Pageant
by Bill Russell, Frank Kelly, Albert Evans, Robert Longbottom

Name: Pageant
Brand: Bill Russell
SKU: 9780573696558
Rating: 4 (1 reviews)

Off-Broadway

Highlights

Small Cast

Male

90 mins Present Day All Men Interior Set Elaborate/High-Volume Costumes American

Awards & Recognition

Drama Desk Award

Nominee: 2015 Drama Desk Award nomination, Best Revival of a Musical Nominee: 2015 Off Broadway Alliance Award nomination, Best Revival of a Musical

Synopsis

"Pageant is a pageant.

Judges selected from the audience actually vote and determine the winner who, therefore, may be different at each performance.

The show takes its shots not by mocking the pageant from the outside, but by being one.

The six contestants compete for the title of Miss Glamouresse (Glamouresse being a cosmetics company).

Miss Deep South, Miss West Coast, Miss Great Plains, Miss Bible Belt, Miss Industrial Northeast.

and Miss Texas and compete in evening gowns, talent, swim-wear and spokemodeling, plus the finalists answer actual calls from the Glamouresse Beauty Crisis Hotline."--Publisher's website.

Press Reviews

"Hilarious! Incredible! 90 minutes of the kind of laughter that makes tears run down your face."
— Gannett Newspapers

"So funny I thought I was going to die."
— Susan Powell, former Miss America

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Miss Deep South/Laurinda Summerford The Blonde in the show; even though others may have blonde hair, only she knows how to work it. At the same time she is The Lady. She has a very narrow and ritualized sense of "femininity" which is frequently outraged by the other contestants' behavior and attitudes. Her talent is ventriloquism.	female	—	The Blonde in the show; even though others may have blonde hair, only she knows how to work it. At the same time she is The Lady. She has a very narrow and ritualized sense of "femininity" which is frequently outraged by the other contestants' behavior and attitudes. Her talent is ventriloquism.
Miss Great Plains/Bonnie Louise Cutlett Utterly sincere in her belief in the values promoted by Glamouesse, though some of them seem quite exotic to her. She is honored to represent the great heartland of this nation and to show what honest country folk can do. In the present contest she is agape and aglow. Not necessarily the "prettiest" contestant.	female	—	Utterly sincere in her belief in the values promoted by Glamouesse, though some of them seem quite exotic to her. She is honored to represent the great heartland of this nation and to show what honest country folk can do. In the present contest she is agape and aglow. Not necessarily the "prettiest" contestant.
Miss Industrial Northeast/Consuela Manuela Rafaella Lopez Included among he regional winners mostly due to Glamouresse's belated sense that the times they are a-changin' and the Northeast's notable lack of interest in the contest. Her talent has been culled from watching the variety show "Sabado Gigante" on Spanish television.	female	—	Included among he regional winners mostly due to Glamouresse's belated sense that the times they are a-changin' and the Northeast's notable lack of interest in the contest. Her talent has been culled from watching the variety show "Sabado Gigante" on Spanish television.
Miss Texas/Kitty-Bob Ames The Professional of the group. With her father's money and a shrewd selection of contests, she has never lost a competition. Her skills may not be outstanding by themselves, but her attitude says "Winner" all the way. Actor must tap dance to some rudimentary extent.	female	—	The Professional of the group. With her father's money and a shrewd selection of contests, she has never lost a competition. Her skills may not be outstanding by themselves, but her attitude says "Winner" all the way. Actor must tap dance to some rudimentary extent.
Miss West Coast/Karma Quinn Like Miss Great Plains, is sweet-natured, but Karma is a lot less focused. She has tried to parlay her vagueness and I'll-try-anything-once attitude into a comprehensive mystical spirituality but it hasn't jelled. This pageant is the most structured event of her entire life. Actor should have some dance skills and (possibly) be able to create a different character for the reigning Mis Glamouresse.	female	—	Like Miss Great Plains, is sweet-natured, but Karma is a lot less focused. She has tried to parlay her vagueness and I'll-try-anything-once attitude into a comprehensive mystical spirituality but it hasn't jelled. This pageant is the most structured event of her entire life. Actor should have some dance skills and (possibly) be able to create a different character for the reigning Mis Glamouresse.
Frankie Cavalier Our genial host, is certainly that. Frankie is a third or fourth-tier celebrity who is known to the audience where the pageant is being performed, perhaps as a weekend weather-report reader or a spokesman for a used car dealership. Strong singer who moves well.	—	—	Our genial host, is certainly that. Frankie is a third or fourth-tier celebrity who is known to the audience where the pageant is being performed, perhaps as a weekend weather-report reader or a spokesman for a used car dealership. Strong singer who moves well.
Miss Bible Belt/Ruth Ann Ruth Believes that she plus God equals a majority in any situation. She sees even the cheesiest part of the Glamouresse Beauty Regimen as part of His Plan. This gives her a righteous attitude which is unshakable, but she also has the manic cheerfulness of the newly saved. Big belter voice, strongest singer in the cast.	female	—	Believes that she plus God equals a majority in any situation. She sees even the cheesiest part of the Glamouresse Beauty Regimen as part of His Plan. This gives her a righteous attitude which is unshakable, but she also has the manic cheerfulness of the newly saved. Big belter voice, strongest singer in the cast.