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A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE
Full-Length Musical, Drama / 3w, 5m
Book, Music and Lyrics by Willy Russell
This powerful musical, by the author of Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, is a haunting rags-to-riches tragedy of our times. After a struggling mother surrenders one of her newborn twins to her childless employer, the brothers grow up streets apart, never learning the truth. In the end, however, the separation of twins commands a heavy price.
Nominee: Six 1993 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Book Winner! Two 1983 Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best Musical
"Tell me it's not true. Say it's just a story..."
Blood Brothers, by the author of Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, is a haunting rags-to-riches tragedy of our times. A woman with numerous children to support surrenders one of her newborn twins to her childless employer. The boys grow up streets apart, never learning the truth, but become firm friends and fall in love with the same girl. One prospers while the other falls on hard times. A narrator warns that the separation of twins commands a heavy price: the lives of the blood brothers, who die on the day they discover they are related.
THIS TITLE IS NOT RELEASED FOR PERFORMANCE RIGHTS IN THE UK AND IRELAND.
If your performances are outside the UK/Ireland, please apply for a licence to check availabilty. (US/Canada performances would apply through our US website. Navigate there by selecting 'US' instead of 'UK' in the top right corner of this website.)
MRS. JOHNSTONE (MOTHER): Female, 30’s (Range: Mezzo Soprano, F3-C5) Original Mother of Mickey and Edward. After her husband walks out on her, she is left to take care of her children. Constantly trying to do what is best. Gets a job as a maid to support her children. While she tries her best, she cannot escape the society she has been born into.
NARRATOR: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Rock Tenor, G3-G4) “Did y’ hear the story of the Johnstone twins?” Takes the audience through the important sections of the story. Truthful, yet ominous at times. Also appears as Milkman 1, Gynaecologist, Bus Conductor, Milkman 2, Teacher, Rifle Range Man.
MRS. LYONS: Female, 30’s (Range: Mezzo Soprano, B3-D5) Mrs. Johnstone’s employer. Kind with good intensions but puts herself first—no matter the cost. Adopts Edward out of desperation towards her own insecurities. A compulsive liar who gets in over her head.
MR. LYONS: Male, 30-40 (Range: Ensemble/Non Singing) Proper Gentleman from the upper class. Is tricked into thinking his wife has had a child while he was on an extended business trip. Constantly busy, and leaves the homely responsibilities up to his wife.
MICKEY: Male, Plays 7-20’s (Range: Bari Tenor, D3-E4) Blood Brother raised in the poor part of town by Mrs. Johnston. A trouble maker pressured by the rules of society.
EDWARD: Male, Plays 7-20’s (Range: Tenor, D3-A4) Blood Brother raised in the upper class by Mrs. Lyons. Grows up with a privileged life due to his foster parents—From his opportunities with education to women.
SAMMY: Male, Plays 7-20’s (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Mickey’s Brother. A bully and bad influence on Mickey. Constantly a trouble maker.
LINDA: Female, Plays 7-20’s (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) A lovely girl from the neighborhood. Finds the attention of both Mickey and Edward.
CHORUS Catalogue Man, Finance Man, Children, Policemen, Neighbours, Wedding Guests, Doleites, Councillors, Nurses, Judge
The original production of Blood Brothers included only three chorus members. This number can be expanded to any number your organisation requires.
England. 1960-1980.
“A full-bodied musical, a wonderful melodrama that is also a thoroughly modern ballad opera.” – Wall Street Journal
“The most exciting thing to have happened to the English musical theatre for years.” – Punch
“There are so many good things to shout and sing about in this new musical.” – Daily Mail
“Deeply moving.” – London Broadcasting
“A genuine crowd pleaser...Blood Brothers remains a one-of-a-kind show...and no musical theater fan should fail to experience it.” – Theater Week
“Totally beguiling.” – City Limits
“For years we have...longed for a show in which words and music, characterization and songs are given equal weight... Blood Brothers is such an event.” – Time Out
“Blood Brothers sparkles on Broadway. Willy Russell has the gift for heartbreak... This musical's power to terrify, amuse and beguile gallops along... It is impossible to leave Blood Brothers unmoved. Even people who don't like musicals will love this work.” – Connecticut Post
ON BREAKING CHARACTER
Top 15 Plays and Musicals About Siblings Concord Theatricals April 8, 2019
Tour Press Launch
Blood Brothers TV Spot
1 - Overture (Mrs Johnstone & Choir) 2 - Marilyn Monroe (Mrs Johnstone) 2a - Marilyn Monroe (reprise) (Mrs Johnstone) 3 - Mrs Lyons' theme 4 - Underscoring (Shoes Upon the Table) 5 - Underscoring (Mrs Lyons' them) 6 - My Child (Mrs Johnstone & Mrs Lyons) 7 - Underscoring 8 - Underscoring 9 - Easy Terms (Mrs Johnstone & Backing Singers) 10 - Underscoring 11 - Shoes Upon the Table (Narrator) 12 - Easy Terms (reprise) (Mrs Johnstone) 13 - Kids Game (Kids, Linda, Cowboy, Sammy, Sergeant & Corporal) 14 - Underscoring (Shoes Under the Table) 15 - Shoes Upon the Table (reprise 2a) (Narrator) 16 - Shoes upon the Table (reprise 2b) (Narrator) 17 - Bright New Day (preview) (Mrs Johnstone) 18 - Long Sunday Afternoon (Mrs Johnstone) 19 - Bright New Day (reprise) (Mrs Johnstone & All) 20 - Marilyn Monroe (reprise) (Mrs Johnstone) 21 - Underscoring 22 - Underscoring (Just a Game) 23 - Underscoring (Hymn) 24 - Underscorring (Narrator) 25 - Underscoring (One Summer) 26 - That Guy (Mikey & Eddie) 27 - Shoes Upon the Table (Narrator) 28 - Underscoring 29 - Underscoring 30 - I'm Not Saying a Word (Eddie) 31 - Underscoring 32 - Miss Jones (Mr Lyons & Doleites) 33 - Just a Game (underscore) 34 - Marilyn Monroe (reprise 3) (Mrs Johnstone) 35 - Light Romance (Mrs Johnstone) 36 - Shoes Upon the Table (madman) (Narrator) 37 - Tell Me It's Not True (Mrs Johnstone & Company)
Saxophone (Soprano & Alto) Trumpet Keyboard 1 Keyboard 2 Percussion (Timpani, Tom-tom, Cymbal, Vibes, Congas, Tam-tam, Tambourine, Timbales, Shaker, Snare Drum, Gunshot sound, Mark Tree, Guiro, Cabasa, Wood Block, Sleigh Bells, Jawbone, Bongos) Drums Violin/Acoustic Guitar Electric Guitar Bass Guitar
12 Piano-Conductor 1 Saxophone 1 Trumpet 1 Keyboard 1 1 Keyboard 2 1 Percussion 1 Drums 1 Violin/Acoustic Guitar 1 Electric Guitar 1 Bass Guitar
12 Piano-Conductor
Willy Russell’s career spans more than four decades; born in Liverpool in 1947, he left school at 15 and became a women’s hairdresser and part-time singer/songwriter performing on the local folk scene before returning to education and becoming a teacher.
Whilst at St Katharine ...
Willy Russell
by Willy Russell
Multiple Authors
by Multiple Authors