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42nd Street: Youth Edition

A one-hour adaptation of the ultimate show-biz musical! 42nd Street celebrates Broadway, Times Square, and the people who make the magic of musical theatre.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: There are multiple versions of this title. Before you proceed, please double-check to ensure that you are applying for the version you want. If you’re not sure which version best suits your needs, you may purchase a perusal for each available version.

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Description

  • Short Musical
  • Backing Tracks, Comedy, TYA
  • 60 minutes

  • Time Period: 1930s
  • Target Audience: Children (Age 6 - 10), Young Children (Age 2 - 5), Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Cautions: No Special Cautions

  • Performance Group:
  • High School/Secondary, Youth Groups, Jr High/Primary

  • Accolades:
  • WINNER! 2 Tony Awards including Best Musical (1981)
    WINNER! 2 Drama Desk Awards (1981)
    WINNER! The Theatre World Award (Wanda Richert) (1981)
    WINNER! 2 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical (2001)
    WINNER! The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical (2001)
42nd Street: Youth Edition is a one-hour adaptation of 42nd Street, specially tailored for elementary and middle school-aged actors. The materials have been prepared to help your school or organization mount the best possible production and to give your young cast and crew an exciting and rewarding experience.

Come along and listen to the lullaby of Broadway! 42nd Street celebrates Broadway, Times Square and the magic of show biz with wit, humor and pizzazz. At the height of the Great Depression, aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer comes to the big city from Allentown, PA, and soon lands her first big job in the ensemble of a glitzy new Broadway show. But just before opening night, the leading lady breaks her ankle. Will Peggy be able to step in and become a star? The score is chock-full of Broadway standards, including "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me," "Dames," "We're In the Money," "Lullaby of Broadway," "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" and "Forty-Second Street."
REVIEWS:

"An old-fashioned glamour musical that kept on giving when others would have called it quits."

Ann Treneman, The Times

"Gower Champion’s final display of blazing theatrical fireworks."

Frank Rich, The New York Times

"Dazzling and deliriously joyous...From the costumes and choreography to the divine melodies, deliciously smart lyrics and hugely talented cast, this show has glories to spare."

Stefan Kyriazis, The Daily Express

"An American classic... ‘Hear the beat of dancing feet’... It’s an extraordinary, spine-tingling sound... size is absolutely everything in this shiny, streamlined homage to a vanished world of razzmatazz."

Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph

"Mesmerising! From the opening moments of 42nd Street you know you are in for a good night."

Quentin Letts, The Daily Mail

"As American as a McDonald’s apple pie, a steaming, golden spectacle of showbiz glamour... this show socks you over the head with good old-fashioned spectacle."

Alice Saville, TimeOut London

Premiere Production:

42nd Street opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on August 25, 1980, starring Wanda Richert, Jerry Orbach, and Tammy Grimes. The production eventually moved to the Majestic and St. James Theatres, ultimately running for 3,486 performances.

In 2001, the first Broadway revival of 42nd Street ran for 1,534 performance at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, starring Kate Levering, Michael Crumpsty, and Christine Ebersole.

Characters

  • Casting: 6M, 7F
  • Casting Attributes: Room for Extras, Roles for Teens, Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle), Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle), Roles for Children
  • Chorus Size: Large

  • MAGGIE JONES is a co-author of Pretty Lady. She is a smart, confident businesswoman and has no problem standing up to the great Julian Marsh. Maggie is friends with all the Chorus Girls and takes Peggy under her wing. Cast a great actress who can sing and easily handle Maggie's poise and self-assurance.

  • BERT BARRY is a co-author of Pretty Lady along with Maggie Jones, though Maggie is definitely in charge. Bert has every confidence in Julian's ability to direct the show, although he tends to panic immediately whenever problems arise. Bert often sings duets with Maggie, so cast an actor who pairs well with her and has a good sense of comedy.

  • ANDY LEE is the dance director. He is extremely professional and wants the best work out of everyone, especially if it impresses Julian. Andy occasionally sings in a group with other characters, but it is more important that he be a good dancer and actor.

