Try To Catch 'Frog And Toad'

(CBS)  Its short Broadway run may end on a high note if "A Year With Frog And Toad" wins any of the three Tonys for which it is nominated.

The Early Show continues its series of previewing the best of Broadway in advance of his year's Tony awards ceremony on Sunday. "A Year With Frog And Toad" is based on the beloved children's books by author Arnold Lobel.

Frog and Toad are played by Jay Goede and Mark Linn-Baker, who visit The Early Show on Friday to perform "Getta Load Of Toad."

What is so appealing about these characters is their friendship, says Linn-Baker. Married to Adrianne Lobel, daughter of the book's author, Linn-Baker says it took many years to develop the show that his wife created.

This Children's Theatre Company production was initially performed in Minneapolis, Minn., for which a 2003 Regional Tony will be awarded. Before that, it was at Linn-Baker's theater, The NY Stage and Film Developing Company. But now the show is scheduled to close on June 15 after a run of 73 performances.

Linn-Baker says, "You always want it to run longer, but shows always close. Theatre is not a good business. If you are in it for the business, then you're in the wrong business."

There is still one more week to catch this show. Linn-Baker says, "This is a great show for children. The message and material is direct and simple, though the production is very sophisticated, which makes it fun for everyone to enjoy."

The three Broadway nominations are for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. To see how the show fares at this year's Tony's, watch the CBS broadcast this Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. E/T, 7:00 p.m. Central.

About the actors:
Mark Linn-Baker (Toad) is a producing director of New York Stage and Film. His Broadway credits include "A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum," Neil Simon's "Laughter on the 23rd Floor," "Face Value and Doonesbury." For many, he is best known as Larry Appleton of TV's "Perfect Strangers." His film credits include "My Favorite Year," Neil Simon's "Laughter on the 23rd Floor" and "Noises Off."

Jay Goede (Frog) has appeared on Broadway in "Sex and Longing," "Angels in America" and "The Play's the Thing." His Off-Broadway credits include "A Letter from Ethel Kennedy," "The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told" and "Gross Indecency." Other theater credits include the National tour of "Cabaret" and the New York Shakespeare Festival. Film credits include "54," "Girl 6," "Ethan Frome" and "Breaking and Entering."