Beaumaris Theatre Inc. acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Owners of the land on which Beaumaris Theatre stands. We pay our respects to Victoria's First Peoples and their Elders past, present and emerging.
CONTENTS
Click on the headline below to jump through each section of the program.
About A Year with Frog and Toad
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
CAST & CREATIVES
ABOUT BEAUMARIS THEATRE
Book & Lyrics by Willie Reale and Music by Robert Reale
Directed by Leah Osburn with Musical Direction by Po Goh
A hit on Broadway, A Year with Frog and Toad was nominated for three Tony Awards – including Best Musical. Based on Arnold Lobel's well-loved books, and featuring a hummable score by Robert and Willie Reale, this whimsical show follows two great friends – the cheerful, popular Frog and the rather uptight Toad – through four fun-filled seasons.
Waking from hibernation in the Spring, Frog and Toad plant gardens, swim, rake leaves, go sledding and learn life lessons along the way. The two best friends celebrate and rejoice in the differences that make them unique and special. Part vaudeville, part make-believe... all charm, A Year with Frog and Toad tells the story of a friendship that endures throughout the seasons.
The jazzy, upbeat score of A Year with Frog and Toad bubbles with melody and wit, making it an inventive, exuberant and enchanting musical for the whole family.
These performances of A Year With Frog and Toad are licensed exclusively by Musical Theatre International (Australasia). All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia
MUSICAL NUMBERS
Opening
A Year With Frog and Toad
It's Spring
Seeds
The Letter - #1
Getta Loada Toad
Underwater Ballet
Alone
The Letter- #2
Cookies
Entr'acte
The Kite
A Year With Frog and Toad- Reprise
He'll Never Know
Shivers
The Letter- #3
Down the Hill
I'm Coming Out of My Shell
Toad to the Rescue
Merry Almost Christmas
Finale
I've been performing in musical theatre productions since the year 2000 and have always loved learning about every aspect of a show.
Since 2009 I've been lucky enough to be a part of the creative process as part of various production teams. I always find that after the adrenaline of live audiences, I find myself dreaming of the next project.
In 2013 I was privileged to direct my first musical at Beaumaris Theatre. It was a small Broadway show with only nine cast members and no ensemble. At the time it had rarely been performed within community theatre and I found a different way to see musical theatre compared to the large-scale musicals I had been a part of. This is when I realised that I love being able to bring audiences something different.
My pastime was watching the Tony Awards each year with my family. We'd enjoy the creative opening numbers by the hosts and be in awe of the epic performances from the big popular Broadway shows like Wicked, Anything Goes and Matilda.
However, I loved learning about new musicals that I had never heard of and would most likely not grace the big theatres in our 'East End'. This is where my curiosity about A Year with Frog and Toad blossomed.
After some research in 2013, I realised only the junior performing rights were available. I put my thoughts on pause.
After various COVID-19 lockdowns and directing The Last Five Years with People's Playhouse in 2022 my spark for small cast productions reignited and I returned to A Year with Frog and Toad and was delighted to learn full show rights were available and that Beaumaris was accepting submissions for their 2024 season.
How could they resist a five-piece show that told a true tale of friendship spanning multiple adventures throughout the four seasons of a year?
Listening to the songs throughout our rehearsals I often find myself saying 'Oh this reminds me of this song from that musical'. This makes the music not only catchy but also creates a deep sense of nostalgia despite never having seen the show.
Having a small cast allows us to take the script to the stage in just eight weeks of rehearsals and also creates space to truly feature the talents of each individual performer. Nobody gets lost in the background, they each get their own moment to shine. This is the benefit of performing a small-scale musical in a theatre like Beaumaris Theatre. The audience has a complete view of the entire stage and can feel part of the adventures these whimsical characters embark on.
Of course, a small show does not equal a simple show and I could not have brought this production to life without a multitude of people. Whilst there are so many people to thank and are listed within the program, the following people have all worked so tirelessly to help bring my vision to life and I am so grateful for their ongoing trust and support; Po Goh, Deb Carpenter, Chris Churchward, Neil Barnett, Sally Fleming, Ella Creaton, Jenni & Trevor Osburn and my brilliant cast.
