A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Monstersongs

Full Length Musical, Drama  /  3f, 4m

Rob Rokicki

Something wicked this way rocks! Monstersongs puts audiences in a synthesized world of graphic novels, rock musicals, live performance and new technology. Following the journey of a child who opens a portal into the psyches of often misunderstood creatures, Monstersongs flips the switch on the monster narrative, inviting audiences to explore the humanity that binds us all.

Monstersongs

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3f, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    60 minutes (1 hour)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Fantasy, Fables/Folktales
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences, Teen (Age 14 - 18)
Licence details
  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
Monstersongs

Details

Summary

Monstersongs puts audiences in a synthesized world of graphic novels, rock musicals, live performance and new technology. Following the journey of a child who opens a portal into the psyches of often misunderstood creatures, Monstersongs flips the switch on the monster narrative, inviting audiences to explore the humanity that binds us all.

Designed to showcase a diverse scalable cast, Monstersongs works best as an immersive experience – where audiences journey through the worlds of each monster, hearing from their point of view. Different artwork and song styles support each monster – from Medusa belting out hard rock, to a bluegrass-flavored Troll under the bridge. Scary, silly and heartfelt, Monstersongs is unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

Written by Rob Rokicki, the composer of the critically acclaimed Drama Desk and Lortel-nominated The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (book by Joe Tracz), and developed in conjunction with award-winning illustrator David O’Neill, Monstersongs can be done in a full immersive site-specific environment, on a mainstage, or as a concert in a black box or smaller space. The show has a beautiful graphic novel and projections of the artwork to enhance the audience’s experience.

Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups
  • High School/Secondary
  • College Theatre / Student
  • Community Theatre
  • Professional Theatre
  • Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups

CAST:
5 Female-identifying characters
5 Male-identifying characters
4 Gender-flexible characters

Optional Ensemble:

3+ Gender-flexible characters

BREAKDOWN:
(Any race, ethnicity, age and gender identity welcome to be considered; this is just a guideline.)

MAD SCIENTIST FATHER / MAN – (30-50s) Comic Rock Tenor (mix to E5). Freddie Mercury meets Prince; out of control. Male identifying.

MAD SCIENTIST MOTHER – (30-60s) Over-the-top Comic Belter (to C#5). Tina Turner meets Annie Golden; out of control and in over her head. Female identifying.

THE MUMMY – (20-40s) Emo Pop/Punk Tenor (to A4). Billie Joe Armstrong meets Chris Cornell; betrayed and hurting. Originally male identifying, but gender flexible.

MEDUSA – (20-30s) High Rock Belt (to A5). Sia meets Ann Wilson of Heart; afraid to let anyone in. Female identifying.

THE TROLL – (20s-50s) Bari-tenor (to G4). K-Ci of Jodeci meets Randy Newman; homeless, soulful, and dangerous. Originally male identifying, but gender flexible.

TEENAGE VAMPIRE – (20-30s) Jazzy Pop Belt (to D5). Amy Winehouse meets Alicia Keys; met a teenage boy who’s just their type – type O negative that is. Female identifying.

TEENAGE ZOMBIE – (20-30s) Comic Pop Belt (to D5, opt. F5). Meghan Trainor meets Ashanti; met a teenage boy good enough to eat. Female identifying.

IGOR – (20-50s) Comic Pop Tenor (to Bb4). Ben Folds meets Rivers Cuomo; has unrequited love for Dr. Frankenstein. Originally male identifying, but gender flexible.

THE GHOST – (20-40s) Singer/Songwriter Folky Belt (to E5). Brandi Carlile meets Diana Ross; desperately trying to be seen. Originally female identifying, but gender flexible.

THE CHILD / THE DRAGON – (9-13) Curious and furious. JD McCrary meets young David Cassidy; a shy dreamer. Male identifying.

