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
- California Wilderness, 1853
- 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
Plot
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 |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- I'm On My Way - Steve Bullnack, Jake Whippany, Mike Mooney, Lee Zen, Sing Yuy, Sandy Twist, Edgar Crocker, Reuben Sloane and Miners*
- Rumson - Jake
- What's Goin' On Here? - Jennifer Rumson
- I Talk to the Trees - Julio Valveras and Jennifer*
- They Call the Wind Maria - Steve, Miners and Dancers*
- I Still See Elisa - Ben Rumson
- How Can I Wait? - Jennifer
- Trio - Elizabeth Woodling, Sarah Woodling and Jacob Woodling
- Rumson (Reprise) - Jake
- In Between - Ben -Whoop-Ti-Ay! - Ben, Elizabeth and Miners*
- Carino Mio - Jennifer and Julio
- Ther's a Coach Comin' In - Jake and Miners*
Act Two
- Hand Me Down That Can O'Beans - Jake and Miners*
- Rope Dance - Cherry and Fandango Girls*
- Can-Can - Cherry, Fandangos and Miners*
- Another Autumn - Julio Valveras, Dancer*
- Movin' - Miners
- I'm On My Way (Reprise) - Miners
- I Talk to Trees (Reprise) - Jennifer
- (I Was Born Under a) Wand'rin' Star - Ben
- Strike! - Steve, Jasper and Jake
- (I Was Born Under a) Wand'rin' Star (Reprise) - Jake, Steve, Sandy and Miners
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
References an era of book musicals written roughly between the 1940s and the 1960s.
A Broadway musical written and produced between 1943 and 1965.
A type of song, usually early in the musical, in which the protagonist expresses their desires. The "I Want" song establishes the character's objectives.
A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a religion founded in the US in 1830 by Joseph Smith Jr.
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.