A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE
The Happy Prince (Dooley/Perkins)
Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy / 8f, 8m, 4boy(s) or girl(s)
Music by David Perkins
Adaptation, Book, and Lyrics by Caroline Dooley and David Perkins
Based on the story by Oscar Wilde
"A bittersweet fable of... self-sacrifice, Oscar Wilde's fairy story is perhaps weighty stuff for a musical comedy. But in their adaptation, Caroline Dooley and David Perkins have mined the story for its moments of satirical humour and sincere humanity…
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Cast Size
8f, 8m, 4boy(s) or girl(s) -
Duration
75 Minutes -
Subgenre
Adaptation (Literature), Theatre for Young Audiences, Fable/Folktale -
Target Audience
Appropriate for All Audiences
Details
Summary
A touching musical based on the well-loved story by Oscar Wilde... The golden statue of the Happy Prince stands high above the city looking down on the misery and poverty beneath him. Desperate to bring hope and happiness to the poor people, he asks a swallow to distribute his gold and jewels to them. The generosity of the Happy Prince and the courage of the swallow help to overcome the greed of the powerful mayor and we are shown that the most precious things in life are often the least obvious.
The Happy Princehas been specially written for a large cast with a mixed range of ages and abilities making it suitable for schools, youth theatres or amateur groups. The 16 principal roles are augmented by much chorus work which can be adapted according to the size of the company. Helpful and detailed Director’s Notes are included to assist with every aspect of the production. The running time is approximately 80 minutes.
History
First performed at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, UK on 4th December 2003.
Cast Attributes
Performing Groups
- Time Period Victorian (British and American)
- Features Period Costumes
- Duration 75 Minutes
- Cautions
- No Special Cautions
Media
"When a show opens with God as a natty dresser in a white suit, practising his golf swings while he whistles Heaven, I'm in Heaven, you know you're in for a treat" Surrey Advertiser
Music
Song Samples
- Musical Style Classic Broadway
- Vocal DemandsModerate
- Orchestra Size Medium
- Chorus Size Medium
Licensing & Materials
- Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
Music Rentals
Scripts
Available Formats:
Authors
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was born in Dublin to Sir William Wilde and his wife Jane. While studying at Oxford, he was fascinated by the aesthetic movement and eventually became a proponent for L'art pour l'art ("Art for Art's Sake") and wrote the award-winning poem "Ravenna." U ...
David Perkins
