Gutenberg! The Musical!

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Gutenberg! The Musical!

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  2m

By Scott Brown and Anthony King

In this two-man musical spoof, a pair of aspiring playwrights perform a backers’ audition for their new, hilariously ill-advised project – a big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johann Gutenberg.

Image: 2023 Broadway Production (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Gutenberg! The Musical!

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Parody/Spoof
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences, Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: 2024 Tony Award, Best Revival of a Musical
    Nominee: 2007 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Musical
    Nominee: 2007 Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical
    Nominee: 2007 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Book of a Musical

Details

Summary

New revised 2024 edition!

In this two-man musical spoof, a pair of aspiring playwrights perform a backers’ audition for their new, ill-advised project – a big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johann Gutenberg. With an unending supply of enthusiasm, Bud and Doug sing all the songs and play all the parts in their crass historical epic, with the hope that one of the producers in attendance will give them that elusive Broadway contract.

History
Gutenberg! The Musical! premiered on Broadway at the James Earl Jones Theatre on 12 October 2023. Directed by Alex Timbers, the Broadway production starred Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells. Scott Brown and Anthony King originally developed Gutenberg! at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City, where it ran for over a year, starring the authors and Ken Keech with direction by Charlie Todd and musical direction by Barry Wyner. The show was part of the 2005 and 2006 New York Musical Theatre Festival and ran at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London in January 2006. Gutenberg! The Musical! opened off-Broadway at 59E59 on 3 December 2006, transferring to The Actors’ Playhouse on 16 January 2007. Directed by Timbers, the off-Broadway production featured Christopher Fitzgerald, Jeremy Shamos and Ryan Karels, with music direction by T.O. Sterrett.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups
  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day, New Millennium/21st Century
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Audience Participation/Interactive, Local Celebrity Cameo
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“Brilliantly realized and side-splitting!” –New York Magazine

“A smashing success!” – The New York Times

“There are lots of genuine laughs in Gutenberg!” – New York Post

Photos

  • Gutenberg! The Musical!

    Image: 2023 Broadway Production (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Music

Music Samples

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway, Pop/Rock
  • Dance Requirements Easy
  • Vocal DemandsEasy
  • Orchestra Size Piano Only
  • Chorus Size No Chorus

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

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Authors

Author

Scott Brown

Anthony King

Anthony King

Anthony King is an Emmy-nominated writer, director and performer currently living in Los Angeles. He co-wrote the off-Broadway show Gutenberg! The Musical!, which also enjoyed a run off-West End in London and is now published by Samuel French and being performed all over the ...

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