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Well-Behaved Women

Musical Revue / Cabaret, Drama  /  12w

Music and Lyrics Carmel Dean

Orchestrations by Lynne Shankel
Additional lyrics by Miriam Laube

This contemporary song cycle for 4 to 20+ women is a celebration of many historic women who fought to have their voices heard and bravely made their mark on the world.

Well-Behaved Women

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    12w
  • Duration
    Duration
    75 Minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)
Well-Behaved Women

Details

Summary
Well-Behaved Women is a contemporary song cycle for 4 to 20+ women. It is a celebration of many historic women who fought to have their voices heard and bravely made their mark on the world. Women such as Eve, Cleopatra, Harriet Tubman, Frida Kahlo, Billie Jean King and Malala Yousafzai bring their incredible stories to life through powerful, emotional and often hilarious songs, leaving audiences entertained, moved and inspired.
History
Well-Behaved Women made its New York premiere at Joe's Pub on January 25, 2020, in a one-night-only production featuring LaChanze, Liz Callaway, Barbara Walsh, Bonnie Milligan, Katie Thompson, Natascia Diaz, Kuhoo Verma and Melissa Rose Hirsch. On March 24, 2021, the musical revue premiered in Sydney, Australia at the Hayes Theatre.
Keywords
Performing Groups

EVE
BOUDICCA
HARRIET TUBMAN
VIRGINIA WOOLF
CLEOPATRA
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
MARY MAGDALENE
FANNY DURACK
MINA WYLIE
BILLIE JEAN KING
HUA-LI
FRIDA KAHLO
MALALA YOUSAFZAI
JANET ARMSTRONG
STATUE OF LIBERTY
SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR
RUTH BADER GINSBURG
SONIA SOTOMAYOR
ELENA KAGAN

Note: A diverse cast is imperative in order to represent the multitude and diversity of female characters singing.

The cast can consist of anywhere from 4 to 20 women. If using a smaller cast, the breakdown of who sings which character/song can be at the discretion of the director. In order to be as inclusive as possible and to represent the multitude of characters singing, casting a diverse group of actors is imperative for this show.

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day, Ancient, 15th Century, Greek/Roman/Biblical, 18th Century, 19th Century, 17th Century, Medieval (6th-14th Century), 5th Century/Arthurian, 1930s, 1920s, 1910s/WWI, 1900-1910, American Civil War Era, 16th Century/Elizabethan, 1990s, 1980s, 1970s, 1960s, 1950s, 1940s/WWII
  • Setting A bare stage or simple set.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes, Period Costumes
  • Duration 75 Minutes

Media

Five Stars! “Exhilarating... celebrates women through the ages... It was a joy to be there.” – Limelight Magazine

“A wonderful battle cry of ballads about famous females from history to inspire modern generations to continue to break down the barriers... Through a range of musical styles from rock and jazz to country, [Carmel Dean] highlights that issues and behaviors that have been given modern names are not new... a must-see for any woman and more generally anyone that supports the women in their world.” – BroadwayWorld

Five Stars! “Carmel Dean’s exhilarating new song cycle celebrates women through the ages. To have a show so exquisitely aligned with the most pressing social and political issue of the day is a gift... It was a joy to be there.” – Limelight Magazine

“These women, and more, are brought to life through powerful and often hilarious songs that celebrate the ways in which their bad-ass behaviour helped them make history.” – Australian Arts Review

Videos

  • Well-Behaved Women - Joe's Pub Promo youtube thumbnail

    Well-Behaved Women - Joe's Pub Promo

  • Sasha Allen - "I'm Gonna Stay and Fight (Cleopatra)" youtube thumbnail

    Sasha Allen - "I'm Gonna Stay and Fight (Cleopatra)"

  • Bonnie Milligan - "If Shakespeare Had A Sister (Virginia Woolf)" youtube thumbnail

    Bonnie Milligan - "If Shakespeare Had A Sister (Virginia Woolf)"

  • Melissa Rose Hirsch - "In The Beginning (Eve)" youtube thumbnail

    Melissa Rose Hirsch - "In The Beginning (Eve)"

Music

Music Samples

1. “In The Beginning” – Eve
2. “The Warrior Queen” – Boudicca
3. “On the Railroad” – Harriet Tubman
4. “If Shakespeare Had A Sister” – Virginia Woolf
5.” Stay and Fight” – Cleopatra*
6. “Ladies of the Press” – Eleanor Roosevelt
7. “The Only Girl at the Table” – Mary Magdalene
8. “The Water is Where” – Fanny Durack & Mina Wylie
9. “Hey, Bobby Riggs” – Billie Jean King
10. “A Mother’s Love” – Hua-Li
11. “Yo Simplemente Soy” – Frida Kahlo
12. “Papa, Are You There” – Malala Yousafzai
13. “One Step Closer” – Janet Armstrong
14. “Lady Liberty” – Statue of Liberty
15. “Order in the Court” – Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan
16. “We Rise" - Cast

All lyrics by Carmel Dean except:
*Lyrics by Miriam Laube

  • Musical Style Pop/Rock, Jazz, Contemporary Broadway
  • Dance Requirements None
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo
  • Chorus Size No Chorus

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!
10   Libretto
10   Piano-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)

1   Guitar – Electric & Acoustic
1   Bass – Electric & Upright
1   Percussion
1   Violin (Optional 5th player)
10   Libretto
10   Piano-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)
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Authors

Carmel Dean

Carmel Dean

Carmel Dean is an award-winning composer/lyricist and Broadway music supervisor, musical director and arranger. Her compositional debut, Renascence, was produced in 2018 and subsequently won the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical. Her song cycle, Well-Behaved Wo ...

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