Kudzu: A Southern Musical
by Bland Simpson, Jack Herrick, Doug Marlette

Kudzu: A Southern Musical Book Cover
Kudzu: A Southern Musical Cover

Highlights

Present Day Reduced Casting (Doubling Possible) Exterior Set Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes

Awards & Recognition

National Alliance of Musical Theatre-Festival Musicals

Synopsis

Kudzu is the story of a boy who comes of age against the changing face of the American South.

Like the comic strip from which it is adapted, this musical celebrates the values, humor and original characters still found in disappearing rural America.

Terms quoted on application.

Music available on rental.

Demo recording available on request.

Press Reviews

"Kudzu has everything from down-home clogging to tangos right out of the silent cinema, from gospel choirs to a capella quartets… deliriously funny."

— Raleigh News and Observer

"An improbably good stage doppelganger for Mr. Marlette’s amusing strip."

— Washington Times

Characters

Character
KUDZU DUBOSE

An awkward abstracted adolescent, an aspiring writer, named for the vine.

MAMA DUBOSE

Kudzu’s mother – she was abandoned by Kudzu’s father and isn’t about to let her son get away.

REVEREND WILL B. DUNN

The ambitious, slightly profane minister of Bypass Baptist Church.

UNCLE DUB DUBOSE

Kudzu’s uncle; he runs the service station where Kudzu helps out, and is famous in Bypass for his ability to diagnose engine trouble by ear.

VERANDA TADSWORTH

- The Southern Belle from Hell. A baton-twirling, cheerleading future spokesmodel whom our hero Kudzu adores but who only has room in her heart for herself.

BIG BUBBA TADSWORTH

Veranda’s daddy, the wealthy, amoral owner of Tadsworth Mills and half the county. He controls everybody in town except for the Dubose family.

MAURICE JACKSON

Kudzu’s best friend and confidante, as hip and comfortable with himself as Kudzu wishes he was.

MAZEE JACKSON

Maurice’s mother, she cleans house for Will B. Dunn and the Tadsworths. She has high ambitions for Maurice.

NASAL T. LARDBOTTOM

Overweight, coke-bottle-lensed, world-class dweeb; he would give anything to be a righteous, jive-talking, high flying Soul Brother.

MIKE

A bib-overalled, apprentice grease monkey at Dubb’s, a definitely unglamorous Good Ol’ Gal who has a secret crush on Kudzu.

PEABO
PURVIS
HIRAM
LITTLE PRECIOUS

Publication

ISBN-13 9780573626883
ISBN-10 057362688X

Kudzu: A Southern Musical is a play written by Bland Simpson and published by Concord Theatricals .

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Rating

3.0

2 ratings · 8 reviews

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Performance Rights

Available for Licensing
Amateur Only
Fee: Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
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