Overview
Synopsis
John & Jen is a musical about relationships, family, and freedom. At the heart of the story are Jen and John, two siblings six years apart, who rely on each other to survive their less-than-ideal family situation. As life continues and Jen moves away to college, they are thrown into opposite worlds; values, experiences, and friends, shaping them into different people until unrecognizable to each other. In this beautiful story of life, writers Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald weave the delicate balance of family relationships, telling a story that is, at its core, vulnerable, grounded, and real. With beautiful soaring music, a simple set and a script that spans 38 years, two actors take the stage to tell the tale of one family: a sister, a brother, and a son.
Show Information
- Book
- Andrew Lippa , Tommy Greenwald
- Music
- Andrew Lippa
- Lyrics
- Tommy Greenwald
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1995
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Contemporary, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- 1952-1990, USA and Canada
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- Small
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- Star Vehicle Male, Star Vehicle Female, Small Cast, Regional Theatre, Professional Theatre, Includes Adult Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
Songs
ACT ONE
- Welcome to the World – Jen
- Think Big – Jen and John
- Dear God – Jen and John
- Hold Down the Fort – Jen
- Timeline – Jen and John
- It Took Me a While – John
- Out of My Sight – Jen and John
- Run and Hide – Jen and John
- Epilogue – Jen and John
ACT TWO
- Old Clothes – Jen
- Little League – Jen and John
- Just Like You – Jen
- Bye Room – John
- Talk Show – Jen and John
- Smile of Your Dreams – Jen
- Graduation – Jen and John
- The Road Ends Here – Jen
- That Was My Way – Jen
- Every Goodbye Is Hello – Jen and John
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:
Mychele Lebrun
Canadian music theatre artist currently based in London, England.