A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  6w, 5m

Leon Carr, Joe Manchester, Earl Shuman, James Thurber

Based on the story by James Thurber
Book by Joe Manchester
Music by Leon Carr
Lyrics by Earl Shuman

"A thoroughly pleasant musical evening." - Time

On his fortieth birthday Walter Mitty reflects on his drab, ordinary life. Defeated in his quest for wealth and glory by family responsibilities, a mortgage, and a routine job, he creates elaborate fantasies in which he is the hero. His secret world …

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    6w, 5m
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptations (Stage & Screen)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences

Details

Summary

On his fortieth birthday Walter Mitty reflects on his drab, ordinary life. Defeated in his quest for wealth and glory by family responsibilities, a mortgage, and a routine job, he creates elaborate fantasies in which he is the hero. His secret world is so enticing that he often loses sight of the boundary between dream and reality and comically slips into his imagination. An attractive would be chanteuse aptly named Willa de Wisp encourages Walter to leave his wife, shed the burdens of suburban living and really live the secret life. Unfortunately it is as unattainable as it is appealing. At the end of the play Walter discovers that he is happily committed to the real world, complete with its mortgages and responsibilities.

History
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty was first presented at the Players Theatre, New York City on October 26, 1964.
Cast Attributes
WALTER MITTY - Male, 40. A whimsical, henpecked, dreamer supreme. Instantly likeable.
AGNES - Female, 30-40. Mitty’s wife. Reasonably attractive, nagging, practical, but underneath her strong veneer, she is sensitive, understanding and smart.
PENINNAH - Female, 10-11. Mitty and Agnes’ daughter. Unspoiled and sweet.
HARRY - Male, 40’s. Pleasant, friendly bartender type.
WILLA - Female, Late 20’s. Sexy and kookie nightclub singer.
IRVING - Male, 30. Slightly dense. Her is a stern believer in health foods and spas, and looks it.
RUTHIE - Female, Mid 20’s. Volatile and a little on the crude side. Pretty in a cheep sort of way.
GORMAN - Male, 40. A successful salesman type with a gift of gab and great charm.
HAZEL - Female, Mid 20’s. Speaks with a lisp, dumb as they come.
SYLVIA - Female, Mid 20’s. Definitely not the finishing school type.
MACMILLAN - Male, 50. A large, pompous, gruff man.
CHORUS (SATB) - Firing Squad, Peasants, Mission Control Operator, Surgical Patient, Dr. Renshaw, Dr. Benbow, Nurses, Professor Remington, Dr. Pritchard-Mitford, Crêpe Suzette, Tortoni, Apple Turnover, Townspeople, Blind Date, Folies Customers, Male Dancers, Group Therapy Patients

Plus as many extras as desired

  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

"A thoroughly pleasant musical evening." - Time

Music

Song Samples

Prologue (Ensemble)
Aggie (Mitty)
Don't Forget (Aggie, Mitty)
Hello, I Love You, Goodbye (Gorman, Harry, Mitty)
Two Little Pussycats (Ruthie, Hazel)
You're Not (Mitty, Agness, Ensemble)
Epilogue (Ensemble)
Large Orchestration:
1 Piano-Conductor

1 Flute/Piccolo
1 Clarinet/Alto Saxophone 1 
1 Clarinet/Alto Saxophone 2
1 Trumpet 1
1 Trumpet 2
1 Trombone
1 Percussion (Timpani, Bells, Drum Set, Cymbal, Triangle, Wood Block, Cowbell, Tom-Tom, Bongo (Or Bongo Sound), Castanets, Gun Shot Sound)
1 Harp
2 Violins I & 2
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Bass


Small Orchestration:
1 Piano-Conductor

1 Reed (Piccolo, Flute, Bb Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Sax)
1 Percussion (Drum Set, Vibraphone, Cymbal, Wood Block, Tom-Tom, Triangle, Bongo (Or Bongo Sound), Castanets)
1 Bass

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
Large Orchestration:
1 Piano-Conductor
13 Vocal Books

1 Flute/Piccolo
1 Clarinet/Alto Saxophone 1
1 Clarinet/Alto Saxophone 2
1 Trumpet 1
1 Trumpet 2
1 Trombone
1 Percussion
1 Harp
2 Violins I&2
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Bass

Small Orchestration:
1 Piano-Conductor
13 Vocal Books

1 Reed
1 Percussion
1 Bass
1 Piano-Conductor
13 Vocal Books

Add-Ons

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Authors

Author

Leon Carr

Author

Joe Manchester

Author

Earl Shuman

Author

James Thurber

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