A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

A Catered Affair

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  6w, 4m

Book by Harvey Fierstein
Music and Lyrics by John Bucchino

Based on the Turner Entertainment motion picture distributed by Warner Brothers and written by Gore Vidal, and the original teleplay by Paddy Chayefsky.

A Catered Affair tells the story of a Bronx mother’s efforts to give her only daughter the elaborate wedding she never had – and never asked for.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    6w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Period, Docudrama/History
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 2008 Drama League Award for Best Musical
    Nominee: Three 2008 Tony Awards, including Best Orchestrations
    Nominee: Twelve 2008 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical, Book, Lyrics, Music and Orchestrations
A Catered Affair

Details

Summary
A Catered Affair tells the story of a Bronx mother’s efforts to give her only daughter the elaborate wedding she never had – and never asked for. In this funny, poignant and oh, so human show of love and disaffection, Harvey Fierstein’s book and John Bucchino’s score explore both our need for love and true meaning of family. 
History
A Catered Affair premiered on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre on 17 April 2008. Directed by John Doyle, the production featured Matt Cavenaugh, Harvey Fierstein, Leslie Kritzer, Faith Prince and Tom Wopat.
PRINCIPALS
2 Women
3 Men

FEATURED
1 Man
4 Women

CHARACTERS
Aggie Hurley – mother of the bride
Tom Hurley – father of the bride
Janey Hurley – the bride
Ralph Halloran – the groom
Winston – uncle of the bride
Mr. Halloran – groom's father (double as Sam)
Mrs. Halloran – groom's mother (doubles as Pasha)
Myra – neighbor (doubles as Wedding Dress Saleswoman)
Delores – neighbor (doubles as The Caterer)
Alice – Janey's best friends (doubles as Army Sergeant)
Sam – cab driver
Pasha – neighbor
Wedding Dress Saleswoman
Caterer
Army Sergeant
  • Time Period 1950s
  • Setting The South Bronx, NYC. Early summer, 1953.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration 90 minutes

Media

“Quietly beautiful.. simply a musical with an honest heart. ” – New York Post

“This Bronx tale, with its interlocking, underlining and quietly beautiful music and lyrics by John Bucchino, skims along the edge of sentimentality to find honest sentiment in this story. These are not musical comedy stereotypes – these are people. It’s simply a musical with an honest heart, and that's enough.” – New York Post

“An emphasis on characters drawn with passion and compassion, and handled with that most quaint of virtues: dignity. [Fierstein] has fashioned a witty, wise, moving script. John Bucchino’s score is similarly thoughtful and heartfelt.” – USA Today

"A triumph of craft over commercialism. Fierstein’s book is a sweet tale filled with humor and pathos. Bucchino's score for A Catered Affair is a ravishing combination of gorgeous melodies and scrupulously crafted lyrics. He has ingeniously blended recitative and song into character-driven pieces that fuse perfectly with the dialogue. It's an auspicious Broadway debut for Bucchino and several songs in the score, such as ‘Don't Ever Stop Saying I Love You,’ are destined to become standards.” – Next Magazine

“Running a concise but enthralling 90 minutes, this quietly intense, intimate musical possesses a heart and emotional power that too often has been missing from Broadway musicals... The beautiful score by John Bucchino, making his Broadway debut, gives each of the main players their chance to shine.” – The Hollywood Reporter

“Perhaps the perfect show for a new period of economic anxiety and widening class divide... the show commands respect by further challenging standard preconceptions of how the Broadway musical should sound, function and feel.” – Variety

Music

Music Samples

1. “Partners” – Tom & Sam, Ralph & Janey
2. “Ralph And Me” – Janey
3. “Married” – Aggie
4. “Women Chatter” – Myra, Pasha & Dolores
5. “No Fuss” – Aggie
6. “Your Children’s Happiness” – Mr. & Mrs. Halloran
7. “Immediate Family” – Winston
8. “Our Only Daughter” – Aggie
9. “One White Dress” – Janey & Aggie
10. “Vision” – Aggie
11. “Don’t Ever Stop Saying ‘I Love You’” – Janey & Ralph
12. “I Stayed” – Tom
13. “Married (Reprise)” – Aggie
14. “Coney Island” – Winston
15. “Don’t Ever Stop Saying ‘I Love You’ (Reprise)” – Ralph, Janey & Tom
16. “Coney Island (Reprise)” – Winston & Company

Full Package:
7 Libretto/Vocal
1 Piano/Conductor

1 Bass (Acoustic)
1 Cello
1 Piano (Acoustic)
1 Percussion (Trap (Snare Drum & Bass Drum), Sus. Cymbal, Bell Tree, Glock., Timpani, Xylophone, Triangle and Small Triangle.)
1 Reed I (Clarinet, Flute, Alto Flute & Piccolo)
1 Reed II (Bassoon & Clarinet)
1 Trumpet (Doubling Optional Flugelhorn)
1 Viola
1 Violin I
1 Violin II

Piano Only:
7 Libretto/Vocal
1 Piano/Conductor

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway, Operetta
  • Dance Requirements Minimal
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Medium
  • Chorus Size No Chorus

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!
7 Libretto-Vocal Book
1 Piano-Conductor
1 Reed 1
1 Reed 2
1 Trumpet
1 Piano
1 Percussion
1 Violin 1
1 Violin 2
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Bass
7 Libretto-Vocal Book
1 Piano-Conductor

Add-Ons

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Authors

Harvey Fierstein

Harvey Fierstein made his professional acting debut at La Mama ETC in 1971 in Andy Warhol's only play, Pork. He followed that with appearances in more than 60 Off-Off-Broadway productions before he began his career as a playwright. Early works like Flatbush Tosca and Cobra Je ...
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John Bucchino

John Bucchino's songs have been performed and recorded by renowned pop (Art Garfunkel, Judy Collins), theatre (Liza Minnelli, Patti LuPone, Kristin Chenoweth, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Audra McDonald), cabaret (Barbara Cook, Michael Feinstein), and classical (Yo-Yo Ma, Deborah V ...

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Author

Gore Vidal

Paddy Chayefsky

Sidney Aaron "Paddy" Chayefsky (January 29, 1923 – August 1, 1981) was an American playwright, screenwriter and novelist. He is the only person to have won three solo Academy Awards for writing both adapted and original screenplays.

He was one of the most renowned dramatis ...

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