Overview
Synopsis
Runaways tells the story of the forgotten children living on the street of New York City in the 1970s. Initially created from interviews with homeless children, Runaways takes a hard look at the lives of children who have had to grow up too fast. This collection of songs, dances, and spoken word pieces give the audience a deeper look into the personal struggles runaways face as these children try to navigate the scary, grown-up world around them. This large, diverse cast of youth actors makes Runaways a fantastic choice to showcase a talented group of young actors.
Show Information
- Book
- Elizabeth Swados
- Music
- Elizabeth Swados
- Lyrics
- Elizabeth Swados
- Conceived By
- Elizabeth Swados
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1978
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Contemporary, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- New York City, 1970s
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Rock Combo
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Early Teen, Child, Late Teen Characters
Context
Runaways is a collection of songs, dances, and spoken word pieces about children who have run away from their homes. Playwright Elizabeth Swados compiled interviews from homeless children and children living in orphanages to initially create this verbatim theatre script. Originally intended to be a community service piece, the show transferred to Broadway after becoming a smash hit. The show is a blend of pop, hip-hop, jazz, and reggae music and premiered at The Public Theatre in New York
to read the context for Runaways and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Hubbell, a deaf teenager, tells the audience about why he ran away (You Don’t Understand). Hubbell uses ASL to communicate and has an interpreter speak the text. Hubbell asks the audience for a safe place to stay. Realizing they can’t (or won’t) help, he exits.
A.J. tells the story of why he left his home as Lazar and Deidre perform a masked dance in the background (I Had to Go). A.J.’s parents were constantly fighting and would fight over who gets to keep the children. A.J. had enough of the
to read the plot for Runaways and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Tenor, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone |
Songs
ACT ONE
- Where Do People Go - Company
- Every Now and Then - A.J., Sundar, Company
- Minnesota Strip/Song of a Child Prostitute - Roby, Jackie, Lidia, Manny, Luis
- Find Me a Hero - Lazar and Company
- Undiscovered Son - Eric
- Basketball Song* - EZ and Company
- Lullabies for Luis - Lidia, Luis, Company
- We Are Not Strangers - Eric and Company
ACT TWO
- Lullaby From Baby to Baby -Melinda, Hubbell, Deidre
- Revenge Song - Company
- Entreprise - Deidre, Nikki, Mex-Mongo, and Company
- Sometimes - Roby, Lazar, and Company
- We Are Not Strangers II - Mocha, EZ, and Company
- Where Are Those People Who Did Hair - Lazar, Deidre, and Company
- The Untrue Pigeon Song - Nikki
- Let Me Be A Kid - Company
- To the Dead of Family Wars - Deidre
- Lonesome of the Road/Let Me Be A Kid Reprise - Luis, Sundar, and 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.
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.