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Gutenberg! The Musical!

In this two-man musical spoof, a pair of aspiring playwrights perform a backers' audition for their new project - a big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johann Gutenberg.

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Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Comedy
  • 90 minutes

  • Time Period: Present Day
  • Target Audience: Adult, Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Bare Stage/Simple Set
  • Cautions: No Special Cautions
  • Orchestra Size: Small/Combo

  • Performance Group:
  • Dinner Theatre, Community Theatre, High School/Secondary, Professional Theatre, Shoestring Budget, Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups, College Theatre / Student

  • Accolades:
  • Nominated! 2007 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical and the 2007 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical; and its authors were nominated fro the 2007 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical.
In this two-man musical spoof, a pair of aspiring playwrights perform a backers’ audition for their new project - a big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johann Gutenberg.

With an unending supply of enthusiasm, Bud and Doug sing all the songs and play all the parts in their crass historical epic, with the hope that one of the producers in attendance will give them a Broadway contract – fulfilling their ill-advised dreams.
REVIEWS:

"A smashing success!"

The New York Times

"Brilliantly realized and side-splitting!"

New York Magazine

"There are lots of genuine laughs in GUTENBERG!"

New York Post

Premiere Production:

Gutenberg! The Musical! premiered on Broadway at the James Earl Jones Theatre on October 12, 2023. Directed by Alex Timbers, the Broadway production starred Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells. Scott Brown and Anthony King originally developed Gutenberg! at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City, where it ran for over a year, starring the authors and Ken Keech with direction by Charlie Todd and musical direction by Barry Wyner. The show was part of the 2005 and 2006 New York Musical Theatre Festival and ran at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London in January 2006. Gutenberg! The Musical! opened off-Broadway at 59E59 on December 3, 2006, transferring to The Actors’ Playhouse on January 16, 2007. Directed by Timbers, the off-Broadway production featured Christopher Fitzgerald, Jeremy Shamos and Ryan Karels, with music direction by T.O. Sterrett.

Characters

  • Casting: 2M
  • Casting Attributes: Local Celebrity Cameo
  • Casting Notes: All of the roles were originally written for men, but there's no reason any of the roles couldn't, with only slight changes, be played by anyone.
  • Chorus Size: No Chorus

  • DOUG SIMON is an innocent. He's a naive, utterly sincere and earnest man who never met a cause he wasn't passionate about. He's a jack of all trades, master of none, who compensates with an infectious, matter-of-fact energy and focus that would probably sound condescending if he weren't so likable. He's incredibly proud of the show he wrote with Bud, and thinks Bud, whom he adores, is a genius.

  • BUD DAVENPORT is an innocent. He's eager to please, and thrives on approval. When Bud sings one of his songs, he's reveling in his own 'brilliance.' But he's too naive to be a true egomaniac; if anything, he's overly grateful for the mere opportunity to create and perform. Bud enjoys getting caught up in Doug's passion and admires his friend's Big Ideas.

  • CHARLES is the pianist.


  • Tonight is the most important night of their lives.

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Perusal Material Shipped immediately. This is optional. Order Now

    1 x Script / Piano/Conductor's Score

    		$24.00
    Libretto This is optional. Order Now

    The LIBRETTO is available for SALE ONLY and is not available for hire as part of the Rehearsal Material set. It must be purchased separately and is available through our office.

    		$24.95
    Rehearsal Material Shipped a minimum of 1 month before the last performance. This must be hired as a condition of the License to produce this show.

    3   Keyboard 1-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)
    1   Keyboard 2
    1   Drums – Drum Set, Congas, Superball on Conga, Tambourine, Small & Medium Triangles, Suspended Cymbal, Sizzle Cymbal, Crasher, Gong, Finger Cymbal, Cowbells, High Chinese Bell, Clangy Bells, Bell for Shop Door, Bell Plate, Bike Bells, Bell Tree, Mark Tree, Guiros, Castanets, Low Temple Block, Low Woodblock, Bamboo, Sand Paper or Soft Shaker, Bean Pod Shaker, Crunch Bottle, Sheep’s Toenails, Shells, Small Flexitone, Slide Whistle, Little Bird Whistle, Creaky Door, Horn, Pop Gun, Whips, Waterphone (w/Bow), Sirens, “Owl Hoot” & SPD Percussion Pad

    		$50.00 +$25.00/pm

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