Overview
Synopsis
This Lerner and Loewe classic tells the story of the rise and fall of an isolated town at the height of the California Gold Rush. After years of searching for gold out West, Ben Rumson and his young daughter, Jennifer, strike it rich. At the burial service of another miner, Jennifer discovers a gold nugget and Rumson Town is born. Word of the strike spreads fast and soon Rumson Town is overflowing with 400 men, hoping to strike gold. Meanwhile, Jennifer falls in love with a young Mexican prospector, Julio Valveras. Accustomed to the complete lack of female presence in town, the men feel uncomfortable with Jennifer's presence and demand Ben sends her back East to school. Tensions rise even further when a Mormon miner and his two wives come to town. When Jennifer returns back to the town unexpectedly, she discovers that Rumson Town has become a ghost town and Julio is gone. With determination and bravery, Jennifer seeks out Julio and is finally reunited with the man she loves. Filled with passion, greed, and a clash of cultures, Paint Your Wagon is a story of the wild West and the search for the American Dream. Featuring songs such as "I Talk to the Trees", "How Can I Wait", and the run-away hit, "They Call The Wind Maria", Paint Your Wagon is an American classic.
Show Information
- Book
- Alan Jay Lerner
- Music
- Frederick Loewe
- Lyrics
- Alan Jay Lerner
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1951
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Period, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- Mid-19th century California during the Gold Rush in a rough-and-tumble mining camp.
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- Star Vehicle Male, Star Vehicle Female, Regional Theatre, Professional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Large Cast, Ensemble Cast, Community Theatre, College/University, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Early Teen, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters
Context
Paint Your Wagon is a classic American musical with music by Frederick Loewe and book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, first opening on Broadway in 1951. Written during the golden age of musical theatre, the show was their third collaboration, preceding their later international successes My Fair Lady and Camelot. The musical was notable for blending the traditional elements of Broadway storytelling with the rugged, untamed spirit of the American West, offering audiences an escapist yet
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Act I
The story begins in a remote valley in California during the mid-19th century Gold Rush. Ben Rumson, a grizzled prospector, discovers gold at the site where a man has just been buried. His discovery quickly draws other prospectors, and a mining camp called Rumson Town springs up almost overnight. The camp is rowdy, restless, and made up entirely of men seeking fortune in the wilderness.
Ben lives with his teenage daughter, Jennifer, who is the only woman in town. The miners idolize
to read the plot for Paint Your Wagon and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Not Specified |
|
Songs
Act I
Act II
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A period of artistic flourishing, often referring to 1940s-60s Broadway or English Renaissance theatre. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
Broadway musicals from the 1940s–60s, known for integrating plot and song, such as *Oklahoma!* and *The Sound of Music*.
A staple of musical theatre where the protagonist expresses a deep personal desire, setting the emotional tone for the narrative.
A recurring musical theme associated with a particular character, idea, or emotion. Frequently used in opera and musical theatre, leitmotifs help reinforce narrative continuity and emotional cues for the audience.
A reference to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes featured in theatre as cultural or religious characters. Their representation has appeared in notable works such as satirical musicals and dramas exploring faith and identity.
A period piece is a theatrical work set in a specific historical era, recreating its fashions, manners, and cultural atmosphere. Costumes, sets, and dialogue are often designed to reflect the chosen time period as accurately as possible. Period pieces allow audiences to step into another age and experience its unique style and traditions.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Themes
The Restlessness of the Frontier The
to read about the themes, symbols and motifs from Paint Your Wagon and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Quote Analysis
“They call the wind Maria.”
This haunting line from
to read our analysis of select quotes from Paint Your Wagon and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Guide Written By:
Emma Houlahan
Canadian vocalist and actor now based in London.
Jason Engleman
Humming show tunes day and night.