This tool is unavailable at the moment. Please try again later.
Start planning your production with a cost estimate you can save and share with your team. Just answer a few questions.
This estimator is only for amateur productions. Professional customers should contact the Licensing department directly to enquire about a title's availability: [email protected]
Important: The cost quoted is an estimate only and may differ when you apply for a licence.
A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE
Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy / 26 any gender plus ensemble
Book, Music & Lyrics by PigPen Theatre Co.
A fantastic, grandiose and moving musical adventure about an old man who must abandon his duties of filling up the moon with light to cross the seas in search of his missing wife. In this version, the cast size is unlimited: scale the action to any size!
Image: 2014 Off-Broadway Production (Joan Marcus)
The Old Man has kept his post as the sole caretaker of the moon for as long as he (or his wife, the Old Woman) can remember. When she is drawn away by a mysterious melody that sparks memories of their shared past, the Old Man must decide between duty (and routine) and love (and adventure). Luckily for audiences everywhere, he chooses the latter, and what follows is an imaginative sea-faring epic, encompassing apocalyptic storms, civil wars, leviathans of the deep, cantankerous ghosts and the fiercest obstacle of all: change.
In this version, the cast size is unlimited: scale the action to any size!
The Old Man and The Old Moon premiered off-Broadway at the Gym at Judson on 7 October 2012. Directed by Stuart Carden and PigPen Theatre, the production featured Alex Falberg, Ben Ferguson, Curtis Gillen, Ryan Melia, Matt Nuernberger, Arya Shahi and Dan Weschler. The show originated as a 25 minute sophomore production at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama’s Playground Festival in 2009.
Following its critically-acclaimed NYC run, the company revised and re-opened the show at Writers Theatre in Chicago on 12 September 2013. This new production toured the United States at various theatres, including the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts, the New Victory Theatre in New York, ArtsEmerson in Boston, The Old Globe in San Diego, City Theatre in Pittsburgh, and finally at The Wallis Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles.
CharactersTHE OLD MAN – An old man whose job it is to fill the moon with liquid light. His journey in pursuit of his missing wife forces him out of his complacent lifestyle.THE OLD WOMAN – An old woman who’s growing tired of her life filling the moon with her husband. She leaves her home in search of a forgotten memory.MATHESON – The first mate of the ship and the narrator of the tale. Matheson loves telling stories so much that he commands the attention of the audience and the respect of his sailors.LLEWELLYN – The youngest, somewhat naïve, spirited sailor whom the Old Man mentors and takes on as an apprentice towards the end of his journey.MABELU – A sailor who has a good sense of humor and the best of intentions. He lost his precious dog years ago.CALLAHAN – An ardent sailor. Never loses a fight.COOKIE – An unhinged cook. Might be afraid of fire.CAPTAIN – A fearless leader and most eloquent speaker.PERRY – A legendary hero of the imperial fleet. First Naval Lieutenant Pericles Llewellyn McWallander was thrown overboard by his mutinous crew. He now spends his days inside the belly of a “prison fish.”CLERK – Overwhelmed and unenthused each and every day at the boat shop.MICKEY – The clerk’s young assistant. Wears his grandfather’s hat to work.SOLOMON – A witty aeronautical engineer. Sibling of Bartley.BARTLEY – A witty aeronautical engineer. Sibling of Solomon.DOG – Her name is Lucy. Mabelu lost her years ago.BARTENDER – Goes by Bill but that’s not his real name.PATRON – Plays the piano but doesn’t take requests.FINE LADY – She lives in town. Has a secret.REBEL ONE – Rebel captain. Trying to avoid a fight.REBEL TWO – Rebel soldier. Trying to start a fight.BOATSWAIN ONE – A master boatswain.BOATSWAIN TWO – A boatswain’s apprentice.BEN – He has a store in town, but they’re currently sold out of everything.GHOST SINGER – A dead sailor with a penchant for cabaret.THE YOUNG WOMAN – The Old Woman, a long time ago.
Notes
This story can be staged in as many ways as it can be imagined. Here are a few things the authors learned in their time with it: Matheson might be telling the tale but the whole ensemble is creating it. Each scene has a primary set of characters in focus, but the ensemble moves as one around them, using lines or musical moments as cues to activate the stage when needed. This ensemble work is mostly exposed but can be hidden if it draws too much attention.
