Act I
1. “Spring” – Company
2. “Chosen Family” – Robert, Jackson, Melanie, Sam
3. “Grace” – Robert
4. “Women” – Jackson, Sam, Robert, Melanie
5. “Bird” – Lola, Lizzie
6. “Southern Comfort” – Robert, Storytellers
7. “Summer” – Elizabeth, Lizzie, Storytellers
8. “Places That Aren’t Even There” – Jackson, Carly, Joel, Lizzie
9. “Chosen Family” – Instrumental
10. “Bless My Heart” – Sam, Jackson, Storytellers
11. “Barbara” – Robert, Joel
12. “Letter” – Instrumental
13. “My Love” – Jackson, Lola, Sam, Carly, Robert, Melanie
14. “I Don’t Need Another Father” – Jackson
Act II
15. “Fall” – Storytellers
16. “Walk the Walk” – Carly, All but Jackson
17. “Flower Shop Interlude” – Lola
18. “I’m With You” – Melanie, Sam
19. “I’m Goin’” – Robert
20. “My Love (Reprise)” – All but Jackson
21. “Chosen Family (Reprise)” – Robert, Melanie, Sam, Lola, Carly
22. “Winter” – Joel, Elizabeth, All but Robert
23. “Giving Up the Ghost” – Lola
24. “Home/Spring (Reprise)” – Jackson, Storytellers
Piano-Conductor
Bass
Guitar 1 (Acoustic, Electric, Banjo, Harmonica, 12-String, Mandolin)
Guitar 2 (Electric, Mandolin, 6-string, Piano)
Percussion (Rattle, Djembe, Cajon, Triangle, Shakers, Piano)
Violin
Two variations of these band parts exist: Band Vocal and No Band Vocal, depending on whether your band are also doubling as The Storytellers.
Note From The Authors
The following information is to answer questions you may have about The Storytellers/Band since we envision the show being performed in as many ways as there are directors’ visions.
In all three productions of Southern Comfort (developmental production at CAP21 in 2011, premiere at Barrington Stage in 2013, and New York City premiere at the Public Theatre in 2016) we had a cast of six characters with a band of four who also sang and doubled as the Storytellers (David, Joel, Elizabeth, and Lizzie). These storytellers not only sang and played all the instruments and remained on stage the entire time, but they also were characters outside of Robert Eads’ chosen family (Robert’s parents, Doctors, Flower Shop Worker, Jackson’s Father, etc.) For the Public production, our Music Director was also on stage so there were five musicians on stage although oneband member did not sing or have any dialogue.
Although this is how we conceived the show, we realize the challenge of having access to actors who sing, act, and play instruments is not a common thing, so we have really imagined there to be so many combinations of how it can be presented. The show can easily be done with six principles, 4 Storytellers (who sing and have dialogue), and a band of 5 musicians (which can include your music director) depending on what instruments they can play.
The band parts you receive with licensing also contain the vocals they would be singing if that was an additional function of the band. There are different variations of this as well, and it might be best to work from the piano/vocal or just the vocals to determine who will be singing what. For example, our bass player also sang in the duet “Bird” because she was the soprano Storyteller/Band Member. Your soprano (if your singers are also in the band) may be your violinist or guitar player, which works too! The reasons for a band member singing a certain part is not important to the dramatic storytelling of the piece. If you have 4 Storytellers who sing and act whoare separate from the band, there is even more freedom.
The following information is to answer questions you may have about The Storytellers/Bandsince we envision the show being performed in as many ways as there are directors’visions.In all three productions of Southern Comfort(developmental production atCAP21 in 2011, premiere at Barrington Stage in 2013, and New York City premiere at the Public Theatre in 2016) we had a cast of six characters with a band of four who also sang and doubled as the Storytellers(David, Joel, Elizabeth, and Lizzie). These storytellers not only sang and played all the instrumentsand remained on stage the entire time, but they also were characters outside of Robert Eads’ chosen family(Robert’s parents, Doctors, Flower Shop Worker, Jackson’s Father, etc.)For the Public production, our Music Director was also on stage so there were five musicians on stage although oneband memberdid not sing or have any dialogue.Although this is how we conceived the show, we realize the challenge of having access toactors who sing, act, and playinstruments is not a common thing, so we have really imagined there to be so many combinations of how it can be presented. The show can easily be done with six principles, 4 storytellers (who sing and have dialogue), and a band of 5 musicians(which can include your music director) depending on what instruments they can play.The band partsyou receive with licensingalso contain the vocals they would be singingif that was an additional function of the band. There are different variations of this as well, and it might be best to work from the piano/vocal or just the vocals to determine who will be singing what. For example, our bass player also sang in the duet “Bird” becauseshe was the soprano Storyteller/Band Member. Your soprano (if your singers are also in the band) may be your violinist or guitar player, which works too! The reasons for a band member singing a certain part is not important to the dramatic storytelling of the piece. If you have 4 Storytellers who sing and act whoare separate from the band, there is even more freedom.