Overview
Synopsis
Tell Me on a Sunday, a one-act song cycle by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black, tells the story of Emma, an ordinary British hat-maker who journeys to America in search of love. Her romantic misadventures take her on a journey from New York City, to Los Angeles, and back to Manhattan again as she realizes the road to love is never as simple as it seems. With some of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most beloved songs such as “Tell Me on a Sunday” and “Unexpected Song”, Tell Me on a Sunday is the perfect way to showcase a talented performer.
This guide is based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 2014 London revival.
Show Information
- Music
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Lyrics
- Don Black
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1980
- Genres
- Comedy, Romance
- Settings
- Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- New York City, Present Day
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- Small
- Dancing
- Musical Staging
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- All-Female Cast, College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Star Vehicle Female, Includes Adult, Young Adult Characters
Context
Note: in 1982 the creative team behind Tell Me On a Sunday decided to combine it with a Ballet choreographed to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Variations, a classical piece based on Paganini’s A Minor Caprice No. 24. The combined piece became Song and Dance, featuring Tell Me on a Sunday as Act 1, and the ballet as Act 2.
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Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
Songs
ACT ONE
- “Let Me Finish” - Emma
- “It's Not the End of the World (If It's Over)” - Emma
- “Writing Home (For the First Time)” - Emma
- “Sheldon Bloom” - Emma
- “Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad” - Emma
- “You Made Me Think You Were in Love” - Emma
- “Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad (Reprise)” - Emma
- “It's Not the End of the World (If He's Younger)” - Emma
- “Writing Home (For the Second Time)” - Emma
- Unexpected Song - Emma
- “The Last Man in My Life” - Emma
- “Come Back With the Same Look in Your Eyes” - Emma
- “Take That Look off Your Face” - Emma
- “Tell Me on a Sunday” - Emma
- “It's Not the End of the World (If He's Married)” - Emma
- “Married Man” - Emma
- “Writing Home (For the Third Time)” - Emma
- “I'm Very You, You're Very Me” - Emma
- “Ready Made Life” - Emma
- “Let Me Finish (Reprise)” - Emma
- “Nothing Like You've Ever Known” - Emma
- “Writing Home (For the Fourth Time)” - Emma
- “Take That Look off Your Face (Reprise)” - Emma “Dreams Never Run on Time (Finale)” - Emma
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.