Frog & Toad Rehearsal Video Montage

Jesse Havea (center) plays Snail and a host of other characters in A YEAR WITH FROG & TOAD based on the books by Arnold Lobel.

Originally from Arizona, Jesse is a recent graduate of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy's Musical Theatre Program in NYC. While attending college, he has served as Company Manager for the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine.

We asked Jesse which of the Frog & Toad characters that he plays he likes best. His response:

I love all the characters I play because I get to make them all so interesting in there own little way, but if I had to choose one I would have to say SNAIL because of his journey... He's shy and timid in the beginning and by the second act he gets a lot more confident holds nothing back when he sings, "I'M COMING OUT OF MY SHELL" 

Here's more from Jesse about rehearsing A YEAR WITH FROG & TOAD:

What an incredible adventure it's been--learning all the music, dances, and coming up with fun ways to tell the characters apart from each other. I'm in the ensemble which means I get to play a handful of different characters. I'm playing Man Bird, Snail, Lizard, Mole, Father Frog, and the Large and Terrible Frog. 

Up until this weekend we've been rehearsing in a separate studio while they've been building the incredible sets and costumes designed by Lex Liang. Hope you like my video!

Are you excited to see A YEAR WITH FROG & TOAD? Who's your favorite character?