Secondhand Lions: A New Musical is based on the 2003 movie of the same name. Music and lyrics for the musical were written by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, who also wrote First Date.Gioia, Michael. "Break Up: Broadway's 'First Date', Starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, Will Close in January 2014", playbill.com, November 6, 2013 The book was by Rupert Holmes.
Production The show premiered from September 6 to October 7, 2013 at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington.Secondhand Lions, 5thavenue.org, accessed April 27, 2016Secondhand Lions Musical Aiming for 2013 Debut 5th Avenue Theatre Will Premiere New Musical Secondhand Lions Season Announced Secondhand Lions, Starring Gregg Edelman, Mark Jacoby and Johny Rabe Opens in Seattle Sept. 26 " 'Secondhand Lions' Musical Aims for Seattle Opening at Fifth Avenue Theater, Aug 2013", broadwayworld.com, October 15, 2012Snetiker, Mark. "New 'Secondhand Lions' Musical to Make World Premiere at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre", broadway.com, March 4, 2013Jacobson, Lynn. "Regional Legit Review: ‘Secondhand Lions’", Variety, September 30, 2013Hetrick, Adam. "World Premiere of Secondhand Lions Musical, By Rupert Holmes and Writers of First Date, Ends Seattle Run Oct. 6", playbill.com, October 6, 2013
The show was directed by Scott Schwartz, who directed Golda's Balcony and co-directed Jane Eyre on Broadway. Scott Schwartz was appointed Artistic Director of the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, New York in 2013.Hetrick, Adam. "Scott Schwartz Named Artistic Director of Bay Street Theatre", playbill.com, August 13, 2013
Plot Walter, a young boy, is unwillingly dropped off unannounced, by his mother, Mae, at his two great-uncles' farmhouse in Texas for the summer. The uncles, Hub and Garth, recently bought the farm, returning after a long time with a secretly earned fortune. Over the course of the summer, Walter tries to find the method in which his uncles gained money, and what they did during their absence. The tale he hears and discovers reveals the uncles' courage and bravery in their prime.
Differences from the Film
Jane, the girl across the pond, is an added character in the musical. The ‘relatives’ in the film that arrive to learn about the uncle's fortune are omitted in the musical. There are no live animals in the musical. Jasmine, in the movie, is renamed Samira.
Musical numbers
Act 1 Overture - Orchestra The Wild Lion Boys – Male Ensemble The Fort Worth College of Court Reporting – Mae Just Right – Walter Worth Believin’ In (Part 1)/The Steamship – Garth, Young Hub, Young Garth The Sultan of the Sultanate of Oujda – Fake Sultan, Ensemble Sand – Sultan, Harem Girls, Grand Vizier, Ensemble You Have to See It to Believe It – Jane, Walter You Have to See It to Believe It (Reprise) – Jane Mae's Letter – Mae Just What I Needed –Samira Unlike Anyone I’ve Ever Known – Young Hub, Sultan Ghita's Advice – Ghita, Samira, Harem Girls Hub's Revelation – Hub, Garth, Young Hub, Walter, Ensemble Act 2 Entracte – Orchestra Just What I Needed (Reprise) – Samira, Ghita, Harem Girls Alive or Dead – Sultan, Ensemble You Have Brought Me Love – Samira, Young Hub Fly into a Better Tomorrow – Walter, Jane, Garth, Ensemble The Sultan of the Sultanate of Oujda (Reprise) – Prisoners The Sultan's Lament – Sultan, Ensemble You Have Brought Me Love (Reprise) – Samira, Hub Worth Believin’ In (Part 2) – Hub The Wild Lion Boys (Reprise) – Stan Do Something for Me – Walter Don't Count Us Out – Garth, Hub, Walter Worth Believin’ In (Finale) - Company
Roles and original cast The principal cast of The 5th Avenue Theatre's production was as follows.
Character Actor Garth Gregg Edelman Hub Mark Jacoby Mae Kendra Kassebaum Walter Johnny Rabe Samira Jenny Powers Young Garth Jared Michael Brown Young Hub Kevin Earley Sultan Jason Danieley Achmed Justin Huertas Jane Sophia Anne Caruso Ghita Wendi Bergamini Ricky-Jo Nick Gaswirth Bruno Harris Milgrim Vic Deon Ridley Sicilian Hoodlum Harris Milgrim Barlow Nick DeSantis Stan Matthew Posner Nurse Sarah Rose Davis Grown Walter Kevin Earley Todd Johnny Rabe Grown Jane Jenny Powers Sultan's Grandson Jason Danieley
† Grayson J. Smith appeared as Walter Double, before the song 'Just Right'.
Recordings The World Premiere Recording was released digitally on October 2, 2020 by Broadway Records. It includes a cut song entitled "The Fort Worth College of Court Reporting".
References
External links The 5th Avenue Theatre Official Website Zachary and Weiner Official Website Scott Schwartz Official Website