A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Monster Makers

Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy  /  1w, 4m

Stephen Dolginoff

A musical triple-feature inspired by three monstrously true, behind-the-scenes tales of the most famous monster movies in cinema history!

Monster Makers

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Period, Parody/Spoof
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences

Details

Summary

A musical triple-feature inspired by three monstrously true, behind-the-scenes tales of the most famous monster movies in cinema history!

Act I: In 1920s Germany, director F.W. Murnau fears he may lose a lawsuit brought by the estate of Bram Stoker over his silent vampire film Nosferatu, which is suspiciously similar to Dracula. Will all of the prints be destroyed?

Act II: In 1930s Hollywood, make-up man Jack Pierce works carefully to create the defining look for Frankenstein’s monster while trying to meet the demands of the studio. Will he get the credit he deserves?

Act III: In 1970s England, actor Peter Cushing hopes to be able to finish the final British sequels to Frankenstein and Dracula before outside forces threaten to get in the way. Will his horror fans be disappointed?

Will all of these men triumph while fighting for their art against the various demons they must face? As these famous monster makers each discover… sometimes real life can be even more frightening than the movies! 

History
Monster Makers was first presented in New York City at the Daryl Roth Theatre on 22 June 2015. It was produced by New York Theatre Barn (Joe Barros, Artistic Director; Mark Montague, Managing Director; Laura Brandel, Artistic Producer). The performers were Stephen Dolginoff, Camille Diamond, John McVeigh and Leo Ash Evens, with Zachary Orts on piano.
Keywords
Performing Groups

ACT ONE

F.W. MURNAU – A flamboyant director
ALBIN GRAU – A stern producer
MORITZ – A meek lawyer
MAX SCHRECK – A creepy actor
MRS. FLORENCE STOKER – A formidable widow

ACT TWO
JACK PIERCE – A maniacal make-up artist
JAMES WHALE – A well-mannered director
BORIS KARLOFF – A friendly actor
CARL LAEMMLE – A typical Hollywood producer
VERA WEST – A wisecracking costume designer

ACT THREE
PETER CUSHING – A dignified movie star
DRACULA’S STUNTMAN – A nonchalant guy
TERENCE FISHER – A petulant director
ANTHONY HINDS – A jovial producer
VICTORIA – A sexy actress

ACTORS ARE TRIPLE CAST

ACTOR ONE: F.W. MURNAU; JAMES WHALE; TERENCE FISHER   (Directors)

ACTOR TWO: MORITZ; JACK PIERCE; DRACULA’S STUNT MAN  (Various Men)

ACTOR THREE: MAX SCHRECK; BORIS KARLOFF; PETER CUSHING (Actors)

ACTOR FOUR: ALBIN GRAU; CARL LAEMMLE; ANTHONY HINDS  (Producers)

ACTOR FIVE:  MRS. STOKER; VERA WEST; VICTORIA (Women)

  • Time Period 1970s, 1930s, 1920s
  • Setting

    Germany, 1922. Hollywood, 1931. England, 1973.

  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“A highly intelligent and compelling musical… extraordinarily entertaining!” – Broadway Radio

“Monster Makers captures the magic behind movie monsters throughout the history of film – a loving tribute to the geniuses behind three cult classics!” – Sioux City Journal

“This is a highly intelligent and compelling musical. It’s extraordinarily entertaining. The music is quite wonderful and so are the lyrics. This is again proof that if you really love something, you’ll do a good job with it, and that shows throughout this piece. It has tremendous legs – legs even longer than Frankenstein’s monster! Keep an eye out for Monster Makers. I think you are going to be delightfully surprised!” – Broadway Radio, Read More

“The movie-macabre has come, by way of the musical! Intelligent and uplifting, Monster Makers is worth the ticket to ride… Haunting melodies and fast-flowing lyrics… This triple feature takes a uniquely individual trip through filmic horror lore!” – Theatre Pizzazz, Read More

“A great, fun idea for a musical. The songs were excellent. Dolginoff is a poetic and romantic composer. The general experience was one of intensity and joy.” – New York Cabaret Today, Read More

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

Bringing Monsters to Life in Toledo
by Elizabeth Cottle
September 23, 2016

Nosferatu, Frankenstein and Music: MONSTER MAKERS
by Garrett Anderson
July 20, 2016

Videos

  • Monster Makers - New York Theatre Barn Reading youtube thumbnail

    Monster Makers - New York Theatre Barn Reading

  • Monster Makers - photo montage (Black Box Staging) youtube thumbnail

    Monster Makers - photo montage (Black Box Staging)

  • Monster Makers - photo montage (Full Scenery) youtube thumbnail

    Monster Makers - photo montage (Full Scenery)

Music

Song Samples

Overture
Sacrifice My Vision
The Night We Filmed Your Death
Out for Blood
Creating a Monster
I Want It My Way
Take the World by Storm
Never Let the Perfect
Horror Fan
Finale - Nail in the Coffin
  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Vocal DemandsModerate

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
5 Vocal Book

Optional Performance Tracks

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Authors

Stephen Dolginoff

Stephen Dolginoff

Stephen Dolginoff is an award-winning, New York-based writer/composer. He received Drama Desk Award nominations for Best Musical & Best Music; an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Best Off-Broadway musical; and won an ASCAP Music Award for his musical Thrill Me: The L ...

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