A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Zorba!

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  12w, 27m

Book by Joseph Stein
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Adapted from Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis

The story of the carefree vagabond Zorba the Greek, along with his chosen friend and master, unworldly Nikos, and the aging courtesan, Madame Hortense, contains romance and tragedy—a mine disaster, murder, suicide, and a blood feud—all the ingredients to make dramatically engaging musical theatre.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    12w, 27m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptations (Literature)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: Eight 1969 Tony Awards, including Best Musical
    Winner! 1969 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics

Details

Summary
This rousing musical ran for a year on Broadway and was followed by a widely acclaimed national tour. The story of Zorba the Greek, carefree vagabond and his chosen friend and master, unworldly Nikos; the romance of Zorba and the aging courtesan Madame Hortense and of Nikos and the withdrawn, beautiful widow; a mine disaster, murder, suicide, a blood feud—Zorba! has all the ingredients that make for dramatically engaging theatre. The powerful score from the composers of Cabaret and Kiss of the Spider Woman includes “Life Is,” “No Boom-Boom,” “The Butterfly” and “I Am Free.”
History
Zorba! premiered on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on November 16, 1968. Directed by Harold Prince, the production starred Herschel Bernardi and Maria Karnilova. On October 16, 1983, the musical returned to Broadway in a revival production starring Anthony Quinn.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
ZORBA
MADAME HORTENSE
THE WIDOW
NIKOS
LEADER
KONSTANDI
OLD MAN
GRIGORIS
IRINI
ATHENO
FIVOS
MIMIKO
PAVLI
DESPO
MEROPI
CHYRISTO
THANOS
KANAKAS
EFERPI
PANAYOTIS
ARISTOS
GEORGI
MANOLAKAS
ANTONIS
TASSO
MARINA
VASILLIS
MAVRODANI
KATAPOLIS
ZACHARIAS
BELLY DANCER
ALEXIS
FATHER ZACHARIA
KYRIAKOS
KONSTANTINOS
LOUKAS
SOPHIA
ALIKI
CONSTABLE

+ Additional Doubles & Ensemble Roles
  • Setting A Bouzouki circle (and Piraeus, Greece, and Crete). 1968 and 1924.
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“From beginning to end, this is a musical with exquisite style and finesse... fire and spirit.” – The New York Times

“This 1968 musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb has a robust and lively score.” – NY Daily News

“From beginning to end this is a musical with exquisite style and finesse... It is a very sophisticated musical... the ethnic Greek element to the music and the cheerfully philosophical note struck by the lyrics—often Mr. Ebb is both witty and true—endow Zorba! with much more fire and spirit.” – The New York Times

“Despite the musical's dark textures (there's a murder, a suicide and the threat of rape), Zorba!, with a finely crafted book by Joseph Stein, continually pushe[s] an uplifting message of grabbing at all life has to offer... [A] sublime, Greek-inspired, character-driven score and humorous, but realistically honest, book.” – Broadway World

Videos

  • Zorba! - Encores! Preview youtube thumbnail

    Zorba! - Encores! Preview

  • Zorba! - Encores! in Rehearsal youtube thumbnail

    Zorba! - Encores! in Rehearsal

Music

Music Samples

Act I

0. Prologue – Orchestra
1. “Life Is” – Leader & Company
1A. Life Sequel – Orchestra
2. “The First Time” – Zorba
3. Mimiko – Orchestra
3A. Look at The Fields Incidental – Orchestra
4. Entrance of Zorba and Nikos – Orchestra
5. Exit of Zorba and Nikos – Orchestra
6. “Top of the Hill” – Leader & Chorus
7. “No Boom Boom” – Hortense, Zorba, Nikos & Admirals
7A. Boom Boom for You – Orchestra
8. “Vive La Difference” – Admirals & Dancers
9. “Broken Record” – Hortense, Admirals & Monks
10. “Butterfly Intro” – Leader & Chorus
11. “The Butterfly” – Leader, Widow, Nikos, Chorus
12. After Butterfly – Orchestra
13. “Goodbye Canavaro” – Hortense, Zorba, Nikos
13A. Canavaro to Khania – Orchestra
14. “Khania” (Part I-V) – Leader, Chorus
14A. Zorba’s Dance #1 – Orchestra
16A. “Only Love” – Hortense
16B. “Bend of the Road” – Leader & Chorus

Act II

17. Entr’acte – Orchestra
18. “Y’assou” (Opening) – Leader & Chorus
18A. “Y’assou” – Leader, Nikos, Hortense, Zorba & Chorus
18B. Y’assou Tag – Orchestra
19. “Woman” – Voice
20. “That’s A Beginning” – Widow, Nikos & Leader
21. Easter – Orchestra
21A. Priest Incidental – Orchestra
21B. Murder Scene – Orchestra
22. Pole Dance – Orchestra
23. “The Crow” – Leader & Chorus
24. “Happy Birthday” – Hortense & Chorus
25. Women’s March – Orchestra
26. Zorba’s Dance #2 – Orchestra
27. “I Am Free” – Zorba
28. “Finale Ultimo” – Leader & Company
29. Bows (Part 1) – Orchestra
29A. Bows (Part 2) – Orchestra
30. Exit Music – Orchestra

Reed 1 (Flute, Piccolo)
Reed 2 (Oboe, English Horn)
Reed 3 (Clarinet)
Reed 4 (Bassoon)
Horn
Trumpet 1&2
Trumpet 3
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Percussion (Drum Set, tom-Toms, Dumbeg (on-stage), Finger Cymbal, Timpani, Bass Drum, Xylophone, Wood Block, Cowbell, Bells, Temple Blocks, Triangle, Slapstick)
Guitar
Manodlin/Bouzouki
Accordion
Violin
Viola
Cello
Bass
  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Large

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
1 Piano-Conductor
28 Libretto-Vocal Books

1 Reed 1
1 Reed 2
1 Reed 3
1 Reed 4
1 Horn
1 Trumpet 1&2
1 Trumpet 3
1 Trombone 1
1 Trombone 2
1 Percussion
1 Guitar
1 Manodlin/Bouzouki
1 Accordion
1 Violin
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Bass
1 Piano-Conductor
28 Libretto-Vocal Books

Add-Ons

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Authors

Fred Ebb

Fred Ebb (1933–2004) was an award-winning lyricist, librettist and director who frequently and successfully collaborated with composer John Kander. Ebb's work for the theatre included Flora, The Red Menace; Cabaret; The Happy Time; Zorba; 70, Girls, 70; Chicago; The Act; Woma ...

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John Kander

John Kander is a Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winning composer, a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors Award, and a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame. With frequent collaborator Fred Ebb, he composed the score to dozens of Broadway musicals, including Cabaret, Zorba, Chi ...

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Joseph Stein

Joseph Stein (1912-2020) won the Tony Award and Drama Critics Circle Award for Fiddler on the Roof. His other musicals include Zorba! (Tony nom., Drama Critics Circle Award), Rags (Tony nom.), The Baker’s Wife (Laurence Olivier Award, London), June, Take Me Along, Irene (star ...

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