A full-scale biographical musical about Amerca's most enduringly popular songwriter, featuring two dozen great Berlin numbers....
Written and arranged by
CHIP DEFFAA
Published and licensed by Leicester Bay Theatricals
Irving Berlin
This is the first and only full-scale musical biography of Irving Berlin. In his lifetime, Berlin blocked every effort by others to dramatize his life, saying he insisted on maintaining his privacy; he said people could dramatize his life after he died. And now ASCAP award-winner Chip Deffaa has done just that. The Irving Berlin Story (published by Leicester Bay Theatricals) is big, bold two-act musical comedy, with some 30-odd characters.
The show can be performed by 20 actors (with "doubling" of roles) or by 30 (or more) actors. You can add as many chorus members as you like.
Ethel Merman and Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin with his first wife, Dorothy Goetz Berlin
Irving Berlin
This is a perfect musical for a regional theater, community theater, college, or secondary school with the space, personnel, and budget to mount a really big musical. And it is chock-filled with great songs!
Our gratitude to the talented actors--shown here at the first reading of this script--who've helped give this show its start: Charles Michel, Christian Castro, Katie Branden, Missy Dreier, Eve Prouty, Alex Dreier, Deborh Grisorio, Chip Deffaa, Ethan Haberfield, Emily Bordonaro, Michael Townsend Wright.
Charles Michel, Christian Castro, Katie Branden, Missy Dreier, Eve Prouty, Alex Dreier, Debora Grisorio, Chip Deffaa, Ethan Haberfield, Emily Bordonaro, Michael Townsend Wright at Ripley-Grier Studios, New York City
For more information on
The Irving Berlin Story,
please contact:
Chip Deffaa Productions LLC
50 Quartz Lane
Paterson, NJ 07501-3345
973-684-3340
Footloose518@aol.com
The show is published and licensed by Leicester Bay Theatricals
Or contact: Peter Sawyer President The Fifi Oscard Agency New York City tel. (212) 764-1100 Email: psawyer@fifioscard.com
Berlin's story is a quintessential American success story. An immigrant raised in utter poverty, with little formal education, Berlin rose to be the most popular individual songwriter in the world. He could neither read nor write music. A musical secretary had to transcribe numbers he played, hummed, or sang. But the songs he created have delighted listeners for a century.
Irving Berlin, age 13
Irving Berlin with his second wife, Ellin McKay Berlin
Irving Berlin, Judy Garland, Fred Astaire
For more info on
The Irving Berlin Story feel free to contact: Chip Deffaa Productions 50 Quartz Lane Paterson, NJ 07501-3345 telephone: (973) 684-3340 Email: Footloose518@aol.com
Or contact: Peter Sawyer President The Fifi Oscard Agency New York City
THE IRVING BERLIN STORY is a full-scale biographical musical, written for 20 or 30 (or more) players. You can make the chorus as large as you desire. This is a perfect choice for schools, colleges, community theaters and regional theaters seeking to present an exuberant musical comedy with a big cast.
This is one of five different shows celebrating Berlin that Chip Deffaa has created. You might also be interested in these other shows (all of which are available for licensing now):
IRVING BERLIN & CO. is a lively biographical musical written for a cast of 12 or so players.
THE IRVING BERLIN RAGTIME REVUE, a high-spirited, song-driven musical show, featuring more than 40 irresistible numbers, requires a cast of ten players (five female, five male).
IRVING BERLIN'S AMERICA, an intriguing two-character musical play, is set on the last night of Berlin's life. A curious young visitor gets Berlin to review the life he's led.
IRVING BERLIN: IN PERSON is a one-man show--a terrific vehicle for a triple-threat entertainer.
