10-MINUTE MUSICAL COLLECTION
Book & Lyrics by Christiana Cole
Music by David Shenton
Comedy
The Charm
A pair of newlyweds, fresh from a fairy tale wedding, are struck by a very modern fear: how will they know that they will always love each other? With the help of a wizard, an international road trip, and one very special pair of underwear, the couple finds true happiness where they least expect it. “The Charm" is a lyrical and whimsical piece based on the story “The Talisman” by Hans Christian Andersen.
Overview
Cast Size
5 (3m, 2f)
Duration
12 Mins.
Setting
A series of fairytale kingdoms. The Past.
Subgenre
Fables/Folktales, Farce, Romantic Comedy, Fantasy, Adaptation, Adventure, Period
Themes
Fairy Tales, Love, Marriage,
Target Audience
Teen (Age 14 - 18), Young Adult (Age 18 - 23), Adult
Style
Classic/standard Musical Theatre
Instrumentation
Piano/Vocal
Additional Resources
N/A
Cautions
Mild Adult Themes, Alcohol Use
Casting Information
HE – a newly-married fairy tale prince. A genuine, kind man. Tenor, any age, sings solo to an F, and a high Ab with the ensemble.
SHE – a newly-married fairy tale princess. An assertive, confident woman. Soprano, any age, sings from middle C to a brief high Bb.
CHARACTER MAN - Track covers the French, Italian, and Egyptian men. Bari-tenor, any age, sings solo to a C, and a high Ab with the ensemble.
CHARACTER WOMAN – Track covers the French, Italian, and Egyptian women. Mezzo-soprano, any age, sings solo from low G to Eb, and high Ab with the ensemble.
THE WIZARD – Stately and wise. Baritone/bass, any age, sings from a low Ab to a D. Also sings the “Italian children” voices (in falsetto) along with pianist and any other actors who can be blocked to be turned upstage at that moment.
NOTE: The Character Man and Character Woman tracks can be divided up to create more roles.
Songs
Media
Production History
2013
Premiered at the BMI Workshop on May 29, 2013, New York, NY.
Performed as part of the very first Theatre Now New York Soundbites Festival, Dec. 9, 2013 at the 47th Street Theatre, New York, NY.
2014
Performed in a private presentation for Martin Charnin on September 1, 2014.
2015
Performed at The D Lounge on June 22, 2015 at the New York Theatre Barn, as part of “Thank God We Perceive Time as Linear: An Evening with Christiana Cole”
Author Bios
CHRISTIANA COLE (They/Them) is a writer, composer, performer, and teacher. Credits: Bombshell Baby (book/lyrics/music with Rachel Felstein and Matthew Anchel), a WW2 epic about a drag queen who fights Nazis, produced at Ensemble Studio Theatre; Make the Earth Great (book/lyrics, with composer Rona Siddiqui) at the Prospect Theater Lab; and lyrics for a slew of cute children’s shows: Peanut Butter and Cupcake, Sparkle Spa, The Frog Prince, and many more. Christiana is an experienced book consultant. They served as dramaturg on Christopher Cerrone’s opera Invisible Cities (nominated for the Pulitzer Prize). Member: BMI Workshop, Ring of Keys, Maestra, Dramatists Guild.
DAVID SHENTON is an English-born pianist, violinist, composer, and arranger based in New York City. As pianist/music director David has worked with renowned members of the music profession in all genres, has written music for Broadway, West End, and Hollywood films. David enjoys touring with his groups, Empire Trio and Uptown Girls, as well as teaching and educating children both in the United States and in Africa where he and his wife, soprano Erin Shield, frequently volunteer.