THE DOPPELGÄNGER – (20-40s) Folky Singer/songwriter (to A4, opt. Db4). Bruce Springsteen meets John Legend; charismatic, seductive and very conflicted. Male identifying.

THE WITCH – (30-60s) Dramatic Earthy Belt (to D5, opt. F5). Adele meets Dionne Warwick; she’s been wronged and you’re in trouble. Female identifying.

THE SASQUATCH – (20-50s) Folky Bari-tenor (to G4). Jeff Tweedy meets Darius Rucker; looking for a friend. Male identifying.

THE YETI – (20s-50s) Folky Bari-tenor (to G4) Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio meets Tom Waits; looking for a friend. Male identifying.

THE SIREN SISTERS – High pop/rock belt (to E5). Sing backup and can be your pre-show entertainment. Originally female identifying, but gender flexible.

  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Setting Now, someplace dark and scary. Perhaps a little boy’s room that transforms.
  • Duration 60 minutes (1 hour)

Media

“Dazzlingly memorable and trenchant.” – BritishTheatre.com

“One of the strongest new scores we have heard in a while, with so much to enjoy… Rokicki uses words with astonishing accuracy and wit, sparingly setting up his verbal effects with remarkable discipline and confidence… dazzlingly memorable and trenchant.” – Julian Eaves, BritishTheatre.com

“After the phenomenal success of the Lightning Thief cast recording, Rob Rokicki has blessed us yet again with a delightfully clever, fun, catchy album. Only this time, it’s not about demigods: it’s about monsters.” – StageBuddy.com

“Part song cycle, part staged show, Monstersongs is a journey into the minds of often misunderstood ‘monsters’ and ‘baddies.’” – My Theatre Mates

“Roars with originality... An immersive storytelling experience... Delving more into the inner workings of these creatures and characters, the songs are applaudably relatable to the human form. The rich undertones and virtues of theme humanize these characters in a lovable and sympathetic way. Monstersongs does its due diligence in appealing to theatre fans, pop/rock fans, and comic fans alike.” – BroadwayWorld

Videos

  • "Hell Hath No Fury" Video, feat. Julia Murney

  • "Footprints" Video, feat. Rob Rokicki and Joe Iconis

  • Monstersongs Trailer - Feinstein's/54 Below

  • Rob and Dave talk Monstersongs

  • "Say Goodbye" - Katrine Rose Dideriksen

  • "Reluctantly" - Luca Padovan

  • "The Plans" - Will Roland

  • "Down and Under" - Jelani Alladin

  • "Blood and Brains" - Sarah Beth Pfeifer and Lauren Marcus

  • "Right Through You" - Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone

More videos +

Music

Music Samples

1. “Monsterbaby” – Monsters
2. “Unravel” – The Mummy, Monsters
3. “Say Goodbye” – Medusa
4. “Down and Under” – Troll, The Child, Monsters
5. “Blood and Brains” – Teenage Vampire, Teenage Zombie, Monsters
6. “The Plans” – Igor
7. “Right Through You” – The Ghost
8. “Reluctantly” – The Dragon
9. “I’m Sorry” – The Doppelgänger
10. “Hell Hath No Fury” – The Witch
11. “Footprints” – The Yeti, The Sasquatch, Monsters
12. “It’s Over/Return of Monsterbaby” – Monsters

Piano
Keyboard 2 (Violin and Melodica)
Guitar (Electric, coustic and Banjo)
Drums
Bass
  • Musical StylePop/Rock

Materials

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!

11 Piano-Conductor Scores
1 Keyboard 2
1 Electric Guitar
1 Drums
1 Bass

Projections

11 Piano-Conductor Scores
Projections

Authors

Rob Rokicki

Rob Rokicki

Rob Rokicki is a composer and lyricist whose work has been recognized worldwide and nominated for Drama Desk, Lortel, and Off-Broadway Alliance awards.

Recently signed with Kobalt music, Rokicki is best known for his music and lyrics in the critically acclaimed Broadway musica ...

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