13 (musical)
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![]() 2008 Original Broadway Cast Recording | |
Music | Jason Robert Brown |
Lyrics | Jason Robert Brown |
Book | Dan Elish Robert Horn |
Productions | 2007 Los Angeles 2008 Goodspeed Musicals 2008 Broadway |
13 is a musical with lyrics and music by Jason Robert Brown and a book by Dan Elish, with Robert Horn newly joining as co-librettist. The story concerns the life of 13 year old Evan Goldman as he moves from New York City to Appleton, Indiana, and his dilemma when the move conflicts with his Bar Mitzvah. It premiered in 2007 in Los Angeles and transferred to Broadway on September 16, 2008.
Productions
The musical premiered on January 7, 2007 at The Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, CA and ran through February 18, 2007. The production was directed by Todd Graff, with choreography by Michele Lynch, and the cast and band were all teenagers.[1]
The show was presented at the Norma Terris Theater in Chester, Connecticut, by Goodspeed Musicals from May 9, 2008 through June 8, 2008, with direction by Jeremy Sams and choreography by Christopher Gattelli.[2] It opened on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on September 16, 2008 in previews, with an official opening on October 5, 2008. A closing date of January 4, 2009 has been announced.[3]
Most of the Broadway cast were in the Goodspeed production (except Moro, Hammond and Williams). There is a teen band, as in prior productions.[4]
Plot synopsis
Evan Goldman is cool and popular, and lives in the greatest city there is, New York. Then his parents divorce and his mother moves to Indiana. Evan is about to turn 13 in two weeks and he wants all the "cool" kids to be there at his Bar Mitzvah ("13"/"Becoming A Man").
He initially meets Patrice who shows him around town, which turns out to be basically nothing ("Lamest Place In The World"). On the first day of school, the hot football player, Brett, asks the beautiful head cheerleader, Kendra, out on a date. But Kendra's best friend, Lucy, also likes Brett ("Hey Kendra") and does not want them to date. Succumbing to peer pressure, Evan uninvites Patrice to his Bar Mitzvah, and Patrice drops their friendship. Also, Evan meets Archie who is physically handicapped. Archie manipulates Evan by threatening to go to his Bar Mitzvah and ruin it ("Get me What I Need") unless he gets him a date with Kendra. Evan agrees, but asks Archie talk to Patrice to ask her to forgive him. Patrice responds that if Evan was a real friend he wouldn't do all those bad things to her ("What It Means To Be A Friend"). The word gets around school that Brett and Kendra are finally going to do "The Tongue" at the movies. Meanwhile Evan plans to have Archie will talk to Evan's mother because no one can say no to a boy with a terminal illness ("All Hail The Brain"/"Terminal Illness").
Everyone is getting ready to go to the movies ("Getting Ready") on Friday night. Lucy tells Kendra that she should not kiss Brett because she is a good girl and not a slut. At the movies, Brett prepares to kiss Kendra, but everything goes wrong ("Any Minute"). Brett's friends don't like Lucy and think that she is "Bad Bad News". Lucy starts rumors that Evan and Kendra were seen kissing at the mall ("It Can't Be True"). Brett and Evan get in a fight, and Patrice comes to Evan's aid and forgives him as they kiss ("If That's What It Is").
At Evan's Bar Mitzvah, everyone talks about their journeys and adventures as they turned 13 ("A Little More Homework To Do"). Evan states that he may have just turned 13, but he's only getting started.
The company sings a "Brand New You" at curtain call.
Characters and Broadway cast
Archie – Aaron Simon Gross
Brett – Eric Nelsen
Cassie – Brynn Williams
Charlotte – Ariana Grande (u/s Patrice)
Eddie – Al Calderon
Evan – Graham Phillips (Corey John Snide at weekend matinee performances)
Kendra – Delaney Moro
Lucy – Elizabeth Egan Gillies
Malcom – Malik Hammond
Molly – Caitlin Gann
Patrice – Allie Trimm
Richie – Eamon Foley
Simon – Joey LaVarco (u/s Brett)
Songs (Broadway)
- "13/Becoming a Man" (Evan and Company)
- "The Lamest Place In the World" (Patrice)
- "Hey Kendra" (Brett, Malcolm, Eddie, Lucy and Kendra)
- "Get Me What I Need" (Archie and Company)
- "What It Means To Be A Friend" (Patrice)
- "All Hail the Brain" (Evan)
- "Getting Ready" (Company)
- "Any Minute" (Brett, Kendra, Patrice and Archie)
- "Good Enough" (Patrice)
- "Bad Bad News" (Eddie, Malcolm, Simon and Richie)
- "Tell Her" (Evan and Patrice)
- "It Can't Be True" (Lucy, Molly, Cassie, Charlotte and Company)
- "If That's What It Is" (Archie, Patrice and Evan)
- "A Little More Homework" (Evan and Company)
- "Brand New You" (Cassie, Charlotte, Molly and Company)
The Original Broadway Cast Album was recorded during previews. The album does not include the song "Good Enough", but does include the following songs that were cut:
- "Here I Come" (Evan and Company)
- "Opportunity" (Lucy, Kendra, Brett and Company)
Goodspeed song list
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References
- ^ playbill article, January 7, 2007
- ^ Jones, Kenneth."Teen Time! Cast Announced for Goodspeed Run of 13 Musical", playbill.com, April 22, 2008, ]
- ^ Gans, Andrew and Jones, Kenneth."New Musical 13 to Close on Broadway in January 2009",playbill.com, November 21, 2008
- ^ Jones, Kenneth."13, A New Musical Comes of Age on Broadway Sept. 16",playbill.com, Sept. 16, 2008
External links
- Mark Taper Forum
- Curtain Up review, includes song list
- Theatremania.com review, Jan. 10, 2007
- Variety review, Jan. 8, 2007
- Culture review, January 16, 2007
- Talkin' Broadway review