A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Just One "Q"

Short Musical, Drama  /  1m

Book and Lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh
Music by Ted Shen

In this jazz-inflected short musical set in 1961, Benny, an orderly at a nursing home, delicately manages his role as a caregiver to an ornery white resident who shares a contentious past with his white boss.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1m
  • Duration
    Duration
    40 minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary

In this jazz-inflected, one-man musical set in 1961, Benny, an orderly at a nursing home, delicately manages his role as a caregiver to an ornery white resident who shares a contentious past with his white boss. Meanwhile, Benny struggles to care for his own family as the fight for equality grips the nation in the midst of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.

History

Just One “Q” was originally commissioned, developed and presented by PREMIERES in New York City.

Keywords

BENNY – A 35-year-old African American orderly

  • Time Period 1960s
  • Setting

    Arkansas. The Broadbend Nursing Home. 1961.

  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes, Period Costumes
  • Duration 40 minutes

Media

“A remarkable new work that covers a shameful era in American history.” – Curtain Up

“Magnificent… The beautiful melodic music by Ted Shen is as American as Aaron Copland, with influences of a great many other composers (Samuel Barber, Richard Rodgers, Leonard Bernstein, etc.).” – Theatre Scene 

“Dramatically riveting… a remarkable new work that covers a shameful era in American history… But the core of [Just One “Q”] is the depth of feeling that is expressed by Benny as he suddenly and unexpectedly finds his calling.” – Curtain Up

Music

1. “Scrabble”
1a. “I Cain’t Take Sides”
1b. “After I Cain’t Take Sides”
1c. “I Mean t’ Be in That Grave”
2. “Brood Sow”
2a. “Greene Cotton”
3. “Groomin’”
3a. “Gunsmoke”
4. “Children Part 1”
4a. “Children Part 2”
5. “Revlon Tweezers”
5a. “Truer Words”
6. “The Park Hotel”
7. “I Gotta Be in That Grave”
7a. “Only One Queen”
8. “Goin’ Along on a Ride”
8a. “Drivin’ South”
8b. “Justice Got No Color”
8c. “A Funny Kinda Trespass”
8d. “To the Greyhound / Such a Comfort”
8f. “Parchman Prison”
8g. “What’s Next for a Man”

Licensing & Materials

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!

3   Libretto-Vocal Book
1   Piano-Vocal

1   Piano-Conductor
1   Reed 1 (Soprano Sax, Flute, Clarinet)
1   Reed 2 (Clarinet, Alto Sax, Oboe)
1   Violin 1
1   Cello

3   Libretto-Vocal Book
1   Piano-Vocal

Authors

Ted Shen

Ted Shen is a musical theatre composer based in Brooklyn, NY. He retired from a 30-year business career in 1999 to return to his music roots as a jazz musician and composer developed in high school and college. His musical theatre works include A Second Chance (Signature Thea ...

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