A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Avenue X

Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy  /  2w, 6m

The A Cappella Musical
Concept, Book and Lyrics by John Jiler
Music and Lyrics by Ray Leslee

This groundbreaking off-Broadway show, a 90-minute a cappella musical set in Brooklyn in 1963, explores racial tension through the eyes of the neighborhood’s Black and Italian residents.

Avenue X

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 6m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 1992/92 Richard Rogers Award 
    Winner! 1997 Barrymore Award (Philadelphia) for Best Musical
    Winner! 1997 Los Angeles Ovation Award for Best Musical
    Winner! 1996 Austin Critics Table Award for Best Musical
    Winner! 1995 Kleban Award for Best Libretto
    Winner! 1993 Dallas Theatre Critics Award for Best Musical

Details

Summary

Avenue X, the groundbreaking a cappella musical by John Jiler and Ray Leslee, has a cast of eight actors and no orchestra. Scott Miller in Strike Up The Band, a history of musical theatre, singled out Avenue X as one of the most important works of the late 1990s, writing, “Avenue X isn’t just a good musical. It’s smart, subtle, powerful, unconventional theatre.” Recent events across the United States make the story about racial tensions more relevant than ever.

Since its premiere at Playwrights Horizons in New York, the show has played over 50 regional theatres, including the Tony-winning Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, The Cincinnati Playhouse, The Dallas Theatre Center, The Wilma Theatre, St. Louis Repertory, The Barrington Stage and The San Diego Rep, to name a few – as well as Europe’s acclaimed Vienna Chamber Opera. The show has garnered nearly every award regional theatre has to give, in addition to the Richard Rodgers, Ed Kleban and Gilman Gonzalla-Falla Awards initially bestowed on its creators. RCA Victor/BMG Classics produced the award-winning original cast recording, available from iTunes and CD Baby.

History
Avenue X premiered off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons on February 21, 1994. Directed by Mark Brokaw, the production featured Ted Brunetti, John Leone, Roger Mazzeo, Colette Hawley, Harold Perrineau, Chuck Cooper, Alvaleta Guess and Keith Johnston.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups

Black Characters
MILTON – Twenties. Driven, street-wise, headstrong, with a streak of idealism.
WINSTON – Milton’s friend an peer. A West Indian immigrant, excitable and vulnerable.
JULIA – Milton’s mother. Strong, loving, God-fearing, but with a weakness for Roscoe.
ROSCOE – Her live-in lover. Powerful, clever, bitter, middle-aged Black man. A great talent gone to seed.

Italian Characters
PASQUALE – Charismatic, intense, driven, yet vulnerable. Twenties.
CHUCK – Pasquale’s friend of many years. Passionate, excitable.
UBAZZ – Their friend. Slow but not stupid, good-hearted, a fabulous bass.
BARBARA – Pasquale’s sister. Cynical, tough, intelligent, sexy.

This is an a cappella ensemble piece. The Company of Eight are also the CHORUS. Whoever is not playing a scene may be singing back-up, playing a VOICE or an ANNOUNCER, or participating in some other way.

  • Time Period 1960s, 1950s
  • Setting Gravesend, Brooklyn. 1963.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes, Period Costumes
  • Additional Features No intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“Avenue X is what musicals are all about! Panoramic, rich, a musical feast.” – The New York Times

“Simply a marvel... infectiously melodic and... joyous, staggering and genuinely witty... encompassing a truly staggering range of musical styles.” – The Philadelphia Inquirer

“A sweet nostalgia trip... The exuberant doo-wop vocalizing turns out to be... the brightest thing.” – New York Daily News

“A compelling and thought-provoking essay on race relations, the diversification of America, and the ability for a shared interest to bring opposite sides of a volatile situation together.” – Talkin’ Broadway

“Avenue X will thrill... I had a great time!” – Clive Barnes, The New York Post

“Avenue X is what musicals are all about! Panoramic, rich, a musical feast. Bursting with the kind of talent, wit and energy that separates the living theatre from entertainment that comes in a can.” – Vincent Canby, The New York Times

“We are transported as cast members sing their hearts, throats and guts out.” – John Simon, New York Magazine

“Avenue X marks the spot for originality. There is a vitality about this show, a real freshness.” – Martin Gottfried, New York Law Journal

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

Living on Avenue X
by John Jiler and Ray Leslee
June 3, 2015

Music

Song Samples

Prologue
Woman of the World
Big Lucky
Follow Me
Palmero
Where is Love
“Prologue” – Chorus
“A Thousand Summer Nights” – Chuck, Pasquale, Ubazz and Chorus
“Scat” – Pasquale, Milton
“Serves You Right” – Pasquale, Milton
“Waitin’” – Roscoe, Julia “lo Sono Cosi Stanco” – Ubazz, Barbara
“Santa Cecilia” – Barbara, Ubazz
“Woman of the World” – Barbara, Pasquale, Milton, Ubazz
“She’s Fifteen” – Pasquale, Chuck, Ubazz
“Stay” – Roscoe, Milton, Winston, Pasquale, Ubazz
“Where Are You Tonight?” – Chuck and Men
“Big Lucy” – Roscoe, Milton, Winston, Pasquale, Ubazz
“Why?” – Milton and Men
“Follow Me” – Milton, Pasquale and Chorus
“Follow Me (Reprise)” – Milton and Chorus
“Moonlight on Old Sicily Pasquale, Barbara and Chorus
“Palermo” – Chuck
“Africa” – Winston, Milton and Chorus
“Gloria” – Chorus without Pasquale
“Command Me” – Roscoe, Julia, Winston, Milton (optional) and Ubazz
“Roscoe’s Rap” – Roscoe
“Go There” – Julia and Chorus (except Milton)
“’Til the End of Time” – Roscoe, Chuck, Winston, Ubazz
“Where Is Love?” – Milton, Pasquale
“Epilogue/Where Is Love?” – Chorus
  • Musical Style Pop/Rock
  • Vocal DemandsModerate

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
8 Vocal Books

This title is orchestrated for Piano Only.
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Authors

Author

John Jiler

Ray Leslee

Ray Leslee
Ray Leslee composed Avenue X, the award-winning a cappella musical about racial tensions in New York, produced Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons and over 50 theatres around the world; Standup Shakespeare, directed by Mike Nichols on Broadway, featured F. Murray Abraham, Al ...
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