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A musical about the legendary Doc Holliday and the events leading to the gunfight at the Ok Corral with a pop country score by two time Tony Award nominee Peter Link
Music By Peter Link
Lyrics By Larry Rosler
Book/Libretto by: Joe Bravaco and Larry Rosler
Produced by: Lyric Stage (TX), Barter Theatre (VA), Adobe Theatre Company (NM)
Synopsis
Act One
After a brush with death during a showdown in the Arizona desert, inebriated gunslinger Doc Holliday, realizes it's time to reevaluate his life. Before his luck runs completely cold, he decides to put his gun down and the West behind him and head back home to Baltimore. This will be his last Arizona Morning.
Later that morning, the Clantons and McLaurys, influential citizens of Tombstone, celebrate a lucrative deal with the Sante Fe Railroad, cementing their authority in town. (We Ain't Never Had It So Good ) They invite Doc to join the celebration, but he has no time; he is packed and set to board a stage heading east. Doc's plans, however, are waylaid when the Earp Brothers, his old cronies from Dodge City, arrive in town.
If Wyatt Earp, Tombstone's newly appointed sheriff, can get Doc back into the fold, the Earp Gang will be Back in Business . Although Doc wants no part of Wyatt's shenanigans, he is soon swept into their revelry of old times with a flashy gun-twirling routine, and is hoodwinked into missing his stage.
In no time, Doc finds himself in the middle of a dispute between the Clantons and Sheriff Earp who, the Clantons discover, cannot be bought. Now, there's A Fly in the Ointment that the Clantons must eliminate before losing their grip on Tombstone.
Days later with Wyatt still gloating over his forceful handling of the Clanton situation, Doc and Virgil Earp recommend a more enlightened approach to Politickin' . However, the Clantons have played their own politckin' and have had Wyatt Earp removed from office. This does not sit well with Wyatt, who needs Doc to help him retrieve the badge, but Doc refuses to become involved. (The Rest of My Life ).
Later that night at the Oriental Hotel, as the Clantons relish their defeat of Wyatt Earp, a disheveled Kate Fisher barrels through the door looking for a bottle of whiskey. Tom McLaury, the gang's muscle and ladies' man, likes what he sees and attempts to seduce Kate with One More Drink.
Meanwhile, outside the Oriental, a despondent Wyatt sits with Doc, who suggests that if Wyatt had a woman, he might stop agonizing over his lost badge. It's then that the drunken Kate staggers out of the hotel and passes out cold. When Tom tries to claim her, Doc outwits him, sauntering off with Kate slung over his shoulder. Tom, properly humiliated, swears that Doc has not had the last word.
The next morning in Doc's room, Kate wakes to discover Doc dressing to leave town. She is intrigued by this gentleman gunfighter and wants to know more about him. (Prodigal Son) Now, with Kate Fisher suddenly in his life, Doc's plan to leave Tombstone is once again postponed.
When Wyatt learns that it is a woman who now preoccupies Doc's time, he bemoans that Men Ain't What They Used to Be. However, none of Wyatt's bravado can sway Doc to join his crusade against the Clantons.
That night, while on the town with Kate, Doc is struck by a coughing fit. She recognizes his consumption and tries to comfort him. However, he assures her that he has it licked, and he's going home before anything else can harm him. On impulse, Doc invites Kate to join him in Baltimore. He then returns to his room to freshen up, giving Kate time to consider his proposition. (Bridges)
Back at the Oriental Hotel, the Clantons successfully tempt Doc with one last game of poker. During play, he catches Billy Clanton cheating. A fight erupts with a vengeful Tom brutally beating Doc within an inch of his life. On his knees now and struggling for breath, Doc realizes that time is running out. (Sundown)
Act Two
The Clanton Gang is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the stage that is carrying their money from the Sante Fe Railroad deal. However, Doc, now recovered, has other plans for the cold, hard cash. (Back in Business -reprise / Stage From Phoenix)
When word spreads that the stage has been hit and their money stolen, the Clantons know the culprit and vow to take care of Doc for good. However, Doc, emboldened by the robbery, has found new energy and welcomes their challenge. Only Kate recognizes the dire consequences and pleads with Doc to leave Tombstone. (You Ain't No Prisoner) But it's too late. At gunpoint, Tom escorts Kate and Doc to the Cochise County Jail to settle the matter of the robbery once and for all.
