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Mary Bracken Phillips

MARY BRACKEN PHILLIPS

  
Nationality:    USA
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    Click here

Literary Agent:    n/a

Mary Bracken Phillips was nominated for a 1992 Tony Award for her lyrics for the Broadway musical "Metro". OFF BROADWAY: Book and lyrics: "Cradle Song", Musical Theatre Works, Goodspeed At Chester, Theatre at St. Peter's Church, NYC. Contributing writer: "A My Name is Still Alice": Old Globe Theatre, Second Stage, NYC. REGIONAL: Book and lyrics: "Brimstone", N.E.A. development grant, 1993. Productions: Berkshire Theatre Festival 1994, Willows Theatre, 1998, Majestic Theatre, 2002. Recipient of nine Bay Area Critics' Awards including "Best Musical". Future Production: Willows Theatre Jan. 2010. Book and lyrics: "Silver Dollar" with Jack Murphy composing. Productions: Goodspeed at Chester, Stage One, Wichita KA, Surflight Theatre, Beach Haven, NJ. Selected by Star Ledger as one of the "Top Ten" productions of 2007. Book and lyrics with Craig Bohmler composing: "Mountain Days", winner 2002 Bay Area Critics' Award "Best Original Book and Lyrics". Premiere: Chronicle Pavilion, 2001. Productions 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005: John Muir Theatre, Martinez CA. Future production: Theatre Hikes Lowell IL. June & July 2009. "the Haunting Of Winchester". Production: San Jose Rep. 9/05. Book and lyrics with Craig Bohmler composing: "Sacagawea", 2003 N.E.A. development grant. Workshop: Village Originals Festival of New Musicals". World premiere: Alhambra Performing Arts Center July 2008. Ms Phillips has an MFA from the NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program and is a member of the Dramatists Guild and the League of Professional Theatre

Research:    Member of the Dramatists Guild of America (as at 2016)

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below is a list of Mary Bracken Phillips's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Brimstone         Cradle Song         Crooked Lines         Haunting of Winchester, The         Mountain Days         Playwright and the Patriot, The         Sacagawea         Silver Dollar
Brimstone

Brimstone
Brimstone is set in 1998 Belfast where the bloody dance between Irish, English, Catholic and Protestant, continues with fury. Eamon Dunne, is "the man who walked away". A architectural scholarship from Princeton University had taken Eamon out of strife filled Northern Ireland eight years before. At the plays's start, Eamon has returned home to attend the funeral of his brother, an I.R.A terrorist gunned down by the police. In an attempt to come to grips with his brother's death, Eamon must confront his own pacifism in the face of increasing violence. He also must confront the wild spirited Miraid, the woman that he left behind convinced by a family determined to keep him safe in America, that she no longer loved him. Though the plot is complicated by the presence of spies and counter spies, "Brimstone" is basically a love story framed by betrayal, both political and emotional.

Notes:
Music by Patrick Megan. Winner of nine Bay Area Critics Circle Awards. "A hard driving emotional powerhouse of A musical. . .wonderful music And An engaging story that soars with emotion And fire. . .an important show, well done And something that shouldn't be missed." San Francisco Times ". . .tackles the complex issues of patriotism, honor And love with A vibrant blend of rousing music And poignant Drama. . .A truly great evening of theatre." Boston Herald. "A rich And moving experience. It's A daring work that should make All the revivalists hang their heads in shame. Mere entertainment turns to Art." Albany Times Union

1st Produced:
Berkshire Theatre Festival     29 Jun 1994

Organisations:
Willows Theatre, Concord CA

1st Published:
-   

Music:
Original cast recording: Original Cast Records (9530) 1995

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  9            Female:  4            Other:  May be expanded as needed

Further Reference:
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Cradle Song

Synopsis:
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Notes:
music by Jan Fairchild book and lyrics by Mary Bracken Phillips

1st Produced:
Parlor Theatre, Greensboro College. Greensboro, NC     14 Apr 2016

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
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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:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Crooked Lines

Synopsis:
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Notes:
music by Fairchild, Mary Bracken Phillips and Bill Schneider, libretto and lyrics by Mary Bracken Phillips. IMEA Award "Best Original Book For A Musical

1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
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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:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Haunting of Winchester, The

Synopsis:
the Haunting Of Winchester explores the legend of Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune, and her "Winchester Mystery House", one of the most famous "haunted" houses in the world. the plot revolves around Sarah's relationship with the ghost of Jack Kerrigan, a gunfighter who was killed by a man armed with a Winchester rifle and who has sworn to revenge himself on Sarah. Unfortunately for Kerrigan, he himself is haunted by the ghosts of the men he killed, all clamoring for revenge as well. At first, the recently widowed Sarah is too preoccupied to notice the spirits around her. But as she begins to add on to her house, the voices become clearer. And when Kerrigan forces her to face the fact that she is living "High on the hog" from the sales of a lethal weapon, she realizes she's as guilty as the ghosts haunting her. So the house becomes a symbolic limbo where Kerrigan and Sarah find love, and forgiveness, and the other ghosts find repentance and redemption.

