The Mad Ones

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

The Mad Ones

Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy  /  3w, 1m

By Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk

Based on an Idea by Zach Altman and Bree Lowdermilk

Samantha Brown balances on the edge of her future, car keys in hand. As she sits in the driver's seat, she faces a choice: will she follow in her mother's footsteps, or take the dare of her impetuous best friend and chart a new path?

Image: 2017 Prospect Theater Company Production (Richard Termine)

The Mad Ones

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 1m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)
The Mad Ones

Details

Summary

Mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved...

18-year-old Samantha Brown sits in a hand-me-down car with the keys clutched in her hand. Caught between a yearning for the unknown and feeling bound by expectation, she telescopes back to a time before her world had fallen apart. As she relives her senior year, we meet Sam’s well-intentioned helicopter mother Bev and her high school sweetheart of a boyfriend Adam, but it’s her painfully alive best friend Kelly that haunts her. Kelly was everything Sam is not – impetuous and daring. She pushed Sam to break rules and do the unexpected. When Kelly is killed in a car wreck, Sam loses not only her best friend but also the part of herself that was learning to be brave. Now, Sam has to make a decision: Will she follow her mother’s dreams for her, or will she summon the courage to drive away from her friends and family into a future she can’t imagine?

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History

The Mad Ones, formerly known as The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown, opened off-Broadway (Prospect Theater Company at 59E59) on November 17, 2017.

Even before the show began to be licensed in December 2019, The Mad Ones sold 15,000+ individual pieces of digital sheet music, amassed millions of YouTube views and inspired thousands of fan videos.

Keywords
Performing Groups
SAM – (18) Smart, with a wry sense of humor and wicked sense of play. She takes herself too seriously. She is a worrier. Detached and straightforward but it would be wise to cast against type. The actress needs to access a deep reservoir of emotion. She must transform into the star of the show. Witnessing that metamorphosis is the theatrical purpose of the evening. The part requires an infinitely inventive and exciting actress. In other words, don’t let Kelly fool you: Sam is the star.
KELLY – (18) So alive, spontaneous, brighter than bright, cooler than cool. She is not bookish like Sam, but she has intuition and a deep ability to connect with the human condition.
BEVERLY – (Early 50s) Sam’s mother. A professor of statistics. Incisive, deadpan. Previously remote, Bev’s been more involved of late – one might say overbearing.
ADAM – (18) Kind, a heartthrob. He has great emotional intelligence and the loyalty of a St. Bernard.
  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day, New Millennium/21st Century
  • Duration 90 minutes

Media

“Touching and humorous... you'll love The Mad Ones.” – BroadwayWorld

“Simply stated, you'll love The Mad Ones. People of all ages can relate to this touching and humorous story.” – BroadwayWorld

“The Mad Ones is a fun show with great music and an honest message about being your own person.” – Theatre Is Easy

“Kerrigan and Lowdermilk are good at crafting catchy theater pop.” – Time Out New York

“If Kerrigan and Lowdermilk aren’t the best young songwriting team in the country, they’re right up there with other candidates – as is implied by the many awards they’ve already gathered.” – ­ David Finkle, Huffington Post

Videos

  • "Run Away with Me" - Jeremy Jordan youtube thumbnail

    "Run Away with Me" - Jeremy Jordan

  • "Say the Word" - Sarah Hyland youtube thumbnail

    "Say the Word" - Sarah Hyland

  • "Freedom" - Sarah Hyland and Melissa Benoist youtube thumbnail

    "Freedom" - Sarah Hyland and Melissa Benoist

Photos

  • The Mad Ones

    Image: 2017 Prospect Theater Company Production (Richard Termine)

  • The Mad Ones

    Image: 2017 Prospect Theater Company Production (Richard Termine)

Music

Music Samples

1. “The Girl Who Drove Away” – Sam
1a. “We’re Just In Your Head” – Sam, Kelly, Bev, Adam
2. “Freedom” – Sam, Kelly
2a. “Ordinary Senior Year” – Sam, Kelly
3. “My Mom Is A Statistician” – Sam, Bev
4. “Sam Failed Her Driver’s Test” – Sam, Kelly, Bev, Adam
5. “Top Ten” – Sam, Kelly
6. “Simple As That” – Sam, Adam
7. “The Proposal” – Sam, Kelly, Bev, Adam
7a. “Sex On The Brain” – Orchestra
7b. “There Was A Party” – Sam, Kelly
8. “The Mad Ones” – Sam, Kelly
8a. “The Sun” – Orchestra
8b. “Guidance Counselor” – Bev
9. “I Know My Girl” – Bev, Adam
10. “Miles to Go” – Bev
11. “Say The Word” – Sam, Adam
11a. “In My Dream” – Orchestra
12. “Moving On” – Sam, Kelly, Bev, Adam
13. “Go Tonight” – Sam, Kelly
13a. “Yellow SUV” – Orchestra
14. “Run Away With Me” – Adam
15. “Drive” – Sam, Kelly, Bev, Adam
15a. “I Didn’t Say Goodbye” – Kelly
16. “Remember This” – Sam, Kelly, Bev
17. “Bows” – Orchestra

Violin (dbl. Ride Cymbal)
Guitar (dbl. Cabasa, Triangle, Floor Tom, Snare Drum, Splash Cymbal)
Harp (dbl. Crash Cymbal, Wood Block, Floor Tom, Cabasa, Shaker, Suspended Cymbal)
Piano-Conductor (dbl. Finger Cymbals)
QLab files

  • Musical Style Contemporary Broadway
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo

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!
6 Piano-Conductor
1 Violin
1 Guitar
1 Harp
Downloadable Electronica (QLab files)
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Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Authors

Kait Kerrigan

Kait Kerrigan

Kait Kerrigan (she/her) is an award-winning lyricist as well as an accomplished bookwriter and playwright. Off-Broadway: The Mad Ones, Henry and Mudge, both with long-time collaborator Bree Lowdermilk. Regional: Plays - Father / Daughter, Imaginary Love; Musicals - lyrics for ...

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Bree Lowdermilk

Bree Lowdermilk
Bree Lowdermilk (she/they) Current: Justice (Arizona Theatre Company), Rosie Revere, Engineer (Nat'l Tour). Off-Broadway: The Mad Ones, Henry and Mudge. Regional: Kennedy Center, Kimmel Center, Lincoln Center. Residencies: McDowell, Mercer. Awards: Jonathan Larson, Alan Menke ...
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