Jasper in Deadland

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Jasper in Deadland

Full-Length Musical, Dark Comedy  /  4w, 5m

Additional Orchestrations by Solomon Hoffman

This fresh, compelling pop-rock musical, inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, follows 16-year-old Jasper Jarvis as he travels through the afterlife on a mission to save his best friend, Agnes.

Image: 2015 5th Avenue Theatre Production (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 5m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Fantasy
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)
Jasper in Deadland

Details

Summary

Jasper is lost in the living world. When you’re failing classes, kicked off the swim team, and your family is on the skids, life can feel like it’s going to hell. Yet, in all the disappointment, Jasper has his best friend, Agnes. In one night of teenage passion, Jasper and Agnes consummate a years-long friendship. But in the morning Agnes is gone, telling Jasper to meet her at their cliff. When he arrives there’s no sign of his best friend, only a swirling vortex to another world in the water below. Jasper dives into Deadland.

Jasper in Deadland features a thrilling pop-rock score from Ryan Scott Oliver, with a compelling book by Hunter Foster.

History
Jasper in Deadland premiered in a production by the Prospect Theater Company in New York City in March 2014. The play then officially opened at 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, WA in April 2015. Both productions were directed by Brandon Ivie.

JASPER
GRETCHEN / AGNES
EURYDICE
MR. LETHEPERSEPHONE
PLUTO
AMMUT
LOKI
BEATRIX
HEL
VIRGIL

CERBERUS HEAD #1
CERBERUS HEAD #2
CERBERUS HEAD #3
DANTE
LITTLE LU
BRUTUSSISYPHUSSOME DOUCHE
BLIND JUSTICE
LETHE'S GIRLS
DAUGHTERS OF DANAUS
FACTORY WORKERS / CORPERS / CITIZENS / THE RIVER LETHE
OTHER CHARACTERS:
 The Goddess, Boatman, Anniversary Guy, Mom, Principal Bea,Coach Lewis, Counselor Amanda, Missy, Chaz, Dad, Graham, Agneses, Corpses, Lethe's Girls, Randy, Some Douche, Tourists, Paperboy, Informed Citizens, Irma, Tabloid Girls, Jessica's Mother, Abigail Acrimone, Hathaway, Bartender, Hookah Smokers, Clubbers, Shady, Boss Rhadamanthus, Osiris, Screaming Man, etc.

Notes on Casting: All roles may be played by any gender. Some roles should have pronouns changed and others should not, regardless of the gender of the actor playing them. Some roles have alternative keys offered (at no additional charge) depending on the voice type of the actor playing them.

JASPER should change pronouns throughout the script to the pronouns of the actor playing the role; the name should not be changed. If the actor playing JASPER identifies as a soprano, they should maintain all (tenor) keys. If the actor playing JASPER identifies as an alto, they should do the following: Make any changes the actor and music director see fit to notes and pitches throughout the score to accommodate the actor. All changes are acceptable. "The Killing" should be down a 4th, to G. "Stroke by Stroke" should be down a 4th, in A.

LETHE should change pronouns throughout the script to the pronouns of the actor playing the role; the name SHOULD be changed to Madame Lethe or Mx. Lethe. If LETHE is played by an alto, "Awful People" should be down a 4th. "The City Circle" (#6) should also be down a 4th.

If AMMUT is played by a tenor, they shold sing at pitch (or down a minor 3rd to A minor starting). If they are a baritone/bass, they should sing down the octave.

All other characters should keep the pronouns inthe script and should not change the name of the characters (mostly because they are based in mythology). This also includes AGNES/GRETCHEN.

Please reach out to your licensing representative if you have any further questions.

  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Setting The living world and the five circles of Deadland
  • Features Elaborate/High-Volume Costumes, Fantasy Costumes
  • Additional Features Puppetry
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“An electrifying surge of theatrical energy!” – Entertainment Weekly

“Foster and Oliver unleash their cleverness in this playful, energetic and wide-ranging new musical” – The New York Times, Read More

“An electrifying surge of theatrical energy! Jasper In Deadland marks the arrival of Oliver as a major new voice in Musical Theatre” – Entertainment Weekly, Read More

“A Magnificent Musical! Jasper In Deadland is a journey of self-discovery that moved me in such a way that it brought tears to my eyes. Bravo for Deadland!” – New York Theatre Guide, Read More

