A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Return to the Forbidden Planet

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  4w, 7m

Bob Carlton

Shakespeare's forgotten rock and roll masterpiece! Inspired by The Tempest, this high-energy jukebox musical is packed with rock 'n' roll classics, including “Great Balls of Fire,” “Good Vibrations,” “Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood,” “Young Girl” and “Gloria.”

Return to the Forbidden Planet

Request license
Get the Script
  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 7m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adventure, Adaptations (Shakespeare), Science Fiction, Parody / Spoof
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14 - 18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 1989 Olivier Award for Best Musical

Details

Summary

Inspired by Shakepeare's The Tempest, this high-energy jukebox musical is packed with rock 'n' roll classics like “Great Balls of Fire,” “Good Vibrations,” “Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood,” “Young Girl”  and “Gloria.”

Blast off on a routine flight and crash into the planet D'Illyria, where a sci-fi version of The Tempest – set to rock 'n' roll golden oldies – unfolds with glee! The planet is inhabited by a sinister scientist, Dr. Prospero; his delightful daughter Miranda; Ariel, a faithful robot on roller skates; and an uncontrollable monster, the product of Prospero's id, whose tentacles penetrate the space craft.

History
Return to the Forbidden Planet started life with the Bubble Theatre Company as an open-air performance in a tent. A revised indoor production appeared at The Everyman Theatre in Liverpool and the Tricycle Theatre in London. Return to the Forbidden Planet in its final version opened at the Cambridge Theatre in London's West End on September 11, 1989. It won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical for both 1989 and 1990. On October 10, 1991, the musical premiered off-Broadway at the Variety Arts Theatre.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups

DOCTOR PROSPERO – A mad scientist marooned for 15 years on the planet D'Illyria.
ARIEL – Prospero's robot.
MIRANDA – Prospero's daughter. Hopeless romantic who falls for Captain Tempest.
CAPTAIN TEMPEST – A Starship Captain. Superhero type, square-jawed.
SCIENCE OFFICER – A woman with a mysterious past: She's GLORIA, Prospero's wife.
NEWSCASTER – Narrator.
NAVIGATIONAL OFFICER – Prone to panic during intergalactic emergencies.
COOKIE – The ship's cook. Hopeless romantic and falls for Miranda.
OMNES – Spaceship Crew Member.
BOSUN – Spaceship Crew Member.

ENSEMBLE

  • Time Period The Future
  • Setting Scientific Survey Flight 9. The future.
  • Features Fantasy Costumes
  • Additional Features Special Effects
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“The best rock and roll show in town!” – Daily Express

“A masterpiece... Take one plot (Shakespeare's The Tempest), one B movie (Forbidden Planet) and for added flavor plunder the entire Shakespearean canon for dialogue (the more pungent the plagiarism, the more piquant the final effect)... your favorite blasts from the past... ring out of the story with such unadulterated audacity that the cue lines themselves beg for mercy.” – What's On

“The best rock and roll show in town... You just have to laugh at the death-defying puns... and the way the songs are worked into the plot with perfect logic.” – Daily Express

“Prepare to dance in the aisles.” – Time Out

“Tacky, camp, irreverent and – frankly enjoyable... A cult hit.” – Daily Mail

“An outbreak of fun and joy... It is irresistible.” – Jewish Chronicle

Videos

  • Return to the Forbidden Planet - Curve Theatre Trailer youtube thumbnail

    Return to the Forbidden Planet - Curve Theatre Trailer

  • Return to the Forbidden Planet - Göteborgsoperan Trailer youtube thumbnail

    Return to the Forbidden Planet - Göteborgsoperan Trailer

Music

Song Samples

Wipe Out
It's a Man's World
Great Balls of Fire
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Good Vibrations
I'm Gonna Change the World
Teenager in Love
Young Girl
She's Not There
All Shook Up
Gloria
Who's Sorry Now
Tell Her
Shake, Rattle, and Roll
Go Now
Only the Lonely
We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place
Hey Mr. Spaceman
Monster Mash
Great Balls of Fire [Reprise]

Act I

“Wipe Out”
“It’s a Man’s World”
“Great Balls of Fire”
“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”
“Good Vibrations”
“The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)”
“I’m Gonna Change the World”
“Teenager in Love”
“Young Girl”
“She’s Not There”
“Shakin’ All Over”
“Gloria”

Act II

“Gloria (Reprise)”
“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (Reprise)”
“Who’s Sorry Now?”
“Tell Her”
“She’s Not There (Underscore)”
“It’s a Man’s World (Underscore and Reprise)”
“Oh, Pretty Woman”
“It’s a Man’s World (Underscore)”
“Robot Man”
“Shake, Rattle and Roll”
“Gloria (Underscore)”
“Go Now”
“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (Underscore)”
“Only the Lonely”
“The Young Ones”
“Born To Be Wild”
“Mr. Spaceman”

Epilogue

“The Monster Mash”
“Great Balls of Fire (Reprise)”

  • Musical Style Pop/Rock
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo

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!
12 Piano-Conductor

1 Guitar
1 Electric Bass
1 Drum Kit
1 Trumpet
1 Alto Saxophone
1 Tenor Saxophone
1 Trombone
12 Piano-Conductor
Get the Script

Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Authors

Author

Bob Carlton

Community

Now Playing

Community Experiences