A concert adaptation of the groundbreaking musical that set the stage for all that followed! Rodgers & Hammerstein’s exuberant classic is a lively, tuneful musical full of cowboys, farmers, romance and fearless optimism.

Premiered at the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Springfield, MO (2019)

Available for licensing through Concord Theatricals

Narrator
Aunt Eller (Range: D3-A4)
Curly (Range: Db3-F4 (opt. F#4))
Laurey (Range: D4-E5 (opt. A5))
Ike Skidmore (Range: D3-F4)
Fred (Range: E3-B3)
Slim
Will Parker (Range: Eb3-F4)
Jud Fry (Range: D3-C#4)
Ado Annie Carnes (Range: C4-E5 (opt. F5))
Ali Hakim
Gertie Cummings
Ellen
Kate
Sylvie
Armina
Aggie
Andrew Carnes (Range: E3-F4)
Cord Elam (Range: F#3-A3)
Jess
Chalmers
Mike
Joe
Sam

Note: In this show, the race of the characters is not pivotal to the plot. We encourage you to consider diversity and inclusion in your casting choices.

In 1958, an out-of-work Brooklyn sportswriter and widower relocates with his son to Nebraska, where they struggle to fit into a small farming community. In an effort to return home, the son secretly resurrects the town's historic minor league baseball team through fictional newspaper reports—a lie which quickly grows until CBS Radio asks them to broadcast a live game.

2 Acts

Developed at the Dramatist Fellowship Program (2011-2012) and Rhinebeck Writers Retreat (2013)

Finalist, B-Side Productions’ New American Musical Award (2015)

Daniel Stein – a sportswriter from Brooklyn (male, late 30s)

Ryan Stein – Daniel’s son (male, 12)

Paige Austin – the Mayor of Homer (female, late 30s)

Greg Austin – a farmer, Paige’s older brother (male, late 30s)

Tim Austin – Greg’s son (male, 17)

Janey Logan – a local latchkey kid, member of the 4-H club (female, early teens)

Harold Lindeman – Tim’s friend, and member of the 4-H club (male, 17)

Ezra Hastings – a farmer and former ball player (male, 40s)

Graham Thompson – a farmer and former ball player (male, 40s)

Jacob Roseman – Daniel’s former editor (male, 50s-60s)

Uncle Philip – Daniel’s uncle (male, 60s)

William Griffin – banker, sheriff and former ball player (male, 40-50s)

Lily Larkin – runs the Larkin General Store (female, 50s-60s)

Penelope Austin – Greg’s wife & Paige’s sister-in-law (female, early 40s)

Katherine Franklin – town secretary (female, 40s)

Wendy Logan – Janey’s mother, owner of the Logan Garage (female, 40s)

Ensemble: Brooklyn Bartender, Bar Patrons, Residents & Farmers of Homer

Rob Shapiro

Catch

Plot Synopsis with Songs

ACT 1

On opening day of the 1958 baseball season, out-of-work sportswriter and widower Daniel Stein laments the loss of the Brooklyn Dodgers with the other fans (“Dem Bums”). In addition to mounting debt and lack of employment, Daniel has trouble taking care of his twelve-year-old son Ryan. From a letter, Daniel learns that his late wife’s family farm in Nebraska faces foreclosure, and his Uncle Philip convinces him to travel to Nebraska to address unfinished business. Daniel breaks the news to Ryan as they play catch in the alley (“Two Men On”).

In Homer, Nebraska, Mayor Paige Austin and the 4-H club welcome Daniel and Ryan to their small farm town (“We Got Space”). At the VFW Hall, Daniel meets the community and Paige’s brother Greg who runs the neighboring farm that has been renting Daniel’s land. In an effort to stave off foreclosure to both properties, Daniel reluctantly agrees to work on the Austin Farm for the season while they make capital improvements to his house where Paige has been living. Over the next few days, the Austin family and the townsfolk teach Daniel farming basics (“Against the Odds”), while Tim, Harold and Janey initiate Ryan into the 4-H club. Ryan however misses baseball and home (“Back in Brooklyn”). In an effort to cheer up the Brooklyn boys, Paige shares her personal memorabilia and scorebooks of the town’s former minor league baseball team, the Dogs. The beloved team stopped playing when World War 2 broke out and many of the players – including her fiancée – died in battle (“The Boys in Uniform”). 

