Even though we wrapped up our production of Cole Porter’s musical, Anything Goes, just a few months ago, it’s already time to begin the selection process for our next play. Director John Maloney and the nine Parish Players members who attended the meeting held on July 25 discussed the options and ended up with a list of five musicals to consider: Crazy for You; Kiss Me Kate; Me and My Gal; My Fair Lady; and Show Boat. John will request review copies of each and the final selection will be made at the next meeting in September.
Here’s a brief synopsis of each show’s plot, main characters, and musical numbers. For more detailed information, visit www.tamswitmark.com, www.musicaltheatreaudition.com, andwww.rnh.com.
CRAZY FOR YOU
(Music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
The story of Bobby Child, a well-to-do 1930s playboy who’s dream in life is to dance in the Zangler Follies. And despite the serious efforts of his mother and soon-to-be-ex-fiancee, Bobby achieves his dream. This show is a high energy comedy that includes mistaken identity, plot twists, large production dance numbers, and classic Gershwin music.
Musical Numbers:
• I Can’t Be Bothered Now
• Bidin’ My Time
• I Got Rhythm
• Naughty Baby
• They Can’t Take That Away from Me
• But Not for Me
• Nice Work if You Can Get It
• Embraceable You
• Someone to Watch Over Me
Characters:
1. Bobby Child (Baritone)–dreams of performing in the Zangler Follies
2. Lottie Child–Bobby’s mother
3. Polly Baker (Soprano/Mezzo)–owns Gaiety Theatre with her father
4. Irene Roth (Mezzo)–Society debutante who wants to marry Bobby for his money
5. Lank Hawkins (Baritone/Bass–Saloon owner who wants to buy the Gaiety Theatre
6. Bela Zangler (Baritone)
7. Everett Baker–Polly’s father
8. Tess–Bela Zangler’s young and pretty mistress
9. Eugene & Patricia–British tourists
KISS ME KATE
(Music and lyrics by Cole Porter)
A hilarious musical comedy about the ins and outs of a traveling company performing Shakespeare’s Taming of The Shrew. The actors and actresses have much in common with the stereotypical characters they portray onstage. Each cast member’s on-stage life is complicated by what is happening offstage.
Musical numbers:
• Why Can’t You Behave
• So In Love Am I
• Wunderbar
• Tom, Dick or Harry
• Were Thine That Special Face
• Too Darn Hot
• Brush Up Your Shakespeare
• I Hate Men
• Aways True to You (In My Fashion)
• Another Op’nin, Another Show
Characters:
1. Fred Graham/Petruchio (Baritone)–Also the director of the show within the show
2. Lilli/Katherine (Soprano)–Fred’s ex-wife. An actress with a reputation for being difficult to work with.
3. Lois/Bianca (Mezzo)–Like the Shakespearean role she plays, has many suitors
4. Bill/Lucretio (Baritone)–Lois’ suitor with gambling problem
5. Harrison Howell–A Washington big-wig, Lilli’s dependable fiance
6-7. 2 gangsters (Baritones)–Have come to collect Bill’s debt but end up onstage
Hattie (Alto)
8. Paul (baritone, dancer)–sings “Too Darn Hot”
9. Large chorus of performers, dance chorus
ME AND MY GIRL
(Music by Noel Gay, lyrics by L. Arthur Rose)
Set in London in the 1930s. Bill Snibson is a “low class” man who finds himself the heir to an upperclass fortune.
Musical numbers:
• A Weekend In Hareford
• Thinking Of No One But Me
• The Family Solicitor
• Me And My Girl
• An English Gentlemen
• You Would If You Could
• Hold My Hand
• Once You Lose Your Heart
• The Lambeth Walk
• The Sun Has Got His Hat On
• Take It On The Chin
• Song Of Hareford
• Love Makes The World Go Round
• Leaning on a Lampost
Characters:
1. Bill Snibson(Baritone, 25-20s) Cockney accent, both a physical clown and a smooth romantic. Naive and has no concept of social boundaries.
2. Sally Smith (Mezzon, mid 20s-30s) Bill’s devoted girlfriend
3. Maria, Duchess of Dene (Mezzo, 40s-60s) The family matriarch who tries to educate Bill
4. Sir John Tremayne (Baritone, 40s-60s) Co-executor of Hareford clan’s will
5. Lady Jacqueline Carstone (Soprano, mid 20s-late 30s, must dance) Upper-class gold—digger
6. The Hon Gerald Bolingbroke (Tenor, mid 20s-late 30s) Engaged to Lady Jaqueline, pompous but likeable
7. Herbert Parchester (Tenor, dance) The family solicitor
8. Sir Jasper Tring (Baritone, 60+) The old family relic
9. Charles the Butler (any age)
10. Lord Battersby (30s+) Must keep an eye on her husband
11.Mrs. Brown (40+) Cockney landlady.
