Toad in the Hole
1998 · Sophie Leschin Theatre, on the grounds of the Jacksonville Developmental Center, Jacksonville, Illinois
A whimsical woodland musical comedy subtitled Amphibious Musicalis, Toad in the Hole was written by Ken Bradbury and Robert Crowe and staged by the Jacksonville Theatre Guild as the 10th Anniversary production of the show in 1998. It was the first of the shows Bradbury and Crowe wrote together, an original musical based on Crowe's children's books Clyde Monster and T. Tyler Toad and the Thunder — not a licensed property. The Guild gave the show its world premiere in August 1989, and this 1998 staging was the 10th-anniversary reprise, which Ken re-wrote and tightened for the revival. Ken directed and choreographed the production and was among the rehearsal pianists.
A young toad, T. Tyler Toad, and a covey of forest animals — a chipmunk, two badgers, a fox, a bunny, a bug, a raccoon, a fieldmouse, and an owl — share a hole, where they encounter a lonely, mother-missing monster named Clyde and a human boy, Michael. As thunder strikes and the animals take cover, the show moves through their songs and antics toward Michael's climactic call on the giant Alexander, carrying a message of giving, love, hope, and compassion. The cast is made up of one boy, eleven animals, and a small covey of gnomes; every character sings except the gnomes ("Gnomes never sing. Everybody knows that").
The production ran October 9–11 and 16–18, 1998, at the Sophie Leschin Theatre on the grounds of the Jacksonville Developmental Center. The recording below was released by the Ken Bradbury Foundation with the permission of Doug and David Bradbury.
Songs
- Dance of the Gnomes (Prologue) — The Gnomes
- A Toad in the Hole! — The Animals
- An Ordinary Toad — Tyler Toad et al.
- Am I the Only One? — Clyde and Michael
- Just Let Me Glow — Bunny and Felicia Fox
- Together — The Ensemble
- Fowler's Song — Fowler Owl, Clarence Bug, Reginald Mouse, and Felicia Fox
- Business as Usual — Mr. Badger and Ensemble
- Mrs. Him — Mrs. Badger
- I Call on Alexander — Michael & Ensemble
Cast
- Tyler Toad — Greg Floyd
- C.C. Chipmunk — Jeff Bossert
- Mr. Badger — Chuck Nash
- Mrs. Badger — Stephanie Smith-Jarratt
- Mrs. Raccoon — Judith Beiderbecke
- Clarence Bug — Carly Joehl
- Felicia Fox — Janet Auld
- Bunny — Teresa Goetten
- Reginald P. Fieldmouse — Terri Kimler
- J. Fowler Owl — Sean-Edward Hall
- Clyde Monster — Brad Barnes
- Michael — Lucas McQuillan
- Petite (Gnome) — Colleen Doyle
- Soupson (Gnome) — Kelly Campbell
- Babe (Gnome) — Jackie Clinton
- Maestro (Gnome) — Matt Snodgrass
Production Staff
- Written by — Ken Bradbury & Robert Crowe
- Director & Choreographer — Ken Bradbury
- Vocal Director — Julie Walker Hood
- Orchestra Director / Music Arranged for Orchestra — David Shaffer
- Tech Director, Set Design & Lighting Design — Chuck West
- Costumes — Janet Long, Geri Ryan & Patty Clinton
- Gnome Costumes — Deborah Walker & Theresa Sheehan
- Production Coordinator — Linda Van Aken
- Stage Manager — Grant Estes
- Special Consultant — Steve Varble
- Set Construction & Decoration — Chuck West, Sylvia Burke, Bruce & Sharon West, Karol Hill, David Zink, Andrew & Lincoln Hill, Matthew & Ann Snodgrass, Brenda Joehl
- Makeup Design — Sylvia Burke
- Program — Roger Deem
- Publicity — Jodi Heitbrink
- Lighting Operator — Daniel "Doc" Holloway
- Rehearsal Pianists — David Zink, Jill Briggs & Ken Bradbury
- Orchestra — David Zink, Jill Briggs, Kurt Heller, Chris Ritzo, Bill Cox, Chris Mitchell, Rob Rake, Shelley Cochran, Phil Sallee & Melinda Snodgrass
See the full production record at JTG Memories.