Inspired by the scorebooks, Ryan enlists the help of the 4-H club to create a fictional report about the Dogs, and he sends it to his father’s former newspaper editor (“Brooklyn Needs a Baseball Team”). A week later Daniel receives a check and an encouraging note: the paper wants more reports (“Jacob’s Letter”). Sensing an opportunity, he and Ryan continue writing fictional reports based on the team and the town (“Dem Bums – Reprise”). As the summer passes, the corn grows in Homer while readership grows in New York (“Down on the Farm”).  Despite the crop growth, some of the neighbors decide to halt production to take government subsidies, placing the town in danger. Greg refuses to follow suit and vows to continue on farming (“Fallow Ground”).

Paige discovers Daniel’s reports and threatens to tell the truth, but he convinces her otherwise; she agrees to help him as long as they remain true to the team’s history (“Brooklyn Needs a Baseball Team – Reprise). Daniel, Paige, Ryan and the 4-H club chart the Dogs’ rally into first place, and the community and former ball players – not realizing the pretense – is excited to revisit their championship season (“Play By Play”). Suddenly, Daniel receives a letter from CBS in New York proposing that he broadcast a live baseball game on the radio.

ACT 2

The group brainstorms ways to create a broadcast, and Janey, a young radio enthusiast, encourages them to use foley to mimic the sounds of the game (“On the Radio”). Under the guise of a “historic recreation,” Paige gathers her neighbors and family to take part in the endeavor (“Fallow Ground – Reprise”). The rehearsal flops at first, but Daniel cleverly coaches the townsfolk into creating the noise of a ballpark, sound effects and the play-by-play (“The Baseball Symphony”). As everyone heads off to prepare for the Harvest Festival, Greg takes a phone call from Daniel’s editor: Daniel is being offered an immediate job in Los Angeles.

At the Festival, the town dances and celebrates (“The Well Song”). When Paige learns of Daniel’s job offer, she tries to convince him to keep his promise to stay until the end of the season (“Nebraska”). Greg puts two-and-two together, and he reveals the truth about Daniel’s reports to the town. The town votes on whether to continue with the broadcast, but the count is tied when Ryan abstains and runs away at the prospect of moving to L.A.  

Recognizing that his relationship with his son is more important than the Dodgers, Daniel finds Ryan and admits his failings as an absent father. The two reconcile and decide to continue the broadcast even if everyone knows it’s fake (“Someone to Root For”). Daniel apologizes to Paige and Greg, agrees to stay in Homer until the harvest is done and offers them his land for free. The town assembles to create the broadcast, and Paige saves Daniel from revealing the truth on air by changing history and letting her beloved Dogs lose (“Finale”).

After the scandal of John Singer Sargent's painting "Madame X", six Parisian women face the reality and illusion of the art of love.

75 minutes

Workshop at New Georges, New York (2009); Staged Reading, New York (2011)

Simone – The Old Woman, constantly lamenting things. She never leaves.

Carmel – 16, full of hope. About to write her first love letter ever.

Eloise – Fat and Patient. She has been waiting for her letter for forever.

Amelie – famous, beautiful, mysterious. Men long to paint pictures of her and hang them above their loveless beds. She is an innovator of manor and dress.

Solene – a slut. Middle age. Drooping. Spending bank to hide it. A player. She's got one sexless marriage and lots of money to compensate for the lack thereof. Gossip. Most everything she says is for everyone's benefit.

Aurelie – a sweet woman, middle age. Solene's sidekick. Tries to keep up - verbally - fashionably - with Solene.

Henrie – a waiter and porter. Lower class. Bursting with creative energy; pissed at his line of work.

Jean Paul – a lonely old man, Master of the café. He runs the joint and is pretty much immune to everything.