Dandelion Wine at The Colony Theatre (1981)

Book by Ray Bradbury
Music and Lyrics by Jeffrey Rockwell
(1981)

John Allee and Robin Beaman

Directors Musical Direction and Orchestrations Choreography Setting Lighting Costumes Technical Director Special Effect Properties Production Stage Manager Production Coordinator Public Relations Keyboards/Conductor Trombones Woodwinds Percussion Guitar/Banjo Harp	Terrence Shank Todd Nielsen Tom Groth Todd Nielsen Gene Mazzanti Michael Lincoln Don Woodruff Robert J. Parish John Thomas Clark Michael David Wadler Barbara Beckley Kathryn Kates Tom Groth Eric Jorgensen Steve Kravitz Mike McNerney Riner Scivally Aileen Zevely
CAST (in order of appearance):
Bill Forrester Junkman Douglas Spaulding Townspeople Milkman Paperboy Mr. Sanderson Father Ann Barclay Officer Hanlon Tom Spaulding Colonel Freeleigh Miss Roberta Miss Fern John Huff Tarot Witch Leo Auffman Lena Auffman Mr. Tridden Weezle McGee Charlie Woodman Jackie Washington Jody Miller Grandma Grandpa Great Grandma	Thomas Van Buren Gregory Way John Allee Jennifer Susan Lawson Andrew Marzec Kathleen McGeever J. Downing Larry Moran John Thomas Clark Paul Eggington Barbara Beaman Robert Budaska Jim Calvert Bradley Della Valle Rue Knapp (Sunday matinees) Dixie Neyland Tymitz Toni Tomei Michael Sharrett Theresa Bailey Don Woodruff RoZsa Horvath Wayne Liebman Pablo Garrahan Wally Ward Jason Marshall Kimberly Alexander Ivy Bethune Stuart Lancaster Norma Ruth
Musical Numbers ACT I
Prologue Wake Up, World! I’m Alive Dandelion Wine Diff’rent Paralitefoot Tennis Sneakers Love Songs The Lonely One Firefly Song Statistics Revelations Memories Air Hey Nonny No A Happiness Machine	Junkman Douglas The Company Douglas Grandpa Grandma Douglas Tom John, Douglas Douglas Mr. Sanderson Boys Forrester Ann (Danced by Jennifer Lawson and Andrew Marzec) Miss Fern Miss Roberts Tom Tom Douglas Forrester Junkman Tarot Witch Leo Douglas Tom John Boys
Act II
Names and Dates Beat Out, Boy! What Are You Afraid Of? A Simple Word Lena’s Song Red Light! The Fever Dream A Special Word Time	Grandpa Douglas Colonel Freeleigh Boys Male Ensemble Ann Douglas Ann Lena Leo Ensemble Douglas The Company Forrester Douglas Junkman

The Time: 1928
The Place: Greentown, Illinois

Why Dandelion Wine?

Other people have taught me about myself. Starting some 20 years ago, pieces of music on sheets of score paper or some on records or tape began to arrive in my mail. These were songs, 17 in number, titled Dandelion Wine. Some were sweet, some melancholy, some nondescript, some fine. All were a compliment to my book, published some 24 years ago.
Other folks showed up on my doorstep or in my mailbox with reader’s theatre versions of my novel, to be spoken in high schools, colleges, or drama competitions.
I learned from both groups. What? That I was an unintentional dramatist, and that my dramas leaned and fell gently over into musical forms.
I finally decided that everyone was in step with me. I followed my songwriters, and the readers’ theatre people onto the stage.
Guided by Burgess Meredith.
He was there somewhere in the parade, introducing me to people, telling me that I should finally go all out and try to make a musical WINE in my literary cellar. Burgess put me in touch with the correct people at Lincoln Center, New York, and Dandelion Wine started its evolution toward what you will see and hear in the next two hours.
Behind Burgess was Charles Laughton who, 25 years back, got me to experiment with dramatic and musical forms.
Dandelion Wine, as it is performed this afternoon and evening, belongs, in part, to them.
— Ray Bradbury

Read the Herald-Examiner Review

CAST (in order of appearance):

Act II