Unchained Melodies
Jim Prosser
Leader Of The Pack: The Ellie Greenwich Musical
by Jack Heifner, Anne Beatts, Ellie Greenwich, Melanie Mintz
Broadway Off-Broadway
Highlights
90 mins 1960s Expandable Casting Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
Awards & Recognition
Tony Award
Nominee: 1985 Tony Award for Best Musical
Synopsis
This hit Broadway musical retrospective celebrates the life and times of Ellie Greenwich, whose doo-wop sounds skyrocketed to the top of the ’60s charts.
The story of Ellie’s rise to fame and fortune is punctuated with the virtual hit parade of her music: “Chapel of Love,” “Da Doo Ron Ron,” “Be My Baby,” “Hanky Panky,” Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” “And Then He Kissed Me” and, of course, the title song, “Leader of the Pack.”
Press Reviews
"Leader of the Pack was the first modern Broadway musical of its kind to tell the story of a real person through their songs [the singular Ellie Greenwich] — a precursor to Beautiful: The Carole King Musical before the genre was popular or well-worn."
— Playbill.com
"The show dances with that up-tempo ‘wall of sound’ that was part of all our lives."
— Hollywood Reporter
"Superior, consistently ingratiating entertainment."
— Variety
"A happy, high-spirited, foot-stomping romp. I never realized the songs of the sixties could sound so good."
— WNBC Radio
Characters
| Character |
|---|
| YOUNG ELLIE GREENWICH G3-Eb5 1960s, famed doo-wop singer and songwriter. (Range: G3-Eb5) |
| ELLIE GREENWICH* G3-C5 Ellie grown up (Range: G3-C5) |
| DARLENE LOVE A3-E5 Narrator & girl group singer (Range: A3-E5) |
| ANNIE GOLDEN A3-E5 Famed back-up singer and vocalist (Range: A3-E5) |
| JEFF BARRY A2-A4 Ellie’s writing partner & husband (Range: A2-A4) |
| GUS SHARKEY E2-D3 Music publisher/boy group singer (Range: E2-D3) |
| ROSIE Ellie’s mother |
| SHELLEY C4-Bb4 Girl group singer (Range: C4-Bb4) |
| MICKEY C4-Bb4 Girl group singer (Range: C4-Bb4) |
| DISC JOCKEY VOICE Boy Group Singer |
| WAITRESS A waitress (can also play MICKEY) |
| LOUNGE SINGER F#3-E5 Night club and girl group singer (Range: F#3-E5) |
| DANCE COUPLE One male and one female dancer |
| ENSEMBLE (SATB) |
Videos
Leader of the Pack - Atlanta Lyric Theatre
Publication
Leader Of The Pack: The Ellie Greenwich Musical is a play written by Jack Heifner and published by Concord Theatricals .
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Performance Rights
Available for Licensing
Amateur Only
Fee: Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
Restrictions: Major Markets Plus (US) / Standard Plus Add'l Postcodes (UK)
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