Meanwhile, Wyatt, who has been wallowing in liquor and self-pity, is itching for his own showdown with the Clantons, but his brothers insist he keep calm and Wait .
At the jailhouse, Kate refuses to sign a statement, acknowledging Doc as the thief. An angry, frustrated Tom throws Kate behind bars and assaults her, as Doc, locked in an adjacent cell, helplessly stands by, unable to protect her.
Dawn breaks. Doc and Kate are finally alone. In their separate cells they wonder what might have been had they met in Another Time.
Not one to stew over her own misfortune, Kate uses her grit and wile to break out of jail. Once they're free, she begs Doc to leave Tombstone before more time is lost, but after what has been done to Kate, Doc has other plans for Tom McLaury.
Sneaking into a bedroom at China Mary's bordello, Doc confronts Tom McLaury, and sets the time and place of the final showdown. As Doc, the Earps and the Clanton Gang prepare for the fight, Kate implores Doc one last time to put down his gun. He can't. Unwilling to watch him die, Kate leaves Doc forever. (Poison Water) That afternoon the two gangs come face to face at the OK Corral, but the Clanton gang is no match for Doc and the Earps, who, in less than sixty seconds, leave three men dead in the corral. (Prelude to a Gunfight)
Six years later a lonely Doc Holliday resides in a Colorado sanitarium. Death by consumption is imminent. While the tale of a gunfight has made Doc a legend, it is only thoughts of Kate that keep him company. (Another Time-reprise)
Song List
Act I
- Arizona Morning
- We Ain’t Never Had It So Good
- We Ain’t Never Had It So Good – Reprise
- Back In Business
- Back In Business - Reprise
- Fly In The Ointment
- Politickin’
- The Rest Of My Life
- One More Drink
- One More Drink- Reprise
- Prodigal Son
- Men Ain’t What They Used To Be
- Bridges
- Sundown
- Back In Business -Reprise
- The Stage From Phoenix
- Prisoner
- Wait
- We Ain’t Never Had It So Good – Reprise
- Another Time
- Poisoned Water
- Another Time – Reprise
Cast List
Studio Recording Cast Steve Blanchard, Judy McLane, Patrick Ryan Sullivan, Joe Lutton, Bob Aronson, Jimmy Bennett, Dennis Deal, Peter Link, Julia Wade, Jeff Wolfe
Awards & Nominations
2002 BEST NEW PLAY OR MUSICAL Dallas Theatre League Leon Rabin Award Nomination
“A GREAT MUSICAL PLAY” -- Bristol Herald Courier (Virginia)"Shootout makes bang-up musical.” --Dallas Morning News
"Western hits the mark as musical."--Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“A rollicking good time.”--Washington County News (Virginia)
"Beautiful songs. ‘Sundown’ is haunting." -Rupert Holms,Tony Award Winning Composer Ascap Musical Theatre Workshop
"The music is terrific. A tuneful show."--Stephen Schwartz, Academy Award-winning coomposer ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop
"A melodic and engrossing musical. Unexpected in its subject and treatment." --Jim Morgan, Artistic Director, York Theatrre Company
"The score and book are excellent."--Ted Tulchin, Producer of Pulitzer Prize wiinning play Dinner with Friends
“Wonderful. Put me on the mailing list.” -- Jim Vagias, Executive Producer American Stage Company ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop
"A quintessential American musical about a quintessential American story.” -- Charles Towers, Artistic Director, Merrimmack Repertory Company
"The story works well as a musical, Doc Holliday himself being worthy of opera"--Perry stewart, Fort Worth Star Telegram
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Added: Tue Apr 08 2008