Category Archives: R

Musicals staring with letter R

Rent

Rent deals with starving artists living in New York City’s East Village. It focuses on the lives of Mark, a film-maker, who’s girlfriend, Maureen, a drama queen performance-artist-turned-lesbian, leaves him for another woman, Joanne who is an attorney. Mark lives with his roommate Roger, a struggling musician who just wants to write “one great song” before he dies of AIDS. One day he meets Mimi, an S&M dancer also with AIDS, and who is addicted to heroin. They fall in love. Mark and Roger’s ex-roommate Tom Collins, a philosopher, who has just returned from M.I.T meets and falls in love with Angel, a Latino street-drummer/drag queen.They also have AIDS. Mark and Roger are continuously hounded by their ex-roommate Benny, who is now their extremely wealthy landlord begging them for the rent. It focuses on a year in their lives, and their struggles of paying the rent, eviction, death, drugs, and living one day at a time.

Rent

Jonathan Larson

Jonathan Larson

Jonathan Larson

the opera 'La Boheme'

Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordon and the New York Theatre Workshop

Michael Greif

Marlies Yearby

Productions
Rent Original Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Nederlander Theatre - Opened 25 Jan 1996, closed 7 Sep 2008, 5124 performances

Cast: Gilles Chaisson, Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Rodney Hicks, Kristen Lee Kelly, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Aiko Nakasone, Timothy Britten Parker, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gwen Stewart, Byron Utley & Fredi Walker

Rent Original London

Original London Production

Shaftesbury Theatre - Opened 12 May 1998, closed 30 Oct 1999

Rent London Revival

Rent First London Revival

Prince of Wales Theatre - Opened 4 Dec 2001, closed 1 Mar 2003

Rent Remixed

Second London Revival - "Rent Remixed"

Duke of York's Theatre - Opened 16 Oct 2007, closed 1 Jan 1970

Rent - Broadway Revival

Off-Broadway Revival

New World Stages - Opened 11 Aug 2011, closed 1 Jan 1970



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

A group of Bohemians living with AIDS document a year in their life as cross gendered relationships blossom against a struggle to live. 

Add your own Twitter style synopsis (140 characters only!) in the comments box


The show opens on Christmas Eve as an aspiring film maker Mark begins to make a documentary. He focus’s in on his room-mate Rodger who is tuning his guitar and trying to write ‘one great song’. The group live in the East village and struggle to pay their rent, despite owing it to one of their old friends Benny, who has left and married a rich woman. Their friend Collins comes to visit but is mugged on his way to the building and is found by Angel, a drag queen. The two both have AIDS and begin a bond. Mark tries to get Rodger to leave the apartment and face the world after his girlfriend dumped him and became a lesbian. Rodger is also suffering with AIDS and wants to make his mark on the world, when their neighbour Mimi arrives to ask for a light on her candle. The pair flirt and Mimi keeps letting her candle out so they can stay together.

Angel arrives with Collins and Benny tries to persuade the group to make Maureen cancel her protest against him. They reject his offer and Angel and Collins invite Mark and Roger to attend their AIDS support group meeting. Mark is called to help Maureen’s sound equipment for her protest, meeting her new girlfriend Joanne. They both commiserate about Maureen’s unfaithful ways. Mimi is a stripper and attempts to seduce Rodger, but he is afraid of falling in love again and reveals that he is scared of dying of AIDS. Collins tells Angel about his plans of moving to Santa Fe and the pair confess their love for each other, beginning a relationship. The group gather to watch Maureen’s protest show, and Roger finds Mimi buying drugs on the street. Maureen’s performance is avant garde and depicts Benny in a bad life. The group move on to the Life Café where they celebrate their life as bohemians Mimi and Rodger realise both of them have AIDS and they share their first kiss. The group are told they have to leave their apartment as there is a riot on the streets caused by Maureen’s protest.

