Origin Theatrical

 

LOST IN THE STARS

For his final Broadway score, Kurt Weill gave passionate voice to this powerful, uncompromising social indictment of apartheid South Africa.

The stirring story of two aging men - a black country parson and a white British planter - drawn into friendship by a shared grief. The parson's faith is challenged by his son's unintentional murder of the planter's son, while the planter aquires faith through the loss of his son. Sadly, the years have not diminished the timeliness of the theme, which is the tragedy of all people, wheather black or white, rich or poor, young or old.

Cast Requirements: PRINCIPALS 1 Woman 4 Men 1 Boy FEATURED 1 Woman 5 Men ENSEMBLE Singing-dancing ensemble with numerous small roles and children. CHARACTER LIST Leader Answerer Stephen Kumalo Grace Kumalo Nita Stationmaster Young Man Young Woman James Jarvis Arthur Jarvis Edward Jarvis John Kumalo Paulus William Jared Alex Foreman Mrs. Mkize Hlabeni Mark Eland Linda Matthew Kumalo Johannes Pafuri Absalom Kumalo Rose Irina Servant Policeman White Man White Woman The Guard Burton The Judge Parishioners McRae Villager Singers

Set Requirements: LOST IN THE STARS takes place in Ndotsheni and Johannesburg, South Africa in 1949. SPECIFIC LOCATIONS Ndotsheni: Stephen Kumalo's House; Railroad Station; Stephen's Chapel; Johannesburg: John Kumalo's Tobacco Shop; Factory Office; Mrs. M'Kize's House; Hlabeni's House; Parole Office; Stephen's Shantytown Lodging; A dive in Shantytown; Irina's Hut in Shantytown; Kitchen in Arthur Jarvis' Home; Arthur Jarvis' Library; A Street; Prison; Arthur Jarvis' Doorway; Courtroom; Prison Cell;

Genre / Style: Musical Drama, 1940's South Africa

Rehearsal / Orchestral Material: Rehearsal Set (22 Books, 1 Logo) 20 Libretto-Vocal Books 2 Piano Vocal Scores 1 Logo Orchestration Package (14 Books) 1 FULL SCORE ACT I 1 FULL SCORE ACT II 1 PIANO/ACCORDIAN (Doubles Organ) 1 REED I (Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax) 1 REED II (Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet, Tenor Sax) 1 REED III (Clarinet, Alto Sax, Bass Clarinet) 1 TRUMPET 1 PERCUSSION (see list below) 1 VIOLA I 1 VIOLA II 1 CELLO I 1 CELLO II 1 BASS 1 HARP Libretto/Vocal Books 10 pack 10 Libretto-Vocal Books

Musical Numbers: Lost In The Stars, Cry, the Beloved Country, Stay Well, Trouble Man, A Bird of Passage...

Music by Kurt Weill
Book and Lyrics by Maxwell Anderson
Based on the novel "Cry, The Beloved Country" by Alan Paton

"Written with theatrical virtuosity... sweep and perspective... deep, dramatic and beautiful... illuminating and memorable."
The New York Times, 1949

"Kurt Weill's 1949 musical about apartheid in South Africa remains one of the most achingly lyrical scores in Broadway history."
USA Today, 1992