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The Robber Bridegroom
Pending performance approval we plan to present ...
Audition date added!
Wed., March 3 at 7 p.m.
A country-folk musical in 2 acts
Music by Robert Waldman
Book and Lyrics by Alfred Uhry
Adapted from the novella by Eudora Welty
Directed by John Mangiapane
First performed at the Harkness Theatre, New York, 7 October, 1975 (15 perfs); Revived at the Biltmore Theatre, Broadway - 9 October, 1976 (145 perfs)
A folk legend from Mississippi involving the romantic 'Robin Hood-like' figure Jamie who saves Clemment Musgrove (the richest planter in the county) from the Harp gang and pursues and wins his daughter, the 'moon-sizzling' Rosamund. A rollicking, riotous romp from America's early history.
The Story
From Guide to Musical Theatre: To the sound of a country string band, the legendary characters of the Mississippi Territory are introduced. As the story begins a rich planter, Clemment Musgrove, is looking for an inn in the wild river town of Rodneys Landing. Jamie Lockhart, a gentleman robber, plans to relieve Musgrove of his treasure. Unfortunately, the wily Harp Gang is planning to do the same thing. The Harp Gang consists of Little Harp, the head of his brother, Big Harp and a talking Raven. Jamie Lockhart succeeds in getting rid of the Harps and gaining Musgrove's trust. He explains his methods of stealing with style.
Meantime, Musgrove's beautiful daughter Rosamund is daydreaming of love and fairy tales. Rosamund is despised by her jealous stepmother, Salome. Salome hires the local simpleton, Goat, to push Rosamund into a ravine while she is gathering herbs. Unaware of this impending disaster, Rosamund wanders through the woods complaining of the lack of excitement in her life. She meets up with Jamie Lockhart, disguised as the Bandit of the Woods. He steals her clothes. Both Rosamund and Jamie have been so taken by their first meeting that both come to the same spot the next morning in the hopes of finding one another again.
Clement Musgrove, meanwhile, has invited Jamie to dinner. Rosamund becomes totally dishevelled in preparation for the dinner and the two lovers do not recognise each other. The dinner is a shambles; Musgrove is trying to marry off his daughter, Jamie is trying to catalogue the household treasures, Salome has her own designs on Jamie and Rosamund is trying to look as unattractive a possible. Jamie leaves, vaguely promising to rescue Rosamund from the fiend in the woods and marry her, but he can't forget the girl he met in the woods. Rosamund sneaks away to her bandit's house. She arrives and settles in, but only after Jamie explains his unorthodox style of lovemaking to the audience.
Meanwhile, Goat is still looking for Rosamund. He meets up with Little Harp, who is also dying to get his hands on the girl. Salome figures out where Rosamund is and makes her way to Jamie's cabin. She tricks Rosamund into going out to gather the ingredients of a berry stain remover. Rosamund returns with her stain remover and sings Jamie to sleep while she applies it. Jamie and Rosamund each discover the other's true identity. This leads to an argument. They separate and then wander up and down the Natchez Trail trying to find each other.
Enormously pregnant, Rosamund hears Jamie is running a dry goods store in New Orleans and the company helps her get there. Rosamund bears twins, Clementine and Jamie, Junior and finally finds Jamie in New Orleans. All ends happily with a wedding.
The Characters - Audition Info
The Robber Bridegroom is a two-act musical with a bluegrass/country-styled score. Due to space limitations the cast will be limited to a maximum of 10 men and 10 women. There are 5 men's character roles ~ Jamie Lockhart (the Robber), Clemment Musgrove (rich man), Big Harp & Little Harp (thieves), and Goat (adolescent male). The 3 women's character roles are Rosamund (Clemment's daughter), Salome (Clemment's wife), and Goat's Mother. Characters ages are 17 and up. There are many cameo roles throughout the show such as a woman who becomes a raven, and a singing head in a trunk! The chorus of townspeople sing, dance, change the set, and become whatever objects the script requires them to be.
Those interested in auditioning can either sing from the score (provided), or should come with an up-tempo country song to sing. All auditioning actors will be required to perform some dance movement since there are square, line, and contra-dances throughout the show. Readings will be selected scenes from the script.
In addition, any actors interested in auditioning who also can play guitar, banjo, fiddle, washboard, bones, spoons, or washtub base, or can call barn dances is more than welcome to add their talents to the show.
CHARACTER
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SEX
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MUSIC
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AGE
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ROLE TYPE
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Jamie Lockhart
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Male
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Baritone
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25-40
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Lead
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Clemment Musgrove
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Male
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Baritone
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45-50
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Lead
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Rosamund
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Female
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Mezzo
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17-25
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Lead
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Goat
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Male
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Baritone
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18-28
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Supporting
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Little Harp
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Male
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Baritone
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30-40
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Supporting
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Big Harp
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Male
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32-42
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Supporting
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Salome Musgrove
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Female
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Alto
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40-55
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Supporting
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Goat's Mother
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Female
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40-50
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Cameo
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Airie
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Female
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 |
 |
Cameo
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Raven
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N/A
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 |
 |
Cameo
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The Fiddler
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Male
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 |
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Cameo
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Residents of Rodney
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N/A
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6-90
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Chorus
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The Musical Numbers
Once Upon The Natchez Trace
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jamie, Musgrove, Little Harp, Big Harp, Goat, Rosamund, Salome, Company
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Two Heads
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Little Harp, Big Harp, Company
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Steal With Style
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie, Company
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Rosamund's Dream
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jamie, Rosamund
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The Pricklepear Bloom
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Salome, Company
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Ain't Nothin' Up
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rosamund, Company
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Deeper In The Woods
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Company
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Marriage Is Riches
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie, Musgrove, . Rosamund, Salome, Company
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Little Piece of Suger Cane
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Company
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Love Stolen
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie, Company
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Kitchen Girl
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Company
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Poor Tied Up Darlin'
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Little Harp, Goat
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Goodbye Salome
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Little Harp, Salome, Company
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Sleepy Man
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rosamund, Company
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Where Oh Where Is My Baby Darlin'?
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. . . . . . . . . Jamie, Musgrove, Rosamund
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Finale
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie, Musgrove, Little Harp, Big Harp, Goat, Rosamund,
Salome, Company
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__________
Performances are scheduled for
May 7, 8, 14 & 15, 2010
Doors Open at 7:30 p.m.
Curtain rises at 8 p.m.
AND
May 9, 2010
Doors Open at 1:30 p.m.
Curtain rises at 2 p.m.
$25 General Admission
$20 Seniors/Students
(Ticket prices may be changing!)
All performances are
At the Community House of Marlborough
Rte. 101, Marlborough, NH
Show Rated PG-13
To reserve tickets, call the BRT Ticket Line at 603-283-7538 or
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TICKETS will also be available at the door on performance nights.
THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 Wwest 54th Street, New York, NY 10019; Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684
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