The second act begins on New Year’s Eve as the group attempt to get back into their apartment. Mark’s footage of the riots appears on TV but he refuses to sell out. Benny reveals that he is a former lover of Mimi, which upsets Rodger. Maureen and Joanne fight about their relationship and we move forward to Spring of the next year. Rodger is growing jealous of Mimi and Benny’s relationship and accuses her of having an affair, when actually she is just taking drugs. Angel’s body begins to be consumed by AIDS and he passes away, leaving Collins heartbroken. At his funeral Mark begins to worry what will happen when all of his friends die around him. He accepts a job offer from the news company. Mimi and Rodger break up and both Rodger and Mark have an artistic epiphany as Mark decides to make his film about Angel’s memory and Rodger writes his song about Mimi.

As time moves on Collins finds money in an ATM as Maureen and Joanne find a dying Mimi who manages to tell Rodger that she loves him. He plays his new song to her as she passes away, but suddenly jumps back to life saying Angel told her to stay away from the light. The show ends a year after it began and the Bohemians rejoice in what they have.

Songs

Act I

  • Tune Up #1 …………..Mark, Roger, Mrs. Cohen,
  • Voice Mail #1 …………..Mark, Roger, Mrs. Cohen,
    …………………..Collins, Benny
  • Rent ………………….The Company
  • You Okay Honey?…………………………Angel, Collins
  • One Song Glory  …………………………………Roger
  • Light My Candle ……………………………Roger, Mimi
  • Tune Up #2
  • Voice Mail #2……………………..Mr. & Mrs. Jefferson
  • Today 4 U………………………………………Angel
  • You’ll See……………Benny, Mark, Collins, Roger, Angel
  • Tango: Maureen……………………………Mark, Joanne
  • Life Support………………….Paul, Gordon, The Company
  • Out Tonight……………………………………Mimi
  • Another Day……………………Roger, Mimi, The Company
  • Will I?…………………………….Steve, The Company
  • On the Street……………………………..The Company
  • Santa Fe   ……………………….Collins and The Company
  • I’ll Cover You …………………………Angel, Collins
  • We’re Okay…………………………………….Joanne
  • Christmas Bells……………………………The Company
  • Over the Moon…………………………………Maureen
  • La Vie Boheme/I Should Tell You……………..The Company

ACT II

  • Seasons Of Love …………………………..The Company
  • Happy New Year
  • Voice Mail #3…………..Mimi, Roger, Mark,
    Happy New Year B……….Maureen, Joanne, Collins,Angel, Mrs.
    …………….. Cohen, Alexi Darling, Benny
  • Take Me Or Leave Me …………………….Maureen, Joanne
  • Without You ……………………………….Roger, Mimi
  • Voice Mail #4……………………………Alexi Darling
  • Contact …………………………………..The Company
  • I’ll Cover You (Reprise) …………….Collins, The Company
  • Halloween …………………………………….Mark
  • Goodbye, Love………………..Mark, Mimi, Roger, Maureen,
    ………………. Joanne, Collins, Benny
  • What You Own, ……….Pastor, Mark, Collins, Benny, Roger
  • Voice Mail #5……………….Roger’s Mom, Mimi’s Mom, Mr.
    ……………….. Jefferson, Mrs. Cohen
  • Your Eyes, …………………….Roger
  • Finale B …………………….Roger, The Company
Awards

Winner of the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Best American Drama
Winner of the 1996 New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.
Winner of the 1996 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical.
Winner of the 1996 Drama League Award for Best Musical.
Winner of six 1996 Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, Book, Score, and Lyrics.
Winner of four 1996 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book (both Jonathan Larson) and Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Wilson Jermaine Heredia).

