Overview
Synopsis
A heartfelt, one-of-a-kind musical event, Passing Strange takes audiences on a journey from Los Angeles, to Amsterdam, to Berlin, and beyond. Rock musician Stew makes a powerful debut as playwright and narrator, telling the story of a nameless Youth who is on a quest to find “the real.” On the way, this young, African-American, middle-class man discovers what a bohemian life really involves, “passing” through the worlds of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’roll -- and all the ups and downs in between. With soulful lyrics and soaring, heart-pounding music, Passing Strange is a unique experience that breaks theatrical boundaries, crosses musical genres, and ultimately brings the audience home with a new understanding of personal and creative authenticity.
Show Information
- Book
- Mark Stewart "Stew"
- Music
- Heidi Rodewald , Mark Stewart "Stew"
- Lyrics
- Mark Stewart "Stew"
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2008
- Genres
- Comedy, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- los angeles, amsterdam, berlin, late 1970s
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Rock Combo
- Dancing
- Musical Staging
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Large Cast, Mature Audiences, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
Songs
Act One
- Prologue: We Might Play All Night — Narrator and the Band
- Baptist Fashion Show — Narrator, Band and Ensemble
- Blues Revelation; Freight Train:
- Listening is Waiting — Heidi (from the Band) and Narrator
- Church Blues Revelation — Reverend Jones, Narrator and Ensemble
- Music is the Freight Train in which God Travels — Narrator and Ensemble
- Edwina Williams — Edwina and Narrator
- Arlington Hill ; Everything's Alright — Narrator; Narrator and Ensemble
- Sole Brother — Youth, Terry and Sherry
- Must've Been High — Narrator
- Mom Song; Philistines — Narrator, Mother and Ensemble; Youth and Ensemble
- Merci Beaucoup, M. Godard — Narrator and Stewardesses
- Amsterdam — Band and Ensemble
- Keys:
- Keys #1 — Marianna and Youth
- Keys #2 — Narrator
- It's Alright — Narrator and Ensemble
- We Just Had Sex — Youth, Marianna and Renata
- Paradise:
- Paradise/Stoned — Youth, Marianna and Ensemble
- Keys (Reprise) — Youth and Narrator
- Paradise (Reprise)/Starting to Feel Real — Youth, Marianna, Band and Ensemble
Act Two
- May Day:
- Berlin: A Black Hole with Taxis — Narrator
- May Day (There's a Riot Goin' Down) — Narrator, Heidi, Youth, Nowhaus and Ensemble
- Desi — Narrator, Youth, Desi and Ensemble
- Are You Ready to Explode? — Narrator and Ensemble
- Surface:
- What's Inside is Just a Lie — Mr. Venus
- Are You Ready to Explode? (Reprise) — Mr. Venus, Youth and Ensemble
- The System Does All Kinds of Damage — Narrator, Desi and Youth
- Identity — Youth
- The Black One — Narrator and Ensemble
- Come Down Now:
- Listening is Waiting (Reprise) — Heidi
- Come Down Now — Desi and Heidi
- Starting to Feel Real (Reprise) — Narrator, Desi, Heidi and Ensemble
- Youth's Unfinished Song — Youth
- Work the Wound — Narrator
- Passing Phase — Youth and Narrator
- Cue Music (Is It Alright?) — Narrator and Mother
- Epilogue: Love Like That — Narrator and Heidi
- Encore: It's Alright — 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
Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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