Elegies For Angels, Punks And Raging Queens
by Bill Russell, Janet Hood
Highlights
What readers are saying
Readers love the beautiful stories and excellent libretto of the play. Many find it a fun and engaging compilation, although some have noted issues with the quality of print copies available.
Synopsis
Musical Book and Lyrics by Bill Russell.
Music by Janet Hood.
Characters: 20-25 males 11-16 females (doubling or expanding possible.) Unit set
A celebration of lives lost to AIDS told in free verse monologues with a blues jazz and rock score this piece is designed to include the community in a theatrical response to the AIDS crisis.
It is often performed as a benefit for fund raising and consciousness raising.
"Dramatic."---
Spectator
Press Reviews
"Immensely powerful... The songs are uniformly good; the final song is sensational."
— Financial Times
"Bursts with humor, rage and hope."
— Backstage
Characters
| Character |
|---|
Judith Soprano. BUD's sister, so those roles need to be co-ordinated. |
Doug Baritone. Has traditionally been black. |
Brian Tenor. Should be believable as RAY's friend. |
Angela Alto. CLAUDIA's secretary. Has often been black. |
Patrick A man in his 30s or 40s (old enough to have achieved success as a designer). Important that the actor can find the humor in the monologue. |
Billy Young, early 20s, a typical all-American mid-Western boy. |
Mitch Any type, traditionally has been costumed in leather. |
Josh A clown and ring-leader of the group of friends (the first four characters plus DOUG). |
Tim A teenager who can find the laughs in this. The younger and more energetic the better. |
Tracey Young, gorgeous, sexy and spoiled. She should find the laughs and stay away from pathos. |
Charlotte A young, tough drug-abuser. |
Francis A gentleman of a certain age. Outrageous. |
Ray A regular guy, party animal, athletic. His friendship with BRIAN should be easily accepted. |
Paco An hispanic teenager, the younger the better. |
Sally Many possibilities as long as she's not too old to have recently given birth. |
Orville Middle-age, middle-class, "an ordinary Joe." |
Nick Drop-dead gorgeous, traditionally costumed in a towel, so a great body is a plus. The audience should be seduced by his charm and beauty. |
Patrick Could be any type who can play comedy. |
Dwight A typical, young, Broadway-chorus-boy type, Southern accent can work. |
Rebecca Mid-Western, typical housewife. |
Claudia A high-power corporate executive. A contrast to her secretary, ANGELA, is helpful. British accent can work. |
Roscoe A big old drag queen. |
Helen A typical grandmother. |
Walter Old enough to attend a high school reunion, different somehow (ethnic? heavy? off-beat?) so we can see why he was something of an outcast. |
Lamar A black, street-hangin', story-tellin' drug abuser. Essential that the actor find the humor here. |
Publication
Elegies For Angels, Punks And Raging Queens is a British lgbtq play written by Bill Russell and published by Samuel French in New York, NY (2010).
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Buy Play
First Edition
Samuel French · 2010 · 90 pp
Performance Rights
Restrictions: Major Markets Only (US) / Standard Restriction (UK)
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