The Gig
by Douglas J Cohen

Name: The Gig
Brand: Douglas J Cohen
SKU: 9780573627538

Highlights

Medium Cast

Female

Male

120 mins 1980s Ensemble Cast Unit Set/Multiple Settings American

Synopsis

A used car salesman, a dentist, a real estate agent, a financial advisor, a deli owner and a music teacher get together once a week to play jazz.

It is the highlight of their lives.

When one answers an ad and gets a two-week gig in the Catskills, they shed their ordinary lives and begin an adventure that reveals truths about friendship, the joy of music and the importance of dreams.

The gig is not what they expected and each returns from the Catskills changed by the experience.

This winner of the 1994 Richard Rodgers Grant was inaugurated at the Manhattan Theatre Club’s New Musicals in Concert at City Center and was developed at the O’Neill Music Theatre Conference and the Goodspeed at Chester.

Press Reviews

"I love a good musical, and especially the rare ones that not only entertain me but make me feel something. The Gig is one of those rare musicals."
— Sheldon Harnick, two-time Tony and Pulitzer Prize Winner

"A funny and touching new musical."
— The Boston Globe

"A rich look at ‘regular guys’... Excellent. Four stars."
— Sacramento Bee

"Instantly engrossing… Cohen, as in No Way to Treat a Lady, is a keen and clever composer/lyricist, with an offbeat sense and a penchant for sly surprises."
— Playbill

"Crackling with energy that is a wonderfully rewarding mix of cleverly bright banter and genuine human feeling is the score for The Gig. This smartly crafted show has a mission and serves it superbly: it looks with a clear but sympathetic eye at the lives and dreams of some men approaching or past middle age. That can be felt in the characterizations that are just-right and down-to-earth and not hammy or precious or sentimentalized in performance or writing by the gifted composer-lyricist Douglas J. Cohen… The songs are the model of character-driven writing, with their specificity to situation and relationships and personality revelation like the peeling of an onion. This is a musical for grown-ups with little flash and lots of feeling, but also laced liberally with humor and sarcasm, mirroring real-life friendships where people bristle and blend and blubber and bond. The late Michael Gibson’s orchestrations… are spot on. The buoyant and snappy jazz and snappy patter are a perfect count"
— Talkin' Broadway

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Jack 35-55 years old; Works on Wall Street and plays piano in the band. Very uptight, educated, afraid of being open with his wife regarding his musical passion. Follows in his father’s footsteps and is unfulfilled. Baritone.	female	35-55	35-55 years old; Works on Wall Street and plays piano in the band. Very uptight, educated, afraid of being open with his wife regarding his musical passion. Follows in his father’s footsteps and is unfulfilled. Baritone.
Gil 35-55 years old; Once a pro trumpet player but married into wealth and works for his father-in-law’s real estate firm. Ladies man who lacks the inner fire to stick with music on a serious level. High baritone.	male	35-55	35-55 years old; Once a pro trumpet player but married into wealth and works for his father-in-law’s real estate firm. Ladies man who lacks the inner fire to stick with music on a serious level. High baritone.
Aaron 35-55 years old; Teaches clarinet for a living but fancies himself a pro, although his talent is limited. In contrast to Gil, he’d kill for a chance at the big time and has tremendous passion for music. Second Tenor.	male	35-55	35-55 years old; Teaches clarinet for a living but fancies himself a pro, although his talent is limited. In contrast to Gil, he’d kill for a chance at the big time and has tremendous passion for music. Second Tenor.
Arthur 35-55 years old; A dentist who lives with his ailing mother and has a non-existent social life… until Paradise Manor. Modest, naïve and charming. He plays drums. First or Second Tenor.	female	35-55	35-55 years old; A dentist who lives with his ailing mother and has a non-existent social life… until Paradise Manor. Modest, naïve and charming. He plays drums. First or Second Tenor.
*Georgie 35-55 years old; Owner of a deli/convenience store and the bass player. Forthright, down-to-earth, a realist. For reasons later disclosed, he’s unable to go to the Catskills. High Baritone.	—	35-55	35-55 years old; Owner of a deli/convenience store and the bass player. Forthright, down-to-earth, a realist. For reasons later disclosed, he’s unable to go to the Catskills. High Baritone.
Marshall 35-55 years old; Georgie’s replacement on the gig. A Black bass player who is a pro, and played with the greatest jazz musicians ever. He is well-read, worldly, and a recluse: he’s not happy being among amateurs. Bass-Baritone.	male	35-55	35-55 years old; Georgie’s replacement on the gig. A Black bass player who is a pro, and played with the greatest jazz musicians ever. He is well-read, worldly, and a recluse: he’s not happy being among amateurs. Bass-Baritone.
Abe Early 50s-mid 60s; Abe Mitgang is the owner and proprietor of Paradise Manor, as well as being a frustrated stand-up comedian. Basically a decent guy… until his back is up against the wall. Baritone. Can be played by a character actress to expand female roles.	female	50s	Early 50s-mid 60s; Abe Mitgang is the owner and proprietor of Paradise Manor, as well as being a frustrated stand-up comedian. Basically a decent guy… until his back is up against the wall. Baritone. Can be played by a character actress to expand female roles.
Miss Ricki Valentine Ricki is a fading songstress who is hoping to make a big comeback at Paradise Manor. Although she appears to be attractive and personable from afar, a closer examination reveals she’s hard and insecure. Mezzo with good belt.	female	—	Ricki is a fading songstress who is hoping to make a big comeback at Paradise Manor. Although she appears to be attractive and personable from afar, a closer examination reveals she’s hard and insecure. Mezzo with good belt.
*Vince Amati Ricki’s shady manager and boyfriend. He should be physically threatening. Doesn’t sing.	male	—	Ricki’s shady manager and boyfriend. He should be physically threatening. Doesn’t sing.
Lucy Waitress at Paradise Manor. Not nearly as seasoned in the game of love as she is at waiting tables. Younger than Donna (28-35) and less aggressive. Mezzo-soprano.	female	28-35	Waitress at Paradise Manor. Not nearly as seasoned in the game of love as she is at waiting tables. Younger than Donna (28-35) and less aggressive. Mezzo-soprano.
Donna Waitress at Paradise Manor. Not nearly as seasoned in the game of love as she is at waiting tables. Mezzo.	female	—	Waitress at Paradise Manor. Not nearly as seasoned in the game of love as she is at waiting tables. Mezzo.
Marty 35-55 years old; Gregarious self-appointed leader of the band and the one who gets the idea to book the group at a Catskill resort. A used car salesman who puts his hot air to good use playing trombone. Although he has a rocky relationship with his son and his second wife, he is extremely loyal to his friends. Baritone.	female	35-55	35-55 years old; Gregarious self-appointed leader of the band and the one who gets the idea to book the group at a Catskill resort. A used car salesman who puts his hot air to good use playing trombone. Although he has a rocky relationship with his son and his second wife, he is extremely loyal to his friends. Baritone.