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Chip Deffaa

CHIP DEFFAA

  (1951 - )

Nationality:    USA
facebook     email:    n/a     Website:    Click here

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ASCAP/Deems Taylor Award-winner Chip Deffaa is an internationally-produced playwright and director with a great love of show business. He is also the author of eight acclaimed books dealing with music and popular culture, including Blue Rhythms and Voices of the Jazz Age, both published by the University of Illinois Press. In the past year, Deffaa has been represented, as a playwright and director, with three different plays at three different festivals in New York--"The Seven Little Foys" at the Fringe Festival, "Theater Boys" at the Fresh Fruit Festival, and "A Few Moments. . ." at the Strawberry Festival. In addition, his award-winning "George M. Cohan Tonight!" opened at the Edinburgh, Scotland, Fringe Festival. And his "Johnny Mercer Jamboree" is currently running at the Rochester Downstairs Cabaret Theatre. For 18 years, Deffaa covered entertainment--including jazz, cabaret, and theater--for The New York Post. He has written for magazines ranging from Down Beat to Entertainment Weekly. He has won an ASCAP/Deems Taylor Award, a New Jersey Press Association Award and IRNE AWARD (Independent Reviewers of New England). He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Society of Stage Directors & Choreographers, the Drama Desk, the American Theater Critics Association, the Jazz Journalists Association, and NARAS (which awards the Grammy's). He has written and directed in New York no less than five different shows about George M. Cohan--the most recent being "George M. Cohan Tonight!" (starring Jon Peterson), originally produced Off-Broadway in New York by the Irish Repertory Theater. That show has been produced in numerous cities, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Coral Springs, Florida, to Edinburgh, Scotland and Seoul, Korea! The George M. Cohan Project originated at the Chip Deffaa Invitational Theater Festival, held at the Chashama Theaters on 42nd Street, New York City. Deffaa has written assorted other shows, too, including The Johnny Mercer Jamboree, Mad About the Boy, One Night with Fanny Brice, The Family that Sings Together, Song-and-Dance Kids, and Theater Boys. His musical comedy The Seven Little Foys recently had its world premiere at the Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury, Connecticut, and then had its New York premiere at the Fringe Festival. Deffaa was educated at Princeton University, where he was an editor of The Tiger Magazine. He has been a trustee of The Tiger for more than a quarter-century.

Research:    Member of the Dramatists Guild of America (as at 2015)

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below is a list of Chip Deffaa's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

        Fanny Brice Story, The         George M Cohan Tonight!         Irving Berlin and Co         Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue         Irving Berlin's America         Mad About The Boy         One Night With Fanny Brice         Seven Little Foys, The         Theater Boys         Yankee Doodle Dandy


Fanny Brice Story, The

Synopsis:
This musical is inspired by the life of Fanny Brice (1891-1951), who rose from modest beginnings to become the highest-paid American singing comedienne of her day-for many years a famed star of the Ziegfeld Follies. The show begins with Emmie, a 16 year old girl in 1950, interviewing the then 60-year-old Fanny Brice. As Fanny reminisces the show unfolds onstage. Featuring 35 songs from the era of Fanny Brice, and characters who are larger than life, (Eddie Cantor, Flo Ziegfeld, W.C. Fields, George M. Cohan and Nicky Arnstein) this show was a hit in its premiere in New Jersey. This unique, family-friendly celebration of legendary entertainer Fanny Brice includes stories and songs (such as "Becky is Back in the Ballet," "Lovin' Sam," and "Always Leave 'Em Laughing") found in no other shows. This full-scale musical comedy features plenty of ensemble numbers, and is G-rated.

Notes:
Written and Arranged by Chip Deffaa.

1st Produced:
Rosen Theatre, Nj     2013

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Leicester Bay Theatricals, 2014   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
musical

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  9            Other:  Small ensemble

Further Reference:
-

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George M Cohan Tonight!

George M Cohan Tonight!
Meet "The Yankee Doodle Boy" himself in this upbeat one-man journey through the life, music and artistry of this legendary entertainer. George M. Cohan Tonight! is a dazzling showcase that reveals the essence of the man, his music, and the fabulous era of show business he came from. With roots in vaudeville that would shape his life and career, Cohan means it when he says "Give My Regards To Broadway," having left an indelible mark on American theater. Featuring hit songs such as "Over There," "Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway," "You're A Grand Old Flag," and "All Aboard For Broadway," this high-energy show is insightful and entertaining-a delightful salute to the man who almost single-handedly invented the American musical comedy.

