A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Chaplin: The Musical

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  5w, 6m plus ensemble

Book by Thomas Meehan and Chris Curtis
Music and Lyrics by Chris Curtis

Chaplin is based on the real-life story of Charlie Chaplin, the iconic film actor, writer, producer and director. The musical spans the comic’s entire career, from Chaplin’s first performance as a child in 19th-century London to his tearful acceptance of an honorary Academy Award in 1972.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    5w, 6m plus ensemble
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Biography
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Chaplin: The Musical

Details

Summary

Chaplin is based on the real-life story of Charlie Chaplin, the iconic film actor, writer, producer and director. The new musical spans the comic’s entire career, from Chaplin’s first performance as a child in 19th-century London to his tearful acceptance of an honorary Academy Award in 1972. The show documents the beloved actor’s rise to fame and the people who shaped his life, including his mother Hannah, his older brother Sydney, his fourth wife Oona O’Neill and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. The musical dramatizes the making of Chaplin’s legendary films, including The Kid, The Circus, Modern Times and The Great Dictator as well as his turbulent childhood, frenzied love life and political beliefs. 

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History

Chaplin debuted at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, CA on 19 September 2010. It then premiered on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on 21 August 2012. 

CHARLIE CHAPLIN – After surviving a poverty-stricken and difficult childhood he turned luck into skill and skill into unprecedented opportunity and success. He ages from late teens to late 40’s as he displays unmatched talent on the vaudeville stage, in Keystone pictures and as producer, director and star of his own film studio.
HANNAH CHAPLIN – Charlie’s mother. She is the source of his first inspiration as well as his greatest humiliation.
YOUNG CHARLIE – He sings, dances and suffers great sorrow when he returns to his mother after getting out of the County Home to find she no longer recognizes him. He later plays Jackie Coogan, the famous child actor who co-starred in “The Kid” with Chaplin and the Usher.
SYDNEY CHAPLIN – Charlie’s brother, performing partner, and business manager. He sticks by Charlie through thick and thin, through marriages and women far too young and through political upheavals and exile.
ALF REEVES – Clever, intuitive, fields phone calls and starlet requests brilliantly—and knows Charlie sometimes better than Chaplin knows himself.
MACK SENNETT – The master of his Keystone universe; the rather arrogant yet perfectly knowledgeable creator of a factory of short, slapstick films.
HEDDA HOPPER – A mediocre actress-turned notorious gossip columnist who has made it her personal mission to expose Charlie as a womanizing, cheating, communist foreigner who is making too much money on American shores.
OONA O’NEILL – Wannabe actress who meets Charlie when she turns up late for an audition. Shortly thereafter, she gives up her aspirations for a career in Hollywood and becomes the first woman to appreciate Charlie for who and not what he is.
Mr. Karno
Usher
Mildred Harris
Joan Barry
Ensemble – Londoners, Music Hall Patrons, Film Crew, Starlets, Reports, Hollywood Elite

  • Time Period 1970s, 1950s, 1940s/WWII, 1930s, 19th Century
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features Physical Comedy
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

Videos

  • Chaplin – Broadway Trailer youtube thumbnail

    Chaplin – Broadway Trailer

  • Chaplin – Audience Reactions, Broadway youtube thumbnail

    Chaplin – Audience Reactions, Broadway

  • Chaplin – Character Study with Rob McClure youtube thumbnail

    Chaplin – Character Study with Rob McClure

  • Chaplin – “All Falls Down,” sung by Jen Colella youtube thumbnail

    Chaplin – “All Falls Down,” sung by Jen Colella

  • Chaplin – “All Falls Down,” sung by Reneé Rapp youtube thumbnail

    Chaplin – “All Falls Down,” sung by Reneé Rapp

  • Chaplin – Regional Theatre Discussion, WaterTower Theatre youtube thumbnail

    Chaplin – Regional Theatre Discussion, WaterTower Theatre

Show more +

Music

Music Samples

1. “Prologue” – Instrumental
2. “Look At All The People” – Hannah and Company
3. “Music Hall” – Hannah, Young Charlie and Company
4. “Far From London” – Charlie
5. “Vaudeville Dream” – Karno, Sydney, Charlie and Company
6. “Sennett Song” – Sennett
7. “Something Funny/Tramp Reveal” – Charlie
8. “Tramp Shuffle Part 1” – Charlie, Sennett, Usher, Audience Members
9. “Tramp Shuffle Part 2” – Company
10. “Life Can Be Like The Movies” – Charlie, Sydney, Usher and Company
11. “The Kid” – Instrumental
12. “Life Can Be Like The Movies Reprise” – Charlie and Company
13. “Just Another Day In Hollywood” – Charlie, Hedda, Starletts and Company
14. “Scene Change to Glendale Hospital” – Instrumental
15. “The Life That You Wished For Reprise” – Charlie
16. “When It All Falls Down” – Hedda
17. “Man of All Countries” – Hedda and McGranery
18. “What Only Love Can See” – Oona
19. “The Exile” – Reporters, Starlets, American Legion Members, Hedda
20. “Where Are All The People?” – Charlie
21. “What Only Love Can See Reprise” – Charlie, Oona
22. “This Man” – Oona, Sydney, Hannah, Mildred, Alf and Ensemble
22A. “Finale/Tramp Reprise” – Instrumental
23. “Bows” – Cast

  • Musical Style Contemporary Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Moderate
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Large

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Authors

Thomas Meehan

Thomas Meehan (1929-2017) won the 2003 Tony Award co-writing the book for Hairspray as well as the 2001 Tony Award for co-writing the book for The Producers. He received his first Tony Award in 1977 for writing the book of Annie, his first Broadway show, and later wrote the b ...

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Chris Curtis

Chris Curtis is a contemporary composer and lyricist from NYC. He wrote songs for the Oscar-nominated Netflix/Pearl Studio animated feature Over the Moon directed by Oscar-winning Disney animator Glen Keane. He has also written music for Walt Disney Animation (Disney Songwrit ...

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