of music and performance grew throughout the years that followed. Now, Lillian is a recent graduate from Ball State University, earning her BFA in Musical Theatre. Lillian's most notable performances are seen at Ball State University in her role as Clara in THE NUTCRACKER, Bridget in BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL, and Frenchie in CABARET. Her first professional performance was seen with The Harmony Theater as the role of Wanda in BEEHIVE, THE 60s MUSICAL and she was also seen last season in Irving Berlin’s HOLIDAY INN.
KATE MOBLEY (Bird/Mouse/Others)
Kate is overjoyed to be returning to the Harmony stage for their 2026 season! A Florida native, Kate recently learned to acclimate to Midwestern winters during the Harmony’s production of HOLIDAY INN and before that was seen scuffin’ boots last summer in OKLAHOMA!. She has recently appeared in BOEING BOEING this season. Other favorite credits include ALL SHOOK UP (Natalie), RENT (Mimi Marquez), and LEGALLY BLONDE (Elle Woods).
@katemobleyt on Instagram
PRODUCTION STAFF
AUSTIN MICHAEL RUSSELL (Director & Large And Terrible Frog)
Austin Michael Russell (he/him) is a Director, Actor, Writer, Fight Choreographer and Intimacy Coordinator — as well as an alum of the University of Memphis Dept. of Theatre and Dance. He has performed all around the United States professionally singing and dancing on stages ranging from Touring Broadway houses with the likes of Broadway’s Kyle Dean Massey, to a cafegymnatorium in a elementary school in Gilette, WY. As an award-wining actor — he loves walking the line of ingenue and character actor; with some of his favorite roles being Chris Bean in THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG,Orin Scrivello, DDS in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, and Jim Hardy in HOLIDAY INN here at the Harmony! His directorial style is collaborative, intimate, and brutalist, bringing a sense of raw, fireside-esque storytelling to the stage. He is drawn to small stories about big ideas - and big stories about small communities (as a proud Southerner, he loves seeing his Delta heart captured in his work). This will be his second full season with the Harmony — and he is thrilled to direct BOEING BOEING, FROG AND TOAD, ANYTHING GOES, and CAMELOT. Playwrighting of his has been featured at Universities all over the Eastern United States, at Virginia Commonwealth University, The University of Memphis, and Union College, and hopefully, soon, here on the Harmony Stage!
He would like to dedicate his work here to his real brother, MB; to his chosen brother, Noah Johnson; and to the Oxford comma, for making this bio readable. —— @austinmichael.acts
JOHN PHILLIPS (Music Director)
John has been performing since the age of 5 when he sang his first solo at his kindergarten graduation. He has been a part of the Indianapolis theatre scene since 1980 and has worked at most of the theaters in town. John is an 18-time Encore Award Winner and was named “Best Actor In A Musical” by the Indianapolis Star for his portrayal of Ko-Ko in The Mikado at the Edyvean. He is thrilled to have appeared in the World Premiere of Hairspray in concert with the Indianapolis & Baltimore Symphony Orchestras, starring Tony Award Winner, Beth Leavel, Mickey Dolenz of “The Monkees”, & John Waters, the author of Hairspray.
JESSICA MASNER (Production Stage Manager)
Jessica is from Terre Haute, IN where she received a Bachelor’s in Theatre from Indiana State University. She loves spending time with her three cats, Coretta, Bean, and Refried and working with her rather large house plant collection. Jessica has been working at Harmony Theater (formally Myers Dinner Theatre) off and on since 2012 in a few different positions including Costume Assistant/Seamstress, Costumer, Prop Manager, and Production Stage Manager. Some other career highlights include: Stage Manager for two local show tours around the Terre Haute area and another to Chicago, Core Member/Stage Manager for Theater 7, and multiple summer seasons as a Stage Manager with Putnam County Playhouse and Crossroads Repertory Theatre. Many thanks to her family and friends for their love and support!
Executive Producers: Mark & Misty McGrady
Artistic Team: Rebecca Lea (Coordinator); Noah Johnson (Personnel/Casting Director); Austin Russell (Creative/Education)
Outreach & Promotions: Teresa Ross
Set Design: Austin Michael Russell
Costume Design: Austin Michael Russell
Properties Designer: Jessica Masner
Light Designer: Austin Michael Russell
Light Programmer: Jessica Masner
Sound Designer: Jessica Masner
Marketing/Graphic Design/Photography/Video: Rebecca Lea
Hospitality & Operations: Misty McGrady
Kitchen Manager: Mark McGrady
Beverage Director: Rebecca Lea
Gift Shop: Jane Bowers
Box Office: Bill Rubenstein