Overview
Synopsis
Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved victorian classic, The Secret Garden, blossoms anew in this enchanting musical by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon. When young Mary Lennox loses her parents to a cholera outbreak in India, she is sent to live with her uncle, hermit Archibald Craven, who lives in an imposing, secluded manor on the British heath. Inside the haunting house upon the hill, Mary finds a reclusive, long-suffering collection of souls. Since her aunt Lily’s death, Mary’s uncle has pushed away his surviving loved ones, leaving his bedridden son, Colin, alone. Sickly Colin, hidden away in the depths of the manner, bears the guilt of his mother’s death on his crippled shoulders. When Mary discovers her Aunt Lily’s hidden garden, locked shot and overgrown with vines, stubborn Mary is determined to revive the beauty that once was. Surrounded by spirits from the past, who both warn and welcome her, determined Mary begins to peel away the layers of sadness that cover the house and the garden, showing us the power that “one small girl” can have when she “wants things to grow.”
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Context
Frances Hodgson Burnett, an English playwright and novelist, wrote The Secret Garden in 1911. She was already well-known by that point, having written the children’s novels Little Lord Fauntleroy (1885-6) and A Little Princess (1905), amongst other popular books and serials. Because it was her first work that was marketed to both children and adults, The Secret Garden was not one of Burnett’s most popular books, in its time. Since then, however, The Secret Garden has become known as
to read the context for The Secret Garden and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Ten-year-old Mary Lennox, a young British girl living in India, is dreaming. As she plays with her Victorian dollhouse, British nursery rhymes and Hindu chants interweave in her mind (“Opening”). The next morning, Mary awakens to a world, transformed. She is discovered by Lieutenant Wright and Major Holmes, who inform her that everyone she had dreamed of the previous night (including her parents) has died of cholera (“There’s a Girl”).
Holmes and his wife travel with
to read the plot for The Secret Garden and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Treble/Boy Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
Songs
Act One
- Opening — Lily, Fakir, Company, Mary
- There's a Girl — Company
- The House Upon the Hill — Company
- I Heard Someone Crying — Lily, Mary, Archibald
- If I Had A Fine White Horse — Martha, Mary
- A Girl in the Valley — Archibald, Lily
- It's a Maze — Mary, Ben, Dickon
- Winter's on the Wing — Dickon
- Show Me the Key — Mary, Dickon
- A Bit of Earth — Archibald, Mary
- Storm I — Company
- Lily's Eyes — Archibald, Neville
- Storm II — Mary, Company
- Round-Shouldered Man — Colin, Mary
- Final Storm — Mary, Company
Act Two
- The Girl I Mean to Be — Mary
- Quartet — Archibald, Lily, Neville, Rose
- Race You to the Top of the Morning — Archibald
- Wick — Dickon with Mary
- Come to My Garden — Lily
- Lift Me Up — Colin
- Come Spirit, Come Charm — Mary, Dickon, Martha, Lily, Fakir, Company
- A Bit of Earth (Reprise) — Lily, Rose, Albert
- Disappear — Neville
- Hold On — Martha
- Letter Song — Archibald, Mary, Martha
- Where in the World — Archibald
- How Could I Ever Know — Archibald, Lily
- Finale — 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.
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Key Terms
An 11 o’clock number is a show-stopping song that appears late in a musical, usually near the climax. It is often performed by the lead character and delivers a surge of emotional or dramatic power. The number reenergizes the audience and sets up the finale.
An adaptation is a reworking of a story from one medium or cultural context into another, such as turning a novel into a play or updating a classic play’s setting. Adaptations often reinterpret themes, characters, and style for new audiences. They can range from faithful recreations to bold reimaginings.
A ballad is a song style that tells a story through simple, lyrical verses and a steady rhythm. In theatre, ballads are often slow and emotional, allowing characters to reveal deep feelings or reflect on personal journeys. They can be used to highlight romance, longing, or moments of dramatic intensity.
A powerful, resonant singing technique used in musical theatre to project high notes with chest voice.
A vocal technique blending chest and head voice to create a strong yet flexible sound for higher pitches.
Short for 'legitimate theatre,' referring to traditional stage drama as opposed to musical or commercial performance. The term is also used to describe a classical vocal tone suitable for operatic or legit musical theatre roles.
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