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A Class Act

Friends of songwriter Ed Kleban, the Tony Award-winning lyricist of A Chorus Line, gather at his memorial after his untimely death at the age of 48. Shadowed by Ed himself, they relive scenes from his life, told with his own songs, finally giving Ed and his music the recognition they deserve.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Drama
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 20th Century
  • Target Audience: Adult
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Orchestra Size: Medium

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

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! 2001 Obie Award for Best Music and Lyrics
    Nominee! 2001 Drama Desk Awards; 3 Nominations
    Nominee! 2001 Tony Awards for Best Musical; Best Score (Edward Kleban); Best Book (Linda Kline and Lonny Price); Best Actress (Randy Graff); Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman)
Songwriter Ed Kleban’s friends gather at his memorial after his untimely death at the age of 48. Unbeknownst to them, Ed makes a surprise trip from “the beyond” to hear their loving tributes. Instead, he is shocked by their critical remarks. Determined to set the record straight, he shadows the speakers at the memorial as they relive scenes from his life, told with his own songs, including the showstopper “Better,” originally recorded by Barbra Streisand.

The ensemble includes the legendary Lehman Engel, leader of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop; the uber-energetic composer Marvin Hamlisch, with whom we see Ed writing the lyrics for A Chorus Line’s iconic score; and the dynamic women in Ed’s life – sexy Mona, ambitious Felicia, lovely Lucy, and his first love, Sophie, who sings Ed’s modern romantic ballad “The Next Best Thing To Love.” Ed himself sings his extraordinary song “Self-Portrait,” which reveals the depth and humanity of one of musical theatre’s previously unsung masters. This vibrant musical finally gives Ed and his music the recognition they deserve.
REVIEWS:

"A CLASS ACT is moving and funny, a celebration of music, friendship, and musical theatre... a tender and affecting evening. Rarely has there ever been a more deserving showcase to honor the juice, the impact, the very nature of creativity.”

Live Design

"It's been a very long time since I've seen a musical with as much heart as A CLASS ACT. This bittersweet show, which serves as biography of and tribute to composer-lyricist Edward Kleban, is exactly what its title says it is--pure gold, from start to finish, without a single false note. This is the loveliest new score of the season- I can't wait to listen to the C.D.”

Martin Denton NYTheatre.com

"This is the first show of any genre I've seen this season that brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes."

Elyse Sommer CurtainUp

"Hope, after all, is something that real musical theater, like A CLASS ACT does best."

The New York Times

"A CLASS ACT glories in the intricate workings of the musical theater world."

Variety

“One of the best tunes in the production is "Paris Through the Window," a whimsically nostalgic song about looking back to sweeter days. It will remind anyone familiar with A CHORUS LINE that Kleban was especially good at writing songs that make the heart shiver.”

Lee Williams Houston Press

“A CLASS ACT is an entertaining piece of theater. However, this show is more than just a pleasurable musical. It is also a look at an artist who made an everlasting impact on the world of musical theater.”

TalkinBroadway.com

"In this day and age you can't help but be sympathetic to a musical that relies entirely on such old-fashioned pillars as song and dance and story to support the contention that yes, this is entertainment."

The New York Times

“Chances are you’ve never heard of Ed Kleban. But after seeing A CLASS ACT, chances are extraordinarily good that you’ll never forget his name. Or his songs."

Metro Weekly
Premiere Production: A Class Act opened on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre on March 11, 2001. Directed by Lonny Price, the production featured Price as Ed Kleban, along with Randy Graff, Nancy Anderson, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Donna Bullock, David Hibbard, Patrick Quinn and Sara Ramirez.

Characters

  • Casting: 4M, 4F
  • Casting Attributes: Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)
  • Casting Notes: Doubling is used for all characters except the roles of Ed Kleban, Lehman Engel and Sophie.
  • Chorus Size: No Chorus

ED KLEBAN - an aspiring songwriter
LEHMAN ENGEL - leader of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop
BOBBY - a drummer and would-be songwriter
MICHAEL BENNETT - charismatic choreographer and director
CHARLEY - an aspiring songwriter
MARVIN HAMLISCH - the composer at age 29
DR. NODINE - a psychiatrist at a mental hospital. (non-speaking role)
JEAN-CLAUDE CHEVRAY - Sophie's boyfriend, suave and confident
SOPHIE - Ed's first love
FELICIA LIPSHITZ - an aspiring songwriter
SECOND GIRL in 'Light on my Feet'
TAP DANCE STUDENTS (2)
DANCER TWO in 'A Chorus Line'
LUCY - an aspiring singer/songwriter
DANCER ONE in 'A Chorus Line'
MONA - an aspiring songwriter, seductive and kittenish
FIRST GIRL in 'Light on my Feet'
DANCER THREE in 'A Chorus Line'

Available Material

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

1 x Libretto
1 x Keyboard/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
12 x Keyboard/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 Keyboard I
1 x Keyboard II (Synthesizer)
1 x Percussion (Crash Cymbal, 2 Timpani (A&D), Triangle, Bells (Glock), Suspended Cymbal, Slide Whistle, Bell Tree, Cabasa, Crotales, Shaker (Egg) & Drum Kit)
1 x Reed I (Flute, Alto Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax)
1 x Reed II (Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet, Tenor Sax)
1 x Trumpet I (Flugelhorn)
1 x Trumpet II (Flugelhorn)
1 x Trombone
1 x Bass (Electric and Acoustic)

$350.00 +$135.00/pm

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