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Merrily We Dance and Sing

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  4w, 11m

Book & Lyrics by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore
Music by Ed Alton

Merrily We Dance and Sing is a slapstick, madcap musical farce. While a small-town community theater performs an original operetta The Naughty Boy, an escaped serial killer gets loose in the theater – eventually hiding from the local police on the stage – which forces the actors to improvise new plot lines, rewrite dialogue, and take the opportunity to invent their own happy endings.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 11m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Farce
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14-18)

Details

Summary

Merrily We Dance and Sing is a slapstick, madcap musical farce. While a small-town community theater performs an original operetta The Naughty Boy, an escaped serial killer gets loose in the theater – eventually hiding from the local police on the stage – which forces the actors to improvise new plot lines, rewrite dialogue, and take the opportunity to invent their own happy endings. Imagine “Gilbert & Sullivan Meet the Marx Brothers.” With book & lyrics by Van Zandt & Milmore and original music by Van Zandt, Milmore & Ed Alton. Includes the songs “I Am First an Englishman,” “Once Upon a Time,” the near-impossible tongue-twister show-stopper “It’s All in the Chase” and “They Call Me Sweet Carnation (Because I Love to Smell).”

History
Merrily We Dance and Sing (or The Naughty Boy) premiered at the Henderson Theatre in Lincroft, New Jersey on 20 May 1994. Produced by Mark Fleming and Van Zandt/Milmore productions, the production was directed by Billy Van Zandt & Art Neill.
CHUCK PEAMAN – Playing the role of the Mayor of Himm (G2-E4)
LORETTA PEAMAN – Playing the role of Sweet Carnation's Nan (G3-C5)
MICKEY – Playing the role of the Naughty Boy (G2-E4)
COREY – Playing the role of Sweet Carnation (G#3-D5)
BROCK – Playing the role of the Major-General (Bb3-E4)
PETEY – Playing the role of the Fool (Bb3-G4)
JACK “JACKIE” BALDO – Escaped mental patient
SERGEANT TAGGERT – The real thing (B3-C4)
TWO POLICEMEN – Also real
BERNIE LUDLOE – The show’s composer and conductor
CHORUS BOYS AND GIRLS – At least four
  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day, New Millennium/21st Century
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“Packed with fun… uproariously funny!” – Asbury Park Press

“It’s exceptional! With its wicked puns, naughty misogyny, sexual entendre and general goofiness, it’s like an extended Milton Berle Comedy Hour! Slapstick, missed cues, tear-away clothing, pratfalls. Just about everything except scenery falling down. Stay for the curtain call!” – Two River Times

“A zany musical! The first musical nuttiness Van Zandt & Milmore have put together in their 22-year association. Van Zandt and Milmore have included every gag in the book – men dressed as women, women dressed as men, innuendoes and slapstick galore! Let us rejoice! Flashes of Pirates of Penzance, Abbott & Costello, sex of various persuasions, chases through the audience and collapsing scenery. First-rate! And so hilarious!” – The Coaster

“Packed with fun! Unparalleled in its absurd hilarity! Uproariously funny! So packed with quips, wisecracks and innuendoes that it may be impossible to get all the jokes in one viewing!” – Asbury Park Press

Music

Song Samples

Happy Hamlet of Himm
Sweet Carnation's Nan
I Am First an Englishman
A Plan, a Scheme
Once Upon a Time (Reprise)
Lord of the Hamlet
It's All in the Chase
Finale
  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Vocal DemandsEasy
  • 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/Vocal Score
15 Vocal Chorus Books
1 Performance CD (Full Orchestration Accompaniment)

Add-Ons

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Authors

Billy Van Zandt

Billy Van Zandt and his writing partner, the late Jane Milmore, are two of the most often produced playwrights in the world. Together for 46 years, they wrote and starred in 23 plays together, including the international hit comedy You’ve Got Hate Mail; off-Broadway’s tribute ...

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Jane Milmore

Jane Milmore began her career as an actress. After starring in several national TV commercials, she appeared in the TV shows Anything But Love and Sydney, as well as guest-starring on Bless This House, Newhart, Martin, The Hughleys, and The Wayans Bros. Jane also appeared in ...
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Ed Alton

Ed Alton’s music has maintained a constant presence on prime time TV for nearly 30 years. To date, he has composed scores for over 530 episodes of 31 different prime time network TV series. For 21 of those series he also composed the Main Title themes. Daily Variety recognize ...
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