Children's Letters to God
Encyclopedia
Children's Letters to God was a Drama Desk Award
nominated Off-Broadway
musical
that was based on the best selling book by Stoo Hample
, music by David Evans, and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen
.
and the production was directed was Stafford Arima
, musical staging by Patricia Wilcox, set design by Anna Louizos
, light design by Kirk Bookman, sound by Peter Hylenski, costume design by Gail Brassard, and produced by Carolyn Rossi Copeland. The cast consisted of Gerard Canonico
, Sara Kapner, Jimmy Dieffenbach, Andrew Zutty, and Libby Jacobson. Allison Fischer
was an understudy in the production. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/87080-Children%27s_Letters_to_God_the_Musical_Opens_in_NYC_June_30_Asking_the_Big_Questions
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
nominated Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
that was based on the best selling book by Stoo Hample
Stoo Hample
Stuart E. Hample , also known as Stoo Hample, was an American children's book author, performer, playwright and cartoonist who sometimes used the pseudonyms Joe Marthen and Turner Brown, Jr. He is best known for the books Children's Letters to God and The Silly Book, and the comic strip Inside...
, music by David Evans, and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen
Douglas J. Cohen
Douglas J. Cohen is an award-nominated composer and lyricist. He is a member of ASCAP, BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop, and the Dramatists Guild of America.-Works:*The Big Time- Book by Douglas Carter Beane, music & lyrics by Cohen....
.
Summary
The musical is about five young children who are friends that discuss their beliefs, ambitions, uncertainties, and questions common but paralyzing coming from children. Issues brought up in the musical are holidays, loss of a pet, divorces, sibling rivalry, the struggle of being unathletic, and first love. As in concurrence with the book, the show does not directly address religion, but just asks questions about life. http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/5127Original Cast
It was put on at Lamb's TheatreLamb's Theatre
Lamb's Theatre was an Off-Broadway theater located at 130 West 44th Street, New York City inside the Manhattan Church of the Nazarene, near Times Square in New York City. It seated approximately 350 and specialized in musical productions...
and the production was directed was Stafford Arima
Stafford Arima
Stafford Arima is a Canadian-born theatre director. Arima studied at York University in Toronto where he was the recipient of the Dean's Prize for Excellence in Creative Work.Arima is directing Carrie Stafford Arima is a Canadian-born theatre director. Arima studied at York University in Toronto...
, musical staging by Patricia Wilcox, set design by Anna Louizos
Anna Louizos
Anna Louizos is an American scenic designer and art director. She is best known for her Tony Award-nominated sets for the musicals In the Heights and High Fidelity, as well as the London, Broadway, Las Vegas, and touring productions of Avenue Q...
, light design by Kirk Bookman, sound by Peter Hylenski, costume design by Gail Brassard, and produced by Carolyn Rossi Copeland. The cast consisted of Gerard Canonico
Gerard Canonico
Gerard Canonico is an American actor and singer, best known for his roles in Broadway and off-Broadway musicals.-Biography:...
, Sara Kapner, Jimmy Dieffenbach, Andrew Zutty, and Libby Jacobson. Allison Fischer
Allison Fischer
Allison Fischer is an American singer and actress.- Biography :Originally from northern New Jersey, Allison had her first professional performance in the Off-Broadway musical King Island Christmas in 2000...
was an understudy in the production. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/87080-Children%27s_Letters_to_God_the_Musical_Opens_in_NYC_June_30_Asking_the_Big_Questions
Song List
- Prologue (Company)
- Questions, Questions (Company)
- Thirteen (Brett)
- Arnold (Iris and Company)
- Like Everybody Else (Theo and Company)
- Questions for the Rain (Iris and Company)
- Ants (Kicker)
- A Simple Holiday Song (Company)
- Six Hours As A Princess (Joanna)
- An Only Child (Kicker and Joanna)
- When I Am In Charge (Company)
- Daydreams (Company)
- Kicker Brown (Theo)
- Silly Old Hat (Brett)
- How Come? (Company)
- Star Letters (Iris, Joanna, Theo)
- I Know (Company)
- I Know (reprise) (Company)
- Joanna's Lament (Joanna) (cut from the original performance, but featured on the soundtrack)
Reviews
"Children's Letters to God has a sweet, warm heart, the appealing lyrics of Douglas J. Cohen and the music of David Evans [both Drama Desk nominees], and the innate humor of its source material [by Stuart Hample]." - The New York Times
"Whimsical and charming family-oriented production about the innocent joys and sometimes simple sorrows of growing up." - New York Daily News
"Looking for a show for kids AND adults? This one might be the answer to your prayers!" - WCBS TV
"Clever, funny and musically hip!" - Broadwayworld.com