Overview
Synopsis
The story follows Zorba as he talks his way into traveling with Nikos, a young American who has inherited an abandoned mine on Crete. Eventually, Zorba falls in love with a French lady, Hortense. Meanwhile Nikos falls in love with The Widow. Tragedy ensues when Zorba loses all of his money to a belly dancer. Further, a mentally unstable man, Pavli, commits suicide after witnessing Nikos and the Widow together. Then, a member of Pavli's family murders The Widow.
Show Information
- Book
- Joseph Stein
- Music
- John Kander
- Lyrics
- Fred Ebb
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1968
- Genres
- Romance
- Cast Size
- large
- Ideal For
- Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
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Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
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Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
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Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
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Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
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Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
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Male |
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Male |
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Male |
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Female |
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Songs
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
An application fee is a charge collected by colleges, universities, or theatre programs during the admissions process. It is part of the administrative cost of reviewing applications and is common in professional and educational settings.
The use of two languages in performance, often reflecting cultural identity, accessibility, or political context.
A movement-based acting technique developed by Vsevolod Meyerhold emphasizing efficiency, rhythm, and physical precision.
A cultural movement emphasizing Black pride and political empowerment, reflected in African-American theatre of the 1960s and 70s.
A simple, unadorned performance space with black walls and flexible staging and seating configurations.
Unrhymed iambic pentameter used extensively in English Renaissance drama, particularly by Shakespeare.
A license that allows a theatre or venue to use a wide range of copyrighted material from a licensing agency.
A poetic or dramatic listing of a person's attributes or characteristics, often used to praise or mock.
To plan and rehearse the movement of actors on stage, essential for effective staging, composition, and storytelling.
A highly popular or financially successful theatrical production, often featuring star performers, spectacle, or major branding.
The precise staging of actors’ movements and positions onstage, typically directed during rehearsals.
A genre of American roots music featuring banjos and harmonies, sometimes used in theatre to evoke rural or regional identity.
Loud, aggressive, or boastful speech or behavior, often exaggerated for comic or dramatic effect.
Short trousers worn historically by men; also refers to roles in which women dressed as men, common in older theatrical traditions.
A transitional section in music or story structure that connects two themes or scenes, adding emotional or narrative flow.
A type of flat or scenery wall that is built with the framing running horizontally, often covered with muslin and used on proscenium stages.
A genre of popular music that has influenced musical theatre, especially in shows highlighting African-American culture.
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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