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Island Song (Small Cast Edition)

Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy  /  3w, 2m

The energy and passions of New York City explode with a percussive, soaring pop score. Told through an ambitious set of 20- and 30-somethings navigating the promises and perils of big city life, Island Song showcases a group of memorable characters finding their strength in conquering the Big Apple.

Island Song (Small Cast Edition)

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 2m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary

The energy and passions of New York City explode with a percussive, soaring pop score in Island Song. An ambitious set of 20- and 30-somethings navigate the promises and perils of big city life: Cooper is an actor giving himself a year to get his first big break. Caroline is figuring out her independent life after a messy breakup. Will, an architect, and Jordan, a high-powered executive, are discovering how their personal ambitions fit with a relationship. Shoshana is finding herself amidst a flurry of New York City romance. As the city spins around them and their peers, they get lost, fight back, fall in love, face setbacks, and, most importantly, come alive with the strength that comes with conquering the Big Apple.

History

Island Song premiered at the Adirondack Theatre Festival on 21 June 2016. 

CAROLINE – Early 20s. A free-spirited woman low on ambition in the traditional sense, she’s on a journey of self-exploration, eager to take it all in – which looks a lot like aimlessness amid the bustle of the city. Smart, well-read, her style is almost-alternative, boasting the requisite accoutrements, without being fully committed.
COOPER – An aspiring actor in his early 20s. Earnest and driven, he’s left his small Midwestern town to pursue his acting dream. A bit of a loner, unpolished, but a true romantic. (Cooper could read straight or gay, but either way, his sexual identity is not central to his conflict.)
JORDAN – A high-powered, sexy business woman in her early 30s. She works and hard and plays hard and is trying desperately to balance her fear of missing out with the demands of her relationship.
SHOSHANA – A woman in her “Late-early” 30s. Independently financially secure, she is driven by a need to fill the empty space of life and a deep desire to connect, but she can’t seem to get out of her own way. A real Carol Burnett type. Lonely. A New York native and amateur singer. She speaks quickly.
WILL – An Architect in his early 30s. Smart and skilled, his ambition lies more in having a family and making a comfortable life for them, rather than the high-flying city existence. A domestic suburbanite at heart.
HIPSTERS – STOSH (played by the actor playing WILL), TIMO (played by the actor playing COOPER), and WALLENDIA (played by the actress playing SHOSHANA). Tragically “hip” in a carefully crafted Williamsburg way. They are aggressively apathetic.
BUCKET DRUMMER – A street performer who uses found percussion objects. He does not speak, though others speak to him. He represents the heartbeat of the city.
PIANIST – SHOSHANA’s accompanist.

The cast size may easily by expanded to 8 by casting 3 additional performers as the HIPSTERS.

BUCKET DRUMMER and PIANIST are intended to be members of the band. However, the roles may be given to 9th and 10th cast members or 2 of the cast members playing the HIPSTERS.

Final casting note: Additional material for any of these additional performers may be created by interpolating the song “Waiting” (which exists in the expanded version of Island Song) and placing it between “Moment in the Subway” and “The Club.”

The cast size may easily by expanded to 8 by casting 3 additional performers as the HIPSTERS.

BUCKET DRUMMER and PIANIST are intended to be members of the band. However, the roles may be given to 9th and 10th cast members or 2 of the cast members playing the HIPSTERS.

Final casting note: Additional material for any of these additional performers may be created by interpolating the song “Waiting” (which exists in the expanded version of Island Song) and placing it between “Moment in the Subway” and “The Club.”

  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting

    New York. A day cycle, and simultaneously, over the course of a year. Present day.

  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes

Media

“A poignant, offbeat dramedy.” – Theatre in Chicago

“[A] sophisticated, complex guide to modern urban living.” – British Theatre

“Build[s] a bond with the audience as you learn about each person’s dreams, desires, ambitions and insecurities.” – WAMC Northeast

Videos

  • “Island Song Opening” by Carner and Gregor youtube thumbnail

    “Island Song Opening” by Carner and Gregor

  • “Sing, But Don’t Tell” by Carner and Gregor with Annaleigh Ashford youtube thumbnail

    “Sing, But Don’t Tell” by Carner and Gregor with Annaleigh Ashford

  • “I’ll Take It All” by Carner and Gregor with Natalie Weiss youtube thumbnail

    “I’ll Take It All” by Carner and Gregor with Natalie Weiss

  • “Stay Awhile” by Carner and Gregor with Jeremy Jordan youtube thumbnail

    “Stay Awhile” by Carner and Gregor with Jeremy Jordan

Music

Music Samples

01. “Island Song” – All
02. “Looking For A Little Room” – Caroline
02A. A Bucket After Little Room  Underscore
3. “Wall Lovin’” – Will
03A. Monologue: Phone Call Home – Cooper
04. “I'll Take It All” – Jordan

05. “TMI” – Shoshana
05A. A Bucket After TMI – Underscore
05A. Monologue: Architecture – Will
06. “No Room For Plan B” – Cooper
06A. Transition – Too Much – Caroline
07. “Hipster Youth Part 1” – Hipsters
08. “So Far From Pennsylvania” – Caroline
08A. Monologue: Just In Case – Shoshana
08B. Monologue: Pauly – Cooper
09. “So Many Windows” – Caroline, Cooper, Jordan, Will
10. “The Toothbrush Song” – Jordan, Will
10A. Scene: Moment In The Subway – Caroline, Cooper
10A. “The Club” – Shoshana
11. “Dancing In Pairs” – Shoshana
12. Scene: Moments After Midnight – Cooper, Shoshana, Caroline
12A. “So Many Windows – Reprise” – Caroline
13. “Stay Awhile” – Will
13A. Monologue: Meeting Her Match – Shoshana
14. “Island Song – Reprise” – All
15. “Hipster Youth Part 2” – Hipsters
15A. Scene: Late at the Office – Jordan, Caroline
16. “Wall Lovin’/Stay Awhile” – Reprise – Will
16A. Monologue: Exciting News – Cooper, Caroline
17. “Sing, But Don’t Tell” – Shoshana, Pianist
18. “One More AT Deluxe” – Will, Jordan
19. “After Hours” – Caroline
19A. Scene: Hipster Youth Part 3 – Hipsters
20. “New York, Do You Care?” – Antonia
20A. Monologue: Fear of Contentment – Shoshana
21. ”Make it Here” – Cooper
22. ”Finale: Too Much” – All
23. Bows – Underscore
24. Exit Music – Underscore

  • Musical Style Pop/Rock
  • Dance Requirements Easy
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

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