Casting for the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s rarely performed musical The Frogs, playing at the Jermyn Street Theatre from the 14th March, has been announced.
Starring in this new production of the musical, loosely based on a comedy written in 405 BC by Aristophanes will be Michael Matus as Dionysos and George Rae as Xanthias.
This boisterously hilarious yet poignant musical follows Dionysos, Greek god of wine and drama, and his slave Xanthias on a journey to Hades to collect renowned critic and playwright George Bernard Shaw so that he may enlighten the easily misled and coerced masses of Earth. Along this journey, Dionysos and Xanthias meet Herakles, Charon, Pluto, and of course, the chorus of frogs. Then, Shakespeare shows up and starts declaiming his greatest hits; and before long he engages in a battle of words with Mr. Shaw. Who will win the honor of becoming reincarnated: The Bard or Bernard?
Also joining Grace Wessels production is Bernadette Bangura, Martin Dickinson, Chris McGuigan, Li-Tong Hsu, Nigel Pilkington, Emma Ralston, Jonathan Wadey.
Michael Matus has previously appeared in The Phantom of the Opera, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Lend Me a Tenor, Yes Prime Minister, Imagine This, Martin Guerre and The Sound of Music.
Meanwhile, George Rae’s previous credits includes Patsy in Spamalot (Frankfurt), Benjamin in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Schlomo in Fame, Rick in A Slice of Saturday Night, Mr Two in Adding Machine, Timon in The Lion King and TJ in Sister Act.
The Frogs was originally performed in 1974 in Yale University’s gymnasium’s swimming pool, featuring members of the Yale swimming team. This latest version, which opened on Broadway in 2004, includes seven additional Stephen Sondheim songs.
The creative team involved with this production includes designs by Gregor Donnelly lighting by: Tim Mascall and movement byTim McArthur.
The Frogs will play at the Jermyn Street Theatre from the 14th March until the 8th April. For more information and to book tickets visit: http://www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk/show/the-frogs/.