The enthusiasm and laughter throughout rehearsals and set builds have made working on this project so joyous for me and I could not be prouder.
A Year with Frog and Toad is a reminder to be young at heart, cherish your friends and when things may not always go your way - there is always tomorrow to wake up to.
Leah Osburn, Director and Choreographer
CAST
Frog - Damien Calvert
Toad - Dan Bellis
Player 1 (Bird, Snail, Lizard, Father Frog, Mole) - Roisin O'Neill
Player 2 (Bird, Mouse, Squirrel, Young Frog, Mole) - Emma Blake
Player 3 (Bird, Turtle, Squirrel, Mother Frog, Mole) - Kate Squires
BAND
Conductor and keyboard: Po Goh
Reed 1: Catherine Buxton
Reed 2: David Laity
Trumpet: Sue Cook (Jenny Stengards)
Trombone: Oscar Milić (Sean Smyth)
Guitar: Ben Dewhirst (Lachlan James)
Bass: Bill Clark
Drums and percussion: Paul Coles
CREATIVE TEAM & CREW
Director and Choreographer - Leah Osburn
Musical Director - Po Goh
Stage Manager - Ash Boyce
Set design - Chris Churchward and Leah Osburn
Set construction -Chris Churchward, Neil Barnett, Ella Creaton, Deb Carpenter, Georgy Charles, Kate Squires, Emma Blake, Roisin O'Neill, Trevor Osburn, Annie Laurenson, Meredith Vaughn and Sally Fleming
Props - Neil Barnett, Deb Carpenter, Sally Fleming and cast
Costumes - Jenni Osburn and cast
Sound design - Adam Soloman
Sound operation - Adam Soloman, Sam Johnson and Matthew Hunter
Lighting design - Emma Brown
Lighting operation - Ash Boyce
Flyer design - Ella Creaton
Photography - Tim Tselepis and Natasha Rayner
Videography - Tim Tselepis
Program design - Kristina Doucouliagos
Marketing - Kristina Doucouliagos
Front of House Volunteer Coordinator - Fiona Williams
Front of House Manager - Trevor Osburn
Box Office - Beaumaris Theatre Inc. Committee
Front of House staff - Beaumaris Theatre members and friends
Special thanks to Frankston Theatre Group, Rosebud Astral Theatre Society and Maggie Morrison (LOTS).
Leah Osburn - Director and Choreographer
Leah is returning to Beaumaris Theatre after appearing on stage in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Dimboola and A Streetcar Named Desire. She was director of Avenue Q, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and An Evening at Beaumaris. Leah also choreographed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and assisted with Little Miss Sunshine, all at Beaumaris Theatre.
Leah has also directed The Last 5 Years with People’s Playhouse, Oliver and The Wedding Singer (Aspect Inc), Footloose (MLOC Productions Inc). She has also choreographed Annie (MLOC Productions Inc), You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Children of Eden, 13 – A New Musical, The Wizard of Oz and Oliver (People’s Playhouse Inc), Seussical (Mornington Players) and Oliver (PLOS Musical Productions).
Leah is currently the Treasurer of the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria and has worked at Australia Post for the last 11 years. She is a mother of two (Theodore and Eliza) and wishes to thank her entire family for their support and encouragement during the last few months as she got to tick this "bucket" show off her list.
Po Goh - Musical Director
Po is delighted to return to the theatre in 2024 for A Year with Frog and Toad and has loved working with this small cast and band. Po has been Musical Director for Kinky Boots and Strictly Ballroom (CPAC), and has recently played in theatre bands for Hunchback of Notre Dame (OSMAD), Book of Longing, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (ACOCo), My Brilliant Career (MLIVE), and Electric Dreams (Gasworks Theatre).
