A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Abe

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  9w, 16m

Book and Lyrics by Lee Goldsmith
Music by Roger Anderson

Abe is a new musical about the early life of Abraham Lincoln.
The show explores his youth as a flatboat pilot on the Mississippi, his
early love for Ann Rutledge, his troubled marriage to the difficult and
mentally fragile Mary Todd, and his attempt to be a good father to his
sons.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    9w, 16m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Period
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences

Details

Summary

Abe is a new musical about the early life of Abraham Lincoln. The show explores his youth as a flatboat pilot on the Mississippi, his early love for Ann Rutledge, his troubled marriage to the difficult and mentally fragile Mary Todd, and his attempt to be a good father to his sons. The story follows Abe from his earliest attempts at self-improvement through the 1860 election which made him the 16th president of an already fracturing United States.

The score is fully orchestrated and uses bold, melodic and traditional musical theatre styles that embrace the story's period and Americana roots. It can be produced fully staged or as a concert performance. The musical features a large cast and requires strong singers: baritone, soprano, mezzo-soprano, 3 adult male singing roles, 3 male children singing roles, male/female chorus with many speaking roles.

History
Abe was first presented on February 20, 2009 at The Oakley-Lindsay Civic Center in Quincy, Illinois by The Muddy River Opera Company.

ABE LINCOLN
MENTOR GRAHAM - New Salem schoolteacher.
JIM RUTLEDGE - New Salem tavern owner.
ANN RUTLEDGE - Jim Rutledge's daughter.
DENTON OFFUTT - New Salem storekeeper.
JACK ARMSTRONG - one of the Clary’s Grove Boys
ANOTHER CLARY’S GROVE BOY
MRS. CAMERON - New Salem townswoman.
1ST CAMERON DAUGHTER
2ND CAMERON DAUGHTER
MARY TODD - a visitor in Springfield.
ELIZABETH EDWARDS - Mary Todd's sister.
NINIAN EDWARDS - Elizabeth’s husband, a Springfield politician.
1ST MALE GUEST
2ND MALE GUEST
BILLY HERNDON - a young lawyer.
1ST LADY GUEST
2ND LADY GUEST
MARY’S DANCING PARTNER
A SPRINGFIELD CITIZEN
HIS WIFE
ROBERT LINCOLN - Abe and Mary’s son.
WILLIE LINCOLN - Abe and Mary’s son.
TAD LINCOLN - Abe and Mary’s son.
MR. BROOKS - a New York reporter.
MR. BRIGGS - a New York politician.
MATHEW BRADY - a photographer.
JASON ROGERS - a young man.
1ST ILLINOIS DELEGATE
2ND ILLINOIS DELEGATE
TIM CARTER - delegate from Ohio.
A TELEGRAPH OPERATOR

  • Time Period Victorian (British and American)
  • Setting A simple, open scenic design that allows for speedy transitions. Also suited for concert staging.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features Local Celebrity Cameo
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“The founding fathers got their own musical with 1776, so why not Abe?” – Playbill

Music

Song Samples

Fifteen Houses
Hardin County, Kentucky
A Girl Like Her
Corn
Who Are You?
A Man Like Him
Mrs. Abraham Lincoln
What Am I Bid?
Someone
Daughters
Moment
Who, Abe? You, Abe!
A House Divided Theme
1 Piano-Vocal

Flute/Piccolo
Oboe/English Horn
Clarinet in Bb/Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Horn in F
Trumpet (Doubling Flugelhorn)
Trombone/Tuba
Percussion
Guitar (Steel/Nylon/Banjo/Mandolin)
Piano/Celesta
Violin 1 (3 players)
Violin 2 (2 players)
Viola (2 players)
Cello (2 players)
Bass
  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Large
  • Chorus Size Medium

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-Vocal
25 Libretto-Vocal Books

1 Flute/Piccolo
1 Oboe/English Horn
1 Clarinet in Bb/Bass Clarinet
1 Bassoon
1 Horn in F
1 Trumpet
1 Trombone/Tuba
1 Percussion
1 Guitar
1 Piano/Celesta
3 Violin 1
2 Violin 2
2 Viola 
2 Cello
1 Bass
1 Piano-Vocal
25 Libretto-Vocal Books

Add-Ons

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

Authors

Roger Anderson

Roger Dean Anderson came to NYC as a teenager from Louisiana to study voice, composition and theater. As a composer, he has been fortunate enough to collaborate with several legendary talents, including Michael Smuin, Joe Layton, Wally Harper, Tony Walton, Vivian Matalon and ...

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Author

Lee Goldsmith

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