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International

 

 

The Rocky Horror Show

The Rocky Horror Show achieved cult status after the impressive 1975 film adaptation which starred the writer Richard O’Brien. The show is one of Britain’s most popular musicals and has become a worldwide phenomenon thanks to the hilarious story and catchy score, which includes the songs ‘Over at the Frankenstein Place’, ‘Dammit Janet’, ‘Hot Patootie’ and of course ‘The Time Warp’. The musical began life in 1973 at the Royal Court Theatre in an intimate production that ran for a mere three weeks. The show is a parody of B movies and follows a newly engaged couple as they take shelter in a mad house owned by a transsexual scientist. The show gained huge commercial and critical success and went on to run for over 7 years at a variety of theatre venues across London.

Rocky Horror Show

Richard O’Brien

Richard O’Brien

Richard O’Brien

Royal Court Theatre

Productions
Rocky Horror Original London

Original London Production

The Royal Court Theatre - Opened 19 Jun 1973, closed 20 Jul 1973

Cast: Tim Curry, Patricia Quinn, Little Nell, Julie Covington and Richard O’Brien

Rocky Horror London Transfer

Original London Transfer

Classic Cinema King's Road - Opened 14 Aug 1973, closed 20 Oct 1973

Cast: Tim Curry, Patricia Quinn, Little Nell, Julie Covington and Richard O’Brien

Rocky Horror Comedy Theatre

London Revival

The Comedy Theatre - Opened 6 Apr 1979, closed 13 Sep 1980

Rocky Horror Broadway

Broadway Revival

Circle in the Square Theatre - Opened 1 Oct 2000, closed 1 Jan 2002



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Two squares lost in the woods find shady transvestite who uses them for sex before making them endure a night of Transylvanian fun. 

Add your own Twitter style synopsis (140 characters only!) in the comments box


The show opens as an usherette invites us to see the latest picture show, (“Science Fiction”). We are introduced to squares Brad and Janet who are attending the wedding of a friend. They are inspired to get engaged themselves (“ Dammit Janet”) and decide to journey to meet their college Professor who kick started their relationship. As they set off through the woods the weather turns sour and their car breaks down. They can see a light in the distance and decide to walk towards it (“There’s a Light Over at the Frankenstein Place”). The narrator explains that the pair are scared about going to the castle but have to go as there is no other option. They meet Riff-Raff the door man and his sister Magenta and the group burst into “The Time Warp” scaring Brad and Janet who try to leave. Frank N Furter makes an entrance, a cross-dressing transsexual from Transylvania and gets the pair to go up to his lab where he has been making a man for pleasure “Sweet Transvestite”.

In the lab they are introduced to Frank’s creation – a blond half naked muscle man named Rocky who he brings to life, using half the brain of Columbia’s ex partner Eddie. Rocky considers his fate (“The Sword of Damocles”) before Frank worships his muscled body, (“Charles Atlas/I Can Make You a Man”). Eddie’s body comes out of a freezer to sing “Whatever Happened to Saturday Night?” before Frank kills him for good. Brad and Janet are then led to separate rooms for the evening.

The Narrator warns the audience that Brad and Janet may be in for a rough night. Janet accepts Brad’s sexual advances, before realising that in fact it is Frank. She continues regardless as he tells her not to let Brad know. Brad also gives into Frank’s advances thinking he is making love to Janet. Riff Raff interrupts saying Rocky has escaped and that he can be seen on the monitor. Janet runs into Rocky and seduces him (“Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me”) and the pair are caught having sex on the TV monitor. Brad is dejected (“Once in a While”) and Frank is angry. They are unable to muse for long, as Riff Raff catches sight of someone else entering the castle. It is Dr Scott, the professor Brad and Janet were travelling to see. Frank is furious as he thinks they have brought a spy, but instead Dr Scott is searching for his nephew Eddie, (“Eddie’s Teddy”). Frank traps everyone to the floor (“Planet Schmanet Janet”) and reveals that they are all aliens who gave up their mission and focused on practising kinky sex on earthlings. Magenta asks to leave, but Frank insists they put on a “Floor Show”. They perform for the group and engage in orgiastic sex.

