A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Play to Win

Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy  /  1w, 4m

Book by Carles Cleveland and James de Jongh
Lyrics by Carles Cleveland, James de Jongh and Jimi Foster
Music by Jimi Foster

This bright, snappy, one-hour TYA musical celebrates Jackie Robinson, the man who broke the color barrier in professional baseball.

Play to Win

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    60 minutes (1 hour)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Theatre for Young Audiences
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 1984 Audelco Award for Best Writing of a New Show by Black Authors for the Noncommercial Theater

Details

Summary
Play to Win is a bright, snappy one-hour musical about the man who broke the color barrier in professional baseball. Although the show is aimed at young audiences, all ages will enjoy this portrayal of Jackie Robinson's determination to be the best, despite seemingly insurmountable racism. Characters include Rachel, the girl Jackie met in college and later married; Branch Rickey, the owner of the Dodgers who dared to sign Robinson; and Satchel Paige, the great Black pitcher who acts as narrator and plays various other roles throughout the play.
History
Play to Win premiered off-Broadway at the Promenade Theatre in July 1989. Produced by Theaterworks USA and directed by Ken Nixon, the production featured Bruce Butler, Michael-David Gordon, Peter Schmitz, Barry J. Tarallo and Shona Tucker.
Keywords
Performing Groups

JACKIE – A Black actor who plays Jackie Robinson
RACHEL – A Black actress who plays Rachel Robinson and other roles
SATCHEL – A Black actor who plays Satchel Paige and other roles
BRANCH RICKEY – A White actor who plays Branch Rickey and other roles
COLONEL – A White actor who plays the Colonel and other roles

  • Time Period 1940s / WWII
  • Setting A baseball diamond and other locations. 1940s.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features No intermission
  • Duration 60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“A joyous and very smart celebration, not only of one man, but of a nation and its favorite pastime as well.” – The New York Times

“A ball for kids!... [The] music is upbeat, bouncy and memorable.” – The New York Post

“A snappy one-hour musical about how baseball became a truly all-American game... a joyous and very smart celebration not only of one man but of a nation and its favorite pastime as well. There are dark moments of racial bigotry, struggle and failure in it. But Robinson's triumph at the end – his first home run in the majors – is a victory for humanity, and the last song sung by the cast in praise of baseball might well be a hymn to everybody.” – The New York Times

“Jimi Foster's music... is upbeat, bouncy and memorable. There is something especially satisfying about coming out of a musical about baseball and being able to hum the music from it.” – The New York Times

Music

“The Game for Me” – Company
“When Baseball Was Black or White” – Company
“Thanks, But No Thanks, Mr. Robinson” – Jackie and Rachel
“Movin’ Down the Road” – Company
“Can You Play to Win?” – Branch Rickey and Jackie
“Play to Win” – Jackie & Branch Rickey
“Play to Win” (Reprise) – Company
“Why Can’t I Play to Win?” – Jackie and Company
“When Baseball Was Black or White” (Reprise) – Company
“The Game for Me” (Reprise) – Company
  • Orchestra Size Piano Only

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

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6 Piano-Vocal

This title is orchestrated for Piano Only.

Scripts

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Authors

Author

Carles Cleveland

Author

James de Jongh

Author

Jimi Foster

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