Publisher

Concord Theatricals

Year of Composition

1986

Duration

40'

Instrumentation

Mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, narrator, dancer, and 3-person chorus (1 soprano, 1 alto, and 1 bass)

Categories

Opera

Librettist

Beatrice Schenk de Regniers

Program Note

There was a boy whose mother said he was good for nothing. In this universal story of a child trying to make his way in a difficult world, the boy meets a magical cat who tells him that everyone is good for something. As they journey along, the boy discovers his self worth by rescuing the inhabitants of a sinister island from the evil power that holds them in thrall. The musical makes its point with humor, wit, and a touch of the marvelous. Each song is written in the style of a different American composer (Joplin, Porter, Gershwin, Bernstein, Sondheim).

Audio/Video

Purchase Sheet Music

Perusal Score (Concord Theatricals)

Commission & Premiere Info

Premiered at Stage One in Louisville, KY on March 3, 1986

Press Quotes

"A tuneful pastiche of ragtime, blues and gospel traditions with a dash of modern dissonance." — The Courier-Journal