A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Marie Christine

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  10w, 6m, 2boy(s)

Words and Music by Michael John LaChiusa

A powerful re-telling of the tragic Medea myth set against the genteel life of privilege in New Orleans Creole society, and boisterous Chicago.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    10w, 6m, 2boy(s)
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature), Period, Docudrama/History
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)
Marie Christine

Details

Summary
Set in the twilight years of the 19th century, Marie Christine chronicles its doomed heroine's journey from her genteel life of privilege in New Orleans Creole society through betrayal and incomprehensible vengeance in boisterous Chicago. This gripping tale of one headstrong and passionate young woman's all-consuming love for an ambitious sea captain provides a tour-de-force for its leading lady. When it premiered at the esteemed Lincoln Center Theatre, the New York Daily News found it to be 'A brilliant re-working of Medea [that] manages at once to make it fresh and to retain its gut-wrenching compulsion.' Marie Christine was the final Broadway musical of the 20th century, an extraordinary creation that investigates unsettling mysteries of the psyche that are as old as the human condition itself.
History
Marie Christine premiered on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre on December 2, 1999. Directed by Graciela Daniele, the production starred Audra McDonald and featured Anthony Crivello, Vivian Reed, Keith Lee Grant, Darius de Haas and Mary Testa.
PRINCIPALS
6 Women
3 Men

FEATURED
4 Women
3 Men
2 Boys (non-speaking roles)

ENSEMBLE
Singing ensemble

CHARACTERS
Woman in Prison #1
Woman in Prison #2
Woman in Prison #3
Marie Christine L'Adresse
Marie Christine's Mother
Dante Keyes
Jean – Marie Christine's elder brother
Paris – her other brother, younger than Jean
Lisette– Marie Christine's maid
Maid #1
Maid #2
Gentleman #1
Gentleman #2
Beatrice – Jean's fiancée
2 Children – 3 and 5 years old, the children of Marie Christine and Dante
Magdalena – an entertainer
2 'Daughters' – performers with Magdelena. Will also play the daughters of Esau Parker
Esau Parker
Charles Gates – Dante's financier
Leary – associate of Gates
McMahon – associate of Gates
Barfly #1
Barfly #2
Dante as an old man
Helena – daughter of Gates
  • Time Period 19th Century
  • Setting New Orleans and Chicago, 1894–1899.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

“A major work by one of the most highly regarded new serious songwriters for the stage.” – San Francisco Examiner
“A brilliant reworking of Medea that manages at once to make it fresh and to retain its gut-wrenching compulsion.” – New York Daily News

Music

Music Samples

1. "Before The Morning" - Prisoners 1, 2, 3; Women 1, 2; Marie Christine
2. "Mamzell' Marie" - Marie Christine, Marie Christine's Mother, Chorus-SATB
3. "Your Grandfather Is The Sun" - Marie Christine's Mother, Marie Christine
4. "Beautiful" - Marie Christine
5. "In An Instant" - Prisoners 1, 2, 3
6. "The Map Of Your Heart" - Paris, Jean, Marie Christine
7. "Way Back To Paradise" - Marie Christine
8. "When You Look At A Man" - Women Prisoners 1, 2, 3
9. "C'est L'Amour" - Marie Christine, Laundress, Debutante, Young Lover, Basses
10. "To Find A Lover" - Marie Christine, Chorus-SATB
11. "Dante's Sequence: The Adventure Never Ends" - Dante
12. "Dante's Sequence: Nothing Beats Chicago" - Dante
13. "Dante's Sequence: Ocean Is Different" - Dante
14. "Dante's Sequence: Danced With A Girl" - Dante
15. "Tout Mimi" - Lisette
16. "Miracles And Mysteries" - Marie Christine's Mother, Prisoners
17. "Tour Mimi (Reprise)" - Lisette
18. "I Don't Hear The Ocean" - Dante, Marie Christine
19. "Bird Inside The House" - Maid 1, 2; Gentlemen 1, 2
20. "All Eyes Look Upon You" - Jean
21. "A Month Ago He Comes Here" - Maid 1
22. "Danced With A Girl (Reprise)" - Dante
23. "We're Gonna Go To Chicago" - Dante, Marie Christine
24. "Never Fall Under The Spell/ Dansez Calinda" - Prisoners 1, 2, 3; Lisette
25. "And You Would Lie/ I Will Give You My Money" - Prisoners 1, 2, 3; Marie Christine; Women
26. "Finale Act I - Pierrot Part 1 (Opera Comique)" - Paris, Gentlemen 1 & 2
27. "Finale Act I - Part 2" - Chorus, Beatrice, Paris
28. "Finale Act I - Part 3" - Beatrice, Chorus, Gentlemen 1 & 2
29. "Five Years Up And Down The Coast" - Women in Prison, Marie Christine
30. "Cincinnati" - Magdalena, Daughters, Barfly 1 & 2
31. "You're Looking At The Man" - McMahon, Leary, Dante, Madgalena, Daughters, Men in Saloon, Women, Men, Barfly 1 & 2, Women in Prison
32. "The Scorpion" - Dante, Marie Christine
33. "Lover Bring Me Summer" - Marie Christine, Daughters
34. "Tell Me" - Marie Christine
35. "Billy Was Sweet/ There's A Rumor Goin' 'Round" - Magdalena
36. "Paradise Is Burning Down" - Magdalena, Women in Prison
37. "Prison In A Prison" - Marie Christine, Women in Prison
38. "Better And Best" - McMahon, Leary
39. "Good Looking Woman" - Gates, McMahon, Leary
40. "You Can Taste The Blood" - Prisoners 1, 2, 3
41. "No Turning Back" - Paris
42. "Silver Mimosa/ Before The Morning (Reprise)" - Lisette, Mother, Paris, Jean, Prisoners 1, 2, 3
43. "Marie Soliloquy" - Marie Christine
44. "Wedding" - Magdalena, Beatrice, Daughters, All Other Women, Tenors, Basses
45. "I Will Love You" - Marie Christine
46. "Helena's Death" - Dante
47. "Innocence Dies" - Marie Christine's Mother, Magdalena, Lisette, Daughters, Prisoners 1, 2, 3; All Other Women

