The Frogs - MasterVoices

About

A play written in 405 B.C. by Aristophanes
Freely adapted by Burt Shevelove
Even more freely adapted by Nathan Lane

Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Original direction and choreography by Susan Stroman
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick

Ted SPerling, director and conductor

Lainie Sakakura, Choreographer

In a world torn by conflict and on the brink of chaos, Dionysos, the god of wine and drama, seeks a singular savior among the playwrights. But who’s the greatest of them all? And can a poet save the culture from itself? Descend with us to Hades and find out… Catch one of the most rarely-performed Sondheim shows in the canon, including what may be his most beautiful love song (“Ariadne”). Much in the tradition of our sold-out Anyone Can Whistle at Carnegie Hall, we’ll be giving THE FROGS the MasterVoices treatment – a lush 18-piece orchestra, top-tier casting, and the full 100+ MasterVoices Chorus, all under the skillful direction of Artistic Director Ted Sperling. Performed in the intimate Rose Theater, THE FROGS is sure to be on everyone’s “Must See” list for the fall. So leap to it and get your tickets quick!

Run Time: 1 hour 40 minutes – no intermission

CAST

Read our cast bios

HOST, Nathan Lane
DIONYSOS, Douglas Sills
XANTHIAS, Kevin Chamberlin
HERAKLES, Marc Kudisch
CHARON, Chuck Cooper
PLUTO, Peter Bartlett
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW, Dylan Baker
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, Jordan Donica
ARIADNE, Candice Corbin

Dancers:

Rei Akazawa-Smith, Lexis Danca, Maurice Dawkins, Maya Halpern-Thomas, Beatrice Howell, Ali Montez, Christopher Page-Sanders, Isabela C. Sanchez, Tommy Scrivens (Associate Choreographer), Claire Waxman, Ruby Waxman, and Andrew Wilson

Chamber Chorus:

Molly Balk, Jonathan Bass, Joe Becherer, Jan Constantine, Candice Corbin, Maya Ganesen, Michael Hasty, Robert James, Nicole Eve Goldstein, Maria Lane, Kaitlyn LeBaron, Megan Lione, Luisa Lyons, Mark Metzger, Ken Moore, Kristal Pacific, Deb Poppel, Renata Proa, Jim Roumeles, John Sabatos, Mark Sullivan, Lauren Tucker, Ronny Viggiani, Zach Wang, Stephen Weber, and Jill Melanie Wirth

Creative Team

Tracy Christensen, Costume Designer
J. Jared Janas & Cassie Williams, Hair & Makeup Designers
Shelby Loera, Lighting Designer
Scott Lehrer, Sound Designer
Mike Meaney, Assistant Director
Greg Paladino, Assistant Conductor
Somie Pak, Associate Costume Designer
Austin Boyle, Assistant Lighting Designer
Ira Mont, Production Stage Manager
Jennifer Rogers, Stage Manager

Read Press Release – The Frogs

The Frogs is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

Artwork by Owen Gent

Tickets

Saturday, November 4, 2023

7:30 pm

Buy Tickets

LOCATION
Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center

Artists

Douglas Sills

Kevin Chamberlin

Marc Kudisch

Chuck Cooper

Peter Bartlett

Dylan Baker

Jordan Donica

Candice Corbin

Nathan Lane

Ted Sperling

Media

Read the reviews from "The FROGS"

"Ted Sperling, for my money, has solved The Frogs. The key, unsurprisingly, proved to be focusing on musical values above shtick and frolic, allowing Sondheim’s intricate and intriguing music to envelope us." - Barry Singer (on The ARTS and Otherwise) “Top-notch actors all gathered in service to the Great God Sondheim, backed by a chorus of 120 and an 18-piece orchestra. The sold-out crowd seemed to luxuriate in the richness of the music and laugh at the trials and tribulations.”- Theater Pizzazz “Douglas Sills as Dionysos and Kevin Chamberlin as Xanthias were perfectly cast, walking the fine line between comedy and pathos.”- Cadenza “The Frogs,” rewritten, then re-rewritten, and now re-re-rewritten, expanded, and then condensed, has finally found its most agreeable form. The concert version… could be staged easily around the country." - The New York Sun “The production was beautifully staged at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater with a 120-member chorus and an 18-piece orchestra. What a wonderful way to experience a rarely-seen gem in the Sondheim chest.” - Theatrely.com “Still, if you’re any kind of Sondheim fan, the MasterVoices concert version is a must. Count on Ted Sperling, artistic director, to cast the piece stunningly, to conduct his lush orchestra splendiferously, and to make you count your lucky stars that you had the sense to be there.” - Air Mail Read more reviews in our explore post

View Photos from "THE FROGS"

[gallery link="file" size="medium" ids="5710,5709,5714,5712,5713,5711"] Photo Credit: Erin Baiano View Flickr Album

Interview with Douglas Sills on NEW YORK LIVE

Events

Dive into a world at war, where the extraordinary Dionysos seeks the ultimate playwright. In this enchanting comedy, witness as one poet strives to save a culture on the brink of destruction. Descend into Hades to witness one of Stephen Sondheim's rare masterpieces, featuring the mesmerizing love ballad "Ariadne."