A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

The Red Sneaks

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  4w, 4m

Book, Lyrics and Music by Elizabeth Swados

This freewheeling contemporary musical for teens is a loose adaptation of the The Red Shoes, transposed to a urban setting.

The Red Sneaks

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 4m
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary

This freewheeling contemporary musical for teens is a loose adaptation of the The Red Shoes, transposed to today's urban jungle. The allegorical montage of songs, scenes and monologues centers around a welfare hotel resident who is persuaded by a mysterious young drifter to accept a pair of glittery red sneakers. Whoever is wearing them may wish for anything—and every wish comes true, but the easy way out turns out to be a fast trip to an early death.

History
The Red Sneaks premiered at Theatre for a New Audience in New York in June 1989 under the direction of Elizabeth Swados.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups
SHAWN – the devil, slick, sly, humorous, but capable of danger. Good dancer.
DEDRE – innocent, lonely, wanting love and excitement, basically a helpless soul. Good dancer.
SHUN – the boyfriend, handsome, very hip, good dancer and singer
KENNY – cute commercial type, precocious, small and blond.
RAQUEL – strong, sarcastic, and wise.
VALERIE – young, good dancer.
JAMES – smart, bitter, aloof, a streak of meannes
TERESINA – tough, spohisticated, wirey
  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting

    A burned-out tenement building.

  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“A most effective contemporary morality play... The music has real gusto.” – New York Post

“The most refreshing thing about The Red Sneaks ... is the chance to hear youths rather than adults talk about the nightmarish pressures of urban life.” – The New York Times

“Remarkably clear, unsentimental and disturbing... A gritty little musical that combines pop and rock with more traditional musical comedy.” – Associated Press

“A most effective contemporary morality play.... The music has real gusto.” – New York Post

Music

  • Musical Style Pop/Rock
  • Orchestra Size Piano Only

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

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9 Piano-Vocal

This title is orchestrated for Piano Only.

Scripts

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Authors

Elizabeth Swados

Elizabeth Swados

Elizabeth Swados (1951-2016) composed, wrote and directed over 30 theater pieces, including The Trilogy, The Red Sneaks, Nightclub Cantata, Runaways, Alice in Concert, Doonesbury, Rap Master Ronnie, The Haggadah, Jewish Girlz, Jonah, Job, Esther, Jerusalem (with Yehudah Amich ...

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