Sweethearts

A TAMS-WITMARK TITLE

Sweethearts

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  8w, 7m

Victor Herbert, Robert B. Smith, Harry B. Smith, Fred De Gresac

Music by Victor Herbert / Lyrics by Robert B. Smith / Book by Harry B. Smith & Fred De Gresac

Victor Herbert's comic operetta takes place in the fictitious kingdom of Zilinia. The tale of a secret princess, a dashing prince, a sleazy politician, and a military Lothario combines humor, music, and romance as only a classic operetta can.

Image: Sam Norkin

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    8w, 7m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Period, Romantic Comedy
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Sweethearts

Details

Summary
Victor Herbert's comic operetta takes place in the fictitious kingdom of Zilinia. The tale of a secret princess, a dashing prince, a sleazy politician, and a military Lothario combines humor, music, and romance as only a classic operetta can.
History
Sweethearts opened on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on September 8, 1913, starring Christie MacDonald and Thomas Conkey. The show then moved to the Liberty Theatre, playing for a total of 136 performances.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Mikel Mikeloviz, disguised as a monk, transports Princess Jeanne, the infant daughter of King René of the little kingdom of Zilinia, to Bruges to wait in safety during the war. Dame Paula runs the Laundry of the White Geese and is known as "Mother Goose." Mikel gives the princess to Paula in secret to raise as her own daughter under the name of Sylvia. Paula later has six daughters of her own who help her run the laundry. Their father has been at war for ten years.

Twenty-two years later, the people demand the restoration of a monarchy. Mikel conspires to restore Princess Jeanne to the throne, which will otherwise go to Prince Franz, the heir presumptive. Franz, while traveling in disguise, has fallen in love with Sylvia. But Sylvia, who does not know that she is really a princess, is betrothed to Lieutenant Karl, a military Lothario. A sleazy politician, disguised as Paula's battle-scarred husband, tries to ensnare one of the two apparently adopted daughters as the bride for Prince Franz, but he does not know whether the real adopted daughter is the scheming Liane or the sweet Sylvia. Mikel's plans are hindered by the schemes of three villains. Mikel also mistakes Liane, a milliner who has sought temporary employment in the Laundry of the White Geese, for the lost princess. After all the complications are combed out, Franz and Sylvia marry, vowing to rule together.

Principals
(8 female; 7 male)

Sylvia - Daughter of the King of Zilinia
Dame Paula (“Mother Goose”) - Leader of the Laundry of the White Geese
Liane  - A milliner

Paula’s Daughters (“The White Geese”):
Lizette
Clairette
Babette
Jeanette
Toinette
Nanette

Mikel Mikelovitz - Sylvia’s benefactor; disguised as a monk
Franz - The Heir Presumptive
Lietuenant Karl - A military Lothario; betrothed to Sylvia
Percy Algernon Slingsby
Aristide Caniche
Petrus Van Tromp
Captain Lourent

Ensemble

First and Second Footman
Ladies of the Court, Laundry Girls, Peasants, Soldiers, etc.

  • Time Period 1910s/WWI
  • Setting The fictional kingdom of Zilania. 1910s.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

Photos

  • Sweethearts

    Image: Sam Norkin

Music

Act I

Overture
1. Iron! Iron! Iron!” - Girls
2. “On Parade” - Ensemble
2a. Exit - Orchestra
3. "There Is Magic in a Smile” - Liane and Ensemble
4. “Sweethearts” - Sylvia & Ensemble
4a. Exit - Orchestra
5. “Every Lover Must Meet His Fate” - Franz & Ensemble
6. “Mother Goose” - Sylvia & Girls
7. “Angelus” - Sylvia, Franz & Male Chorus
8. “Jeanette and Her Little Wooden Shoes)” - Liane, Slingsby, Caniche & Van Tromp
9. Finale Act I - Company

Act II

10a. “Waiting for the Bride” - Male Chorus
10b. “Pretty As a Picture” - Van Tromp & Male Chorus
11. Entrance of Sylvia - Sylvia & Ensemble
12. “In the Convent They Never Taught Me That” - Sylvia & Ensemble
13. “The Game Of Love” - Karl & Girls
14. “I Don't Know How I Do It, But I Do” - Slingsby
15. “Cricket on the Hearth” - Sylvia & Franz
16. "Pilgrims of Love" - SLingsby, Caniche & Van Tromp
17. Finale Act II ("Sweethearts" Reprise) - Company

Full Orchestration

2 Violin I
1 Violin II
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Bass

2 Flute I & II (Flute II doubles Piccolo)
1 Oboe
2 Clarinet I & II
1 Bassoon

2 Horn I & II
2 Trumpet I & II
1 Trombone

1 Percussion


  • Musical Style Operetta
  • Dance Requirements Moderate
  • Vocal DemandsDifficult
  • Orchestra Size Medium
  • Chorus Size Large

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!
1 Piano-Conductor
35 Libretto-Vocal
2 Flute 1 & 2
1 Oboe
2 Clarinet 1 & 2
1 Bassoon
2 Horn 1 & 2
2 Trumpet 1 & 2
1 Trombone
1 Percussion
2 Violin 1
1 Violin 2
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Bass
1 Piano-Conductor
35 Libretto-Vocal

Add-Ons

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Authors

Author

Victor Herbert

Robert B. Smith

ROBERT B. SMITH was born in Chicago in 1875, where he began his career apprenticing with Weber and Fields. His older brother, Harry B. Smith, was also a successful lyricist, writer and composer. Robert B. Smith’s notable works include the lyrics to “Come Down, Ma Evenin’ Star ...

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Harry B. Smith

HARRY B. SMITH was a prolific stage writer, having contributed to more than 300 librettos and lyrics for more than 6,000 tunes. His early career was as a music and drama critic for Chicago newspapers. Some of his best known works were created with Victor Herbert, Reginald deK ...

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Author

Fred De Gresac

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