It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman®: Youth Edition

A TAMS-WITMARK TITLE

It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman®: Youth Edition

Short Musical, Comedy  /  2girl(s), 4boy(s), 1any gender (youth)

Charles Strouse, Lee Adams, David Newman, Robert Benton

Book by David Newman and Robert Benton / Based upon the comic strip Superman / Music by Charles Strouse / Lyrics by Lee Adams / Broadway production produced by Harold Prince in association with Ruth Mitchell / Directed for the Broadway stage by Harold Prince / Adapted for Tams-Witmark by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati / Script Adaption: Eric Byrd, Associate Artistic Director / Music Arrangements: Dr. Brian Hoffman, Music Director / Roderick Justice, Producing Artistic Director

Up, up and away! In this one-hour adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, Superman and his comic book cohorts fly into action - from Metropolis to your theatre!

Image: 2013 New York City Center Production (Joan Marcus)

It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman®: Youth Edition

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2girl(s), 4boy(s), 1any gender (youth)
  • Duration
    Duration
    60 minutes (1 hour)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Fantasy, Period, Science Fiction, Parody / Spoof, Romantic Comedy
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: Three 1966 Tony Awards
It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman®: Youth Edition
Also Available
It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman®

Details

Summary
Campy, dynamic, and larger than life, It's A Bird... It's A Plane... It's Superman® captures the sights and sounds of 1960s New York City as Superman battles a vengeful scientist determined to destroy the world’s symbol of good. Meanwhile, Daily Planet writer Lois Lane struggles to make sense of her rocky relationship with the superhero, and Lois' ambitious coworker Max vows to make a name for himself by unveiling the Man of Steel's secret identity. This one-hour adaptation of the musical, created in collaboration with Children's Theatre of Cincinnati, is specially designed for elementary and middle school actors performing for family audiences.
History
It's A Bird... It's A Plane... It's Superman® opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on March 29, 1966, starring Jack Cassidy, Patricia Marand, Linda Lavin, Michael O’Sullivan and Don Chastain. In 2013, New York City Center's Encores! revived the show, starring Edward Watts, Jenny Powers, Will Swenson, David Pittu and Alli Mauzey. This Youth Edition was created at Children's Theatre of Cincinnati, where it premiered in 2018.
Performing Groups

Principals

Superman/Clark Kent – The Man of Steel/meek writer for the Daily Planet
Lois Lane – Daily Planet reporter; competent and professional; in love with Superman
Max Mencken – Daily Planet columnist; jealous of Superman’s glory
Sydney – Daily Planet secretary; clever and a bit sarcastic
Perry White – Daily Planet editor; gruff and impatient
Dr. Abner Sedgwick – A mad scientist; wacky and determined to destroy Superman
Kenneth Banghart – Film narrator for the Daily Planet

Supporting Roles

The Doom Bandits – A group of crooks who assist Sedgwick; athletic dancers
First Bandit – Spokesperson for the Doom Bandits
Woman*
Child*
Suspect 1 – Fell without a parachute
Suspect 2 – Struck by a falling safe
Suspect 3 – Stepped on a live wire
Suspect 4 – Held a rope by his teeth
Suspect 5 – Delusional and “a bit wacky”
Tour Guide – Authoritative and knowledgeable
MIT Freshman Class President – Young and wholesome
Head Cheerleader – Enthusiastic and expressive
A Little Child – Non-speaking

Ensemble

Citizens of Metropolis
Daily Planet Employees
Photographers
Cheerleaders
M.I.T. Students
Tourists
Police Officers

*Woman and Child appear only if Superman needs time to gear up for flight.

  • Time Period 1960s
  • Setting In and around the city of Metropolis, U.S.A. 1966.
  • Features Elaborate / High Volume Costumes, Period Costumes
  • Additional Features Stage Combat
  • Duration 60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“A WHAM! POP! BAM! of energetic fun!” – ArtsWave

“Superman is fun...easily the best musical so far this season.” – Stanley Kauffmann, The New York Times

“Completely silly and intentionally camp...Superman is candy bright, as befits its comic-book source.” – Jesse Green, Vulture

“Winning... A singing comic strip, in which scenery, characters and even songs feel as if they had been rendered in the Benday dots of bright ink we associate with the Sunday funnies.” – Ben Brantley, The New York Times

“An energy-infused, tongue-in-cheek romp that reminds us of the need for heroes every day.” – Christi Geary, ArtsWave

Videos

  • Superman Promo - Fab Nobs Theatre youtube thumbnail

    Superman Promo - Fab Nobs Theatre

  • Superman - Children's Theatre of Cincinnati youtube thumbnail

    Superman - Children's Theatre of Cincinnati

Photos

  • It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman®: Youth Edition

    Image: 2013 New York City Center Production (Joan Marcus)

  • It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman®: Youth Edition

    Image: 2013 New York City Center Production (Joan Marcus)

Music

1. Doom Bandit Overture, Part 1 – Orchestra
2. Doom Bandit Overture, Part 2 – Orchestra
3. “We Need Him” – Citizens
4. “Doing Good” – Superman
5. Doing Good Transition – Orchestra
6. “It’s Superman” – Lois
7. Super Transition – Orchestra
7a. Phonebooth Transition – Orchestra
8. Transition to Lab – Orchestra
9. “Revenge” – Sedgwick
10. Transition to Daily Planet – Orchestra
11. “You’ve Got Possibilities” – Sydney
12. Possibilities Transition – Orchestra
13. Transition to Screening Room – Orchestra
14. Accomplices Transition – Orchestra
15. Transition to City Hall – Orchestra
16. Bandit Dance – Orchestra
16a. Bandit Transition – Orchestra
17. “It’s Super Nice” – Citizens
18. “The Strongest Man In The World” – Superman
19. Strongest Man Playoff & Transition – Orchestra
20. “So Long, Big Guy” – Max
20a. “So Long, Big Guy” Tag – Bandits
21. Transition to Power Station – Orchestra
22. “You’ve Got What I Need” – Sedgwick, Max & Bandits
23. What I Need Transition – Orchestra
24. “It’s Superman” Reprise – Max, Sedgwick, Lois, Bandits & Citizens
25. Brainiac Hypnosis – Orchestra
26. “Pow! Bam! Zonk!” – Superman
27. Finale: “It's Super Nice” – Company
28. Bows: “It's Super Nice” – Company
  • Musical Style Classic Broadway, Pop/Rock
  • Dance Requirements Easy
  • Vocal DemandsEasy
  • Chorus Size Medium

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.

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Authors

Charles Strouse

Charles Strouse

Charles Strouse is one of America's most successful musical theatre composers. His first Broadway musical, Bye Bye Birdie (1960), written with his long-time collaborator Lee Adams, won him a Tony Award and the London Critics Best Foreign Musical Award. In 1970, Applause, star ...

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Lee Adams

Lee Adams

Lee Adams began his professional career as a journalist, working as a newspaper reporter, magazine writer and editor, and radio writer and interviewer. But his life took a sudden turn when his “hobby” of lyric writing led to Bye, Bye Birdie in 1960. This unheralded little Bro ...

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David Newman

David Newman

David Newman's theatre credits include the book for It’s A Bird…It’s A Plane…It’s Superman, produced and directed by Hal Prince; book for The Life, with music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Ira Gasman (nominated for 12 Tony Awards); I Spend My Days in Longing, a compilation of t ...

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Robert Benton

Robert Benton

Acadamy Award winner Robert Benton was raised in Waxahachie, Texas, earned his BFA degree from the University of Texas, and moved to New York for his Master's at Columbia University. He went to work at Esquire Magazine as the assistant to the art director before being drafted ...

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