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Carmen Jones

Set in a Southern town during World War II, Oscar Hammerstein's adaptation of Carmen captures the romance and tragedy of Bizet's melodic opera with a distinctly American flavor.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Drama
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 1940s / WWII
  • Target Audience: Adult
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Cautions: Mild Adult Themes

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

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! Three Olivier Awards including Best Musical (1992)
    Winner! Four Lucille Lortel Awards including Outstanding Revival (2019)
    Nominee! Four Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Revival of a Musical (2019)
In a Southern town during World War II, an army corporal named Joe is stationed near a parachute factory where Carmen Jones is employed. Fickle and flirtatious, Carmen manages to steal Joe away from his fiancée, and the army as well, and they run off to Chicago together. But Carmen loses interest in Joe when she meets and successfully woos Husky Miller, a prize fighter on his way to the top. Mad with jealousy, Joe waits for Carmen outside the stadium the night of Husky's big fight to make a last desperate plea for her love. When she denies him resolutely, he stabs her to death in a rage of passion, to the eerie accompaniment of the crowd inside the stadium cheering Husky's victory.
REVIEWS:

"CARMEN JONES can still be exciting...a daring piece of liberal and liberated theatre."

Variety

"Hammerstein's lyrics are as right and renovating as his book."

Time Magazine

"CARMEN JONES has endured because of its sublime balance of memorable music and strong dramatic impetus...CARMEN JONES packs a terrific emotional punch."

Telegraph.co.uk
Premiere Production:

Carmen Jones opened at the Broadway Theatre on December 2, 1943, starring Muriel Smith as Carmen. The production ran for 503 performances. Otto Preminger directed a film adaptation of the musical in 1954, starring Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte and Pearl Bailey. In 2018, the Classic Stage Company revived Carmen Jones, under the direction of John Doyle, with Anika Noni Rose in the title role.

Characters

  • Casting: 10M, 6F
  • Casting Attributes: Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle), Ensemble cast, Minority casting, Roles for Children
  • Casting Notes: Large singing and dancing ensemble of all Black characters with several small roles including some roles for children.
  • Chorus Size: Large

  • Carmen Jones was written to be performed with an all-Black cast. Author, Oscar Hammerstein II made it very clear that the musical must not be performed unless an all-Black cast can be assembled. The use of make-up or prosthetics to alter an actor's ethnicity is prohibited.

    CORPORAL MORRELL
    FOREMAN - a Parachute factory worker
    CINDY LOU - Joe's sweetheart
    SERGEANT BROWN
    JOE - a member of the Air Force
    CARMEN JONES - a Parachute factory worker
    SALLY
    T-BONE
    TOUGH KID
    DRUMMER
    WAITER
    FRANKIE - Carmen's friend
    MYRT - Carmen's friend
    RUM - Husky Miller's manager
    DINK - Rum's henchman
    HUSKY MILLER - a boxer
    SOLDIERS (3)
    MR. HIGGINS The President of The Meadow Lawn Country Club
    MISS HIGGINS - Mr. Higgins' daughter
    PHOTOGRAPHER
    CARD PLAYERS
    DANCING GIRL
    PONCHO - Husky's opponent
    DANCING BOXERS (2)
    BULLET HEAD - Husky's sparring partner
    REFEREE

    • Available Material

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

    1 x Chorus Vocal
    1 x Piano Vocal

    		$24.00
    Pre-Production Pack Shipped upon receipt of a signed License Agreement and full payment of all invoices. This is optional.

    1 x Chorus Vocal
    1 x Piano Vocal

    		$75.00
    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.

    40 x Chrous Vocal
    15 x Piano Vocal

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

    2 x Conductor: 1 x Act I & 1 x Act II
    2 x Piano: 1 x Act I & 1 x Act II
    1 x Flute I-II (both double piccolo)
    1 x Oboe I-II (Oboe II doubles English Horn)
    1 x Clarinet I-II (both double A Clar)
    1 x Bassoon I-II
    1 x Horn I-II
    1 x Trumpet I-II (both double A Trumpet)
    1 x Trombone I-II
    1 x Trombone III
    2 x Percussion
    1 x Violin I (Divisi)
    1 x Violin II (Divisi)
    1 x Viola (Divisi)
    2 x Cello/Bass (Cello Divisi)
    1 x Harp

    		$350.00 +$135.00/pm

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