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Overview
Synopsis
The Folk Singer is a contemporary story focused on a group of young folk singers who — inspired by the relevant songs that were created and made popular decades ago by such singer/songwriters as Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger — decide to mount their own folk-song festival to spotlight up-to-date concerns. The performance begins in a small café, where five young folk singers decide to create their own new songs and perform them. They then move to a local park bandstand, where their festival then takes place. As the principals sing, images representing the subjects of the songs appear on a screen above the stage, enhancing the power of the lyrics.
Show Information
- Book
- Tom Attea
- Music
- Arthur Abrams
- Lyrics
- Tom Attea
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 2016
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- America, Present Day
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- Rock Combo
- Dancing
- None
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
Songs
- WELCOME.............................................................................Don & Others
- PEOPLE LOOK BEAUTIFUL TO ME................................Amy
- THE WAR MEMORIAL.......................................................Todd
- IF ALL YOU WANT IS MORE.............................................Jan
- THE DAY LINCOLN'S STATUE CAME TO LIFE.............Zack
- HAMMERED.........................................................................Don
- TERROR, ERROR..................................................................Todd
- SITTIN' ON A NUCLEAR BOMB........................................Zack
- A NEWBORN CHILD............................................................Amy
- THAT GOOD OLD RAILWAY STATION..........................Don
- SOUNDS A LOT LIKE LUCK...............................................Zack
- DO YOU MIND TELLIN' ME WHY?....................................Jan
- UNDERACHIEVING AS BEST WE CAN............................ Don, Jan, and Amy
- BLUE COLLAR, CAN'T EARN A DOLLAR.......................Todd
- I LONG FOR WIDE OPEN SPACES......................................Don
- WOULD YOU HAVE THE SENSE TO LOVE ME?.............Amy & Zack
- A CLIMATE OF CHANGE...................................................All
- REPRISE..................................................................................All
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
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Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher