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Kurt Weill

KURT WEILL

  (1900 - 1950)
Nationality:    German
email:    n/a     Website:    Click here

Literary Agent:    n/a

Kurt Weill's plays including theatres, agent, synopses, cast sizes, production and published dates

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

         Down In the Valley         Firebrand of Florence, The         Johnny Johnson         Knickerbocker Holiday         Lost in the Stars         Love Life         One Touch Of Venus         Road of Promise, The         Seven Deadly Sins Of the Petty Bourgeoisie         Silverlake, The         Street Scene         Two On An Island
Down In the Valley

Synopsis:
Brack Weaver falls in love with Jennie. they want to go to the dance together but her Father forbids it. He wants her to go with a shady Creditor of his in the hopes of getting money out of him. Jenny disobeys and goes with Brack. the Creditor is drunk and attacks Brack - he is killed in self defence but this does not stop Brack from being condemned to death. the night before the execution he escapes from jail and spends the night with Jenny. He gives himself up in the morning

Notes:
Music by Kurt Weil; libretto Arnold Sundgaard

1st Produced:
Indiana University School Of Music     1948

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
Recording taken from a television broadcast: Sepia (1052) 1950

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:
Folk opera

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Firebrand of Florence, The

Synopsis:
Benvenuto Cellini is about to be executed for the attempted murder of Count Maffio. Right at the last moment he is pardoned by Alessandro, Duke of Florence. the Duke had commissioned and paid for a statue of a nymph and Cellini has not finished it. As he leaves the gallows he is involved in a scuffle with Count Maffio and seemingly kills him

Notes:
Music by Kurt Weill; lyrics by Ira Gershwin; book by Ira Gershwin; Edwin Justus Meyer

1st Produced:
Alvin Theatre, New York     22 Mar 1945

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:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Johnny Johnson

Johnny Johnson
Weill's first American musical, mixing satire, sentiment and surrealism. anti war platitudes. In a small town in the US local sculptor Johnny Johnson is about to unveil his statue to Peace. the Mayor reminds everyone that the President Woodrow Wilson has said America would not take part in the War in Europe. Before the statue is unveiled a message comes through stating that the President has declared war. Everyone is enthusiastic - apart from Johnny. they all leave and Johnny unveils his statue - it is a dove. His girlfriend breaks off their engagement when he wont join up. So Johnny goes to the recruiting office but is rejected until he floors a soldier with one punch. In France he captures a German soldier and convinces him to go back and spread dissention against the War. An American officer sees the German returning shoots at him - fire is returned and Johnny gets hit. Many years after the War Johnny stands on a street corner selling wooden toys

Notes:
Book by Paul Green; Lyrics by Paul Green; Music by Kurt Weill

1st Produced:
44th Street Theatre, NY     19 Nov 1936

Organisations:
the Group Theatre

1st Published:
Samuel French Inc, New York   

Music:
Studio cast recording: Polydor (831384) 1955

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:
Play, Comedy, Play with music

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  large cast

Further Reference:
-

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Knickerbocker Holiday

Knickerbocker Holiday
Broek considered a ne'er do well by his beloved's Father gets into trouble. He is just about to be hung when the new governor of New Amsterdam - Peter Stuyvesant arrives. Stuyvesant rescues Broek and later reveals that he intends to turn New Amsterdam into what would be called today a fascist state

Notes:
Book And Lyrics By: Maxwell Anderson; Music By: Kurt Weill

1st Produced:
Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York     19 Oct 1938

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Anderson House, Washington D C 1938   

Music:
Original cast recording: AEI (007)

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 Comedy Musical

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Lost in the Stars

Lost in the Stars
about an African Black preacher's search for his wayward son

Notes:
Written by Maxwell Anderson And Alan Paton. Music by Kurt Weill. Lyrics by Maxwell Anderson & Alan Paton. Based on the book "Cry Beloved Country" by Alan Paton

1st Produced:
Music Box Theater, New York     30 Oct 1949

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
in Hewes, H. ed. Famous American plays of the 1940's   

Music:
Original cast recording: MCA (10302)

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:
Adaptation Musical

Parts:
Male:  26            Female:  8            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Love Life

Love Life
Sam and Susan Cooper are a married couple in 1791. In 1948 they are still married and have not aged a bit

Notes:
Music by Kurt Weill; lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner.

1st Produced:
46th Street Theatre, New York     07 Oct 1948

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
Revival cast recording: ioffer.com 1990

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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One Touch Of Venus

One Touch Of Venus
the Princess is lonely - she has fallen in love with a young man she has seen briefly in the market place - Aladdin. Aladdin is also smitten with the Princess. He is troubled by the Magician who keeps getting him involved in various dubious schemes

Notes:
Music by Kurt Weill; lyrics by Kurt Weill And Ogdon Nash; book by Ogdon Nash And S J Perelman

1st Produced:
Imperial Theatre, New York     07 Oct 1943

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
Original cast recording: MCA (MCAD 11354) 1943

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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Road of Promise, The

Road of Promise, The
The Road of Promise combines a story about a synagogue under threat of persecution with defining stories from the Old Testament. As the congregation awaits their fate, a 13-year old boy appears who knows nothing of his Jewish heritage or faith. The Rabbi enlightens the boy and gives the community strength by recounting the stories of Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Miriam, Moses, Ruth, Isaiah, and more, all of which come alive through Weill's score. The young boy listens to the stories unfold and emerges as the new hope for his people.

Notes:
Original Playwright - Franz Werfel. Music by Kurt Weill; lyrics and book translated by Noam Sheriff

1st Produced:
-     1937

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:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Seven Deadly Sins Of the Petty Bourgeoisie

Synopsis:
Two sisters leave their starving family in Mississippi in search of fame and fortune. they start out in a seedy cabaret and end up in Hollywood

Notes:
Original Playwright - Bertolt Brecht. Music by Kurt Weill. Translated by W H Auden & Chester Kallman

1st Produced:
Arcola, London     06 May 2003

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:
Translation

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  Large Cast

Further Reference:
-

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Silverlake, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
Original Playwright - Georg Kaiser; Music by Kurt Weil; translation by Rory Bremner

1st Produced:
Wiltons Music Hall, London     29 Mar 1999

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:
Translation

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Street Scene

Street Scene
the tenants at a Manhattan tenement block. Anna who is having an affair with the milkman Sankey. Her daughter Rose who is being pursued by her slimy boss. the Buchanans who are expecting a baby at any moment. the Hildebrand family about to be evicted for non payment of rent

Notes:
Musical By Kurt Weill, Lyrics Langston Hughes, Book Elmer Rice

1st Produced:
Adelphi Theater, New York     09 Jan 1947

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
Original cast recording: CBS (MK-44668) 1949

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:  large cast

Further Reference:
-

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Two On An Island

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
Incidental music by Kurt Weilll, by Elmer Rice

1st Produced:
Broadhurst Theatre, New York     22 Jan 1940

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Coward-McCann Inc 1940   

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:
Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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