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Overview

Synopsis

What if? What if we could know the future effects and consequences of our choices? If we knew how things we turn out, then would we still make the same decisions? This is the premise of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s If/Then: Elizabeth Vaughn has returned to New York City after her marriage fell apart. She is meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends, and is immediately given a choice. Should Elizabeth (as Beth) join her college friend Lucas in the world of community activism and city planning? Or should Elizabeth (as Liz) join her new neighbor Kate to get coffee and listen to a local band? Kitt and Yorkey take the audience through both stories simultaneously, shifting between the worlds of Beth and Liz--and occasionally the two collide. With powerhouse ballads and a witty premise, If/Then is a dynamic investigation into what could have been and what might be, always based on the choices we make.

Show Information

Music
Tom Kitt
Lyrics
Tom Kitt
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Mature Audiences (M)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2014
Genres
Drama
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
New York City, present day
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Some Dance
Ideal For
College/University, Diverse Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Elizabeth

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Lucas

Lead

Male

Tenor

Josh

Lead

Male

Tenor

Kate

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Anne

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Elena

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

David

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Stephen

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Cathy

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Deputy Mayor

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Bartender

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Architect

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone

New Yorkers

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

Act One

  • "Prologue / What If?" - Elizabeth, Busker, Kate, Lucas, Josh and Company
  • "It's a Sign" – Kate and Passengers
  • "A Map of New York" – Stephen, Liz, Kate and Company
  • "You Never Know" – Josh
  • "Ain't No Man Manhattan" – Lucas and Activists
  • "What the F#%k?" – Liz
  • "Here I Go" – Liz and Josh
  • "You Don't Need to Love Me" – Lucas
  • "No More Wasted Time" – Liz, Kate, Anne, Elena
  • "Surprise" – Company

Act Two

  • "This Day / Walking by a Wedding" – Kate, Anne, Beth, Josh, and Company
  • "Hey, Kid" – Josh
  • "Some Other Me" – Beth and Lucas
  • "Best Worst Mistake" – Lucas and David
  • "I Hate You" – Liz and Josh
  • "A Map of New York (Reprise)" – Stephen
  • "You Learn to Live Without" – Liz
  • "The Moment Explodes" – Beth, Architect, Flight Attendant, Passengers
  • "Love While You Can" – Beth, Kate, Anne
  • "What Would You Do?" – David
  • "Always Starting Over" – Liz
  • "Finale / What If? (Reprise)" – 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

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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.

Key Terms

Videos

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Guide Written By:

Cindi Calhoun

Cindi Calhoun

Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress