Gutenberg! The Musical!

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Cast Size

2m
Duration

90 minutes
Subgenre

Parody/Spoof
Target Audience

Appropriate for All Audiences

Accolades

Nominee: 2024 Tony Award, Best Revival of a Musical
Nominee: 2007 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Musical
Nominee: 2007 Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical
Nominee: 2007 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Book of a Musical

Details

Summary

New revised 2024 edition!

In this two-man musical spoof, a pair of aspiring playwrights perform a backers’ audition for their new, ill-advised project – a big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johann Gutenberg. With an unending supply of enthusiasm, Bud and Doug sing all the songs and play all the parts in their crass historical epic, with the hope that one of the producers in attendance will give them that elusive Broadway contract.

History

Gutenberg! The Musical! premiered on Broadway at the James Earl Jones Theatre on 12 October 2023. Directed by Alex Timbers, the Broadway production starred Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells. Scott Brown and Anthony King originally developed Gutenberg! at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City, where it ran for over a year, starring the authors and Ken Keech with direction by Charlie Todd and musical direction by Barry Wyner. The show was part of the 2005 and 2006 New York Musical Theatre Festival and ran at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London in January 2006. Gutenberg! The Musical! opened off-Broadway at 59E59 on 3 December 2006, transferring to The Actors’ Playhouse on 16 January 2007. Directed by Timbers, the off-Broadway production featured Christopher Fitzgerald, Jeremy Shamos and Ryan Karels, with music direction by T.O. Sterrett.

Cast Attributes

Local Celebrity Cameo

Keywords

Performing Groups

High School/Secondary

DOUG SIMON is an innocent. He's a naive, utterly sincere and earnest man who never met a cause he wasn't passionate about. He's a jack of all trades, master of none, who compensates with an infectious, matter-of-fact energy and focus that would probably sound condescending if he weren't so likable. He's incredibly proud of the show he wrote with Bud, and thinks Bud, whom he adores, is a genius.

BUD DAVENPORT is an innocent. He's eager to please, and thrives on approval. When Bud sings one of his songs, he's reveling in his own "brilliance." But he's too naive to be a true egomaniac; if anything, he's overly grateful for the mere opportunity to create and perform. Bud enjoys getting caught up in Doug's passion and admires his friend's Big Ideas.

CHARLES is the pianist.

Tonight is the most important night of their lives.

All of the roles were originally written for men, but there's no reason any of the roles couldn't, with only slight changes, be played by anyone.

All of the roles were originally written for men, but there's no reason any of the roles couldn't, with only slight changes, be played by anyone.

Time Period Contemporary
Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
Additional Features Audience Participation/Interactive
Duration 90 minutes
Cautions
- No Special Cautions

Media

“Brilliantly realized and side-splitting!” –New York Magazine

“A smashing success!” – The New York Times

“There are lots of genuine laughs in Gutenberg!” – New York Post

Photos

Image: 2023 Broadway Production (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Music

Music Samples

Act I

1. Prologue/Schlimmer
2. I Can’t Read
3. Haunted German Wood
4. The Press Song
5. I Can’t Read (Reprise)
6. Biscuits
7. What’s The Word?
8. Stop The Press
9. Tomorrow Is Tonight

Act II

1. Second Prologue
2. Words, Words, Words
3. Monk With Me
4. Might As Well (Go To Hell)
5. Festival!
6. Finale

Musical Style Classic Broadway
Dance Requirements Easy
Vocal DemandsEasy
Orchestra Size Piano Only
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!

3 Keyboard 1-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)
1 Keyboard 2
1 Drums – Drum Set, Congas, Superball on Conga, Tambourine, Small & Medium Triangles, Suspended Cymbal, Sizzle Cymbal, Crasher, Gong, Finger Cymbal, Cowbells, High Chinese Bell, Clangy Bells, Bell for Shop Door, Bell Plate, Bike Bells, Bell Tree, Mark Tree, Guiros, Castanets, Low Temple Block, Low Woodblock, Bamboo, Sand Paper or Soft Shaker, Bean Pod Shaker, Crunch Bottle, Sheep’s Toenails, Shells, Small Flexitone, Slide Whistle, Little Bird Whistle, Creaky Door, Horn, Pop Gun, Whips, Waterphone (w/Bow), Sirens, “Owl Hoot” & SPD Percussion Pad

3 Keyboard 1-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)

Scripts

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Authors

Scott Brown

Anthony King

Anthony King is an Emmy-nominated writer, director and performer currently living in Los Angeles. He co-wrote the off-Broadway show Gutenberg! The Musical!, which also enjoyed a run off-West End in London and is now published by Samuel French and being performed all over the ...

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Gutenberg! The Musical!