A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

A Boy Called Lizard

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  5w, 8m

Book by James J. Mellon
Music and Lyrics by James J. Mellon and Scott DeTurk
Based on the novel Lizard by Dennis Covington

With his sea-green eyes more displaced than most people's and a nose deformed at birth, Lucius Sims, or "Lizard" as he is called by his friends at the Leesville State School for Retarded Boys, looks and feels like a freak due to his reptilian features. So when Callahan, a shoe salesman from up North arrives and claims to be his father, Lizard takes a chance.

A Boy Called Lizard

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    5w, 8m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptations (Literature)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 2012 AATE Distinguished Play Award, Best Adaptation

Details

Summary
This musical revolves around a boy named Lucius Sims. With his sea-green eyes more displaced than most people's and a nose deformed at birth, Lucius, or "Lizard" as he is called by his friends at the Leesville State School for Retarded Boys, looks and feels like a freak due to his reptilian features. So when Callahan, a shoe salesman from up North arrives and claims to be his father, Lizard takes a chance. Believing that his father is dead, he escapes from his miserable life at the reformatory into the madcap world of Callahan's traveling theater troupe and their ragtag production of Shakespeare's The Tempest. His journey with the charismatic yet brooding Callahan is at the heart of this deeply affecting story as Lizard touches the lives of all that know him and in his search to find a real "home," Lizard just might find a world in which he can truly be accepted and set his spirit free.
History
A Boy Called Lizard was first produced by NoHo Arts Center Ensemble in 2006.
Keywords
CALLAHAN
LUCIUS SIMMS (LIZARD)
MISS COOLEY
ANTON BROUSSARD
BUS DRIVER
NURSE BARMORE
WALRUS
RICARDO
MIKE
MR. TINKER
SALLY
HOMER
KNUTE
RAIN
PREACHER JONES
WANDA
EDDIE
RHONDA
BARTENDER
ROBERT HOWELL
RONNIE
MIRANDA
WOMAN
BESS
  • Time Period 1970s
  • Setting DeRitter, Louisiana (and other locations throughout the South), 1978
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“Impressive...Every bit as sweeping and panoramic as anything on Broadway!” – Variety
“This production shines. It's a wistful coming-of-age odyssey with shades of Charles Dickens and Mark Twain.” – Backstage West
“Outstanding! Very touching! This entire show is resplendent with heart, soul and captivating music.” –ReviewPlays.com

Music

Act 1
1. "The Ballad of Lizard" – Callahan & Company
1a. Who Are You (Intro) – Instrumental
2. "Who Are You" – Mike, Walrus & Ricardo
3. "Lullabye (Blue Skies)" – Lizard & Miss Cooley
3a. Lullaby (Scene Change) – Instrumental
3b. The Ballad of Lizard (Underscore 1) – Instrumental
3c. Treasure Island Music (Underscore) – Instrumental
4. "Set My Spirit Free" – Lizard & Company
4a. The Ballad of Lizard (Underscore 2) – Instrumental
4b. "Set My Spirit Free (Reprise 1)" – Lizard
4c. "Everybody Needs Shoes (Intro)" – Mr. Simonetti
5. "Everybody Needs Shoes" – Mr. Simonetti, Callahan, Tinker, Barmore, Mike, Ricardo & Lizard
5a. Everybody Needs Lizard (Underscore) – Instrumental
5b. Who Are You? (Underscore) - Instrumental
5c. The Ballad of Lizard (Reprise-Underscore 3) – Instrumental
6. "You're Goin' There Too" – Callahan, Sally & Lizard
6a. "Set My Spirit Free (Reprise 2)" – Lizard
6b. Ballad of Lizard (Underscore 4) – Instrumental
7. "The Silver Bowl" – Rain & Lizard
8. "Whatever I Did Know" – Rain & Lizard
8a. The Ballad of Lizard (Underscore 5) – Instrumental
9. "Save Her" – Callahan & Lizard

Act 2
9a. The Ballad of Lizard (Entr'Acte) – Instrumental
10. "Just Imagine" – Wanda & Company
11. "Missin' Myself" – Sally
11a. "Everybody Needs Shoes (Reprise)" – Callahan
11b. Blue Skies (Reprise) – Instrumental
11c. The Silver Bowl (Reprise) – Instrumental
12. "A Tempest In The Air" – Company
12a. A Tempest In The Air (Reprise) – Instrumental
13. "And So It Is" – Howell
13a. A Tempest In The Air (Reprise-Underscore 2) – Instrumental
13b. A Tempest In The Air (Reprise-Underscore 3) – Instrumental
13c. You're Goin' There Too (Reprise-Underscore) – Instrumental
13d. You're Goin' There Too (Reprise 2-Scene Change) – Instrumental
13e. The Silver Bowl (Reprise 2) – Instrumental
13f. The Ballad of Lizard (Reprise-Scene Change) – Instrumental
13g. Whatever I Did Know (Reprise-Underscore) – Instrumental
13h. "The Silver Bowl (Wouldn't It Be Good-Reprise)" – Lizard & Rain
14. "Full Circle" – Callahan, Lizard & Company
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo, Piano Only

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14   Piano-Vocal

Available materials for this title are Piano Only.
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Authors

Author

James J. Mellon

Scott DeTurk

Scott DeTurk

Scott DeTurk graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelor of Music in composition. He has lived in Los Angeles, New York, Denver and the San Francisco area, where he has worked extensively in theater, film, television and recording, as a composer, lyrici ...

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Author

Dennis Covington

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