Cast the story however you like - with as many or as few performers as you have available. The original traveling production was built around PigPen’s founding ensemble and the roles were distributed as follows:
ACTOR 1 – (Ryan’s Track) – Plays THE OLD MAN.ACTOR 2 – (Matt’s Track) – Plays MATHESON and FINE LADY.ACTOR 3 – (Ben’s Track) – Plays BUTCHER, BEN, CALLAHAN, REBEL TWO and PERRY.ACTOR 4 – (Dan’s Track) – Plays MABELU, PATRON and DOG.ACTOR 5 – (Curtis’ Track) – Plays BOATSWAIN ONE, LLEWELLYN and GHOST SINGER.ACTOR 6 – (Alex’s Track) – Plays THE OLD WOMAN, BOATSWAIN TWO, MICKEY, CAPTAIN, BARTLEY and YOUNG WOMAN.ACTOR 7 – (Arya’s Track) – Plays FISHMONGER, CLERK, COOKIE, REBEL ONE, BARTENDER and SOLOMON.
ACTOR 1 – (Ryan’s Track) – Plays THE OLD MAN. ACTOR 2 – (Matt’s Track) – Plays MATHESON and FINE LADY. ACTOR 3 – (Ben’s Track) – Plays BUTCHER, BEN, CALLAHAN, REBEL TWO and PERRY. ACTOR 4 – (Dan’s Track) – Plays MABELU, PATRON and DOG. ACTOR 5 – (Curtis’ Track) – Plays BOATSWAIN ONE, LLEWELLYN and GHOST SINGER. ACTOR 6 – (Alex’s Track) – Plays THE OLD WOMAN, BOATSWAIN TWO, MICKEY, CAPTAIN, BARTLEY and YOUNG WOMAN. ACTOR 7 – (Arya’s Track) – Plays FISHMONGER, CLERK, COOKIE, REBEL ONE, BARTENDER and SOLOMON.
On the land and on the sea. Some time ago.
“Sometimes comical and sometimes melancholy, but never less than clever.” – The New York Times
“This is a story of time and tides and quests, the sort of fable on which mythologies and religions are founded... [PigPen] asks us to appreciate the finer arts of wild storytelling, while speaking to the childish mind in all of us.” – Ben Brantley, The New York Times
“Like all PigPen shows, it celebrates the power of imagination.” – TimeOut New York
“PigPen’s invigorating aesthetic, at least in this whimsically nautical tale, is something like a Redmoon or Building Stage spectacle multiplied by a Decemberists concert. The hero’s journey the guys set up for the titular cantankerous caretaker is loaded with charm, inventiveness and visual wit.” – TimeOut Chicago
“The kind of no-tech folktale theatre that melts your heart… Like their previous efforts, their first full-length production uses a winning combination of storytelling, shadow puppetry, Irish-tinged tunes and youthful vigor.” – TimeOut New York
The Old Man and The Old Moon – Pittsburgh City Theatre Trailer
“Sail For Love” – The Old Man and the Old Moon
1. “Song from the Stone” – Company 1A. “Old Man and Old Woman’s Theme” – Underscore 1B. “Old Man and Old Woman’s Theme” – Underscore 2. “The Rain Will Fall” – Company 2A. “Traveling – Underscore” – Underscore 3. “The Sailor’s Anthem” – Sailors 3A. “Lt. Perry’s Theme” – Underscore 3B. “Rebel Battle Music” – Underscore 4. “The Rain Will Fall” – Company 5. “Sail for Love” – Company 5A. “Mutiny” – Underscore 5B. “Malefria Theme” – Underscore 5C. “The Oily Whelk” – Underscore 6. “Sail for Love - Reprise” – Underscore 6A. “Storm Sequence” – Underscore 7. “Just Like the Sea” – Company 8. “Prison Fish Interlude 1” – Ghost Singer 8A. “Lt. Perry’s Theme - Reprise” – Underscore 9. “Prison Fish Interlude 2” – Company 10. “Prison Fish Interlude 3” – Company 10A. “Fishing – Underscore” – Underscore 10B. “Fishing – Underscore” – Underscore 11. “I Crash” – Company 11A. “Falling – Underscore” – Underscore 11B. “The City of Light” – Underscore 12. “Bremen” – Company 12A. “Old Man and Old Woman’s Theme” – Underscore
20 Libretto-Vocal Book1 Piano-Vocal (rehearsal)1 Piano/Accordion1 Banjo 11 Guitar 1 – Acoustic1 Utility Guitar – Acoustic Guitar, Banjo 2, Dulcimer (Opt.) & Violin (Opt.)1 Bass1 Drums – Drum Set, Tom Drum, Woodblocks