The Frogs
Vivian Beaumont Theatre
Previews Began: June 22, 2004
Opening Night: July 22, 2004
Closing Night: October 10, 2004
Music: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: Nathan Lane
Burt Shevelove
Stephen Sondheim and Burt Shevelove’s musical retelling of the Aristophanes satire, in which Greek god Dionysus seeks to inspire better efforts from current playwrights, premiered at Yale University in 1974. The Broadway production features several additional songs by Sondheim and a revised book by star Nathan Lane that links the show’s themes to the George W. Bush administration.
Musical Numbers
Act One
Invocation and Instructions to the
Audience………1st Actor, 2nd Actor, Greek Chorus
I Love to Travel…………………….Dionysos, Xanthias,
Greek Chorus
Dress Big……………….Herakles, Dionysos, Xanthias
I Love to Travel (Reprise)……..Dionysos, Xanthias
All Aboard………………………………………………Charon
Ariadne……………………………………………….Dionysos
The Frogs………………..Dionysos, A Splash of Frogs,
Fire Belly Bouncing Frogs
Act Two
Hymn to Dionysos………Three Graces, Dionysians,
Dionysos, Xanthias
Hades……………………………….Pluto, the Hellraisers
It’s Only a Play……………………………..Greek Chorus
Shaw…………………………..Dionysos, Shaw, Shavians
All Aboard………………………………………………Charon
Fear No More…………………………………Shakespeare
Final Instructions to the Audience……….Dionysos,
Company