Yo, Vikings!

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Yo, Vikings!

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  6w, 7m, 1boy(s)

Book and Lyrics by Marcus Stevens
Music by Sam Wilmott

Adapted from Judith Byron Schachner’s acclaimed book of the same name, Yo, Vikings! is the mini-saga of 10-year-old Emma Katz, the fiercest Viking in Swarthmore, PA, and her quest for real adventure.

Image: 2014 Hangar Theatre Production (Derek Miller)

Yo, Vikings!

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    6w, 7m, 1boy(s)
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Fantasy, Adventure, Adaptation (Literature), Theatre for Young Audiences
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • Finalist! 2011 Richard Rodgers Award
    Nominee: 2012 Weston New Musical Award

Details

Summary
Adapted from Judith Byron Schachner’s acclaimed book of the same name, Yo, Vikings! is the mini-saga of 10-year-old Emma Katz, the fiercest Viking in Swarthmore, PA, and her quest for real adventure. Yo, Vikings! combines sweeping melodies, thrilling Viking chants, and funky rock ’n’ roll with a beautiful, heartwarming story to engage and excite every member of the family.
History
Yo, Vikings! was originally commissioned by the Upper Darby Summer Stage for their 2010 season. It was developed in the BMI Musical Theatre Songwriters Workshop, and Upper Darby Performing Arts Center presented the world premiere production in July 2010.
Keywords
Performing Groups

WOMAN 1 – EMMA KATZ, Fox, Monkfish, Fifth Grader, Viking
WOMAN 2 – MOM (JUDY KATZ), Emma’s Mom / MJOLVERK, a Frost Giant
WOMAN 3 – MRS. MUKHERJEE, Emma’s teacher
WOMAN 4 – NIKKI TIBBLES, Emma’s classmate / GUNNHILD THE SHE-BEAR, a Viking
WOMAN 5 – ZINZI FERDINAND-MUNOZ, Emma’s classmate, a twin / HELGA THE CLANG-FIST, a Viking
WOMAN 6 – PASHA, Emma’s classmate / A VIKING
WOMAN 7 – PHYLLIS, Emma’s classmate / A VIKING / NEWSWOMAN, a local journalist
MAN 1 – SIGURD TORVALDSSON, Librarian, Dragon Slayer
MAN 2 – BOTHVAR THE FORK-SPLITTER, a Viking / MOVING MAN, a moving man
MAN 3 – MURPHY BEAN, Emma’s classmate / THORKLE THE TRAVELER, a Viking
MAN 4 – SEBBY FERDINAND-MUNOZ, Emma’s classmate, a twin / OLAF THE BOORISH, a Viking
MAN 5 – GUNTHER, Emma’s classmate / A VIKING
MAN 6 – SIMON, Emma’s classmate / A VIKING
BOY – OLLIE KATZ, Emma’s brother, a Kindergartner (can be played by a young girl)

+ any additional Vikings, Townspeople and Kids, if desired

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day, Medieval (6th-14th Century)
  • Setting

    Swarthmore, PA. The present. / Iceland and beyond. 985 A.D.

  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes, Fantasy Costumes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“This brisk, tuneful and endearing musical... exudes warmth and cleverness... the core of the show is about Emma’s disconnect with those around her, a condition with which just about everyone can empathize.  In this sense, Marcus Stevens (book and lyrics) and Sam Willmott (music) have crafted a show that might be about children but doesn’t feel like children’s theater.  There’s a universality that transcends the demographic... There’s a freshness and sweetness to the show that shines through. It’s fitting that a musical about imagination offers so much of it itself. I have a feeling that this “Viking” ship will be setting off on many more voyages to come.” - FresnoBee.com

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

Spectacle, Imagination & Vikings: The Making of an Adventure Musical
by Garrett Anderson
January 15, 2016

YO, VIKINGS: A Real Adventure
by Marcus Stevens
July 16, 2015

Videos

  • The Story of Yo, Vikings youtube thumbnail

    The Story of Yo, Vikings

  • The Creation of Yo, Vikings youtube thumbnail

    The Creation of Yo, Vikings

  • The Music of Yo, Vikings youtube thumbnail

    The Music of Yo, Vikings

  • Producing Yo, Vikings youtube thumbnail

    Producing Yo, Vikings

  • Tatiana Lofton - "Emma the Red" youtube thumbnail

    Tatiana Lofton - "Emma the Red"

  • Sam Willmott discusses "Emma the Red" youtube thumbnail

    Sam Willmott discusses "Emma the Red"

  • Upper Darby Summer Stage 2015 youtube thumbnail

    Upper Darby Summer Stage 2015

  • Yo, Vikings! - ProductionTrailer youtube thumbnail

    Yo, Vikings! - ProductionTrailer

  • Emma the Red - Yo, Vikings! youtube thumbnail

    Emma the Red - Yo, Vikings!

  • The Real Adventure from Yo, Vikings! youtube thumbnail

    The Real Adventure from Yo, Vikings!

  • Yo, Vikings! Preview youtube thumbnail

    Yo, Vikings! Preview

Show more +

Music

Song Samples

You Gotta Believe
The Rules / World Discovery Day
Into the Storm
Emma the Red
Keep On Sailing
The Prayer
I Love You, But No
The Letter
The Terrible Tale of Sally Shapiro
Real Adventure
Yo, Vikings!
“You Gotta Believe” – Emma & Company
“You Gotta Believe Playoff” – Instrumental
“The Rules/World Discovery Day – Mrs. Mukherjee & Emma
“World Discovery Day Playoff” – Instrumental
“The Library” – Instrumental
“Into the Storm” – Mr. Sigurd, Bothvar, & Vikings
“Emma the Red” – Emma & Vikings
“Emma the Red Playoff” – Instrumental
“Emma Goes to School” – Instrumental
“Keep On Sailing” – Mr. Sigurd, Mrs. Mukherjee & Kids
“Keep On Sailing (Reprise)” – Mr. Sigurd
“Emma the Red (Reprise)” – Ollie, Emma
“The Prayer” – Bothvar & Vikings
“The Asgard Vessel” – Instrumental
“I Love You, But No” – Mom
“The Letter” – Emma
“Sally Intro One – Instrumental
“Sally Intro Two” – Instrumental
“The Terrible Tale of Sally Shapiro” – Nikki, Zinzi, Sebby, Murphy
“Sally Playoff” – Instrumental
“World Discovery Day (Reprise)” – Mrs. Mukherjee & Kids
“The Dragon Slayer” – Instrumental
“Emma the Red (Reprise 2)” – Emma
“Real Adventure” – Mom
“Real Adventure Playoff” – Instrumental
“The Birthday Party” – Instrumental
“Yo, Vikings!” – Company
“Bows and Exit Music” – Instrumental
  • Musical Style Classic Broadway, Pop/Rock
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Piano Only
  • Chorus Size Small

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
14 Vocal-Book
1 Piano-Vocal
1 Accompaniment Tracks
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Authors

Sam Willmott

Sam Willmott

Sam Willmott is a New York City-based musical theater composer, lyricist and bookwriter whose projects include Standardized Testing - The Musical!!!!; Yo, Vikings! (with lyricist Marcus Stevens); the upcoming bhangra dance musical Bhangin' It (with playwrights Rehana Lew Mirz ...

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Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens
Marcus Stevens is a Richard Rodgers Award winning writer, and a member of the Dramatists Guild and the BMI Musical Theater Workshop. He has written the book and lyrics to musicals that have been produced in New York, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Fresno and Canada. Currently his ...
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