The songs of Randy Newman are deftly woven into a contemporary "minstrel" show with the sociological punch that has made Newman America's foremost musical satirist.
Set in 1969, five disparate characters find themselves stranded at a bus depot in a back-water Louisiana town. As the rain pours down, their personas pour forth. There's the station's janitor, the jingoistic salesman and his hitchhiking pick-up, the redneck with a guitar case full of beer, and the black GI returning from Vietnam. In a succession of stylised vaudevillian set pieces, this show-within-a-show becomes a bittersweet allegory of American pluralism.
Cast Requirements: PRINCIPALS
1 Woman
4 Men
CHARACTERS
Joe - an old black man. He seems to be the janitor of the depot.
The GI - a handsome black soldier, very intelligent but with a chip on his shoulder.
The Salesman - a middle-aged, Jewish travelling salesman with a robust personality.
The Girl - a young, white, urban, hitchhiker who's good at taking care of herself.
The Redneck - a big, brawny, loud but likeable kind of a guy.
Set Requirements: THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE takes place in a bus depot somewhere on the back roads of Louisiana 1969.
Genre / Style: Musical, 1960's Louisiana
Rehearsal / Orchestral Material: Rehearsal Set (22 Books, 1 Logo)
20 Libretto-Vocal Books
2 PIANO CONDUCTOR SCORE
1 Logo
Orchestration Package (5 Books)
1 PIANO CONDUCTOR SCORE
1 REED (Clarinet, Tenor Sax)
1 DRUMS (Trap Set, Wind Chimes, Tambourines, Triangle)
1 ELECTRIC GUITAR
1 BASS
Musical Numbers: Short People, I Think It's Gonna Rain Today, Marie, Rednecks, Sail Away, Political Science, Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong, Lonely At The Top, It's Money That I Love, Davy The Fat Boy, Baltimore, You Can Leave Your Hat On.