In 2021, Po also originated the role of ex-virtuoso concert pianist Xiao-jun in La Mama Mobile's chamber opera The Gang of Five, written by Noel Fidge.
Po is currently studying at the Australian National Academy of Music, after completing studies at Monash University and the University of Melbourne, receiving awards for his achievements and finding his third concerto opportunity with the Monash Academy Orchestra.
Po has had a wonderful time in rehearsals exploring this groovy and playful score and is excited to share it with you all.
Damien Calvert - Frog
Damien has worked with theatre companies all over Melbourne in various capacities, both on and off the stage.
You may have seen him on the Beaumaris Theatre stage as Zac in A Chorus Line, William Barfee in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee or in the award-winning 2011 production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. His on-stage credits with other companies are numerous and include featured performances as Freddie Trumper in Chess, Al in A Chorus Line, Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd, George in The Drowsy Chaperone, Mr Bungee in A New Brain and the Barbershop Quartet The Music Man (OSMaD) for which he was the recipient of the 2013 Music Theatre Guild of Victoria for Best Ensemble.
Damien’s design credits for Beaumaris Theatre include the set for Avenue Q, and lighting for Puffs, Buddy - the Buddy Holly Story and Anne & Gilbert - The Musical amongst others.
In his spare time... he’s on the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria Committee, the company secretary for OSMaD music theatre, and he runs the Melbourne Theatre Calendar website (go see another show after this one!).
Dan Bellis - Toad
Dan has been a Beaumaris Theatre mainstay since his debut in the very “un-frog-and-toad-like” Avenue Q (also directed by Leah Osburn) in 2016. Since then he has performed in eight other Beaumaris Theatre productions, including his most recent performance as Richard Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine.
Offstage, he has also worked as Assistant Director/Production Manager for Seminar in 2019, Director of Cosi in 2022 and co-director of PUFFS or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic in 2023. He has been a member of the Beaumaris Theatre committee since 2018 and its Vice President since 2022.
In those weird periods when Dan isn’t at the theatre, he is a Drama and Humanities teacher at St Bede’s College in Mentone.
A Year With Frog and Toad has been a joyful experience for the Danster (as he is very rarely called), allowing him to connect with very different audiences. He apologises in advance for anyone who gets showered in cookie dust.
Roisin O'Neill - Player 1 (Bird, Snail, Lizard, Father Frog, Mole)
Roisin has been immersed in the performing arts from a young age, starting off in musical theatre variety shows and full productions such as The Producers and Spamalot (MLOC Productions), Into the Woods and Beauty and the Beast (Aspect Inc) and Rock of Ages (WMTC).
In recent years she has turned her attention to the classics and some of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays, such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello and even got to show off with some tunes in Much Ado: The Musical with ASC’s Graduate Players Program which took her all the way to Prague.
Musicals have always been Roisin’s first love and she is excited to return to them with this being her first show with Beaumaris Theatre.
A Year with Frog and Toad is sure to get the toes tapping and the audience singing along.
Emma Blake - Player 2 (Bird, Mouse, Squirrel, Young Frog, Mole)
Emma is delighted to be making her Beaumaris Theatre debut in A Year with Frog and Toad! Emma loves to perform whimsical, quirky characters on stage.
In 2023 she played an excitable Who in Seussical (Windmill Theatre Company) which was nominated for Production of the Year at the 2024 Lyrebird Awards.
Other credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Cactus Musicals), Thoroughly Modern Millie (MLOC), The Wizard of Oz (Players Theatre Company), Footloose (MLOC), Into the Woods (Aspect), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Aspect) and Guys and Dolls (Nova).
She has trained at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts) and holds AMEB certificates in musical theatre, flute and piano.
When not rehearsing, Emma enjoys crocheting tiny pop culture characters and building Disney lego (ie. she’s just a big kid at heart).
She’d like to give a big friendly “chirp-chirpity-chirp” to you all and hopes that you enjoy the show!
