Mack & Mabel

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Mack & Mabel

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  5w, 10m

Book by Michael Stewart
Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman

Revised version by Francine Pascal
Based on an idea by Leonard Spigelglass
Original New York Production Directed and Choregraphed by Gower Champion

Featuring one of Jerry Herman's most tuneful scores, Mack & Mabel is the story of legendary silent film director Mack Sennett and his greatest star, the endearing Mabel Normand.

Image: Joan Marcus

Mack & Mabel

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    5w, 10m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Suggested Use
    • Competition or Audition Material
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)
Accolades
Accolades

  • Nominee: Eight 1975 Tony Awards, including Best Musical
    Winner! 1995 Evening Standard Award, Best Musical

Details

Summary

This is a saga of the silent film era, “when movies were movies”: the story of legendary director Mack Sennett and his greatest star, the adorable Mabel Normand. Mack himself guides the audience through his tale of triumph, romance and regret. Bankrupted by the talkies and forced to sell his studio, Mack reminisces about his colorful past, including his bittersweet love affair with Mabel, whom he had discovered and guided to superstardom. Jerry Herman's celebrated score includes some of his most treasured gems, including “Time Heals Everything,” “I Won't Send Roses,” “Wherever He Ain't” and “Look What Happened to Mabel.”

Now available in a revised version that contains changes made for the London revival, which won the Evening Standard's coveted Drama Award for Best Musical.

History
Mack & Mabel was first presented on Broadway by David Merrick at the Majestic Theatre in New York City on October 6, 1974. It was directed by Gower Champion.
Keywords
Performing Groups

MACK SENNETT – A workaholic movie director, baritone
MABEL NORMAND – A deli delivery girl who becomes a movie star, mezzo-soprano
FRANK WYMAN – An actor/writer and later a director, baritone
LOTTIE AMES – A silent movie star, mezzo-soprano
WILLIAM DESMOND TAYLOR – A "serious" director and rival for both Mabel's acting talents and her affections
MR. KLEIMAN – An accountant
EDDIE – Kleiman's partner
ELLA – A piano player
FRED – A silent film actor

Ensemble and small features

  • Time Period 1930s, 1920s, 1910s/WWI, 1900-1910
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Alcohol
    • Drugs
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“A fascinating true story set in a rich milieu, a bounty of complicated characters, and a score that is among the best in musical theatre history.” – Stage Left

“Mr. Herman has the common touch, a gift for melodies familiar and memorable... A musical in the old and true tradition.” – The New York Times

“Herman’s score... has such an embracing loveliness that it trails you right out the door post-show, its romance buoying you like a gentle tide through the Midtown streets.” – The New York Times

“It’s heaven... a musical that has all the right elements—a fascinating true story set in a rich milieu, a bounty of complicated characters, and a score that is among the best in musical theatre history.” – Stage Left

“[A] magnificent score... A bright musical comedy tinged with layers of sadness, regret and loss.” – AM New York

“Irresistably entertaining... One should cherish the warmth of spirit... reflected in Herman's characteristically lush score and charming lyrics." ” – AM New York

Videos

  • Mack and Mabel youtube thumbnail

    Mack and Mabel

Photos

  • Mack & Mabel

    Image: Joan Marcus

Music

Music Samples

Act I

Overture – Orchestra
1. “Movies Were Movies” – Mack
2. Laundry – Orchestra
3. “Look What Happened to Mabel” – Mabel, Andy, Fatty, Frank, Grips & Ensemble
3a. “Look (Reprise)” – Mack
4. “Big Time” – Lottie, Fatty, Frank, Kleiman, Fox, Mabel & Ensemble
4a. Big Time Playoff – Orchestra
5. “I Won’t Send Roses” – Mack
6. “I Won’t Send Rose (Reprise)” – Mabel
7. Arrival – Orchestra
8. “I Wanna Make the World Laugh” – Mack
8a. Laugh Tag – Orchestra
8b. “Look What Happened (Reprise)” – Mack & Mabel
8c. Integrity Exit – Orchestra
8d. Roman – Orchestra
8e. “I Wanna Make the World Laugh (Reprise)” – Mack & Company
8f. Laugh Reprise Tag – Orchestra
8g. Hollywood Hotel – Orchestra
9. “Wherever He Ain’t” – Mabel
9a. Wherever Playoff – Orchestra
10.“Hundreds of Girls” – Mack & Female Ensemble
11. End of Act 1: "I Won’t Send Roses (Reprise)” – Mack

Act II

12. Entr’acte – Orchestra
[There is no 12a]
12b. After Tub – Orchestra
12c. Pre-Mabel Underscore – Orchestra
13. “When Mabel Comes in the Room” – Harry, Kleiman, Fatty, Freddy, Fox, Ella, Lottie & Ensemble
13a. Mabel Tag – Orchestra
14. “Hit ‘Em On the Head” – Kleiman, Fox, Mack & Company
14a. Timbuktu – Orchestra
14b. Midnight Sailing – Orchestra
14c. Roses Underscore – Orchestra
15. “Time Heals Everything” – Mabel
16. “Tap Your Troubles Away” – Lottie & Female Ensemble
16a. Tap Tag #1 – Orchestra
16b. “Tap Tag #2” – Lottie & Female Ensemble
17. Time Cue – Orchestra
18. “I Promise You A Happy Ending” – Mack
19. Act Two Curtain – Orchestra
20. Bows: “When Mabels Walks In” – Company
21. Exit Music – Orchestra

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size X-Large
  • Chorus Size Large

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!
16   Piano-Conductor (Rehearsal & performance)

1   Reed 1 – Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet & Alto Saxophone
1   Reed 2 – Flute, Clarinet & Alto Saxophone
1   Reed 3 – Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone & Tenor Saxophone
1   Reed 4 – Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet & Baritone Saxophone
1   Horn
2   Trumpets 1&2
1   Trumpet 3
1   Trombone 1
1   Trombone 2
1   Guitar – Electric & Banjo
2   Drums/Percussion – 1: Drum Set, Wood-Block, Cow Bell, Police Whistle & Ratchet; 2: Timpani, Sus. Cym., Xylophone, Bells, Glockenspiel, Bell Plate, Slide-Whistle, Wood Block, Slap Stick, Ratchet, Tambourine, Lg. Triangle, Siren, Whip, Gran Cassa, Big Horn, Anvil & Cow Bell 
3   Violins ABC
1   Violas
1   Cello
1   Bass
16   Piano-Conductor (Rehearsal & performance)
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Authors

Jerry Herman

Jerry Herman

Hello, Dolly!, Mame, and La Cage Aux Folles are home to some of the most popular, most-often performed and most successful musical hero(in)es of all time, and have given Jerry Herman (1931-2019) the distinction of being the only composer/lyricist in history to have had three ...

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Michael Stewart

Michael Stewart

Michael Stewart (1924-1987) scored on Broadway the first time when he won a Tony Award for his Bye Bye Birdie libretto. He was the librettist for Carnival (Drama Critics Circle Award) and Hello, Dolly!, which earned him both a Tony and Drama Critics prize. Stewart also wrote ...

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Author

Leonard Spigelgass

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