Overview
Synopsis
Based on the cult classic John Water’s film of the same name, Cry-Baby the Musical is a rebellious teen comedy musical that, as book writer Mark O’Donnell said, is “edgier than Grease, funnier than West Side Story” and full of rockabilly tunes that keep the audience dancing in their seats. The delinquent Drapes and the squeaky-clean Squares can’t see eye to eye on anything. But when Drapes leader Cry-Baby and Square member Allison meet at the Anti-Polio Picnic and discover that they are both orphans, their star-crossed love story begins to blossom. Allison longs to shake off her Square identity and join Cry-Baby’s rock n’ roll lifestyle. As Allison gets a bad girl makeover, king of the Squares Baldwin hatches a plan to get rid of the Drapes gang and win Allison back. When Cry-Baby whisks Allison away to Turkey Point and asks “Girl, Can I Kiss You With Tongue?”, Baldwin and the Squares frame Cry-Baby for arson and he is carted off to prison. Cry-Baby must fight to clear the Drapes’ name and get back to Allison before she gets trapped in a Square life forever. With raging hormones, rock rhythms, and dancing delinquents, Cry-Baby the Musical brings the 1950’s to life with a rockabilly good time.
Show Information
- Book
- Mark O'Donnell , Thomas Meehan
- Music
- Adam Schlesinger
- Lyrics
- David Javerbaum
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Based on 1990 film Cry-Baby by John Waters
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2007
- Genres
- Satire, Comedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- 1954 Baltimore, Maryland USA
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Rock Combo
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Large Cast, Star Vehicle Male, Regional Theatre, Professional Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Late Teen, Young Adult, Early Teen, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
Songs
ACT ONE
-
*The Anti-Polio Picnic - Mrs. Vernon-Williams, Allison, Baldwin, Ensemble
-
*Watch Your Ass - Pepper, Wanda, Hatchet-Face, Dupree, Cry-Baby, Ensemble
-
I’m Infected - Allison, Cry-Baby, Ensemble
-
*Squeaky Clean - Baldwin, Allison, The Whiffles
-
Nobody Gets Me - Cry-Baby, Pepper, Wanda, Hatchet-Face, Ensemble
-
*Nobody Gets Me (Reprise) - Allison
-
*Jukebox Jamboree - Dupree
-
*A Whole Lot Worse - Pepper, Wanda, Hatchet-Face
-
Screw Loose - Lenora
-
*Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby (Baby Baby) - Cry-Baby, Allison, Ensemble
-
Girl, Can I Kiss You….? - Cry-Baby, Allison, Ensemble
-
I'm Infected (Reprise) - Allison
-
*You Can't Beat the System - Company
ACT TWO
-
Misery, Agony, Helplessness, Hopelessness, Heartache and Woe - Allison, Cry-Baby, Dupree, Pepper, Wanda, Hatchet-Face, Ensemble
-
*All in My Head - Baldwin, Lenora, Ensemble
-
Jailyard Jubilee - Dupree, Ensemble
-
*A Little Upset - Cry-Baby, Dupree, Ensemble
-
I Did Something Wrong...Once - Mrs. Vernon-Williams
-
*Thanks for the Nifty County - Baldwin, The Whiffles
-
This Amazing Offer - Baldwin, The Whiffles
-
Do That Again - Cry-Baby
-
*Nothing Bad’s Ever Gonna Happen Again - Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Emma Houlahan
Canadian vocalist and actor now based in London.