Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Low royalty/cost musical

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IdahoPrincess
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 5/13/10
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Topic: Low royalty/cost musical
Posted: 5/13/10 at 12:40pm

Our small theatre company would like to put on a musical but the economy has hit our area too hard for a classic's cost. Does anyone know of a musical that:

1. Has low royalties
2. Goes over well with audiences
3. Has a cast of 20 or more
4. Is well written
5. Isn't only a children's show?

I've been looking at Pioneer Drama - most of their stuff seems like fractured fairy tales & seems written for kids.

I have a month to come up with something. Thanks!!!

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PSdotcom
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Joined: 3/04/10
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 15

Posted: 5/13/10 at 4:41pm

You could check out THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW by James Crowley, cheap and cheerful, large selection of characters, excellent music, very popular title to put bums on seats. (Click preview to have a read and hear edited soundtrack).

Good luck with the search.

Edited by PSdotcom - 5/13/10 at 4:42pm

Production Scripts Marketplace for Theatre and Radio Scripts. Submit your script today!
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Lazy Bee
Star
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Joined: 2/21/07
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 89

Posted: 5/13/10 at 6:10pm

Frankenstein - the Monster Musical by George Douglas Lee, intended to be played by adults (with a small number of children's roles) to a family audience. Fifteen principals plus chorus.

Dracula - A Pain in the Neck by Elwood J. Johnson and Daniel Krueger, 13 principals plus chorus

Lotta Crabtree by Gerald P. Murphy (a goldrush musical), 18 principals plus chorus. (The central character is a child - an historical character who made her living and her parents' living as a saloon bar singer - but the rest of the characters are adults.)

Stuart
Lazy Bee Scripts
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk read complete play scripts on-line

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tristanrobin
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Joined: 4/25/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 704

Posted: 5/14/10 at 5:09pm

Many years ago we did a production of a play titled "Fanny, the Frivolous Flapper." It's sort of a cross between "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "Some Like it Hot."

It has lots of characters - lots of room for expansion (it takes place in a fashion house, so there's lots of models, customers, etc.) - it's quite funny. It's about a detective who has to ferret out the jewel thief who is operating out of the fashion house. He ends up in drag in the fashion show (which is a good opportunity for a costume committee with a sense of humor and lots of feathers and sequins).

The only real issue - and it's a big one - is you need a good music director. The score (included in the script from Samuel French), has a bare-bones accompaniment. You really need somebody who can either elaborate a LOT on the piano - or can score for a couple more pieces (my fella scored for a sax, clainet, violin, and drums).

Give it a look. It's been a lot of years - but as I recall it was a big success...and quite inexpensive (by musical standards) to produce.

http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com

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Play Suggestions
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Author	Message
IdahoPrincess Walk-On Joined: 5/13/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Low royalty/cost musical Posted: 5/13/10 at 12:40pm
	Our small theatre company would like to put on a musical but the economy has hit our area too hard for a classic's cost. Does anyone know of a musical that: 1. Has low royalties 2. Goes over well with audiences 3. Has a cast of 20 or more 4. Is well written 5. Isn't only a children's show? I've been looking at Pioneer Drama - most of their stuff seems like fractured fairy tales & seems written for kids. I have a month to come up with something. Thanks!!!

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PSdotcom Player Joined: 3/04/10 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 5/13/10 at 4:41pm
	You could check out THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW by James Crowley, cheap and cheerful, large selection of characters, excellent music, very popular title to put bums on seats. (Click preview to have a read and hear edited soundtrack). Good luck with the search. Edited by PSdotcom - 5/13/10 at 4:42pm
	Production Scripts Marketplace for Theatre and Radio Scripts. Submit your script today! http://www.productionscripts.com
	IP Logged

Lazy Bee Star Joined: 2/21/07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 89	Posted: 5/13/10 at 6:10pm
	Frankenstein - the Monster Musical by George Douglas Lee, intended to be played by adults (with a small number of children's roles) to a family audience. Fifteen principals plus chorus. Dracula - A Pain in the Neck by Elwood J. Johnson and Daniel Krueger, 13 principals plus chorus Lotta Crabtree by Gerald P. Murphy (a goldrush musical), 18 principals plus chorus. (The central character is a child - an historical character who made her living and her parents' living as a saloon bar singer - but the rest of the characters are adults.)
	Stuart Lazy Bee Scripts http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk read complete play scripts on-line
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 5/14/10 at 5:09pm
	Many years ago we did a production of a play titled "Fanny, the Frivolous Flapper." It's sort of a cross between "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "Some Like it Hot." It has lots of characters - lots of room for expansion (it takes place in a fashion house, so there's lots of models, customers, etc.) - it's quite funny. It's about a detective who has to ferret out the jewel thief who is operating out of the fashion house. He ends up in drag in the fashion show (which is a good opportunity for a costume committee with a sense of humor and lots of feathers and sequins). The only real issue - and it's a big one - is you need a good music director. The score (included in the script from Samuel French), has a bare-bones accompaniment. You really need somebody who can either elaborate a LOT on the piano - or can score for a couple more pieces (my fella scored for a sax, clainet, violin, and drums). Give it a look. It's been a lot of years - but as I recall it was a big success...and quite inexpensive (by musical standards) to produce.
	http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com
	IP Logged

Topic: Low royalty/cost musical( Topic Closed)