Kate Squires - Player 3 (Bird, Turtle, Squirrel, Mother Frog, Mole)
Kate has spent most of her adult life involved in performing. Her theatrical endeavours include Chicago and Rent, she has performed as a professional fire dancer and worked as an entertainer for both Disney and Movie World. For many years, Kate announced the seal, ski and dolphin shows at Sea World, performing alongside her aquatic co-stars.
More recently, Kate has supported the Beaumaris Theatre productions of The Three Musketeers and Beaumarisical and performed in the Beaumaris Theatre’s 300th show, the 70th Anniversary Christmas Panto-Revue.
She is so thrilled to be part of the talented A Year with Frog and Toad cast and would like to state for the record that she does not condone bullying of any kind, even if someone does look particularly funny in a bathing suit.
Deb Carpenter - Producer and props
Deb’s been involved with Beaumaris Theatre for 12 years working behind the scenes on costumes, backstage and props.
Deb’ show credits include The Vicar of Dibley, Happy Days- A New Musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The 39 Steps, One for the Pot, The Mystery of Irma Vep (for which she received a VDL nomination for Best Costumes), The Three Musketeers and The 70th Anniversary Christmas Panto-Revue. Deb is also a valued member of the Beaumaris Theatre Committee.
Ash Boyce - Stage Manager and lighting operator
Chris Churchward- Co-set Designer
Chris has been involved with theatre for many years, onstage, backstage, set design and construction for which he has received a couple of awards. Chris has worked with several companies including MOTTS, ASPECT, MLOC, Beaumaris Theatre and The 1812 Theatre.
Chris has performed in Music Hall style theatre with MOTTS as well as productions of South Pacific and The Pajama Game (ASPECT), The Witches of Eastwick (MLOC), David Horton in The Vicar of Dibley and Gifford Beaumont in The Last of The Summer Wine (The 1812 Theatre), and Keeping Up Appearances (MLOC).
In addition to designing and constructing a number of sets at Beaumaris Theatre for productions such as The Great Gatsby, The Mystery of Irma Vep and Death by Fatal Murder, Chris is also frequently on stage including playing Herr Zeller in The Sound of Music, Bob Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird, O’Reilly the Hotel Inspector and Mr Leeman in Fawlty Towers and David Horton in The Vicar of Dibley.
Neil Barnett - Set construction and props
Neil can be found on-stage as frequently as he is found off-stage, working with many theatre companies around Melbourne and has picked up many in-house and VDL awards in his travels.
Neil’s on-stage roles include Pirelli in Sweeny Todd- the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Beaumaris Theatre), the Major in Fawlty Towers (Beaumaris Theatre), Gordon in They Came from Mars and Landed Outside Farndale Avenue Church (Beaumaris Theatre), General McKenzie in And Then There Were None (Mordialloc Theatre Company) and Major in Deathtrap (The 1812 Theatre).
Neil directed The 39 Steps (Beaumaris Theatre), Bloody Murder (Frankston Theatre Group) and many productions for Mordialloc Theatre. Off-stage Neil has kept very busy building sets, and making or sourcing props, including designing sets for Fawlty Towers, A Night of Dark Intent, and They Came from Mars and Landed Outside Farndale Avenue Church at Beaumaris Theatre.
Jenni Osburn - Costume Coordinator
Jenni joined Beaumaris Theatre in 2007 and has been our costume guru ever since working on almost 30 productions!
Just some of her credits include Peter Pan; A Streetcar Named Desire; The Sound of Music; I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (for which she received a Music Theatre Guild of Victoria nomination); To Kill A Mockingbird; Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; The Great Gatsby; The Little Mermaid JR; Avenue Q; SNOOPY!!! Anne & Gilbert- the Musical, Jack & the Beanstalk- a Panto, PUFFS or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic and Little Miss Sunshine.
Jenni is a hard-working member of the Beaumaris Theatre Committee, currently serving as treasurer. Jenni a very proud Life Member of Beaumaris Theatre.
