Bright Lights, Big City
Book, Music and Lyrics By Paul Scott Goodman
Based on the novel of the same name, this show follows Jamie, an aspiring writer stuck in fact-checking, as he hides from pain and loss by partying in the drug-infested clubs of Manhattan during the 1980s. The rock-n-roll score provides a robust sound that echoes Jamie's inner torment as he wanders aimlessly through the city's seedy party scene. After losing his wife and job, Jamie spirals out of control. Fortunately for him, the bonds of family and the promise of love are strong enough to intervene and provide a way out. BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY carries the message of hope for the future, no matter what is at present.
Cast Size: Medium (5-21). Vocal Demands: Moderate. Good For: College/University • Amateur/Community • Professional Theatre.
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About The Show
Production Info
To request the rights to make merchandise for this show email brian.sherman@rnh.com.
The story of a disillusioned young writer living in New York City, who turns to drugs and drinking to block out the memories of his dead mother and estranged wife. read more
Think of your favorite Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals and PIPE DREAM will probably not be the first title to come to mind. In fact, you may not even know it. But in its time, it was one of the most eagerly anticipated new shows to reach Broadway, promising another banquet of R&H hit songs and setting box office records. It opened in November of 1955. Then it disappeared. What happened? Read more →
In the fall of 2010 we ran a contest through our SOUND OF MUSIC Facebook page to give away a trip for two to Salzburg Austria, the location where the movie and stage musical takes place and where the movie was filmed 46 years ago. Read the blog from the winner's trip.
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Read more →
I had the incredible honor of visiting Salzburg in October 2011 with members of the von Trapp family. We were there to attend the premiere of the first stage production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC ever done in the city where the story is set, and to preside over the opening of a new exhibition. – BERT FINK
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“Goodman's music is exhilarating; it convincingly evokes the sound of 1980s rock without resorting to parody, but does not sound dated. The arrangements shine." — Tim Dunleavy, TalkinBroadway.com
“Goodman's music is exhilarating; it convincingly evokes the sound of 1980s rock without resorting to parody, but does not sound dated. The arrangements shine." — Tim Dunleavy, TalkinBroadway.com
"The show’s rock-music score is a tribute to what can be accomplished when one blends rock music and musical theatre, and is both fun and meaningful to listen to... for anyone interested in the progression of modern musical theatre.” — Michael Bihovsky, Review Stream
Song #
Song Name
Character Name
Play
Other Versions
3
Sunday Morning 6 AM
Chuck Bean, Jamie, Mary O'Brien McCann, Amanda, Mother, Company
6
I Hate The French
Clara, Jamie, Company
8
I Hate The French (Reprise)
Jamie
9
Odeon
Jamie, Tad, Elaine, Theresa, Elise, Company
10
Happy Birthday, Darling
Mother
11
Missing
Coma Baby, Mary O'Brien McCann, Jamie
15
Kindness
Vicky
16
Perfect Feeling
Jamie, Vicky, Company
18
You Couldn't Handle It
Clara, Jamie
19
My Son
Clara
21
Camera Wall
Chuck Bean, Amanda, Jamie, Michael, Mother, Coma Baby, Mary O'Brien McCann, Company
24
Mummies At The Met/So Many Little Things (Reprise)
Mother, Jamie, Coma Baby, Mary O'Brien McCann, Company
25
Are You Still Holding My Hand
Mother
27
Back In The City 3
Tad, Company
29
Bright Lights, Big City 3
Jamie, Company
Vocal Range of Characters:
Written By: Paul Scott Goodman
On a breezy beautiful August day way back in ’96, I stood upon the deck of a modern country house near Woodstock and banged out the opening riff of BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY on my Ovation 12 string guitar. I came back to Manhattan and over the next few weeks welcomed many other songs, all directly inspired by the heightened poetry of Jay McInerney’s novel. As the tunes continued to tumble, I remember thinking, “This is very rock and roll.” So now, more than a decade later, I would like to say to whoever decides to present this piece of work: thank you for doing so, don’t change the words or the music, but in matters of acting, singing, lighting, staging, dance, tone, sound, bravado, feel free to be brave, to break barriers and attempt to give the audience something they’ve never seen before. Be fresh and inevitable. Rock and roll!
STANDARD
- BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY - Orchestration Pkg. (6 Books)
- 1 – KEYBOARD I/CONDUCTOR
- 1 – KEYBOARD II
- 1 – GUITAR I (Acoustic Twelve String and Electric)
- 1 – GUITAR II (Six String Acoustic and Electric. Also Mandolin.)
- 1 – BASS (Fender and Fretless)
- 1 – DRUMS (Kit plus Percussion and V-Drums)
- BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY - Rehearsal Set (22 Books)
- 20 – Libretto-Vocal
- 1 – Logo CD
- 2 – KEYBOARD I/CONDUCTOR
ADDITIONAL
- BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY - Libretti-Vocal 10-pack
- BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY - PRE-PRODUCTION PACKAGE
- 1 – KEYBOARD I/CONDUCTOR
- 1 – Libretto-Vocal
4 Women
3 Men
FEATURED
3 Women
2 Men
ENSEMBLE
Ensemble can be small or large, some featured roles can double in the chorus.
CHARACTERS
Jamie - Mid 20's New Yorker reeling from a year of devastating events. Attractive and vulnerable.
Tad - Jamie's best friend, party animal, selfish, smart, charismatic.
Mother - Jaime's mother who we see as a youthful Mom and then on her death bed.
Michael - Jamie's younger brother.
Amanda - Jamie's supermodel ex-wife.
Vicky - Tad's cousin, a Princeton student, pretty and likeable.
Clara - Jamie's boss, her exterior masks marshmallow inside.
Coma Baby - A newspaper headline who comes to life in Jamie's mind.
Mary O'Brien McCann - A missing NYU student who appears in Jamie's mind.
Chuck Bean - A rambunctious 'on-the-town' reporter.
Elaine - Odeon club girl.
Theresa - Elaine's 'friend' and fellow clubbie.
Elise - 14 going on 32, club girl who Jamie meets at Odeon.
Chorus - Variety of roles (Fact Checkers, Models, etc) including featured parts (Drug Girl, Paul, etc.).
SPECIFIC LOCATIONS
Heartbreak, a Manhattan nightclub
A club called ODEON
Gotham Magazine, Department of Factual Verification
Washington Square Park
Rockefeller Centre
The streets of Manhattan
A subway train
A bed
A toilet stall
Various apartments
Many memories in Jamie's mind
Materials Notes
KEYBOARD NOTE: Both keyboards should be Yamaha s-90s or Motiffs. Other keyboards may be substituted, but these may not provide the same patch names or sounds.
Featured News
NEW SHOW IN DEVELOPMENT: Bright Lights, Big City
The story of a disillusioned young writer living in New York City, who turns to drugs and drinking to block out the memories of his dead mother and estranged wife. Read More