Purple Crayon Players hops onto the Northwestern stage once again to produce theatre for young audiences with its sold-out show “A Year with Frog and Toad” this weekend. The musical is based on the children’s book “Frog and Toad All Year” by Arnold Lobel and follows best friends Frog and Toad through four seasons.
The student theatre company puts on two major shows each year, one during Fall Quarter and one in Winter Quarter. Purple Crayon Players then performs the Winter Quarter show — this year being “Frog and Toad” — at local schools during Spring Quarter and offers theater workshops to teach students about the importance of performing arts.
“Frog and Toad” director and Weinberg sophomore Taylor McMullen said this show in particular teaches an important message of friendship that will resonate with young audience members.
“It’s just a great way for kids to expand their imagination and to get more comfortable being themselves,” McMullen said. “When I first started doing theatre, it was about making sure that I was feeling good about expressing myself, and theatre is such a positive way for kids to get more comfortable with who they are and the world that they live in.”
Preparations for “Frog and Toad” began back in May, McMullen said, and the cast has rehearsed five nights each week for all of Winter Quarter.
Weinberg junior Jessica Dean, the producer of “Frog and Toad,” said her favorite part of the production so far has been watching her designers’ creative visions come to life.
“We’ve completely transformed Shanley in the span of two days,” Dean said. “I love seeing the process go from Pinterest board to PowerPoint presentation, to unpainted, to painted, to painted and lit. Infusing the magic into it is what I really love.”
As the crew builds the set, actors are diving into their character work. Communication sophomore Anna Rigo plays Toad in the musical and said she has been perfecting her vocal work, as well as her character’s over-the-top personality.
Rigo also said the cast and crew have grown especially close throughout the production process, mirroring the messaging of the show.
“It’s really exciting to get to explore the themes of friendship with my real friends in and outside of the rehearsal room,” Rigo said.
The Northwestern community can see “Frog and Toad” on Friday and Saturday in Shanley Pavilion. Evanston and Chicago students will have the chance to see the show during its tour of schools in the spring.
Those a part of “Frog and Toad” said their fellow cast and crew members remain devoted to creating theatre for young audiences.
“It’s only a cast of five, so it’s a really small rehearsal room, but everyone is so lovely and so passionate about this project,” McMullen said. “Everyone’s dedication and passion has meant so much to me.”
One such passionate team member is Dean, who said her high school job as a children’s librarian and her love for children’s literature inspired her to join the production team.
Dean added that she is looking forward to Purple Crayon Players’ workshops and the opportunity to give local students a chance to learn about pursuing a future in theatre, as well as giving them a cheerful, bright show.
“It’s such a cute show,” Dean said. “I think that it’s bringing a sense of whimsy and childlike joy to Northwestern and also to the schools that we’re touring. I think it’s super needed.”
Email: carolinekillilea2027@u.northwestern.edu
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