Synopsis
The Birds have come back at the end of winter ready for spring. They look in on Frog and Toad, still in hibernation in their respective beds in their respective homes ("A Year With Frog and Toad"). While still asleep, Frog and Toad sing about their friendship and the new year ahead. Frog then wakes and decides to get his friend out of hibernation for the new year.
Now that it's morning, Toad knows mail should be delivered. He is sad, however, because he never receives mail. Frog goes home to write Toad a letter. He asks the snails to deliver it for him ("The Letter").
Frog and Toad go to the pond for a swim. Toad is uncomfortable that Frog will see him in his bathing suit. ("Getta Load of Toad"). Frog promises not to look until Toad is in the water. Toad asks Frog to instruct Turtle to leave so she won’t see him come out of the water. Instead, Turtle calls Mouse, Lizard and all their friends over to look at Toad. Freezing, Toad must eventually leave the water and everyone gets a good look at Toad in his bathing suit.
Meanwhile, the snail are still on their way to deliver Frog’s letter to Toad ("The Letter #2").
Frog and Toad are at Toad's home preparing dinner. They make cookies intended for desert but can’t stop eating them ("Cookies").
It’s now the end of summer ("Leaves: A Year With Frog and Toad") and leaves cover the ground. Both Frog and Toad plan a surprise by secretly raking the other's yard ("He’ll Never Know"). They clean one another’s yard but as soon as they leave, the squirrels come and mess up their neat piles of leaves. Neither ever finds out the good deed they've done for one another.
Meanwhile, the snails are still on their way to deliver Frog’s letter to Toad (Letter #3).
It’s now winter. Frog and Toad are on top of a hill and prepared to sled down it, despite Toad’s fear ("Down The Hill"). On the way down, Frog accidentally falls off the sled. Toad continues down the hill. He takes the wrong path – the dangerous and bumpy path. When Toad reaches the bottom of the hill he is so mad that Frog made him sled that he swears never to talk to Frog again.
The snails finally arrive with Frog’s letter to Toad (Letter #4). In the letter frog tells Toad how he can’t be happy unless his friend Toad is happy. Toad decides to talk to Frog again.
It's now Christmas Eve. Toad is in his kitchen. He’s terribly worried because Frog is late. He begins to imagine all the terrible things that could have happened to Frog. Frog arrives. He’s been wrapping Toad’s present. Toad tells him how worried he’s been ("Merry Almost Christmas").
Now back in hibernation, Frog and Toad are in their respective beds. It's almost spring again! The Birds sing ("Finale"), as Frog and Toad get ready for another fun-filled year.
Character Breakdown
BIRDS 1-4: The Birds communicate the passage of time (seasons) and set the stage for the story to follow.
ENSEMBLE: A chorus of birds, lizards, moles, mice, snails, squirrels and turtles that add to the fun and adventure of the show.
FROG: Frog is a friendly, confidant, positive and caring character. This leading role requires a strong actor and singer. He is always comfortable solving Toad's problems and reacting to Toad's traumas.
LIZARD: Lizard is definitely the most confused of the Turtle, Mouse, Lizard trio, but eventually joins in the fun.
MOLES 1-4: The Moles expressive faces add to the excitement in "Down The Hill" as well as sincerity to their angelic solo "Merry Almost Christmas".
MOUSE: Mouse is always able to ask all the right questions like a talk-show host.
SNAILS 1-3: The Snails are simply unflappable. They will deliver without fail "in the rain or sleet or snow."
SQUIRRELS: The Squirrels are full of mischief and love playing in piles of leaves.
TOAD: Toad is serious, irritable, self-conscious yet an oddly charismatic character. The friendship that he shares with Frog is loyal through and through.
TURTLE: Turtle is a "rabble-rouser" and loves to get the whole gang to tease Toad in fun!