Riff Raff stuns everyone and sets off the spaceship to take them all back to their home planet. Brad, Janet and Dr Scott are left confused (“Super Heroes”) and the narrator discusses the night’s events as the Usherette reprises “Science Fiction”.

Songs

Act I

  • Science Fiction/Double Feature
  • Dammit, Janet
  • Over At The Frankenstein Place
  • Time Warp, The
  • Sweet Transvestite
  • Sword Of Damocles, The
  • I Can Make You A Man
  • Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul
  • I Can Make You A Man (Reprise)
Act II 
  • Once In A While
  • Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me
  • Eddie
  • Planet, Schmanet, Janet
  • Floor Show
  • Fanfare / Don’t Dream It
  • Wild And Untamed Thing
  • I’m Going Home
  • Super Heroes
  • Rocky Climbs the RKO Tower
  • Science Fiction
  • Science Fiction/Double Feature Reprise
Awards

1973 Evening Standard Award: Best Musical

Licensing

UK: Samuel French

USA: Samuel French

 

 

Ragtime

Ragtime, is an impressive musical from the writing team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. Based on E L Doctorow’s compelling novella of the same name, this musical sweeps turn of the century America, drawing on 3 different family experiences that would make up the melting pot of 20th Century USA. The original production was large in style and scale, featuring an impressive orchestra and cast that have gone on to symbolise the scale of the piece. Twinned with an emotional score of hit after hit makes Ragtime one of the most powerful new musicals of recent times. Numerous revivals have failed to do the justice to the original production which lives in the hearts of those lucky enough to see the show in its initial form.

Ragtime

Stephen Flaherty

Lynn Ahrens

Terence McNally

'Ragtime' by E L Doctorow

Livent (U.S.) Inc.

Frank Galati

Graciela Daniele

Productions
Ragtime Original Broadway

Ragtime Original Broadway

Hilton Theatre (now Foxwoods) - Opened 18 Jan 1998, closed 16 Jan 2000

Cast: Brian Stokes Mitchell, Marin Mazzie, Peter Friedman, Audra McDonald, Judy Kaye, Mark Jacoby and Lea Michele.

Ragtime Original London

Ragtime Original London

Piccadilly Theatre - Opened 19 Mar 2003, closed 14 Jun 2003

Cast: Maria Friedman 

Ragtime Broadway Revival

Ragtime Broadway Revival

J F Kennedy Centre of Performing Arts, Neil Simon Theatre - Opened 18 Apr 2009, closed 10 Jan 2010

Cast: Stephanie Umoh (Sarah), Quentin Earl Darrington (Coalhouse Walker, Jr.), Christiane Noll (Mother), Robert Petkoff (Tateh), Bobby Steggert (Younger Brother), Donna Migliaccio (Emma Goldman) and Ron Bohmer (Father)

Ragtime London Revival

Ragtime London Revival

Regent's Park Open Air - Opened 18 May 2012, closed 8 Sep 2012

Cast: Tamsin Carroll, Rolan Bell, David Birrell, Rosalie Craig. 



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

At the turn of the 20th century, three family’s of very different backgrounds are all making a life for themselves in New York. An upper-class Protestant family consisting of Mother, Father, Mother’s Younger Brother, Grandfather, and the Little Boy (Edgar) live in New Rochelle. Coalhouse Walker Jr. and Sarah each live in the vibrant centre of Harlem, where “Ragtime” is being born. Meanwhile, Tateh sets off in search of the American Dream

Father sets off on an expedition for the North Pole, and Mother reflects on his impending absence (“Goodbye, My Love”). In New York Harbour, he passes Tateh’s ship as it nears Ellis Island. Meanwhile, Mother finds a newborn black baby buried in her garden. The police bring Sarah, who turns out to be the baby’s mother, to the scene of the crime. Mother defends Sarah and ultimately takes her in.

