A Year With Frog and Toad returns to Children’s Theater Company

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A Discussion with Jay Goede, returning as of Frog

A Year with Frog and Toad returns to Children’s Theatre Company, April 23 - June 16. We spoke to Jay Goede, our Frog, a role which he originated in CTC’s 2003 world premiere and the subsequent Broadway production. He describes the joy in collaborating with fellow actor Reed Sigmund and in delighting audiences with the characters’ friendship played out against the changing seasons of the year. Get your tickets here because this one is a delight and a favorite for all ages.

Q:  What draws you to the character of Frog who you portray in A Year With Frog and Toad? Are there aspects of the character that resonate with you personally?

Jay GoedeA:  I think Frog is very much a person who likes to have a balance between social, personal, and spiritual worlds. There's a beautiful song in the show called “Alone” where - in distress – Toad pedals out to a little island, where Frog is sitting alone in nature, and Toad is convinced that poor Frog must be angry or sad or some negative emotion because he's isolated himself alone on this island. And, quite the contrary, Frog tells Toad that he's happy to be alone because it makes him feel at one with nature, enjoy his surroundings, and remembering how wonderful it has been to be who he is in nature. He "loves being a frog in the warm sunny summer," his beautiful phrase from the song. That really resonates with me. You need to be alone to be in touch with your spiritual and physical surroundings. The joy of taking in nature and all be magic that goes on within it.

Q:  How has your perspective or approach to the character of Frog evolved since your previous involvement with the show in 2003?

Frog and Toad go sledding. Photo by Glen Stubbe PhotographyA:  Well, it is very much informed by who I am today as Jay, versus who I was in 2003 as Jay. I guess what I mean by that is: I stepped away for many years from the business of "show." The acting business. I found much serenity and peace in that decision. I began painting again, as I was trained as an artist originally many years ago. Most importantly, I have found a spiritual center that was much needed, and not quite in place in 2003. But I have missed the art of acting. I have not missed all the shenanigans that are "show business." But I do enjoy acting when I get the chance. "Frog" in 2024 will probably be my last time on stage for quite a while. It has been a lovely chance to get to know Frog again, and to work with the incredible talent of Reed Sigmund, who is - without question - one of our country's finest and most brilliant actors. This has been the greatest gift for me this time playing Frog. I feel extremely fortunate to be sharing the stage with such a fine talent, just as I felt the first time acting with Mark Linn-Baker who originated the role of Toad. Both are genius talents that don't come around very often. So if that makes any sense, those are the big differences this time around. I also don't jump as high as Frog used to do in 2003! Sigh.

Q:  The show explores themes of friendship and the changing seasons. How do you think the themes resonate with audiences?

A:  For me, as a child growing up, the most magical part of each year was the change of seasons. I loved the change of seasons, and most of all I loved fall and spring. Winter was a wonderful challenge because we got to go outside and sled down the hill, as Frog and Toad do, but spring is the most magical time of year for me. I think everyone sits in the audience and brings their own personal relationship with all the seasons to the show. Fall, for me as a young person and of course still as an adult, is when my two favorite holidays take place: Halloween and my birthday, which is November 2nd. So I guess I have romantic and nostalgic feelings associated with every season. As we age, we bring more of our history to living through those seasons each year, but without a doubt I think we all have our favorite seasons. It is fun to see the audience, especially the children, respond to each new scene, and enjoy watching Frog and Toad experience all the wonderful seasons onstage.

Regarding friendships: in the changing seasons, I have beautiful memories of sledding with my friends, and going Halloween trick-or-treating with my friends. I think about Christmas gift exchanges with my friends. Every one of us has special memories that we cherish from our childhoods, and even in adulthood our friends mean so much to us, especially during the holidays. We love and look forward to sharing our time, our gifts, and our memories with them. The friendships that last over many years, like Frog’s and Toad’s, are the ones that anchor us in our reality, in our happiness, in our struggles and in our victories. The friendships that last through the years are the ones we hold most dear in our hearts. And, certainly, the seasons give us indicators of how many years we've known our special friends.

Reed Sigmund (Toad), rehearses with Jay. 

Q:  Are there any particular scenes or songs in the production that hold special significance for you?

A:  Yes, as I mentioned, I will always feel fortunate to sing “Alone” every day that the show runs. This beautiful song, in the middle of this gorgeous show, talks about one's need to be not isolated but with oneself in nature. It is one of the most beautiful ideas in the show. Frog explains to Toad that he doesn't mind being alone, and he actually needs it sometimes. It is a beautiful spot in the show, where you see the depth of the friendship between the two characters. Toad has made this beautiful lunch of sandwiches and iced tea for Frog, to comfort him and cheer him up. The lunch gets ruined in Toad’s efforts to get out to the island. Just as he falls off his log, Frog reassures him that it is enough to just be with him and sit in the wonders of nature. In essence, Frog is letting Toad know that just his friendship and his presence are enough. Even without the iced tea and sandwiches. It is such a beautiful part of the show for me. 

Q:  How do you prepare for the emotional aspects of your character, and how do you find a balance between the comedic and more serious moments in the show?

A:  I guess the key to good comedy is that the character doesn’t know the situation is funny. I don't look differently at comedy than I do at more serious moments. If you think about the truth of the situation, that takes care of it. In other words, I think comedy and seriousness can layer on top of each other, the more we get to know the characters, their behaviors, and the situations in which they find themselves. Behavior comes out of truth, and the more truthful we can make the situations, the more truthful the behavior is. And the audience discovers joy and sadness while watching the character experience all these moments.

Q:  As someone returning to a familiar role, how do you keep the performance fresh and exciting for yourself, as well as for the audience?

A:  At my age, I just try to keep it simple, and the rest takes care of itself as far as the joy of performing. I take the advice of that great actor Spencer Tracy who said, "Just learn your lines and don't bump into the furniture."

Q:  Lastly, you mention that you might not be on the stage again for a while. What’s on the horizon for you after Frog and Toad wraps up in June? 

A:  After this wraps up, Frog/Jay is going on vacation to an island far away, all alone by himself, to sit and be one with the spiritual self and the joy of nature.

Q:  How may we follow you?

A:  I'm very elusive and like to stay that way. You might find me on Facebook and Instagram, but you might not."Maybe yes and maybe no!" as Frog says.