Notes:
Music by Craig Bohmler. "A heebie-jeebie crowd-pleaser crammed with tricks And treats" . . .San Jose Mercury news. "Ghost farce with buoyant cowboy And hoedown spoofs". . .San Francisco Chronicle. "Altogether entertaining, romantic, And yes, thought-provoking. . .Phillips' Always fine lyrics Approach sheer poetry" Curtain Up. "knee slappin' cowboy melodies, romantic songs on the order of Phantom of the Opera with even A little Assassins thrown in". . .Talkin' Broadway ". . .redemptive, funny, magical And thought provoking". . .San Francisco Bay Times. "an enjoyable fantasy with A lively score"- Backstage Magazine. "the play's genius is in taking Sarah Winchester the "curiosity" And making her A warm, rather down-to-earth woman whose strong suit is compassion". Metroactive News

1st Produced:
San Jose Rep. San Jose Ca     2005

Organisations:
San Jose Repertory Theatre

1st Published:
-   

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 Drama

Parts:
Male:  7            Female:  4            Other:  Ensemble may be added if desired.

Further Reference:
-

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Mountain Days

Synopsis:
Mountain Days is the story of naturalist John Muir from his boyhood until his death. This large scale musical tells Muir's story from his 1000 mile walk to his arrival in San Francisco to his establishment of the national park system with Teddy Roosevelt and his subsequent political problems. the love story within traces his courtship and marriage to the independent and passionate Louie Strenzil.

Notes:
Music by Craig Bohmler.

1st Produced:
Chronicle Pavilion Concord Ca     2000

Organisations:
Chronicle Pavilion

1st Published:
-   

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:  10            Female:  10            Other:  Ensemble can be expanded if desired

Further Reference:
-

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Playwright and the Patriot, The

Synopsis:
A chauvinistic, cynical playwright meets the patriot, a former member of the IRA, when he's doing research for a film on terrorism. Tiny and tough as nails, she admits to spending half her life in prison on an explosives charge, but insists she's now a reporter the playwright uses her for "source material" in his film and when she's arrested for a murder she didn't commit, the playwright insists she's innocent saying he's got her "on the page" and there's no way that character would kill anyone. In the end, Michale gets her off only to discover that she may not be guilty of murder, but she's anything but innocent.

Notes:
Semi finalist at both 2012 O'Neill National Playwrights Conference and Sundance theatre Lab.

1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
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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:
Comedy/Mystery

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Sacagawea

Synopsis:
Playwright/lyricist Mary Bracken Phillips and composer Craig Bohmler have created an epic adventure, Dramatizing a fascinating piece of American history in their richly wrought work. . .flows with historical details of the journey as well as fictionalized episodes (Clark and Sacagawea's love affair and Lewis' forbidden feelings towards Clark). the musical weaves the rigors of the physical journey from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean with the love story and such morale dilEmmas as the treatment of women and slavery. the hypocrisy of Clark's fight for Sacagawea's freedom while keeping a slave of his own adds depth to an already meaty script." - "Curtain Calls

Notes:
Music by Craig Bohmler. NEA Development Grant 2003. "Sacagawea" is A musical that manages not only to tell the historical story of the Lewis And Clark Expedition, but Add considerable fuel to the lore And legend of the extraordinary trek that opened the West to the United States Phillips has concocted A charming And engaging yarn in both her script And lyrics, And composer Craig Bohmler has collaborated with A score that honors the soaring spectacle of the story, the heroism of the journey And the emotional highs And lows of those involved. . . "Sacagawea" is A remarkably complete And satisfying musical." - Pat Craig, Contra Costa Times. " A wonderful Adventure story taken from the pages of history. . . This is A great concept And A great story that needs to be told. . .a superb musical And highly entertaining." - Rossmoor Press

1st Produced:
Alhambra Center For The Performing Arts, Martinez Ca     2008

Organisations:
Willows Theatre

1st Published:
-   

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:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  12            Female:  5            Other:  Cast and ensemble can be expanded id desired

Further Reference:
-

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Silver Dollar

Synopsis:
Silver Dollar is the true story of an infamous triangle of love and scandal on the American frontier. In a cabin above a deserted mine, the ghost of Augusta Tabor and eighty three year old Baby Doe Tabor, are bound together by their sins, courage and passion for silver king Horace Tabor, who's first wife's brain was his fortune and who's second wife's beauty was his downfall. As Baby Doe's death is imminent, the women realize they must settle their "unfinished business" or be stuck on a mountaintop forever. they compare diaries and their story enfolds in a series of flashbacks. A story of the Colorado gold rush, a time when a fortune could be found with the turn of a shovel, and greed and dreams were all. the story of how Baby Doe stole Augusta's husband and Augusta lost the man she believed could not survive without her. the story of Horace Tabor's rise to power and fall from grace. the story of a second Civil War; fought not in the battlefield over slavery, but in Washington over power. East versus West, gold versus silver, banker against farmer. Fortunes lost and dreams that died. the Tabors epitomized the best and worst of human nature, just as the Colorado gold rush epitomized the best and worst of the American dream. And in this age of greed, political betrayal and disillusionment, their story has a particular message. Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Just as in "Silver Dollar", two women in a lone cabin will either redeem each other or be condemned to relive their mistakes forever.

Notes:
Music by Jack Murphy. Winner of three 2007/2008 New Jersey Merit Awards (Best Musical, Best Book And Best Score) Star Ledger. "Mary Bracken Phillips has worked hard -- And succeeded -- in delivering A pair of mesmerizing, fully realized characters. Augusta Pierce Tabor is A fascinating creation, As is Elizabeth "Baby Doe" Bonduell McCourt Tabor. When they're together onstage, matters ignite with the intensity of A steel forge." Peter Filichia Star-Ledger/theatremania. "Musical theatre that will catch your imagination And tug At your heartstrings! It's A keeper!"- Wichita Eagle". . .a mother lode of story material" New Haven Register

1st Produced:
Goodspeed At Chester, Chester Ct    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

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:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  4            Other:  May be expanded as needed

Further Reference:
-

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