Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song

AN R&H THEATRICALS TITLE

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  6w, 4m, 1boy(s)

Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joseph Fields

Based on the novel by C.Y. Lee

Mei Li has come from China to San Francisco to marry Sammy Fong, a nightclub owner who is already in love with a dancer at his establishment. By turns raucous and heartfelt, this delightful Rodgers & Hammerstein musical embraces the new while honoring the old.

Image: 2002 Broadway Production (Joan Marcus)

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    6w, 4m, 1boy(s)
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Accolades
Accolades

  • Winner! 1959 Tony Award, Best Musical Director
    Nominee: Six 1959 Tony Awards, including Best Musical

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song
Also Available
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song (Hwang Version)

Details

Summary

Mei Li has come from China to San Francisco to marry nightclub owner Sammy Fong. But Sammy loves Linda Low, a dancer at his establishment. His friend Wang Ta is urged to marry Mei Li, even though he is promised to Linda. After farcical trifles, a torn Wang Ta eventually realizes it is Mei Li whom he loves after all, and they happily marry.

History
Flower Drum Song opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on December 1, 1958, starring Miyoshi Umeki, Pat Suzuki, Larry Blyden, Juanita Hall and Ed Kenney. The show ran for 600 performances. Flower Drum Song returned to Broadway in 2002, with a revised book by David Henry Hwang. The revival, which opened on October 17, 2002, starred Lea Salonga, Sandra Allen and Jose Llana.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups

CHARACTERS:
Madam Liang – Wang Ta’s Aunt
Liu Ma
Wang San – Wang Ta’s Brother
Wang Ta – A young Chinese American man living in his father’s (Wang Chi Yang) house in San Francisco’s Chinatown
Wang Chi Yang – A Chinese paterfamilias, unable to settle easily in America and very much on his dignity
Sammy Fong
Dr. Li – Mei Li’s Father
Mei Li – Dr. Li’s Daughter
Linda Low
Mr. Lung (The Tailor)
Mr. Huan (The Banker)
Helen Chao
Professor Cheng
Frankie Wing
Head Waiter
Night Club Singer
Dr. Lu Fong – Sammy’s Uncle
Madam Fong – Sammy’s Mother
Dancing Ensemble
Children

ENSEMBLE:
Chinese or Chinese American singing and dancing ensemble with children and several small roles.

CASTING NOTE:
Flower Drum Song is set in San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1958. The characters are Chinese or Chinese American, and the roles should be cast accordingly. The use of make-up or prosthetics to alter an actor's ethnicity is prohibited.

Flower Drum Song is set in San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1958. The characters are Chinese or Chinese American, and the roles should be cast accordingly. The use of make-up or prosthetics to alter an actor's ethnicity is prohibited.

  • Time Period 1950s
  • Setting

    San Francisco's Chinatown. 1958.

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

Media

Videos

  • Flower Drum Song Promo - Palo Alto Players 2019 youtube thumbnail

    Flower Drum Song Promo - Palo Alto Players 2019

  • Red Bucket Follies 2018 - Flower Drum Song Celebration youtube thumbnail

    Red Bucket Follies 2018 - Flower Drum Song Celebration

  • Flower Drum Song - Ed Sullivan Show 1958 youtube thumbnail

    Flower Drum Song - Ed Sullivan Show 1958

  • Flower Drum Song - Press Reel 2002 youtube thumbnail

    Flower Drum Song - Press Reel 2002

Photos

  • Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song

    Image: 2002 Broadway Production (Joan Marcus)

  • Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song

    Image: 2002 Broadway Production (Joan Marcus)

  • Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song

    Image: 2002 Broadway Production (Joan Marcus)

  • Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song

    Image: 2002 Broadway Production (Joan Marcus)

