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Floyd Collins

This haunting musical, featuring a glorious folk and bluegrass-inspired score, tells the transcendent tale of a true American dreamer. In 1925, while chasing fame and fortune by turning a Kentucky cave into a tourist attraction, Floyd Collins himself becomes the attraction when he is trapped 200 feet underground.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Drama
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 1920s
  • Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Exterior Set
  • Orchestra Size: Medium

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, High School/Secondary, Professional Theatre, College Theatre / Student, Church / Religious Groups
In 1925, while chasing a dream of fame and fortune by turning a Kentucky cave into a tourist attraction, Floyd Collins himself became the attraction when he got trapped 200 feet underground. Alone but for sporadic contact with the outside world, Floyd fought for his sanity and ultimately his life as the rescue effort above exploded into the first genuine media circus. Reporters and gawkers from across the country descended on the property, fueling the hysteria and manipulating the nation into holding its collective breath.

This haunting musical - one of the most acclaimed in recent years - tells the transcendent tale of a true American dreamer.
REVIEWS:

"This is the original and daring musical of our day... a powerhouse."

New York Magazine

"Plaintive, often inspired...Adam Guettel is a composer for the new century."

Los Angeles Times

"Easy to admire...sometimes ravishing...a clearly gifted [writing] team."

Variety

"FLOYD COLLINS is a work of exhilirating imagination and humanity...Daring, intelligent and almost unbearably poignant."

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Compelling...haunting melodies and down-to-earth lyrics."

New York Magazine

"A daring and original piece of musical theater...One-of-a-kind, FLOYD COLLINS suggests promising futures for both its creators."

San Diego Union Tribune

"One of the three or four truly great music theatre scores of the last decade."

New York Newsday
Premiere Production: Floyd Collins premiered off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons on February 9, 1996. Directed by Tina Landau, the production featured Christopher Innvar, Martin Moran, Jason Danieley, Theresa McCarthy, Cass Morgan, Brian d'Arcy James, Matthew Bennett and Michael Mulheren. The musical made its London debut at the Bridewell Theatre in July 1999. Directed by Clive Paget, the production featured Nigel Richards, Anna Francolini and Craig Parnell.

Characters

  • Casting: 11M, 2F
  • Casting Attributes: Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)
  • Chorus Size: Medium

  • FLOYD COLLINS - a caver
    BEE DOYLE - owner of the farm in which Floyd becomes trapped
    ED BISHOP - a local caver
    JEWELL ESTES - a local teenage boy
    LEE COLLINS - Floyd's father
    MISS JANE - Floyd's stepmother
    NELLIE COLLINS - Floyd's younger sister
    HOMER COLLINS - Floyd's younger brother
    SKEETS MILLER - a reporter for the Louisville Courier-Journal
    H.T. CARMICHAEL - an engineer
    3 REPORTERS
    CLIFF RONEY - a young filmmaker
    DR. HAZLETT - a doctor from Chicago
    FREDERICK JORDAN - a local farmer

    • Available Material

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

    1 x Libretto/Vocal Book
    1 x Piano Conductor Score

    		$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.

    20 x Libretto/Vocal Books
    2 x Piano Conductor Score

    		$550.00 +$135.00/pm
    Orchestral Material Shipped a minimum of 1 month before the last performance. This is optional.

    1 x Piano Conductor Score
    1 x Violin
    1 x Viola (Doubling Violin)
    1 x Cello
    1 x Bass
    1 x Percussion (Trap Set, Anvil, Concert Toms, Suspended Cymbal, Mark Tree, Orchestra Bells, Washboard, High Toms, Crotales, Vibraphone, Concert Bass Drum, Wood Blocks (3), Waterphone, Ratchet, Spoons, Small Shaker, Rain Stick, Gong, Pod Wind Chimes, Cow Bell, Pop Gun, Triangle, Splash Cymbal, Tambourine, Eerie Drum, Lead Pipes (2)
    1 x Keyboard (Piano, Synthesizer)
    1 x Harmonica (Chromatic, C# Crossharp)
    1 x Guitar

    		$350.00 +$135.00/pm
    Lib/Vocal Book 10 Pack Shipped with (or after) Rehearsal Material. This is optional.

    10 x Libretto/Vocal Books

    		$50.00 +$50.00/pm

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