Blood Brothers (Musical)

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Blood Brothers (Musical)

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  3w, 5m

Book, Music and Lyrics by Willy Russell

This powerful musical, by the author of Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, is a haunting rags-to-riches tragedy of our times. After a struggling mother surrenders one of her newborn twins to her childless employer, the brothers grow up streets apart, never learning the truth. In the end, however, the separation of twins commands a heavy price.

THIS TITLE IS NOT RELEASED FOR PERFORMANCE RIGHTS IN THE UK AND IRELAND.

If your performances are outside the UK/Ireland, please apply for a licence to check availabilty. (US/Canada performances would apply through our US website. Navigate there by selecting 'US' instead of 'UK' in the top right corner of this website.)

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 5m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14-18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: Six 1993 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Book
    Winner! Two 1983 Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best Musical
Blood Brothers (Musical)

Details

Summary

"Tell me it's not true. Say it's just a story..."

Blood Brothers, by the author of Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, is a haunting rags-to-riches tragedy of our times. A woman with numerous children to support surrenders one of her newborn twins to her childless employer. The boys grow up streets apart, never learning the truth, but become firm friends and fall in love with the same girl. One prospers while the other falls on hard times. A narrator warns that the separation of twins commands a heavy price: the lives of the blood brothers, who die on the day they discover they are related.

THIS TITLE IS NOT RELEASED FOR PERFORMANCE RIGHTS IN THE UK AND IRELAND.

If your performances are outside the UK/Ireland, please apply for a licence to check availabilty. (US/Canada performances would apply through our US website. Navigate there by selecting 'US' instead of 'UK' in the top right corner of this website.)

History
Blood Brothers premiered at the Liverpool Playhouse in Liverpool, England in 1983. On 11 April 1983, the show opened in the West End at the Lyric Theatre. The Broadway production of Blood Brothers opened on 25 April 1993 at the Music Box Theatre, where it ran for over two years.

MRS. JOHNSTONE (MOTHER): Female, 30’s  (Range: Mezzo Soprano, F3-C5)
Original Mother of Mickey and Edward. After her husband walks out on her, she is left to take care of her children. Constantly trying to do what is best. Gets a job as a maid to support her children. While she tries her best, she cannot escape the society she has been born into.

NARRATOR: Male, Age Flexible  (Range: Rock Tenor, G3-G4)
“Did y’ hear the story of the Johnstone twins?” Takes the audience through the important sections of the story. Truthful, yet ominous at times. Also appears as Milkman 1, Gynaecologist, Bus Conductor, Milkman 2, Teacher, Rifle Range Man.

MRS. LYONS: Female, 30’s  (Range: Mezzo Soprano, B3-D5)
Mrs. Johnstone’s employer. Kind with good intensions but puts herself first—no matter the cost. Adopts Edward out of desperation towards her own insecurities. A compulsive liar who gets in over her head.

MR. LYONS: Male, 30-40  (Range: Ensemble/Non Singing)
Proper Gentleman from the upper class. Is tricked into thinking his wife has had a child while he was on an extended business trip. Constantly busy, and leaves the homely responsibilities up to his wife.

MICKEY: Male, Plays 7-20’s  (Range: Bari Tenor, D3-E4)
Blood Brother raised in the poor part of town by Mrs. Johnston. A trouble maker pressured by the rules of society.

EDWARD: Male, Plays 7-20’s  (Range: Tenor, D3-A4)
Blood Brother raised in the upper class by Mrs. Lyons. Grows up with a privileged life due to his foster parents—From his opportunities with education to women.

SAMMY: Male, Plays 7-20’s  (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible)
Mickey’s Brother. A bully and bad influence on Mickey. Constantly a trouble maker.

LINDA: Female, Plays 7-20’s  (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible)
A lovely girl from the neighborhood. Finds the attention of both Mickey and Edward.

CHORUS
Catalogue Man, Finance Man, Children, Policemen, Neighbours, Wedding Guests, Doleites, Councillors, Nurses, Judge

The original production of Blood Brothers included only three chorus members. This number can be expanded to any number your organisation requires.

