Production images have been released for The Frogs, opening tonight at Southwark Playhouse Borough.
The laugh-a-minute musical comedy stars Glee’s Kevin McHale as Xanthias, alongside Dan Buckley as Dionysos. The production is directed by Georgie Rankcom.
Written in 405 B.C. by Aristophanes, The Frogs has been freely adapted by Burt Shevelove and even more freely adapted by Nathan Lane, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
In this bold retelling, Dionysos and his sidekick Xanthias descend into Hades in search of a cure for a fractured world. But their journey is thwarted by a chorus of frogs—no ordinary amphibians, but stubborn creatures clinging to the status quo.
The cast also includes Joaquin Pedro Valdes as Herakles, Carl Patrick as Charon, Bart Lambert as Shakespeare, Martha Pothen as Shaw, Alison Driver as Ariadne, Evonnee Bentley-Holder in the ensemble, and Milo McCarthy as Dance Captain.
Director Georgie Rankcom said: “We’re thrilled to bring another lesser-known Stephen Sondheim show to Southwark Playhouse after our hit 2022 production of Anyone Can Whistle.”
The creative team features Musical Supervisor Ben McQuigg, Musical Director Yshani Perinpanayagam, Choreographer Matt Nicholson, and Set and Costume Designer Libby Todd.
The original 1971 production of The Frogs was staged in a Yale University swimming pool and featured future stars Meryl Streep and Sigourney Weaver. For the 2004 Broadway revival, Sondheim added seven new songs.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
