Overview
Synopsis
Based on Joseph Moncure March’s 1928 poem of the same name, Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party tells the story of a vaudeville dancer named Queenie and a vaudeville clown named Burrs--her passionate and violent lover. Queenie is fed up with the life she lives and the pain Burrs puts her through, so she decides to throw the party to end all parties to shake things up a little. Burrs agrees and they invite a whole slew of colorful characters to their home. Queenie decides to make Burrs jealous, and when Kate (a high class prostitute who has her eye on Burrs) shows up with a mysterious man named Mr. Black, Queenie goes a little too far and begins to fall in love. As a long night of decadence begins to reach it’s peak, Burrs’ jealousy becomes too much for him and he turns to violence, which eventually leads to his own demise. Queenie is left to decide what is next for her in this violent and tragic 1920s world.
Show Information
- Book
- Andrew Lippa
- Music
- Andrew Lippa
- Lyrics
- Andrew Lippa
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Mature Audiences (M)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2000
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- 1920s
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen Characters, Large Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
|
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either or Both |
|
Songs
Act I
- *"Queenie was a Blonde" – Queenie, Burrs and Company
- "Out of the Blue" – Queenie and Burrs
- *"What a Party" – Company
- *"Raise the Roof" – Queenie and Company
- "Look at Me Now" – Kate
- "Poor Child" – Black, Burrs, Kate and Queenie
- "An Old-Fashioned Love Story" – Madeline
- *"By Now the Room was Moving" – Company
- *"The Juggernaut" – Queenie, Black, Kate, Burrs and Company
- *"A Wild, Wild Party" – D'Armano Brothers, Queenie, Burrs and Company
- "Two of a Kind" – Eddie and Mae
- "Maybe I Like it This Way" – Queenie
- "What is it About Her?" – Burrs and Queenie
Act II
- "The Life of the Party" – Kate
- "I'll Be Here" – Black
- *"Let Me Drown" – Burrs, Kate and Company
- "Tell Me Something" – Queenie and Black
- "Come with Me" – Black, Queenie and Company
- *"Jackie's Last Dance" – (Instrumental) *Jackie
- "Make Me Happy" – Burrs, Black and Queenie
- "How Did We Come to This?" / "Queenie was a Blonde" (Reprise) – Queenie and Ensemble
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
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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