Heavenly Evening

A New Musical Comedy in Two Acts

Words and Music

by

Robert Garry Benson

Copyright 1998, 2002, 2005,  Robert Garry Benson

Additional Song Lyrics

by

James McCall Cramer

 Copyright 1987,  James McCall Cramer

“Alsace Lorraine”

“Do You See Who I Am?”

Prologue 

SCENE 1: Six dressing cubicles  

Act One 

SCENE 2: Cole Porter's living room in Helven, a realm located approximately halfway between Heaven and Hell. 

Act Two

SCENE 2: Cole Porter's living room.

SCENE 3: Shallow black curtain

SCENE 4: The Gates 

Musical Numbers 

Prologue

A Hell of a Heavenly Party - (All)  

Act One

Overture

(Left click on "Overture" link above)

Best of Buddies - (Cole & Noel)

Heavenly Evening - (Bea, Noel & Cole)

There is Nothing Like a Show - (Ethel)

I Tried to Take a Trip on the Trolley - (Judy)

Heavenly Blues - (Noel)

I Was Never More Surprised in My Life (When I Discovered I Was Dead) - (Ethel)

When You’re Dancing - (Bea)

 Dear Old Planet Earth - (Ethel)

Alsace, Lorraine - (Bea)

It’s Not Exactly Heaven But It’s Home - (Ethel and All)

Act Two 

Entr’ Act

 That’s The Way It Goes - (All)

The Wonder of You – (Cole and All)

Pay Close Attention – They Are the Children - (Noel)

Bring Me a Cave-Man - (Judy)

So I’ve Heard - (Ethel)

Never Again - (Bea/Cole)

Little Lady, Keep on Dancing - (Noel)

Do You See Who I Am? - (Judy/Charles)

 Whatever Would We Do Without the Fairies? - (Bea)

Gabriel, Come Blow Your Horn - (Finale: Ethel and All)

Exit Music

Characters

-In the order of their appearance

Cole Porter, America’s great theatrical songwriter of the 1930’s-1950’s

 Sir Noël Coward, The great British playwright of the early to mid-20^th century

Charles; Cole’s houseboy, a startlingly handsome and athletic young man

Beatrice Lillie , AKA Lady Peel; star of the London and New York stage 1920-1940’s

Ethel Merman; powerfully voiced stage and musical movie star 1930’s-1960’s

Judy Garland; musical movie star and cult performer, 1939-1960’s

Synopsis

A party is being given by Cole Porter in honor of his friend Sir Noel Coward. The party is being held in the home of Cole Porter, located in Helven, a realm somewhere between Heaven and hell, not necessarily a very nice place. Guests include Sir Noel Coward, Beatrice Lillie, Ethel Merman, and Judy Garland. The other person present at the party is Charles, Cole’s houseboy.

All of the guests at the party are hoping to eventually be released from the Helven realm, and be allowed to enter into Heaven. Every ten years on this night, one person of this particular group is allowed to move on to Heaven according to their behavior at this evening's party.  The question is, who will be selected – and who will have to remain in Helven for another 10 years?

Helven is a sort of Purgatory, where one feels a tremendous accentuation of all physical senses.  This presents a challenge to some of the party guests to resist the temptation of the physical pleasures of sex, so that they will be able to move on.

The party they are at serves as a medium through which they are able to speak their minds to each other, and work through personal issues between themselves.

Some of the dialogue and songs of this work involve satirical commentary on contemporary American society from the point of view of the play’s main characters, whose careers reached their peaks in the middle of the 20^th Century.

Audition Information

Hello, This is Robert Benson, the author of this musical. I am a Chicago musician (pianist) and am a member in good standing of the Dramatists Guild. You can find out a little more about me by going to my website: www.robertbensonmusic.com.

I and my associates are soon putting a cast together to first make an "original cast recording" CD of the Overture and all 22 songs, and then we'll workshop this musical which will result in performances for backers to come up with investment funds for a larger production.

Here are the six parts I'll be holding auditions for:

Male - Sir Noël Coward: Baritone singing voice with low tones plus high D, D# and E (doesn't matter if high notes may be thin), age range 40-55, must have authentic British upper class accent with a touch of cockney.

Female - Judy Garland: be able to imitate Garland's later vocal style in her vocal range, age range 35-45

Female - Ethel Merman: Strong alto/big belt - the more you sound like Merman, the better - age range 40-55

Male - Charles: very strong lead baritone voice, must be handsome and muscular, age range 25-30. There is one scene where Charles slowly strips down to his gym shorts and flexes while Judy sings "Bring Me a Cave Man". (6' minimum height - no nudity required).

Female - Beatrice Lillie: Strong alto with head voice, age range 45-55, slight English accent/affectation - with a sophisticated, real delivery.

Male - Cole Porter: high baritone singing voice, age range 40-55

______________________________________________________________________

For an early audition appointment, please call me at 773-857-7891, and we can schedule your audition appointment. Auditions will be in my residence on the north side of Chicago, Lake Shore Dr. & Belmont.

You may also contact me at robert900@rcn.com

Thank you, I look forward to meeting you!

Robert Benson