Secondhand Lions: A New Musical

Secondhand Lions: A New Musical
MusicAlan Zachary and Michael Weiner
LyricsAlan Zachary and Michael Weiner
BookRupert Holmes
Basis2003 film Secondhand Lions
PremiereSeptember 6, 2013: Seattle, Washington
ProductionsThe 5th Avenue Theatre

Secondhand Lions: A New Musical is based on the 2003 movie of the same name. Music and lyrics for the musical were written by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, who also wrote First Date.[1] The book was by Rupert Holmes.

Production[edit]

The show premiered from September 6 to October 7, 2013 at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

The show was directed by Scott Schwartz, who directed Golda's Balcony and co-directed Jane Eyre on Broadway. Scott Schwartz was appointed Artistic Director of the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, New York in 2013.[10]

Plot[edit]

Walter, a young boy, is unwillingly dropped off unannounced, by his mother, Mae, at his two great-uncles' farmhouse in Texas for the summer. The uncles, Hub and Garth, recently bought the farm, returning after a long time with a secretly earned fortune. Over the course of the summer, Walter tries to find the method in which his uncles gained money, and what they did during their absence. The tale he hears and discovers reveals the uncles' courage and bravery in their prime.

Differences from the Film

  • Jane, the girl across the pond, is an added character in the musical.
  • The ‘relatives’ in the film that arrive to learn about the uncle's fortune are omitted in the musical.
  • There are no live animals in the musical.
  • Jasmine, in the movie, is renamed Samira.

Musical numbers[edit]

Act 1

  • Overture - Orchestra
  • The Wild Lion Boys – Male Ensemble
  • The Fort Worth College of Court Reporting – Mae
  • Just Right – Walter
  • Worth Believin’ In (Part 1)/The Steamship – Garth, Young Hub, Young Garth
  • The Sultan of the Sultanate of Oujda – Fake Sultan, Ensemble
  • Sand – Sultan, Harem Girls, Grand Vizier, Ensemble
  • You Have to See It to Believe It – Jane, Walter
  • You Have to See It to Believe It (Reprise) – Jane
  • Mae's Letter – Mae
  • Just What I Needed –Samira
  • Unlike Anyone I’ve Ever Known – Young Hub, Sultan
  • Ghita's Advice – Ghita, Samira, Harem Girls
  • Hub's Revelation – Hub, Garth, Young Hub, Walter, Ensemble

Act 2

  • Entracte – Orchestra
  • Just What I Needed (Reprise) – Samira, Ghita, Harem Girls
  • Alive or Dead – Sultan, Ensemble
  • You Have Brought Me Love – Samira, Young Hub
  • Fly into a Better Tomorrow – Walter, Jane, Garth, Ensemble
  • The Sultan of the Sultanate of Oujda (Reprise) – Prisoners
  • The Sultan's Lament – Sultan, Ensemble
  • You Have Brought Me Love (Reprise) – Samira, Hub
  • Worth Believin’ In (Part 2) – Hub
  • The Wild Lion Boys (Reprise) – Stan
  • Do Something for Me – Walter
  • Don't Count Us Out – Garth, Hub, Walter
  • Worth Believin’ In (Finale) - Company

Roles and original cast[edit]

The principal cast of The 5th Avenue Theatre's production was as follows.[2][7]

Character Actor
Garth Gregg Edelman
Hub Mark Jacoby
Mae Kendra Kassebaum
Walter Johnny Rabe
Samira Jenny Powers
Young Garth Jared Michael Brown
Young Hub Kevin Earley
Sultan Jason Danieley
Achmed Justin Huertas
Jane Sophia Anne Caruso
Ghita Wendi Bergamini
Ricky-Jo Nick Gaswirth
Bruno Harris Milgrim
Vic Deon Ridley
Sicilian Hoodlum Harris Milgrim
Barlow Nick DeSantis
Stan Matthew Posner
Nurse Sarah Rose Davis
Grown Walter Kevin Earley
Todd Johnny Rabe
Grown Jane Jenny Powers
Sultan's Grandson Jason Danieley

† Grayson J. Smith appeared as Walter Double, before the song 'Just Right'.

Recordings[edit]

The World Premiere Recording was released digitally on October 2, 2020 by Broadway Records.[11] It includes a cut song entitled "The Fort Worth College of Court Reporting".[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Gioia, Michael. "Break Up: Broadway's 'First Date', Starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, Will Close in January 2014", playbill.com, November 6, 2013
  2. ^ a b Secondhand Lions, 5thavenue.org, accessed April 27, 2016
  3. ^ Secondhand Lions Musical Aiming for 2013 Debut Archived November 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ 5th Avenue Theatre Will Premiere New Musical Secondhand Lions Season Announced Archived October 8, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Secondhand Lions, Starring Gregg Edelman, Mark Jacoby and Johny Rabe Opens in Seattle Sept. 26 Archived 2013-11-10 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ " 'Secondhand Lions' Musical Aims for Seattle Opening at Fifth Avenue Theater, Aug 2013", broadwayworld.com, October 15, 2012
  7. ^ a b Snetiker, Mark. "New 'Secondhand Lions' Musical to Make World Premiere at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre", broadway.com, March 4, 2013
  8. ^ Jacobson, Lynn. "Regional Legit Review: ‘Secondhand Lions’", Variety, September 30, 2013
  9. ^ Hetrick, Adam. "World Premiere of Secondhand Lions Musical, By Rupert Holmes and Writers of First Date, Ends Seattle Run Oct. 6", playbill.com, October 6, 2013
  10. ^ Hetrick, Adam. "Scott Schwartz Named Artistic Director of Bay Street Theatre", playbill.com, August 13, 2013
  11. ^ BWW News Desk. "Broadway Records to Release World Premiere Recording of SECONDHAND LIONS". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  12. ^ "Secondhand Lions (World Premiere Recording) [MP3]". Broadway Records. Retrieved 2020-10-04.

External links[edit]