Yo, Vikings!

Yo, Vikings!

by  Sam Willmott, Marcus Stevens

Full Length Musical, Comedy  /  7m, 6f, 1boy(s)

Adapted from Judith Byron Schachner’s acclaimed book of the same name, Yo, Vikings! is the mini-saga of 10-year-old Emma Katz, the fiercest Viking in Swarthmore, PA, and her quest for real adventure.
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Yo, Vikings!

by  Sam Willmott Marcus Stevens

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Yo, Vikings!

  • Cast Size

    Cast Size

    7m, 6f, 1boy(s)
  • Duration

    Duration

    90 minutes
  • SubGenre

    Subgenre

    Fantasy, Adventure, Adaptations (Literature), Theatre for Young Audiences
  • Accolades

    Accolades

    Not Applicable
  • Audience

    Target Audience

    • Appropriate for all audiences

Additional Info

Adapted from Judith Byron Schachner’s acclaimed book of the same name, Yo, Vikings! is the mini-saga of 10-year-old Emma Katz, the fiercest Viking in Swarthmore, PA, and her quest for real adventure. Yo, Vikings! combines sweeping melodies, thrilling Viking chants, and funky rock ‘n roll with a beautiful, heart-warming story to engage and excite every member of the family.

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Accolades

  • FINALIST! 2011 Richard Rodgers Award
    NOMINEE! 2012 Weston New Musical Award

Reviews

REVIEWS

“... This brisk, tuneful and endearing musical... exudes warmth and cleverness... the core of the show is about Emma’s disconnect with those around her, a condition with which just about everyone can empathize.  In this sense, Marcus Stevens (book and lyrics) and Sam Willmott (music) have crafted a show that might be about children but doesn’t feel like children’s theater.  There’s a universality that transcends the demographic... There’s a freshness and sweetness to the show that shines through.  It’s fitting that a musical about imagination offers so much of it itself.  I have a feeling that this “Viking” ship will be setting off on many more voyages to come.” - FresnoBee.com

RELATED ARTICLES ON BREAKING CHARACTER

Spectacle, Imagination & Vikings: The Making of an Adventure Musical
by Garrett Anderson
January 15, 2016

YO, VIKINGS: A Real Adventure
by Marcus Stevens
July 16, 2015

Videos

  • The Story of Yo, Vikings
  • The Creation of Yo, Vikings
  • The Music of Yo, Vikings
  • Producing Yo, Vikings
  • Tatiana Lofton - "Emma the Red"
  • Sam Willmott discusses "Emma the Red"
  • Upper Darby Summer Stage 2015
  • Yo, Vikings! - ProductionTrailer
  • "Emma the Red" - Yo, Vikings!
  • "The Real Adventure" from Yo, Vikings!
  • Yo, Vikings! Preview
More videos +

Keywords

Adolescence, Childhood, Fairy Tales, Friendship, Love, Memory, Parenting/Family

Considerations

Performing Groups

  • Jr High/Primary
  • High School/Secondary
  • College Theatre / Student
  • Community Theatre
  • Dinner Theatre
  • Professional Theatre
  • Large Stage
  • Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups

Cautions

  • No Special Cautions

License details

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Production

Details

  • Time Period: Contemporary, Present Day, Medieval (6th-14th c.)
  • Duration: 90 minutes
  • Setting:

    The present. Swarthmore, PA/985 A.D. Iceland and beyond.

  • Additional Features: No intermission
  • Features / Contains: Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes, Fantasy Costumes

Music

  • Musical Style: Classic Broadway, Pop/Rock
  • Vocal Demands: Moderate
  • Orchestra Size: Piano Only
  • Chorus Size: Small

Song Samples

You Gotta Believe
0:00
The Rules / World Discovery Day
0:00
Into The Storm
0:00
Emma the Red
0:00
Keep On Sailing
0:00
The Prayer
0:00
I Love You, But No
0:00
The Letter
0:00
The Terrible Tale of Sally Shapiro
0:00
Real Adventure
0:00
Yo, Vikings!
0:00

Casting

7m, 6f, 1boy(s)

WOMAN 1 - EMMA KATZ, Fox, Monkfish, Fifth Grader, Viking
WOMAN 2 - MOM (JUDY KATZ), Emma's Mom / MJOLVERK, A Frost Giant
WOMAN 3- MRS. MUKHERJEE, Emma's Teacher
WOMAN 4 - NIKKI TIBBLES, Emma's Classmate / GUNNHILD THE SHE-BEAR, A Viking
WOMAN 5 - ZINZI FERDINAND-MUNOZ, Emma's Classmate, a Twin / HELGA THE CLANG-FIST, A Viking
WOMAN 6 - PASHA, Emma’s Classmate / A VIKING
WOMAN 7 - PHYLLIS, Emma’s Classmate / A VIKING / NEWSWOMAN, a local newswoman
MAN 1 - SIGURD TORVALDSSON, Librarian, Dragon Slayer
MAN 2 - BOTHVAR THE FORK-SPLITTER, A Viking / MOVING MAN, a moving man
MAN 3- MURPHY BEAN, Emma's Classmate / THORKLE THE TRAVELER, A Viking
MAN 4 - SEBBY FERDINAND-MUNOZ, Emma's Classmate, a Twin / OLAF THE BOORISH, A Viking
MAN 5 - GUNTHER, Emma’s Classmate / A VIKING
MAN 6- SIMON, Emma’s Classmate / A VIKING
BOY- OLLIE KATZ, Emma's Brother, a Kindergartner (can be played by a young girl)

+ any additional Vikings, Townspeople, and Kids if desired

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Cast Attributes

  • Ensemble cast
  • Reduced casting (Doubling Possible)
  • Expandable casting
  • Flexible casting
  • Roles for Children
  • Room for Extras

Resources

Rehearsal Resources

Music Material Rental Packages Glyphs / UI / Tooltip

Full Package

Accompaniment CD

1 Piano/Conductor Score

14 Vocal Chorus Books

Scripts

Yo, Vikings!

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Authors

Sam Willmott

Sam Willmott

Sam Willmott is a New York City-based musical theater composer, lyricist and bookwriter whose projects include Standardized Testing - The Musical!!!!; Yo, Vikings! (with lyricist Marcus Stevens); the upcoming bhangra dance musical Bhangin' It (with playwrights Rehana Lew Mirza and Mike Lew); the mini-musical Scarlet Ta ...

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Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens is a Richard Rodgers Award winning writer, and a member of the Dramatists Guild and the BMI Musical Theater Workshop. He has written the book and lyrics to musicals that have been produced in New York, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Fresno and Canada. Currently his titles include Red, Eastburn Avenue, Perseph ...

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Yo, Vikings! was originally commissioned by the Upper Darby Summer Stage for their 2010 season.  It was developed in the BMI Workshop, and Upper Darby Performing Arts Center presented the world premiere production in July, 2010.

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