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Overview

Synopsis

The Emperor of China hears that one of the most beautiful things in his own land is the song of the nightingale. He sends his courtiers to take a nightingale from the nearby forest and present her as a guest at court. The bird can communicate with the humans and agrees to come, but when the Emperor is given a robot nightingale covered with jewels, he loses interest in the real bird, which flies back to its home. The robot bird breaks down. When the Emperor is taken ill, only the song of the true nightingale can heal him.

Show Information

Book
Charles Strouse
Music
Charles Strouse
Lyrics
Charles Strouse
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
Genres
Comedy, Romance, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
Cast Size
medium
Ideal For
Mostly Male Cast, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Emperor

Male

Maid

Female

Death

Male

Narrator

Either Gender

Nightingale

Either Gender

Peacock #1

Either Gender

Peacock #2

Either Gender

Mechanical Nightingale

Either Gender

Songs

  • Prologue - Orchestra
  • Perfect Harmony - Company
  • Why Am I So Happy? - The Maid
  • Take Us To the Forest - Company
  • Who Are These People - Nightingale
  • Never Speak Directly to an Emperor - Palace Guards
  • Nightingale - Company
  • The Emperor is a Man - The Maid
  • I Was Lost - Emperor / Nightingale
  • Charming - Two Peacocks
  • A Singer Must Be Free - Nightingale
  • The Mechanical Bird - The Company / Mechanical Bird
  • Please Don't Make Me Hear That Song Again - Company / Mechanical Bird
  • Rivers Cannot Flow Upwards - The Maid, Nightingale
  • Death Duet - Death, Emperor, Maid and Nightingale
  • We Are China - 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.

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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