Adam Soloman - Sound design
Adam has always been fascinated by the tech and audio area of performance and began by designing and operating sound for school musicals, local theatre productions and live bands. For over 30 years, Adam has worked in the Music and Film Industries in Australia and the UK. He is extremely passionate about live sound production and has developed his skills and expertise on the job and he is happy to volunteer his time and energy setting up and operating the audio desk for community events.
Adam joined Beaumaris Theatre in 2019 and has since worked on Buddy - the Buddy Holly Story, Company, Pillow Talk, Anne & Gilbert - the Musical, Jack and the Beanstalk - A Pantomime, PUFFS or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, The Three Musketeers, Little Miss Sunshine and The 70th Anniversary Christmas Panto-Revue.
Adam’s philosophy is the more gear you can plug in, the more fun it is. He joined the Beaumaris Theatre Committee in 2021.
Emma Brown - Lighting Design
Sam Johnson - Sound operation
Sam has experience both on stage and off in the bio box as a resident tech whizz.
On stage, Sam has appeared in The Addams Family, 13- A New Musical, The Little Mermaid JR, Cinderella, The Wiz, Legally Blonde, Anne & Gilbert-The Musical, Legends of the Skies and The
Jewel by the Sea.
Off stage Sam has operated lighting at Beaumaris Theatre for Pillow Talk, Buddy- the Buddy Holly Story, Jack & the Beanstalk – a Pantomime and The Three Musketeers.
Matthew Hunter - Sound operation
Matthew was ‘discovered’ when he recently volunteered for front of house duty for Beaumaris Theatre’s, Jack & the Beanstalk – a Pantomime. In a heartbeat he was cast as William Wills and Adam Lindsay Gordon in The Jewel by the Sea with Friends of Black Rock House.
Matthew was a student at Parkdale Secondary College where he acted, designed and mastered the sound for a school production.
At Beaumaris Theatre, Matthew was lighting and sound operator for The Vicar of Dibley, followspot operator for Puffs, sound operator for The Three Musketeers, lighting operator for Beaumariscial and Little Miss Sunshine.
A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD BAND
Beaumaris Theatre was founded by Bill and Angela Martin in 1953. Bill and Angela were thespians who built a theatre in the attic of their home. It housed about twenty audience members and had a small stage and dressing room.
Soon the demand for tickets for these productions far exceeded the space available, so the Martins along with other members of the Beaumaris Players, worked very hard to have the theatre space we now know in Wells Road.
For the last 70 years, thespians from all walks of life and various backgrounds have been treading the prestigious boards laid by Bill and Angela. We are delighted to continue their legacy of producing theatre for the Bayside community and beyond.
This year we are delighted to be celebrating 70 years of Beaumaris Theatre and working with the community to produce theatre experiences for all!
BEAUMARIS THEATRE COMMITTEE
President - Debbie Keyt
Vice-President - Dan Bellis
Treasurer - Jenni Osburn
Secretary & Public Officer - Lynda French
Marketing Manager & Membership Secretary - Kristina Doucouliagos
Committee Members - Adam Solomon, Camilla Klesman, Deb Carpenter, Fiona Williams, Georgy Charles and Harrison Ewart-Dart.
BEAUMARIS THEATRE LIFE MEMBERS
Bill Martin; Angela Martin; Roger North; Esme North; Roy Baldwin; Bea Beckwith; Anne Lowe; Jean Freer; Beth Kelsall; John Rees-Osborne; Nancy Sutch-Taylor; Edda Dawson; Barbara Franks; Annie Laurenson; Jenny Mullholland; Stephen Mulholland; Don Strong; Taffy Strong; Michael Coultas; Graham Eddie; Derek Curd; Janine Chugg; Debbie Keyt; Robyn Morris; Steve Morris; Neil Barnett; Rhonda Vaughan; Vince Vaughan; Danny Forward; Jenni Osburn; Trevor Osburn; Kristina Doucouliagos; Fred Pezzimenti and Camilla Klesman.
NEXT AT BEAUMARIS THEATRE
Thank you to our supporters and sponsors for continuing to support Beaumaris Theatre.
