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Romance/Romance

Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy  /  2w, 2m

Book and Lyrics by Barry Harman
Music by Keith Herrmann

A delightful pairing of one-act musicals, one a classical romantic farce and the other a contemporary comedy-drama, this tuneful Broadway hit is a small-cast gem.

Romance/Romance

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 2m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Romantic Comedy
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14-18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: Five 1988 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book & Best Score
    Nominee: 1988 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics

Details

Summary
This delightful pairing of one-act musicals, one classic and one modern, takes a comical and moving look at the mysteries of love. Act I, based on Schnitzler's The Little Comedy, is a delightful romp through the sexual ennui of turn-of-the-century Vienna, as two wealthy but bored socialites masquerade as impoverished bohemians seeking romance. Act II, based on the Jules Renard play Summer Share, explores modern affection and disaffection as two married couples share a summer house in the Hamptons. An Off Off Broadway sensation that successfully moved to Broadway, Romance/Romance is a charming and tuneful small-cast gem.

History
Romance/Romance premiered on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre on 1 May 1988. Directed by Barry Harman, the production starred Alison Fraser and Scott Bakula.
Keywords
Performing Groups

Act I
The Little Comedy

ALFRED VON WILMERS – A young handsome man about town. Strong legit baritone.
JOSEFINE WENINGER – a beautiful young woman with an “active past.” Strong alto with high belt.
HIM and HER – Two masked dancers, visions of eternal love.

Unmasked, HIM and HER also play the following roles:

HIM:
FRITZ – Alfred’s friend
EMIL – Josepfine’s paramour
LARS– Alfred’s valet

HER:
MITZI – Fritz’s girlfriend
LINA – Josefine’s maid

Act II
Summer Share

SAM – A dreamer. Baritone.
BARB – Sam’s wife of thirteen years. Soprano.
MONICA – Sam’s best friend. Alto.
LENNY – Monica’s husband. Tenor.

  • Time Period Contemporary, 1900-1910, 19th Century
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes, Period Costumes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Alcohol
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“Sparkles with charm and intelligence.” – The New York Times

“Smart, bubbly and ardent.” – New York Daily News

“A double dollop of the romantic spirit.” – New York Post

“A savvy little romp with a hip sensibility. Sweet, fresh and welcome.” – Newsday

“A sweetheart of a musical that knows more about entertaining an audience than most of its larger, more pretentious peers.” – Hearst Newspapers

Videos

  • Romance, Romance youtube thumbnail

    Romance, Romance

Music

Music Samples

Act I
The Little Comedy

“The Little Comedy” – Alfred & Josefine
“Goodbye, Emil” – Josefine
“It’s Not Too Late” – Alfred & Josefine
“Great News” – Alfred & Josefine
“Oh, What A Performance!” – Alfred & Josefine
“I’ll Always Remember the Song” – Alfred & Josefine
“Happy, Happy, Happy” – Alfred
“Women of Vienna” – Alfred
“Yes, It’s Love” – Josefine
“A Rustic Country Inn” – Alfred & Josefine
“The Night It Had to End” – Josefine
“The Little Comedy (Finale)” – Alfred & Josefine

Act II
Summer Share

“Summer Share” – All
“Think of the Odds” – Barb & Lenny
“It’s Not Too Late (Reprise)” – Sam & Monica
“Plans A & B” – Monica & Lenny
“Let’s Not Talk About It” – Sam & Barb
“So Glad I Married Her” – All
“Small Craft Warnings” – Barb & Lenny
“How Did I End Up Here?” – Monica
“Words He Doesn’t Say” – Sam
“My Love For You” – Lenny & Barb
“Moonlight Passing Through A Window” – Sam
“Now” – Monica
“Romantic Notions” – Sam, Barb, Lenny & Monica

Piano-Conductor
Vocal Book
Reed 1 (Alto/Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Piccolo)
Reed 2 (Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe, English Horn)
Trumpet (Doubling Piccolo Trumpet)
Keyboard 2 (Synthesizer, with Synth Instruction Booklet)
Drums/Percussion
Bass
  • Musical Style Classic Broadway, Pop/Rock, Contemporary Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Minimal
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Medium
  • 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!
1 Piano-Conductor
4 Vocal Book
1 Reed 1
1 Reed 2
1 Trumpet
1 Keyboard 2
1 Synthesizer Instruction Booklet
1 Drums/Percussion
1 Bass
1 Piano-Conductor
4 Vocal Book
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Authors

Barry Harman

Barry Harman

Barry Harman is a multi-award winning book writer, lyricist and director for theater (2 Tony nominations, 4 Outer Critic Circle Awards, 3 Drama Desk nominations) and a writer for TV (2 Primetime Emmy Awards and writer of an Emmy Award-winning family special for HBO). He also ...

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Keith Herrmann

Keith Herrmann
Keith Herrmann (1952-2021) received a Tony nomination (Best Musical Score) for the Broadway show Romance/Romance, which received a total of 5 nominations, including Best Show. (Other nominees that year included Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera and Stephen Sondheim' ...
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