Tateh has begun his life in America making silhouettes, but finds “Success” elusive. Coalhouse sings in Harlem of the love he lost, who turns out to be Sarah, and he decides to win her back. He then buys a Model T from “Henry Ford.” As Sarah sings to her son in her new home in New Rochelle (“Your Daddy’s Son”), Coalhouse arrives hoping to rekindle their relationship.

Mother and Edgar meet Tateh and his Little Girl on a trip into New York City (“Nothing Like the City”). Time passes and Father returns from the North Pole to find Coalhouse singing ragtime in their home. Coalhouse takes Sarah on a picnic with their son, and he manages to convince her that he has changed. They reflect on how the American Dream promises them a better life (“Wheels of a Dream”).

Younger Brother finds himself at a rally with the anarchist Emma Goldman, and his life takes a turn after “The Night That Goldman Spoke.” Soon the rally turns into a riot and the town is in an uproar. Coalhouse and Sarah are stopped by the fire squad who demand a toll from Coalhouse because he is black. When he refuses to pay, they destroy his Model T. Coalhouse is enraged that their society has no sense of “Justice,” and decides to end his engagement to Sarah until he is able to replace his car.

Sarah hopes to find someone who will help obtain justice for Coalhouse, so she heads to a vice-presidential rally to speak to the candidate about the incident. The Secret Service mistake her for an assassin and beat her to death. At her funeral, the town’s simmering racial and economic tensions boil over and Coalhouse and Younger Brother set off to avenge her death.

Coalhouse begins to destroy New Rochelle, both burning properties and killing innocent people. A prominent figure in the African-American community, Booker T. Washington attempts to reason with Coalhouse to no avail. Father takes Edgar to a baseball game, hoping it will distract him from the destruction around them, but they cannot ignore the “Fire in the City.

Father decides to move the family to “Atlantic City” for their own safety. They are surprised to run into Tateh who has become a wealthy film director. Mother and Tateh are pleased with the budding friendship between Edgar and Little Girl (“Our Children”).

Younger Brother finds Coalhouse and tries to convince him he should be allowed to join the cause (“He Wanted to Say”). Father goes to New York to reason with them both and find a way to get things “Back to Before,” when he discovers that Coalhouse has taken over a library and is threatening to blow it up. He seeks out Booker T. Washington, who manages to convince Coalhouse he should work out a peace deal for the sake of his son.

Despite Younger Brother’s protestations, Coalhouse manages to convince his gang to leave peacefully and begin to make their opinions heard in other ways (“Make Them Hear You”). As he is leaving the library, Coalhouse is shot and killed by the police.

Edgar agrees that he will continue to tell Coalhouse’s story, and the remaining members of the family remain hopeful of a better world around the corner.

Songs

Act I

  • Ragtime
  • Goodbye My Love
  • Journey On
  • The Crime of the Century
  • What Kind of Woman
  • A Shtetl Iz Amereke
  • Success
  • His Name Was Coalhouse Walker
  • Gettin’ Ready Rag
  • Henry Ford
  • Nothing Like the City
  • Your Daddy’s Son
  • The Courtship
  • New Music
  • Wheels Of A Dream
  • The Night That Goldman Spoke at Union Square
  • Gliding
  • The Trashing of the Car
  • Justice
  • President
  • Till We Reach That Day

Act II

  • Entr’acte
  • Harry Houdini, Master Escapist
  • Coalhouse’s Soliloquy
  • Coalhouse Demands
  • What a Game
  • Fire in the City
  • Atlantic City
  • Buffalo Nickel Photoplay, Inc.
  • Our Children
  • Harlem Nightclub
  • Sarah Brown Eyes
  • He Wanted to Say
  • Back To Before
  • Look What You’ve Done
  • Make Them Hear You
  • Epilogue: Wheels of a Dream/Ragtime (reprise)
Awards

1998 Tony Awards: Best Book, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actress (Audra Mc Donald), Best Orchestrations.

2004 Olivier Awards: Best Actress in a Musical (Maria Friedman)

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International