A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE
Big Nate
Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 3w, 4m
Based on the comic strip and books by Lincoln Peirce
Book by Jason Loewith and Lincoln Peirce
Lyrics by Chris Youstra & Jason Loewith
Music by Chris Youstra
Nate Wright, a detention-riddled sixth grader (and drummer) hopes to capture beautiful Jenny’s heart by winning “The Nickelodeon,” the first prize in his school’s Battle of the Bands.
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Cast Size
3w, 4m -
Duration
75 Minutes -
Subgenre
Theatre for Young Audiences -
Target Audience
Appropriate for All Audiences
Details
Summary
Nate Wright, a detention-riddled sixth grader (and drummer for the greatest garage band in the history of the galaxy, Enslave the Mollusk!) hopes to capture beautiful Jenny’s heart by winning “The Nickelodeon,” the first prize in his school’s Battle of the Bands. But when Artur and Jenny team up with Nate’s arch-rival Gina to form the sap-pop band Rainbows and Ponies, he’s gotta take his game to an all-star level. Using his superior cartoon skills, Nate concocts a super-charged, spectacular dedication to Jenny during his song’s climax, which will blow Rainbows and Ponies away and make Jenny realize her mistake. But since it’s Nate Wright, the plan backfires, and Enslave the Mollusk gets disqualified. Nate manages to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with a little honest help from Artur. Nate and his band win The Nickelodeon, but Jenny rewards Artur for his honesty by agreeing to “have steadiness” with him.
History
Cast Attributes
Performing Groups
- Time Period Contemporary
- Setting
Various locations in Nate’s middle school, P.S. 38. The present.
- Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
- Additional Features Audience Participation/Interactive
- Duration 75 Minutes
- Cautions
- No Special Cautions
Media
“A rocking fresh bundle of raucous fun.” – DC Theatre Scene
“Sparkling… Big Nate is a delight for all ages. With a great book and score… this is a musical that I can highly recommend for you and your children to enjoy together.” – MD Theatre Guide
“The musical pays loving homage to the Peirce canon. For the many fans of that canon, the homage will strike just the right rock-star-worthy note.” – Washington Post
“Captures the essence of middle school with contemporary comedy [and] catchy musical numbers… The 90-minute, one-intermission afternoon passes quickly while enjoying the melodies of the musical score… Each lyric and song by Chris Youstra and Jason Loewith glorifies the traumas of middle-school life with enchanting humor.” – Broadway World
“Bursting with energy and fun music, great lyrics and true to life comic strip characters, Big Nate, based on the familiar comic strip, is a rocking fresh bundle of raucous fun.” – DC Theatre Scene
“Immense fun… Big Nate extolls the virtues of best friends…[with] an exceptional message that instills in every young performer – or those sitting in the audience – the inspiration to overcome life’s setbacks with confidence, knowing that tomorrow, circumstances will bring success.” – Broadway World
ON BREAKING CHARACTER
Our Picks for The 2019/20 Season: K-12 Edition
Felicia Lucas
April 23, 2019
Growing Pains
by Gianfranco Lentini
December 17, 2014
McDonald’s to bring back Happy Meal Books, Including BIG NATE
by Courtney Kochuba
January 9, 2015
Re-Imagining The Musical: The Story of BIG NATE
by David Kimple
January 26, 2016
Videos
Big Nate the Musical at Adventure Theatre MTC
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Big Nate Behind the Scenes
Music
Song Samples
- Musical Style Classic Broadway
- Vocal DemandsModerate
- Orchestra Size Small/Combo
Licensing & Materials
- Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
Music Rentals
Scripts
Available Formats:
Add-Ons
Authors
Jason Loewith
Lincoln Peirce