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

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Videos

  • Stroke by Stroke - 5th Avenue Theatre production youtube thumbnail

    Stroke by Stroke - 5th Avenue Theatre production

  • Living Dead - 5th Avenue Theatre production youtube thumbnail

    Living Dead - 5th Avenue Theatre production

  • Jasper in Deadland at 5th Avenue Theatre youtube thumbnail

    Jasper in Deadland at 5th Avenue Theatre

  • Hungry for Your Heart - 5th Avenue Theatre production youtube thumbnail

    Hungry for Your Heart - 5th Avenue Theatre production

  • Ryan Scott Oliver sings "Awful People" at 54 Below youtube thumbnail

    Ryan Scott Oliver sings "Awful People" at 54 Below

  • Stroke By Stroke - Jay Armstrong Johnson at 54 Below youtube thumbnail

    Stroke By Stroke - Jay Armstrong Johnson at 54 Below

  • Lifesong - Andi Alhadeff youtube thumbnail

    Lifesong - Andi Alhadeff

  • Pasadena Musical Theatre Program performs "Living Dead" youtube thumbnail

    Pasadena Musical Theatre Program performs "Living Dead"

  • Behind the Scenes at The 5th Avenue Theatre - Building Cerberus youtube thumbnail

    Behind the Scenes at The 5th Avenue Theatre - Building Cerberus

Show more +

Music

Music Samples

1. “Goodbye, Jasper!” – Jasper & Company
2. “The Ferryboat” – Virgil, River Lethe
3. “What Is Life?” – Cerberus & Corpses
4. “The Killing” – Jasper & Corpses
5. “Mark This!” – Cerberus
6. “The City Circle” – Mr. Lethe, Lethe’s Girls
6a. “Tour Song” – Gretchen & Some Douche
7. “Jasper in Deadland” – Citizens
8. “Jasper in Deadland (Lethe Style)” – Mr. Lethe
9. “The Forgetting” – Gretchen
10. “Living Dead” – Jasper, Gretchen & Citizens
11. “Hel ’n Loki #1” – Hel & Loki
12. “The Sewer” – River Lethe
13. “The Forgetting – Reprise” – Gretchen
14. “Hungry for Your Heart” – Ammut & Blind Justice
15. “Hel ’n Loki #2” – Hel & Loki
16. “The Commercial” – Lethe’s Girls
17. “Stroke by Stroke” – Jasper
18. “The Remembering” – Agnes & Company
20. “Something For Real” – Jasper & Agnes
21a. “Dante: The Opera” – Dante & Beatrix
22. “Hel ’n Loki #3” – Hel & Loki
23. “Beat and Broken Spirits” – Little Lu, Agnes, Brutus, Sisyphus, Daughters of Danaus & Factory Workers
24. “Factory Sequence – Part 1” – Agnes
26. “Awful People” – Mr. Lethe
27. “Factory Sequence – Part 3” – Jasper
28. “Elysium” – Jasper, Agnes & Elysian Dead
29. “Lifesong” – Eurydice
30. “Persephone’s Goodbye” – Persephone
31. “Lifesong (Reprise)” – Jasper & Agnes
32. “Pluto” – Pluto & Persephone
33. “The Swim” – Jasper, Agnes & Company
34. “One More Day of Snow” – Jasper, Agnes & Company

  • Musical Style Pop/Rock
  • Vocal DemandsDifficult
  • Orchestra 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!
15   Vocal Book
1   Piano-Vocal (rehearsal)

1   Piano-Conductor (performance)
1   Guitar – Electric & Acoustic
1   Drums
1   Cello
1   Bass
15   Vocal Book
1   Piano-Vocal (rehearsal & performance)

Add-Ons

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Authors

Hunter Foster

Hunter Foster is an Artistic Associate at Bucks County Playhouse, where he has directed Company, Ain't Misbehavin', The Buddy Holly Story, National Pastime, The Rocky Horror Show (2013, 2014 and 2016), Summer of '42 and It's a Wonderful Life. His other directing credits inclu ...

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Ryan Scott Oliver

Ryan Scott Oliver is a Lortel Award-nominated and Kleban Prize, Rodgers, and Larson Award-winning composer and lyricist. He was called “the future of Broadway… a major new voice in musical theatre” (Entertainment Weekly) and is “shaking up musical theater with his dark, twist ...

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