A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Wanna Play?!

Musical Revue / Cabaret, Comedy  /  12any gender (adult)

Conceived by Bryan Young
Book by Linda Bergman
Music by Jeff Rizzo
Lyrics by Barry Dennen

This award-winning musical revue for teens explores the pains, pleasures and insanities of early adolescence.

Wanna Play?!

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    12any gender (adult)
  • Duration
    Duration
    75 Minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences, Pre-Teen (Age 11 - 13), Teen (Age 14 - 18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Finalist! Alpha Award for excellence in Children's Television

Details

Summary

This award-winning musical revue for teens explores the pains, pleasures and insanities of early adolescence. In the heartbreaking “Tug of War,” two kids sing about their divorcing parents arguing over who will take the TV, the liquor or the furniture, but ask in a plaintive chorus, “Who's gonna take me?” In “It Isn't Fair,” three girls, jealous of one another's varied talents, vent their hostilities, only to learn that each has her own strong points. Other highlights include "Sisters," a sibling rivalry song, along with numerous other numbers exploding with heart and vitality.

When it opened in Kansas City, Wanna Play?! garnered a staggering response and critical acclaim.

History
Wanna Play?! was originally produced by PICA, Inc. and Richard Horner Associates, LTD. in Kansas City, Missouri in April 1984. The show was later filmed and broadcast by KCPT, PBS Kansas City and CBS Denver. In 1985, the KCPT broadcast was nominated for an Alpha Award “to promote excellence in television programming for American children.”
Keywords
Performing Groups

COURTNEY
JODIE
KARA
KAY
KIM
KIRSTEN
MAE WEST
MATT
PAUL
RACHAEL
TARA
TOM
VILETTA

ENSEMBLE

All roles for performers aged 10-15

Flexible cast size

  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting

    Unit set. Simple or elaborate. The present.

  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Duration 75 Minutes
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“A spectacular smash.” – Kansas City Star

“Spectacular... I only wish that half the New York musicals I have seen in recent years were a fraction as tuneful.” – Kansas City Star

Music

Act I

Overture
1. “Wanna Play?!” – Paul, Kim, Jodie, Kara, Matt, Tom, Courtney, Kay & Company
2. “Ordinary Schoolgirl” – Viletta
3. “Choices” – Kirsten
4. “Computer” – Paul, Mae West
5. “Tug of War” – Rachael, Tom
6. “It Isn’t Fair” – Kim, Courtney, Tara
7. “Growin’ Pains” – Matt, Paul, Tom
7a. “Growin’ Pains (Encore)” – Matt, Paul, Tom
8. “Hello, World” – Jodie
9. “Think for Yourself” – Viletta with Courtney, Paul, Kara & Company

Act II

10. “Sisters” – Kim, Rachael, Tara
11. “Braces” – Kara
12. “Then and Now” – Jodie, Courtney, Kirsten, Viletta, Paul, Rachael, Tom
13. “What Do You Do?” – Kara, Courtney, Jodie, Kirsten
14. “Say Yes” – Paul, Kim
15. “Let Your Dreams Fly” – Jodie, Kay, Kim, Courtney, Kara, Paul & Company
16. “Finale & Bows (Wanna Play?!)” – Company
17. Exit Music

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra 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-Conductor score
15 Vocal Chorus Books

1 Percussion
1 Trombone
2 Flute 1&2
1 Piano-celeste
1 Clarinet
1 Piano-Conductor score
15 Vocal Chorus Books

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Authors

Author

Barry Dennen

Jeff Rizzo

Jeff Rizzo

Jeff Rizzo (1954-2023) was notably a conductor, music director, pianist, orchestrator and arranger. He was the conductor of the national tour of the 42nd Street revival from 2002-2004, touring China with the show in in 2007. He composed the score to several musicals, includin ...

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Linda Bergman

Linda Bergman

Linda Bergman, a screenwriter by trade, has been paid to write over 24 films and produced five of them. She’s best known for her expertise in writing family drama and strong women’s stories, i.e., The Jessica Savitch Story (Lifetime), The Pearl Buck Story (ABC), The Barbara ...

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Author

Bryan Young

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