Reunion: A Musical Epic in Miniature
by Jack Kyrieleison, Ron Holgate, Michael O'Flaherty

Name: Reunion: A Musical Epic in Miniature
Brand: Jack Kyrieleison
SKU: 9780573663598

Reunion: A Musical Epic in Miniature Cover

Reunion: A Musical Epic in Miniature Book Cover — Reunion: A Musical Epic in Miniature Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

120 mins American Civil War Era Ensemble Cast Unit Set/Multiple Settings Period Costumes

Synopsis

A ragtag company of traveling players weaves the immortal words and songs of the Civil War into a musical epic of the fight to save the Union, fusing 26 songs from the era with excerpts from personal letters and diaries.

REUNION: A Musical Epic in Miniature is a two-act musical incorporating period songs, stories and images in a unique stage narrative of the American Civil War.

Events are filtered through the eyes of a vainglorious Union commander, a devoted but skeptical aide to the president, a young Union private and the girl he leaves behind, a fugitive slave turned Union soldier, an idealistic volunteer nurse, an African-American confidant to Mary Lincoln and many others, all presented by Mr. Harry Hawk, the actor who stood on stage as John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln.

Can be performed by a cast as small as six by using the extensive doubling written into the narrative, or as large as desired by using the alternate opening and role assignments provided.

Press Reviews

"Reunion should be seen across the country."
— The New York Times

"CRITIC’S PICK! Charming… heartwarming… brought to vivid life. Reunion underlines the common futility of all wars and the mess we’re still dealing with from this particular one. You’ll learn something without feeling lectured to."
— Backstage

"Riveting. The 135 years since President Lincoln’s assassination seem to melt away."
— Washington Times

"Moving… clever… heartbreaking. Plumbs the emotional depths of those wrenchingly turbulent times."
— Newsday

"Unlike so many mindless Broadway historical pageants, Reunion’s words come from the actual speeches, quotations, military orders, letters and tear-stained diaries of the figures being portrayed. And it’s woven into a powerful whole that leaves no one dry-eyed. This musical deserves to travel the country the rest of this nation’s days."
— Chicago Tribune

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
MR. HARRY HAWK Middle-aged, white, baritone. Company leading man and manager. Plays Gen. McClellan, John Wilkes Booth, music hall comedian.	male	—	Middle-aged, white, baritone. Company leading man and manager. Plays Gen. McClellan, John Wilkes Booth, music hall comedian.
MR. HANNIBAL DRUMWRIGHT Middle-aged, Black, bass-baritone. Company stage manager. Plays a fugitive slave/Union soldier, abolitionist, others.	male	—	Middle-aged, Black, bass-baritone. Company stage manager. Plays a fugitive slave/Union soldier, abolitionist, others.
MRS. CASSANDRA DRUMWRIGHT Middle-aged, Black, mezzo. Company wardrobe mistress. Plays Underground Railroad guide, Mrs. Lincoln's dressmaker, others.	female	—	Middle-aged, Black, mezzo. Company wardrobe mistress. Plays Underground Railroad guide, Mrs. Lincoln's dressmaker, others.
MISS CORDELIA HOPEWELL 20s, white, soprano. Company ingenue. Plays volunteer nurse, girl left behind, music hall singer, others.	female	20s	20s, white, soprano. Company ingenue. Plays volunteer nurse, girl left behind, music hall singer, others.
MR. AUGUSTIN LOVECRAFT Mid-20s to early 30s, white, high baritone. Sophisticated company light comedian. Plays Lincoln's secretary, music hall comedian, others.	male	20s	Mid-20s to early 30s, white, high baritone. Sophisticated company light comedian. Plays Lincoln's secretary, music hall comedian, others.
MR. TOM TRUDGETT Late teens to early 20s, white, tenor. Company juvenile. Plays Union recruit, music hall comedian, others.	male	20s	Late teens to early 20s, white, tenor. Company juvenile. Plays Union recruit, music hall comedian, others.