Vanities: The Musical

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Vanities: The Musical

Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy  /  3w

Book by Jack Heifner
Music and Lyrics by David Kirshenbaum

Vanities: The Musical chronicles the life-affirming journey of three vivacious Texas teens from cheerleaders to sorority sisters to housewives to liberated women and beyond.

Image: 2009 Second Stage Theater Production (Joan Marcus)

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior

Details

Summary

Vanities: The Musical chronicles the life-affirming journey of three vivacious Texas teens from cheerleaders to sorority sisters to housewives to liberated women and beyond. This musical captures a snapshot-sharp portrait of the lives, loves, disappointments, and dreams of these young women growing up during the turbulent sixties and seventies and reconnecting in the late 1980s. With a tunefully evocative score by David Kirshenbaum (Summer of ’42) and Jack Heifner’s hilarious adaptation of his long-running Off-Broadway smash, Vanities: The Musical is a funny and poignant look at three best friends who discover that, through thirty years of rapidly changing times, the one thing they can rely on is each other.

History
Vanities: The Musical premiered off-Broadway at Second Stage Theater, under artistic director Carole Rothman, in association with Junkyard Dog Productions Inc., Kenny and Marleen Alhadeff, Jayson Raitt, Ambassador Theater Group, Dallas Summer Musicals, Remmel T. Dickinson/Linda and Bill Potter, and Sharon Rosen/the Raleigh Rally/ Davelle LLC, on July 16, 2009 in New York City. It was directed by Judith Ivey.
Cast Attributes
MARY
JOANNE
KATHY
  • Time Period 1990s, 1970s, 1960s
  • Setting A Texas high school gym, 1963. A sorority, 1968. A New York apartment, 1974.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes, Period Costumes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Alcohol
    • Mild Adult Themes
    • Smoking

Media

“Irresistibly winning!” – L.A. Times

“A charming celebration of friendship with an infectious score.” – Radio Times

“May well outshine the three-decade prominence of Jack Heifner's original!” – Variety (Bob Verini)

“[Has] satirical teeth and poignancy in its observation of dreams turned sour and bonds broken.” – Variety (David Rooney)

"An enjoyable new musical with an eclectic pop score!” – TheaterMania.com

“[A] three-way portrait of American womanhood… both satirical and uplifting.” – The Seattle Times

Videos

  • Beyond Broadway: Vanities - The Musical youtube thumbnail

    Beyond Broadway: Vanities - The Musical

  • "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" 5th Avenue Theatre youtube thumbnail

    "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" 5th Avenue Theatre

  • Vanities: The Musical at Millbrook Playhouse youtube thumbnail

    Vanities: The Musical at Millbrook Playhouse

  • Jack Heifner on Vanities youtube thumbnail

    Jack Heifner on Vanities

Photos

  • Vanities: The Musical

    Image: 2009 Second Stage Theater Production (Joan Marcus)

Music

Music Samples

“Mystery” – All
“I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” – All
“An Organized Life” – All
“I Can’t Imagine” – All
“Mystery II” – All
“An Organized Life (Reprise)” – All
“Fly into the Future” – Mary
“Cute Boys with Short Haircuts” – Kathy
“Let Life Happen” – All
“Mystery III” – All
“The Same Old Music” – Joanne
“An Organized Life (Reprise II)” – Kathy
“Friendship isn’t What it Used to Be” – All
“Mystery IV” – All
“I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing (Reprise)” – All
“Letting Go” – All

Piano-Conductor
Reed (Flute, Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Oboe, Bass Clarinet)
Guitar (Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Triangle, Banjo, Kazoo)
Drums/Percussion (Drum Kit, Triangle, Vibes, Bells, Bell Tree, Castanets, Tambourine, Xylophone, Shaker, Congas, Siren Whistle, Vibraslap, Mark Tree,
Bass (Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass, Kazoo)
  • Musical Style Pop/Rock
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Piano Only
  • Chorus Size No Chorus

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

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4 Piano-Conductor
1 Reed
1 Guitar
1 Drums/Percussion
1 Bass
4 Piano-Conductor

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Authors

Jack Heifner

Jack Heifner is the author of over thirty plays and musicals produced in New York, Los Angeles and theatres around the world. He is best known for the play version of Vanities, which ran for five years in New York, is published by Samuel French, and became one of the longest- ...
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David Kirshenbaum

David Kirshenbaum has written the music and lyrics for Vanities, A New Musical (book by Jack Heifner) and Summer of '42 (book by Hunter Foster) Off-Broadway, Party Come Here (book by Daniel Goldfarb) at Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the holiday musical Yes, Virginia, The ...

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