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Louisiana Purchase

A political satire lampooning Huey Long and his stronghold on Louisiana politics.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Comedy
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 1940s / WWII
  • Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Orchestra Size: Large

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, High School/Secondary, Professional Theatre, College Theatre / Student, Church / Religious Groups
The plot machinations of this 1940 hit musical could have been ripped from today's headlines. Set in New Orleans, the musical lampoons Huey Long and his stronghold on Louisiana politics. When Senator Loganberry arrives in the Big Easy to investigate the dubious doings at the Louisiana Purchasing Company, it isn't long before he's set up for plenty of scandal himself.

In his review of the recent Carnegie Hall concert - the first time the musical had been seen or heard since its original Broadway run - New York Times critic Lawrence Van Gelder posited, "Does the South still produce corrupt Democratic politicians and businessmen? Are there still Republican senators eager to expose them to further their own Presidential ambitions? Is sex still a weapon in these wars?" Louisiana Purchase answers these questions with a gleeful wink of the eye and a score full of Berlin magic!
REVIEWS:

"4 stars out of 4!...Highly sophisticated Berlin, full of big-band jazz and tight vocal harmonies."

USA Today

"…An unjustly forgotten gem…One of the funniest and sharpest political satires!"

Examiner.com

"A sly political satire."

New York Magazine

"Berlin's score is one of his best, with no fewer than seven showstoppers."

Hollywood Reporter

"We're sold on LOUISIANA PURCHASE."

New York Daily News

"Pure heaven."

Variety

"…An unjustly forgotten gem…One of the funniest and sharpest political satires!"

Examiner.com
Premiere Production: In 1940, Louisiana Purchase opened at the Imperial Theatre, New York.

Characters

  • Casting: 10M, 6F
  • Casting Attributes: Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle), Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)
  • Chorus Size: Medium

  • A SECRETARY
    SAM LIEBOWITZ - a lawyer
    COLONEL DAVIS D. DAVIS, SR.
    COLONEL DAVIS D. DAVIS, JR. ("JUNIOR")
    DEAN JOSEPH T. MANNING
    CAPTAIN WHITFIELD
    JIM TAYLOR
    BEATRICE - an employee at Madame Bordelaise's cafe
    LEE DAVIS - the second son of Col. Davis
    EMMY-LOU - the niece of Jim Taylor
    MARINA VAN LINDEN
    MADAME YVONNE BORDELAISE - proprietress of a cafe
    SENATOR OLIVER P. LOGANBERRY
    ALPHONSE - a waiter at Madame Bordelaise's cafe
    A SINGING QUARTET - (2 Women, 2 Men)

    • Available Material

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

    1 x Libretto-Vocal Book
    1 x Piano Conductor Score

    		$24.00
    Rehearsal Material Shipped a minimum of 3 months before the last performance. This must be hired as a condition of the License to produce this show.

    20 x Libretto-Vocal Books
    2 x Piano Conductor Score

    		$550.00 +$135.00/pm
    Orchestral Material Shipped a minimum of 1 month before the last performance. This is optional.

    1 x Piano Conductor Score
    1 x Reed I (Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone)
    1 x Reed II (Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet)
    1 x Reed III (Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet)
    1 x Reed IV (Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone)
    1 x Reed V (Flute, Alto Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone)
    1 x Trumpet I
    1 x Trumpet II
    1 x Trumpet II
    2 x Drums/Percussion (Trap Set, 2 Timpani, Orchestra Bells (Glockenspiel), Xylophone, Vibraphone, Suspended (Crash) Cymbal)
    1 x Guitar
    1 x Violin A (Divisi)
    1 x Violin B (Divisi)
    1 x Violin C (Divisi)
    1 x Viola (Divisi)
    1 x Cello (Divisi)
    1 x Bass

    		$350.00 +$135.00/pm
    Lib/Vocal Book 10 Pack Shipped with (or after) Rehearsal Material. This is optional.

    10 x Libretto-Vocal Books

    		$50.00 +$50.00/pm

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