A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Little Fish

Full-Length Musical, Comedy

Music and Lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa / Words and Music by Michael John LaChiusa / Suggested by short stories by Deborah Eisenberg

A truly modern musical that introduces us to a darker New York than seen in most musicals.

Little Fish

Details

Summary

When Charlotte decides to give up smoking, she doesn't realise quite how difficult it will be. As she attempts to fill her nicotine-starved days, the events of a troubled past slowly begin to resurface: an abusive ex-boyfriend, a new life in New York, a bizarre roommate and a boss who is a little too hands on. As her emotional debris accumulates, we see Charlotte's vivid memories juxtaposed against her present day life. But even with her friends trying to help, can this Little Fish learn to survive in a pond as big as New York City? Little Fish introduces us to a darker New York than that seen in most musicals. Inhabiting the lesser-seen corners of the city, Michael John LaChiusa blends a pulsating, jazzy and resonant score with intelligent and witty lyrics. Combined with a sharply observed book filled with humour, this is a truly modern musical that no one should miss.

Running time: approximately 90 minutes.

History
Little Fish opened at Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Carol Fishman, Managing Director) in New York City on January 21, 2003. It was directed and choreographed by Graciela Daniele; the musical director was Dan Lipton; the set design was by Riccardo Hernandez; the lighting design was by Peggy Eisenhauer; the sound design was by Scott Lehrer; the costume design was by Toni-Leslie James; and the stage manager was Thomas Borchard.

Principals: 4 Men, 5 Women

Featured: 10 characters, all of the named characters should double as ensemble members with the exception of Charlotte, Kathy and Marco.

CHARLOTTE - early thirties

KATHY - early thirties

MARCO - early thirties

ROBERT - forties

CINDER - twenties

JOHN PAUL - twenties

MR. BUNDER - fifties

YOUNG GIRL - teenage

Media

"Michael John LaChiusa intimately understands New Yorkers. In conceiving and creating Little Fish… he has devised a musical as melodic, dissonant, and inspiring as the city itself" — Matthew Murray, Talkin' Broadway

"LaChiusa crams 25 attractively atonal, attention-grabbing musical interludes into 90 minutes" — Julio Martinez, Variety

Music

Music Samples

1. ''Days'' - Charlotte, Kathy, Marco, Ensemble
2. ''Robert'' - Charlotte
3. ''It's A Sign'' - Cinder
4. ''The Pool'' - Charlotte,Comatose Girl, Ensemble
5. ''Winter Is Here'' - Charlotte
6. ''Short Story'' - Robert
7. ''Perfect'' - Kathy, Charlotte, Cinder
8. ''John Paul'' - Charlotte, Kathy
9. ''He'' - John Paul, Charlotte, Robert, Ensemble
10. ''Cigarette Dream'' - Charlotte, Young Girl
11. ''Flotsam'' - Young Girl
12. ''I Ran'' - Marco
13. ''The Ninety-Year-Old Man'' - Charlotte
14. ''By The Way'' - Mr Bunder, Charlotte
15. ''Remember Me'' - Kathy
16. ''Anne'' - Young Girl, Marco
17. ''Little Fish'' - Marco
18. ''Poor Charlotte'' - Cinder
19. ''The Track'' - Charlotte, Exec, Ensemble
20. ''Flotsam (Reprise)'' - Charlotte
21. ''Simple Creature'' - Charlotte
22. ''Revelations'' - Charlotte, Marco, Kathy
23. ''In Two's And Three's'' - Charlotte, Ensemble

Full Orchestration

Keyboard I/Conductor
Keyboard II
Reed (Soprano Saxophone, Flute, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Sopranino Recorder)
Guitar
Bass
Percussion

  • Musical Style Jazz, Contemporary Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Minimal
  • Vocal DemandsDifficult
  • 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!
10 Keyboard 1-Conductor
1 Keyboard 2
1 Reed
1 Guitar
1 Percussion
1 Bass
10 Keyboard 1-Conductor

Scripts

Available Formats:

Authors

Michael John LaChiusa

Michael John LaChiusa – composer, lyricist and librettist – established himself as a powerful presence on the American musical theatre scene after winning Off-Broadway’s 1993 Obie Award for his musicals First Lady Suite and Hello Again. Six years later, LaChiusa was represent ...

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Deborah Eisenberg

Deborah Eisenberg grew up in suburban Chicago, Illinois, and moved to New York City in the late 1960s. She was an editorial assistant at The New York Review of Books in 1973. She taught at the University of Virginia from 1994 until 2011, when she accepted a teaching position ...
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