Notes:
Music And lyrics by George M Cohan; book by Chip Deffaa

1st Produced:
Irish Repertory Theatre, New York     09 Mar 2006

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Steele Spring Stage Rights, www.stagerights.com   

Music:
Original cast recording: Ghostlight (791558441024) 2006

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Jukebox/Songbook Musical 95 min

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Irving Berlin and Co

Irving Berlin and Co
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
Original cast recording: CD Baby

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue

Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
Original cast recording: CD Baby

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Irving Berlin's America

Irving Berlin's America
This charming musical is dedicated to the man who came to personify American popular music during the last century. Irving Berlin came from rags to riches, rising above the tenements of the Lower East Side to become the most popular and highest-paid songwriter in the world. On the last night of his life, Berlin is visited by a young man who takes him on a journey through his memories to shine a bright light on the legacy he created. Filled to the brim with many of Berlin's greatest hits, including "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Oh! How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning," "I Love A Piano," and "A Simple Melody," Berlin's inspiring story is the true embodiment of the American spirit, and is sure to inspire and delight audiences of all ages.

Notes:
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berling (and others) Written, Arranged, and Originally Directed in New York by Chip Deffaa

1st Produced:
13th Street Repertory Theater, New York, NY     15 Jun 2014

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Steele Spring Stage Rights, www.stagerights.com   

Music:
Original cast recording: CD Baby

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Jukebox/Songbook Musical 120 min

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Mad About The Boy

Mad About The Boy
A group of gay actors are rehearsing a new gay musical in an Off Off Broadway Theatre. The Reverend Billiam S Love is campaigning against homosexuals as they are sinful. However it turns out that Love is gay

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
13th Street Repertory Theater, New York     2015

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
Original cast recording: Garret Mountain Records (889217335890)

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Gay/Lesbian, musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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One Night With Fanny Brice

One Night With Fanny Brice
One Night With Fanny Brice chronicles Fanny Brice's rise from rather humble origins to become an internationally popular entertainer and the highest paid American singing comedienne - a Ziegfeld star equally effective whether putting over a broadly comic number or a Dramatic torch song. a strong, intuitive, street-smart woman, Fanny Brice's life story provided the inspiration for the musical Funny Girl. One Night With Fanny Brice features many of the songs Brice made famous, including "Rose of Washington Square," "My Man," and "Second Hand Rose."
- nytheatre.com

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
St. Luke's theatre
308 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036     03 Apr 2011

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
Original cast recording: CD Baby

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Seven Little Foys, The

Seven Little Foys, The
When beloved star Eddie Foy's wife died, he took his seven rambunctious kids into vaudevile with him. against all odds, they became the top family act of their era. a new musical for the whole family, by aSCaP award-winner Chip Deffaa. www.chipdeffaa.com 2h 30m, Manhattan, NYC Musical, Vaudeville/Sideshow/Magic/Burlesque
- http://www.fringenyc.org/

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
Struttin' Productions

1st Published:
-   

Music:
Original cast recording: CD Baby

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
2h 30m, Musical, Vaudeville/Sideshow/Magic/Burlesque

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Theater Boys

Synopsis:
Kipp has just arrived in New York from the country when a famous Broadway producer lures him to his apartment for an audition

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
The Kaufman Theater At The Algonquin Theater Company     2008

Organisations:
Fresh Fruit Festival

1st Published:
-   

Music:
Original cast recording: CD Baby

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical. - - Gay/Lesbian, musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Yankee Doodle Dandy

Synopsis:
Many roles can be doubled and size the chorus can be modified. George M. Cohan rose from poverty to become a top star, playwright, songwrighter, and producer, honored with a Congressional Medal. Yankee Doodle Dandy relates his inspiring, all-American success story, filled with such immortal Cohan as "Give My Regards to Broadway," "You're a Grand Old Flag," "Harrigan," "Mary," and "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy."

Notes:
by Chip Deffaa with music and lyrics by George M. Cohan and others. Old title was Yankee Doodle Boy

1st Produced:
Crystal Sea Drama Company     2012

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Leicester Bay Theatricals, 2013   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act musical

Parts:
Male:  20            Female:  13            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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