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Mack and Mabel

A True Love Story of Mack, Mabel, and the Movies.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Drama
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 1920s, 1930s, 1910s / WWI, 1900-1910
  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Cautions: Drugs, Alcohol, Mild Adult Themes
  • Orchestra Size: Large

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

  • Accolades:
  • Nominated! 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical (1975)
This is a saga of the silent film era "when movies were movies", the story of legendary director Mack Sennett and his greatest star, the adorable Mabel Normand. 

It is told in flashback by Mack himself as the protagonist narrator, a broken man, made obsolete by talkies, bankrupt and forced to sell his studio, he reminisces about the past, recalling his triumphs and his turbulent love affair with Mabel whom he had discovered and made a star. He loves her, but cannot tell her, sending her into the arms of a rival who feeds her drugs.

Now available in a revised version that contains changes made for the London revival that won the Evening Standard's coveted Drama Award for Best Musical.
REVIEWS:

"Mr. Herman has the common touch, a gift for melodies familiar and memorable... A musical in the old and true tradition."

 The New York Times

Premiere Production: Mack and Mabel was first presented on Broadway by David Merrick at the Majestic Theatre in New York City on October 6, 1974. It was directed by Gower Champion.

Characters

  • Casting: 10M, 5F
  • Casting Attributes: Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle), Room for Extras, Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)
  • Chorus Size: Large

MACK SENNET - A workaholic movie director, baritone.
MABEL NORMAND - A deli delivery girl who becomes a movie star. Mack reluctantly becomes romantically involved with her, mezzo-soprano.
FRANK WYMAN - An actor/writer, and later a director, baritone.
LOTTIE AMES - A silent movie star, mezzo-soprano.
WILLIAM DESMOND TAYLOR - A "serious" director, and rival for both Mabel's acting talents and her affections.
MR. KLEIMAN - An accountant.
EDDIE - Kleiman's partner.
ELLA - A piano player.
FRED - Silent Film Actor

Ensemble and small features.

Available Material

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

1 x Vocal Book

$24.00
Libretto Shipped upon receipt of a signed License Agreement and full payment of all invoices. This is optional.

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. 

Contact us for a price.

$0.00
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 Vocal Books

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

Piano/Conductor's Score (2 books: Act I and Act II)
Reed I (Piccolo, Flute, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet)
Reed II (Flute, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet)
Reed III (Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet)
Reed IV (Flute, Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet)
Horn
Trumpets I & II
Trumpet III
Trombone I
Trombone II
Violins A, B & C (3 books)
Violas
Cello
Bass Tuba (optional)
Guitar (Electric and Banjo)
Drums/Percussion

$350.00 +$135.00/pm

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