12. Constable (40+) Policeman with impeccable English accent
13. Many other small speaking roles.
MY FAIR LADY
(Music by Frederick Loewe, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner)
Based on Shaw’s play and Pascal’s movie “Pygmalion,” the show revolves around the relationship between Professor Henry Higgins, a brilliant, crotchety, middle-aged bachelor who is England’s leading phoneticist, and Eliza Doolittle, a little cockney gutter sparrow. Eliza comes to Higgins’ flat to be instructed in the English language, in order to transform herself into a “lidy.” Higgins initially regards her as an experiment, but she gradually wins his grudging respect and affection.
Musical Numbers:
• Why Can’t The English
• Wouldn’t it be Loverly
• With a Little Bit of Luck
• I’m An Ordinary Man
• Just You Wait
• The Rain In Spain
• I Could Have Danced All Night
• Ascot Gavotte
• On the Street Where You Live
• You Did It
• Show Me
• Get me to the Church on Time
• A Hymn To Him
• Without You
• I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face
Characters:
1. Henry Higgins (Baritone, 40-60, upper-class British) Professor of linguistics. Conceited, stereotypical man not in touch with his feelings.
2. Eliza Doolittle (legit soprano, 17-30, cockney/upper-class) Cockney flower girl. High spirited, proud.
3. Colonel Pickering (Baritone, 40+, upper-class British) The amiable linguist friend of Professor Higgins. A true gentleman.
4. Alfred P. Doolittle (Baritone, 40-70) Slightly alcoholic father of Eliza. Fun loving.
5. Freddy Eynsford-Hill (Tenor, 20-32, upper-class British). A stereotypical tenor character. Spineless upperclass man in love with Eliza
6. Mrs. Pearce (Non-singing, 40-70)
7. Professor Higgin’s housekeeper. No-nonsense, motherly.
8. Mrs. Higgins (Non-singing, 60-80, upper-class British) Professor Higgin’s mother. Self-assured, wealthy, classy, and elegant. Loves her son, but also recognizes that he needs someone to cut him down a bit.
9. Zoltan Karpathy (Non-singing, 30-50, ballroom) A Hungarian who fancies himself a linguist. Seeks the “imposter” at the ball.
10. Mrs. Eynsford-Hill (Non-singing, 40-60)
11. Chorus
SHOW BOAT
(Music by Jerome Kern, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein)
Spanning the years from 1880 to 1927, this Show Boat concerns the lives, loves and heartbreaks of three generations of show folk on the Mississippi, in Chicago and on Broadway (and their life-long friends). The primary plot follows Magnolia, the naive daughter of the show boat captain, as she marries a gambler and moves with him to Chicago. His gambling continues as his debts compound, and soon he deserts her and their young daughter. A subplot concerns the potential arrest of Magnolia’s selfless best friend on charges of miscegenation when it’s discovered that she is mulatto, and her subsequent downward spiral into despair. The passing of time reunites Magnolia and her now-grown daughter with her family on the show boat as well as with her husband, who eventually returns offering a hopeful second chance at familial fulfillment.
Musical Numbers:
· Cotton Blossom
· Cap’n Andy’s ballyhoo
· Where’s the mate for me
· Make believe
· Ol’ Man River
· Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man
· Life on the wicked stage
· Till good luck comes my way
· Mis’ry’s comin’ aroun’
· I would like to play a lover’s part
· I might fall back on you
· Queenie’s ballyhoo
· At the fair
· Why do I love you
· In Dahomey
· Bill
· Trocadero opening chorus
· Apache dance
· Goodbye, my lady love
· After the ball
· Hey, feller
· It’s getting hotter in the north
· Yes, ma’am
· Kim’s imitations (why do I love you?)
· Dance away the night
· A pack of cards
· Creole love song
· Out there in an orchard
· Gallivantin’ aroun’
· I have the room above her
· Ah still suits me
· Nobody else but me
Characters:
1. Magnolia (legit soprano)
2. Cap’nAndy’s daughter. Begins the show as a naive young girl, and growns into a sadder but wiser woman
3. Cap’n Andy (Baritone) loveable, crusty
4. Parthy Ann
5. Gaylord Ravenal (legit tenor) Replaces Steveas performer. Marries Magnolia but later abandons her. Suave but phony gambler.
6. Julie LaVerne (Mezzo) Married to Steve. Performer on the boat.
7. Joe (Bass, Negro) Must have a voice worthy of “Ol’ Man River”
8. Steve Married to Julie. Performer on the boat.
9. Queenie (Alto, Negro)
10. Frank Schultz (Tenor/High Baritone)
11. Ellie May Chipley (Alto)
12. Sheriff Vallon
13. Chorus
Posted by Barb 
St. Anthony's Parish Players 