Rooted in queer history, the Frog and Toad characters have entertained people following the first book's release in 1970 titled Frog and Toad Are Friends. A Year with Frog & Toad is a musical inspired by these children's stories and capitalizes on the theme of the two friends encountering seasonal challenges.
Chicago Children's Theatre celebrates this Frog's fable once again as part of their programming and continues the tradition of inviting ticket holders to color pages as part of the pre-show festivities.
The story begins with Frog and Toad awakening from a long winter's nap and a trio of birds singing about “Spring.”
This Toad's tale tackles depression and mental health as Toad feels sad about not receiving mail, leaving him lonely. His friend Frog sends a letter through snail mail to cheer him up. but the deliverer faces challenges performing the task. Seasons change and more relatable topics are addressed such as body image for the song “Get Load of Toad” and anxiety for “Down the Hill.”