Full Orchestration
Piano (Doubles Celeste , Synthesizer)
Reed I (Flute, Bb Clarinet, Piccolo, Alto Flute, Soprano Sax)
Reed II (Bb Clarinet, Eb Clarinet, Clarinet in A)
Reed III (Bb Clarinet, Oboe, English Horn)
Reed IV (Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Bb Clarinet)
Horn I
Horn II
Trumpet I (Bb Trumpet, Cornet)
Trumpet II
Viola
Cello
Bass
Violin I&II
Onstage Percussion (Kalimba, Caxixi, Shakers, Bones, Bamboo, Clic Clak, Floor Bells, Legs, Ashiko, Bells, Bell Chimes, Rattle, Sleigh Bell, Chime, Ciyes, Talking Drum, Vibratone in C, Vibratone in E)
Percussion I
Percussion II
(Perc. 1&2 Instruments: Vibraphone, Small Triangle, Cymbal, Timpani, Xylophone, Marimba, Triangle, Glockenspiel, Teeny Triangle, Mark Tree, Tom Toms, Crotales, Temple Blocks, Piatti, Bass Drum w/ Mounted Cymbal, Tambourine, Vibra Slap, Gran Cassa, Maracas, Wood Block, Spoons, Cow Bell, Bell Tree, Conga, Hand Drum, Finger Cymbal, Tam Tam, Low Tom Tom, Chimes, Ratchet)

STRING NOTE: In the optional Full Score, there are synthesizer parts that augment the string parts in Act 1 only. These synthesizer parts are not in the Piano Book. In the original production of Marie Christine, these parts were not played.



  • Musical Style Operetta
  • Dance Requirements Minimal
  • Vocal DemandsDifficult
  • Orchestra Size Medium
  • Chorus Size Medium

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!
Full Setting: Marie Christine takes place in New Orleans and in Chicago between 1894 and 1899.

SPECIFIC LOCATIONS
A Woman's Prison in Chicago
A Park on Lake Pontchartrain, outside of New Orleans
Marie Christine's elegant home on Mandoline Street and its interiors
The Garconierre and Ballroom of Marie Christine's House
A Pier
A Saloon in the First Ward, Chicago
An Alleyway
A Small House and its interiors
Interior of a Church
A High Scaffold
22 Libretto
22 Piano-Vocal
1 Reed 1
1 Reed 2
1 Reed 3
1 Reed 4
1 Horn 1
1 Horn 2
1 Trumpet 1
1 Trumpet 2
1 Percussion 1
1 Percussion 2
2 Violin 1&2
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Bass
1 Logo Pack

Additional Material:
A Full Score is available for this title for an additional fee. Please contact your licensing representative for additional information.
22 Libretto
22 Piano-Vocal
1 Logo Pack

Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Authors

Michael John LaChiusa

Michael John LaChiusa – composer, lyricist and librettist – established himself as a powerful presence on the American musical theatre scene after winning Off-Broadway’s 1993 Obie Award for his musicals First Lady Suite and Hello Again. Six years later, LaChiusa was represent ...

View full profile

Now Playing

Related