AN R&H THEATRICALS TITLE

Two by Two

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  4w, 4m

Music by Richard Rodgers
Book by Peter Stone
Lyrics by Martin Charnin

Based on the play The Flowering Peach by Clifford Odets

In this fresh retelling of the Noah story, with a glorious score from
Richard Rodgers and Martin Charnin, Noah learns that being chosen by God
isn't always smooth sailing.

Two by Two

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Two by Two

Details

Summary

Richard Rodgers entered his seventh decade of writing for the theatre with this fresh retelling of the Biblical story of Noah. It seems that the building of the ark was only the first of Noah's many daunting challenges in a journey that wasn't always smooth sailing. By turns inspirational and hilarious, Two by Two demonstrates that being chosen by God for great things does not necessarily simplify the daily demands on a father and husband. It's good fun from The Good Book... and when the land has dried, man and beast alike are invited to go forth and prosper in a bright New World.

History
Two by Two premiered on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on November 10, 1970. Directed by Joe Layton, the production starred Danny Kaye and featured Marilyn Cooper, Joan Copeland, Harry Goz, Madeline Kahn, Michael Karm, Tricia O'Neil and Walter Willison.
Keywords
Performing Groups
PRINCIPALS
4 Women
4 Men

CHARACTERS
Noah
Esther
Japheth
Shem
Leah
Ham
Rachel
Goldie

The three sons are quite different. Shem, the oldest boy, is a big businessman, innately greedy, only concerned about money and position. The middle boy, Ham, wants to get the most for doing the least, you know the type. The counterpart of the petty con man all over the world. Then there's the youngest one, Japheth, the revolutionary, the one who says, "I know Pop is not crazy, but I'm not so sure about God." That's where the strife is! There are some deeply touching moments in the middle of hilarious scenes -- about my reaching for him and remembering what he has just said about God -- you know how you act with a little baby that's only a few months old, that if you hug it the way you really want to, you'll smother it to death -- it's loving somebody so much that they make you madder than anybody else and you love them in spite of it. Within that family you have all the ills that are in the world today, otherwise their seed wouldn't have developed the way it has. You have everything, the good, too.

  • Time Period Greek/Roman/Biblical
  • Setting

    Noah's home and Ark. Before, during and after the Flood.

  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

“A musical to be loved, to be cherished... it moved me profoundly.” – New York Daily News

“One of Rodgers' finest musicals... a show for anyone... rich in comedy, full of melody and that rare ingredient: heart.” – Associated Press, January 01, 2002

“A musical to be loved, to be cherished... it moved me profoundly... beguiling melodies... absorbing libretto... who wants a conventional song-and-dance show with shows such as this around?” – New York Daily News

Videos

  • Martin Charnin on Two by Two youtube thumbnail

    Martin Charnin on Two by Two

Music

Music Samples

1. “Why Me?” – Noah
2. “Put Him Away” – Shem, Ham & Leah
3. “The Gitka's Song” – The Gitka
4. “Something Somewhere” – Japheth & the Family
5. “You Have Got To Have A Rudder On The Ark” – Noah, Shem, Ham & Japheth
6. “Something Doesn't Happen” – Rachel
7. “An Old Man” – Esther
8. “Ninety Again” – Noah
9. “Two By Two” – Noah & the Family
10. “I Do Not Know A Day I Did Not Love You” – Japheth
11. “Something Somewhere (Reprise)” – Noah
12. “When It Dries” – Noah & the Family
13. “You” – Noah
14. “The Golden Ram” – Goldie
15. “Poppa Knows Best” – Noah, Shem, Ham & Japheth
16. “I Do Not Know A Day I Did Not Love You (Reprise)” – Rachel & Japheth
17. “As Far As I'm Concerned” – Shem & Leah
18. “Hey, Girlie” – Noah
19. “The Convenant” – Noah

Full Orchestration

Piano Conductor (Piano, Celesta, Organ, Thunderclap Effect)
Reed I (Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet)
Reed II (Flute, Clarinet)
Reed III (Clarinet, Bass Clarinet)
Trumpet I&II
Trombone
Violin A-B (Divisi)
Viola
Cello
Bass

Percussion I&II
Trap Set
Timpani
Triangle
Gourd
Bells
Xylophone
Tambourine
Chimes
Finger Cymbals
Cow Bells
Anvil
Woodblock
Castanets
Bird Whistle
Gong (Optional)

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Moderate
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Medium
  • Chorus Size No Chorus

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!

10 Libretto-Vocal Book
1 Piano-Vocal
1 Piano-Conductor
1 Reed 1
1 Reed 2
1 Reed 3
2 Trumpet 1&2
1 Trombone
2 Percussion 1&2
2 Violin 1&2
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Bass
1 Logo Pack

10 Libretto-Vocal Book
1 Piano-Vocal
1 Logo Pack

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Authors

Richard Rodgers

Richard Rodgers

Richard Rodgers' contribution to the musical theatre of his day was extraordinary, and his influence on the musical theatre of today and tomorrow is legendary. His career spanned more than six decades, his hits ranging from the silver screens of Hollywood to the bright light ...

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Peter Stone

Peter Stone

Peter Stone (1930-2003) was the first writer to win the Tony, the Oscar and the Emmy. With 15 Broadway productions to his credit, he received Tony Awards for his books to 1776, Woman Of The Year, The Will Rogers Follies and Titanic (all four also winning the Tony for Best Mus ...

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Martin Charnin

Martin Charnin

Born in New York, Martin Charnin (1934-2019) had a long career in musical theater, from his early days as a performer to his later years as a composer, writer, director, and lyricist. His lyrics to the song “Tomorrow,” from the musical Annie, have been sung and heard across t ...

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Clifford Odets

Clifford Odets

Clifford Odets (1906-63) was born in Philadelphia and reared in New York City. In 1931 he was a founder of the Group Theatre in New York City. Most of his plays were produced by the Group Theatre, including Waiting For Lefty (1935), a one-act play that established his fame; A ...

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