  • Time Period 1980s, 1960s
  • Setting England. 1960-1980.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Gun Shots
    • Strong Language
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“A full-bodied musical, a wonderful melodrama that is also a thoroughly modern ballad opera.” – Wall Street Journal

“The most exciting thing to have happened to the English musical theatre for years.” – Punch

“There are so many good things to shout and sing about in this new musical.” – Daily Mail

“Deeply moving.” – London Broadcasting

“A genuine crowd pleaser...Blood Brothers remains a one-of-a-kind show...and no musical theater fan should fail to experience it.” – Theater Week

“Totally beguiling.” – City Limits

“For years we have...longed for a show in which words and music, characterization and songs are given equal weight... Blood Brothers is such an event.” – Time Out

Blood Brothers sparkles on Broadway. Willy Russell has the gift for heartbreak... This musical's power to terrify, amuse and beguile gallops along... It is impossible to leave Blood Brothers unmoved. Even people who don't like musicals will love this work.” – Connecticut Post

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

Top 15 Plays and Musicals About Siblings
Concord Theatricals
April 8, 2019

Videos

  • Blood Brothers TV Spot youtube thumbnail

    Blood Brothers TV Spot

  • Tour Press Launch youtube thumbnail

    Tour Press Launch

Music

Music Samples

1 - Overture (Mrs Johnstone & Choir)
2 - Marilyn Monroe (Mrs Johnstone)
2a - Marilyn Monroe (reprise) (Mrs Johnstone)
3 - Mrs Lyons' theme
4 - Underscoring (Shoes Upon the Table)
5 - Underscoring (Mrs Lyons' them)
6 - My Child (Mrs Johnstone & Mrs Lyons)
7 - Underscoring
8 - Underscoring
9 - Easy Terms (Mrs Johnstone & Backing Singers)
10 - Underscoring
11 - Shoes Upon the Table (Narrator)
12 - Easy Terms (reprise) (Mrs Johnstone)
13 - Kids Game (Kids, Linda, Cowboy, Sammy, Sergeant & Corporal)
14 - Underscoring (Shoes Under the Table)
15 - Shoes Upon the Table (reprise 2a) (Narrator)
16 - Shoes upon the Table (reprise 2b) (Narrator)
17 - Bright New Day (preview) (Mrs Johnstone)
18 - Long Sunday Afternoon (Mrs Johnstone)
19 - Bright New Day (reprise) (Mrs Johnstone & All)
20 - Marilyn Monroe (reprise) (Mrs Johnstone)
21 - Underscoring
22 - Underscoring (Just a Game)
23 - Underscoring (Hymn)
24 - Underscorring (Narrator)
25 - Underscoring (One Summer)
26 - That Guy (Mikey & Eddie)
27 - Shoes Upon the Table (Narrator)
28 - Underscoring
29 - Underscoring
30 - I'm Not Saying a Word (Eddie)
31 - Underscoring
32 - Miss Jones (Mr Lyons & Doleites)
33 - Just a Game (underscore)
34 - Marilyn Monroe (reprise 3) (Mrs Johnstone)
35 - Light Romance (Mrs Johnstone)
36 - Shoes Upon the Table (madman) (Narrator)
37 - Tell Me It's Not True (Mrs Johnstone & Company)
Saxophone (Soprano & Alto)
Trumpet
Keyboard 1
Keyboard 2
Percussion (Timpani, Tom-tom, Cymbal, Vibes, Congas, Tam-tam, Tambourine, Timbales, Shaker, Snare Drum, Gunshot sound, Mark Tree, Guiro, Cabasa, Wood Block, Sleigh Bells, Jawbone, Bongos)
Drums
Violin/Acoustic Guitar
Electric Guitar
Bass Guitar
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Medium

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
    Performance rights for this title are currently withdrawn in the UK. To be informed as soon as it becomes available in the future, please submit a license application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
12 Piano-Conductor
1 Saxophone
1 Trumpet
1 Keyboard 1
1 Keyboard 2
1 Percussion
1 Drums
1 Violin/Acoustic Guitar
1 Electric Guitar
1 Bass Guitar
12 Piano-Conductor

Authors

Willy Russell

Willy Russell’s career spans more than four decades; born in Liverpool in 1947, he left school at 15 and became a women’s hairdresser and part-time singer/songwriter performing on the local folk scene before returning to education and becoming a teacher.

Whilst at St Katharine ...

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