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Do I Hear a Waltz?

This musical adaptation of The Time of the Cuckoo, a bittersweet romance set in Venice, was a unique collaboration of three giants of the musical theatre: Richard Rodgers, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Comedy
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 1960s
  • Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Orchestra Size: Large

  • Performance Group:
  • College Theatre / Student, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre

  • Accolades:
  • Nominee! 3 Tony Awards including Best Composer and Lyricist (1965)
Leona, an unmarried American secretary "of a certain age," goes on a vacation to Venice where, under the spell of that enchanted city, she falls in love. The gentleman is an attractive, middle-aged shopkeeper, whose attentions give flight to her deepest dreams of romance. Too soon, however, he openly informs her that he is a contented family man, and Leona's hopes are dashed. She can, for a short time, harness romance, yet realizes that such a relationship would have nowhere to go. Still, might it be better than never having loved at all?

This timeless story, which is the basis of the movie Summertime starring Katharine Hepburn, remains a bittersweet testament to the complexities of the heart.
REVIEWS:

"Rodgers has flooded the stage with lilting melody...Sondheim is at his wittiest...everything about the musical is tasteful...quality is stamped on everything and everybody."

Cue Magazine

"It's clear this uncommonly literate work opened far ahead of its time...The hard-edge themes seem closer to what we typically expect of Sondheim than of Rodgers, but their union yielded a beguiling score that beautifully dovetails with the bittersweet text. Sondheim's incisively ironic lyrics foreshadow his later triumphs, and Rodgers' melodies are lush and lovely."

Backstage West

"Deft and intelligent...the score is filled with pleasures...haunting...charming...brightly sardonic."

The New York Post

"Richly entertaining...There's plenty that should be seen."

Los Angeles Times
Premiere Production: Do I Hear A Waltz? opened on Broadway on March 18, 1965 at the 46th Street Theatre and closed on September 25, 1965 after 220 performances. It starred Elizabeth Allen and Sergio Franchi; other principal cast members included Carol Bruce, Madeleine Sherwood, Julienne Marie, Stuart Damon, Fleury D'Antonakis and Jack Manning.

Characters

  • Casting: 5M, 5F
  • Casting Attributes: Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle), Roles for Children
  • Chorus Size: Medium

  • MAURO
    LEONA SAMISH
    FIORIA
    EDDIE YEAGER
    JENNIFER YEAGER
    MR. MCLLHENNY
    MRS. MCLLHENNY
    GIOVANNA
    VITO
    RENATO DI ROSSI

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Perusal Material Shipped immediately. This is optional.

    1 x Libretto
    1 x Vocal Book
    1 x Piano Vocal 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.

    22 x Libretto-Vocal Books
    1 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 Reed I (Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Optional Alto (G) Flute)
    1 x Reed II (Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet)
    1 x Reed III (Oboe, Clarinet, Optional English Horn, Optional Flute)
    1 x Reed IV (Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Optional Bassoon, Optional Flute)
    1 x Trumpet I-II (Trumpet I doubles Flugelhorn)
    1 x Trombone I
    1 x Trombone II
    1 x Trombone III (Bass Trombone)
    1 x Percussion (Trap Set, Timpani, Chimes, Wood Block, Ratchet, Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Triangle, Bongos, Bells, Sandpaper, Castanets, Cymbal, Toms)
    2 x Violin A-B (Divisi)
    2 x Viola (Divisi)
    2 x Cello (Divisi)
    1 x Bass
    1 x Harp (Doubling Celesta)
    1 x Guitar (Doubling Mandolin)

    		 $350.00 +$135.00/pm

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