A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Bingo! The Winning Musical

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  6w, 1m

Book by Michael Heitzman & Ilene Reid
Music and Lyrics by Michael HeitzmanIlene Reid & David Holcenberg

Bingo is a splashy, zippy, fun new musical comedy - great for theatres looking to produce a small musical with a big heart. Bingo is about a group of die-hard bingo players who stop at nothing to attend their weekly game. In between the number calling, strange rituals, and fierce competitions, love blossoms, and long-lost friends reunite. These lovable characters spring to life with a smart, funny script and bouncy, hummable score. Audiences will be laughing in the aisles when they aren't playing games of bingo along with the cast!

Bingo! The Winning Musical

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    6w, 1m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! San Francisco Bay Area Critics Circle Award for Best Musical

Details

Summary
Bingo is a splashy, zippy, fun new musical comedy - great for theatres looking to produce a small musical with a big heart. Bingo is about a group of die-hard bingo players who stop at nothing to attend their weekly game. In between the number calling, strange rituals, and fierce competitions, love blossoms, and long-lost friends reunite. These lovable characters spring to life with a smart, funny script and bouncy, hummable score. Audiences will be laughing in the aisles when they aren't playing games of bingo along with the cast!

Best friends and Bingo pals Vern, Honey and Patsy brave a terrible storm in order to attend the yearly celebration of the birth of Bingo and tribute to its founder, Edwin S. Lowe. As the storm knocks out power at the Bingo Hall, Patsy and Honey remind each other of the ominous night fifteen years ago that began in the same way. In flashback, Honey tells us about the night Vern and her best friend, Bernice, had their falling out. Bernice's sweet, yet headstrong daughter, Alison, enters the Bingo hall in disguise - Bernice's health is failing, and Alison is determined, with the help of Bingo, to reunite her mother with her long-lost best friend.

History
Bingo! The Winning Musical was first produced by Aruba Productions & Buddy & Sally Productions in St. Luke’s Theater in New York City on November 7, 2005.
Keywords
VERN - 40s; Matriarch of the group; funny; robust; stubborn and crusty, but with a good heart buried under her gruff exterior. Mermanesque Broadway belt, showing range and power from low A to a solid C.
PATSY - 40s; Somewhat mousey; neurotic; obsessively superstitious, yet underneath all that anxiety lies a rock star who can let it rip! Pop belt to F.
HONEY - 40s; Leggy; beautiful, but a little past her prime. She’s an extremely loveable sex kitten if not the brightest of bulbs. Belt/mix to E.
SAM WONNIETSKI/FRANK - 40s; Sam is the Bingo caller - tall, rugged, and handsome. He loves his job and takes his calling very seriously. The only thing that can distract him is Honey - the woman of his dreams. In flashbacks, he doubles as FRANK - a long-haired, hippie bingo caller from the past. Baritone to F.
MINNIE MARTINELLI - 60s; Friendly bingo hall manager, she’s everyone’s favorite, cute, cuddly grandma. Although this woman could be the oldest in the group, she’s still spry and quick on her feet. She must be extremely comfortable interacting and improvising with the audience and have a good, warm energy. Belt up to C.
BERNICE BOODALAY - 40s; Super mom; genuinely sweet and cheerful. She’s the peacemaker and pie baker, and spreads sunshine wherever she goes....maybe a bit passive aggressive with her friends. Belt to C.
ALISON BOODALAY - 20s; Bernice’s daughter - fresh faced, passionate, optimistic, perky and quirky. She is a young, comedic character woman in an ingénue’s body. Must be able to belt F sharp.

The show can also be performed with 6 - one male, and 5 female. You may combine the roles of Bernice and Minnie.

  • Time Period Present Day, Contemporary
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Audience Participation/Interactive, Local Celebrity Cameo, No intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

"Popcorn, friendship, intrigue and a famous five-letter word. Bingo turns Grandma's favorite form of gambling into fun-loving musical theater." - The New York Times
"The score is bouncy and well-crafted. An exportable small-theater concoction a la Forever Plaid. - Variety
"A deceptively witty book and spirited performances - creating a hilarious portrait of a peculiar competitive event, much in the way The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee did for elementary school spellers." - The Associated Press
"Songs to bring down the house!" - Los Angeles Times
"Warm-hearted, witty, musical comedy!" - Chicago Tribune
"A show the whole family can enjoy." - Sun Sentinel Miami/Ft. Lauderdale
"Heitzman, Reid and Holcenberg's new musical comedy finds its heart, soul, and humor in a game that can be heard emanating from every church auditorium, high school cafeteria, and social hall across America." - The Beach Reporter, Hermosa Beach, CA

Music

Song Samples

Girls Night Out
I Still Believe In You
I've Made Up My Mind
Under My Wing
Gentleman Caller
Swell
B4
1 - Overture
2 - Girls Night Out (Vern, Honey & Patsy)
2A - The Birth of Bingo
3 - Anyone Can Play Bingo (Minnie & Sam)
3A - Bingo US 1
4 - Honey's Flashback (Honey & Bernice)
5 - I Still Believe In You (Patsy, Vern, Honey & Bernice)
5A - Believe PO
6 - I've Made Up My Mind (Alison)
7 - Under My Wing (Vern, Honey, Patsy, Minnie, Alison & Sam)
7A - Birthday Game Intro
7B - Bingo US 2
8 - Patsy's Flashback (Patsy)
9 - Gentleman Caller (Honey & Sam)
10 - Ratched's Lament (Alison, Honey, Patsy, Vern & Minnie)
11 - Vern's Flashback (Vern)
11A - Door Prize
12 - Bingo US 3
13 - Play Bingo Reprise (Company, Except Bernice)
14 - Interrogation Music
15 - Swell (Vern)
16 - Gentleman Caller Reprise (Sam & Honey)
17 - Mamma
18 - Believe Reprise (Company)
18A - Big Birthday Blackout
19 - Minnie's Flashback (Minnie)
19A - The Last Game (Minnie)
19B - Slo Mo
20 - B4 (Alison, Bernice, Vern & Alison)
21 - I've Made Up My Mind - Reprise (Bernice)
22 - Finale (Company)
  • Musical Style Classic Broadway, Pop/Rock
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo
  • 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!
8   Keyboard 1-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)

1   Keyboard 2
1   Percussion – Drum Set, Timpani, Siren Whistle, Mark Tree, Bells, Triangle, Sleigh Bells, Wood Blocks, Ride Bell, Castanets, Flexitone, Glass Wind Chimes, Bongos, Cabasa & Tambourine
8   Keyboard 1-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)

Add-Ons

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Authors

Michael Heitzman

Michael Heitzman and his longtime collaborator Ilene Reid are the Grammy-nominated songwriters of 'Throw That Girl Around' from the Broadway musical Swing! Their musical Bingo! The Winning Musical had a successful Off-Broadway run and continues to have numerous productions n ...
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Ilene Reid

Ilene Reid and her longtime collaborator Michael Heitzman are the Grammy-nominated songwriters of 'Throw That Girl Around' from the Broadway musical Swing! Their musical Bingo! The Winning Musical had a successful Off-Broadway run and continues to have numerous production ...
View full profile
Author

David Holcenberg

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