  • GLADYS, WINNIE, PHYLLIS, ANNIE and LORRAINE are cast members in Pretty Lady. They befriend Peggy and encourage her to audition for the show. Gladys, Winnie and Phyllis are sweet girls who want to make sure the show happens no matter what. They do not have solos but are featured in songs with the other girls, so they should be good singers and great dancers. Annie is spunky, upbeat, and teaches Peggy the first tap combination. She should be a great singer, since she has a few featured solos. Lorraine is the sassy and straightforward one in the group. She is featured in songs with the other Chorus Girls and should be a good singer and dancer with great comic timing.

  • MAC is the no-nonsense stage manager for Pretty Lady. Mac doesn't have to sing or dance, but he should be a good actor who embodies down-to-earth professionalism.

  • PEGGY SAWYER is a young Broadway hopeful determined to get into the chorus of Pretty Lady. Peggy has tons of talent but no professional experience and finds herself in a number of awkward situations as the story progresses. Cast a fantastic dancer and singer who can portray a starry-eyed dreamer with a heart of gold.

  • BILLY LAWLOR is one of Broadway's best juveniles and Pretty Lady's leading man. Cast a confident performer full of charm who can sing, dance, act, and deliver hilarious one-liners. Billy should pair well with Peggy.

  • JULIAN MARSH is a veteran Broadway director determined to take Pretty Lady to the Great White Way. He is secure in his reputation as the best director on Broadway and isn't intimidated by anyone -- including his famous leading lady, Dorothy Brock. Cast a strong actor and singer who easily commands the stage.

  • DOROTHY BROCK is an older Broadway star. Onstage, she is every inch the high-powered diva, but offstage, she feels trapped by wealthy patron Abner Dillon and pines for a life with her longtime secret love, Pat Denning. Cast an excellent singer and a great actress who can ooze confidence onstage but show just as much vulnerability about Dorothy's personal life. Dorothy does not need to be a dancer.

  • ABNER DILLON, an automobile tycoon, is Dorothy Brock's wealthy patron and the main financial backer behind Pretty Lady. Abner is devoted to Dorothy, but he is not the sharpest tool in the shed. He is a powerful man accustomed to getting what he wants and won't take no for an answer. Cast a performed who is comfortable making bold choices onstage.

  • PAT DENNING is Dorothy's former vaudeville partner. Though he has kept their love secret for years, he is committed to Dorothy and willing to do anything in order to make their relationship work. He's kind, practical, and a bit of an "opposites attract" love interest for Dorothy. Pat doesn't sing or dance in the show, but he should be a good actor and pair well with Dorothy.

  • The DOCTOR has a cameo after Dorothy is injured. This role is great for a member of the ensemble who may not be ready to take on a larger part.

  • The ensemble includes the KIDS (which refers to both male and female actors), CHORUS GIRLS (which refers to female kids), FRANKIE, the WAITER, FIRST THUG, SECOND THUG, YOUNG WOMAN, BOY, ANOTHER BOY, A GIRL, ANOTHER GIRL, and the MONEY KIDS. These roles are all great opportunities to include anyone interested in joining your production.

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Perusal Material Shipped immediately. This is optional. Order Now

    1 x Young Performer's Book (contains the complete script and all vocal material adapted to the musical range of developing voices)

    		$24.00
    Rehearsal Material Shipped a minimum of 3 months before the last performance. This must be hired as a condition of the License to produce this show.

    1 x Piano-Vocal Score
    1 x Director's Production Guide     (The Production Guide comes with a wealth of background material, directional pointers, details on incorporating the show's production into the school curriculum and suggestions for involving your community at large.)
    30 x Young Performer's Books (These books contain the complete script and all vocal material adapted to the musical range of developing voices.)
    1 x Disc Set (Consists of Sing-Along CD to help your cast learn the songs; Performance CD with orchestral accompaniment for your production; Choreography DVD containing simple, effective dance steps and staging ideas for selected songs.)

    		$550.00 +$135.00/pm

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