The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park wants your theatergoing experience to be as enjoyable as possible. Following is a list of content within The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) that may be of concern to some members of our audience. Please understand that some information may give away surprises within the story. The information is provided to help you make informed decisions. Keep in mind, however, that the language and themes outlined below, taken out of context, may seem more offensive than they would be within the context of the actual play. This information will continue to be updated until the opening of the show to address any changes that may occur throughout the rehearsal process. Please check back often. |
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The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) features one simple plot. A young woman can't pay her rent. Menaced by a cruel landlord, her only hope lies with a dashing young suitor she believes will ride to her rescue and with a helpful older friend who offers her wisdom and advice along the way.
This story plays out and is then rewritten in a total of five different scenarios, each one penned in the style of the most famous Broadway composers and lyricists of all time. The Rodgers and Hammerstein segment, “Corn,” features not only an Oklahoma-inspired dream ballet but also a Sound of Music Mother Abby figure. “A Little Complex” takes on the artistic works of Stephen Sondheim and is set in an apartment complex overseen by a tortured artist intent on slashing the throats of residents and using them to create his conceptual pieces. In “Dear Abby,” Jerry Herman’s penchant for showy star vehicles and life-affirming themes is served up with aplomb, while “Aspects of Junita” sends up the showiness and hype of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s best-loved spectacles. Finally, “Speakeasy” recreates the jazzy, boozy, sexy world inhabited most frequently by Kander and Ebb.
What ensues is a side-splitting evening of clever send-ups and faithful tributes to that wonderful world of musical theatre. This deft and daffy show took New York by storm. Among the many musicals parodied are:
- Rodgers and Hammerstein –
Oklahoma!, Carousel, The Sound of Music, South Pacific, The King and I
- Stephen Sondheim –
Into the Woods, Company, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George
- Jerry Herman –
Hello Dolly, La Cage aux Folles, Mame
- Andrew Lloyd Webber –
Cats, Evita, The Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sunset Boulevard, Starlight Express
- Kander and Ebb –
Chicago, Cabaret, Liza with a Z, Kiss of the Spider Woman
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The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) contains the use of some adult language, including “sh*t” (once), “suck” (twice), “ass” (once), “screw” (four times) and “slutty” (once). |