Music

Music Samples

Act I

Overture – Orchestra
Opening, Act I – Orchestra
1. “You Are Beautiful” – Wang Ta and Madame Liang
2. “A Hundred Million Miracles” – Mei-Li, Dr. Li, Madame Liang, Wang Chi-Yang and Liu Ma
2a. Bridge to Scene 2 – Orchestra
3. “I Enjoy Being A Girl” – Linda
3a. Encore: “I Enjoy Being A Girl” – Linda
4. End of Scene 2 – Orchestra
4a. Bridge to Scene 3 – Orchestra
5. Back Beating (“A Hundred Million Miracles”) – Mei Li
6. “I Am Going To Like It Here” – Mei Li
6a. Bridge to Scene 4 – Orchestra
7. “Like A God” – Wang Ta
7a. Bridge to Scene 5 – Orchestra
8. “Chop Suey” – Madame Liang and Ensemble
8a. Encore: “Chop Suey” – Madame Liang and Ensemble
9. “Jazz Bit” – Linda and San
10. “Don’t Marry Me” – Mei Li, Sammy Fong
11. “Grant Avenue” – Linda and Ensemble
11a. Bridge to Scene 6 – Orchestra
12. “Love, Look Away” – Helen
13. “Fan Tan Fanny” – Night Club Singer
14. “Gliding Through My Memoree” – Frankie

Act II

Entr’acte – Orchestra
15. Opening, Act II – Orchestra
16. Introduction to Ta’s Dream (“You Are Beautiful”) – Ta
16a. Ta’s Dream – Orchestra
16b. Coda to Ballet – Orchestra
17. Reprise: “Love, Look Away” – Helen
17a. Bridge to Scene 2 – Orchestra
18. “The Other Generation” – Madame Liang and Wang Chi-Yang
19. Reprise: “You Are Beautiful” – Ta
19a. Bridge to Scene 3 – Orchestra
20. “Sunday” – Linda, Sammy Fong and Ensemble
21. Reprise: “Don’t Marry Me” – Sammy Fong
22. Reprise: “The Other Generation” – Children
23. Procession – Orchestra
24. Finale: “A Hundred Million Miracles” – Ta, Mei Li and Company
25. Curtain Call (“Sunday”) – Company

Full Orchestration

Flute I (Doubling Piccolo, Alto Flute)
Flute II (Doubling Piccolo)
Oboe (Doubling English Horn)
Clarinet I (Doubling Alto Sax)
Clarinet II (Doubling Alto Sax)
Bass Clarinet (Doubling Tenor Sax)
Horn I&II
Trumpet I&II
Trumpet III
Trombone I
Trombone II
Tuba
Violin I (Divisi)
Violin II (Divisi)
Viola (Divisi)
Cello (Divisi)
Bass
Harp
Guitar (Doubling Banjo and Mandolin)
Percussion (Tom-toms, Drums (Trap Set), Shell, Bells, Timpani, Cymbal, Soft Bells, Gong, Xylophone, Temple Block, Castanets, Ratchet, Vibraphone, Oriental Drum, Flower Drum, Steel Mallets, Sticks, Brushes)

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Difficult
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size X-Large
  • Chorus Size Large

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

    PLEASE BE ADVISED: There are multiple versions of this title. Before you proceed, please double-check to ensure that you are applying for the version you want. We will not be able to refund rental or shipping fees if you pay for the wrong version. If you’re not sure which version best suits your needs, you may purchase a perusal for each available version.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!

20 Libretto-Vocal Book
1 Piano-Vocal
1 Flute 1
1 Flute 2
1 Oboe
1 Clarinet 1
1 Clarinet 2
1 Bass Clarinet
1 Horn 1&2
1 Trumpet 1&2
1 Trumpet 3
1 Trombone 1
1 Trombone 2
1 Tuba
1 Harp
1 Guitar
1 Percussion
1 Violin 1
1 Violin 2
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Bass
1 Logo Pack

20 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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Oscar Hammerstein II

Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Hammerstein II was born on July 12, 1895 in New York City. His father, William, was a theatre manager and for many years director of Hammerstein's Victoria, the most popular vaudeville theatre of its day. His uncle, Arthur Hammerstein, was a successful Broadway producer ...
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Joseph Fields

Joseph Fields

Joseph Fields (1895-1966) was the son of actor, producer and theatre owner Lew Fields (who launched Rodgers & Hart's professional career in 1919) and the brother of Herbert and Dorothy Fields (co-librettists of Annie Get Your Gun, among many other credits). Joseph Fields serv ...

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C.Y. Lee

C.Y. Lee

C.Y. Lee (1915-2018), born in Hunan, China, received a B.A. degree from Southwest Associated University, Kunming, China, and an M.F.A. with a major in playwriting from Yale University.

Before his American education, Lee worked during World War II as Secretary to the Sawba of M ...

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