Playwright | Composer | Lyricist
Neal Radice
MUSICALS
Is Yours A Small Theatre?
These plays and musicals are designed for small casts and simple, or unit, sets. Order Perusal Materials and Information
Full-length opera
by Neal Radice
based on the play of the same name by Kitty Felde
A man who participated in one of the great war crimes of the last century is urged by his own guilty conscience to confess and pay for his acts. (8m leads/4f leads/chorus/4-5 non-singing/full orchestra | 2:00)
“Powerful music underscores themes of war, irrational racial and religious hatred and redemption through confession.”
book and lyrics
by Neal Radice
music by Ken Kaufman & Neal Radice
The epic Viking hero faces Grendel, Grendel’s Mother and even a fire breathing dragon as non-stop rock music keeps Vikings and Vikettes singing and dancing.
(5m/4f/chorus/5 piece rock band | 2:00)
“It’s Hot Out There!”
“Once in a while even critics get knocked out of their seats!”
“unfettered, fun-loving, hard driving rock opera”
book, music and lyrics
by Neal Radice
(based on a play by Robert Kornhiser)
The Admiral discovers his most compelling exploration is on dry land in a new world of music, dance, masks and spectacle.
(6m/2f/piano or orchestra | 2:00)
“…navigating through whispers of treachery and deceit while…
on route to the darkness of his own heart.”
"The music is challenging,
the lyrics are clever and full of economic wordsmithing."
book, music and lyrics
by Neal Radice
A spine-tingling legend of a headless ghost comes alive in a new musical set in the famous eighteenth century frontier outpost as two hot headed, sword swinging soldiers vie for the love of an Indian maid.
(5m/2f/piano or 10 piece orchestra | 1:45)
“Hold on to your hat… and your head”
book, music and lyrics
by Neal Radice
Ishtar, Goddess of Love is flight attendant on this epic, all-music adventure that travels the astronomical distances between loneliness and friendship, life and death, heaven and hell. (3m/1f | 1:50)
A modern opera mixing rock, Latin, folk styles.
“The oldest story... with new music for restless hearts.”
book, music and lyrics
by Neal Radice
(based on a play by Robin Rice Lichtig)
Ten year old Zoe jumps into action when the prospect of sending Granny to a senior care facility prompts an improbable escape to a tree house where the winds of freedom carry Granny even beyond this earthly plane!
(1m/1f/1boy/1girl/piano or small ensemble | 1:30)
“Something magical happened here!”
“It’s a timely tale.” “A sweet… simple story-telling score.”
book, music and lyrics
by Neal Radice
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A young man faces the adversities and reaps the rewards of starting a new life in America during the great immigration that brought thousands of Italian families to America.
(6m/6f-expandable/piano or 10 piece orchestra | 2:00)
“A musical celebration of the hopes and heartaches
of immigrants from anywhere!”
WINNER: Arties Award for "Outstanding New Play”
book, music and lyrics
by Neal Radice
including a song by Armand John Petri and Joe Rozler adapted from the motion picture written by Paul McGinnis and directed by Gregory Lamberson
​​Alien forces control the evil Dr. Libby Niptuck as she uses her skills of enhancement surgery to set flat-chested Betty Downer on a path to conquer Earth! (5m/5f/piano or 4-5 piece rock band | 1:50)
“The songs are tuneful and the lyrics are clever and contemporary.”
WINNER: Broadway Buffalo Best Musical of the Year
"A crazy, B horror movie is now a campy new musical!”
"The score is actually terrific!"
A New Musical Play!
book, music and lyrics
by Neal Radice
The tiny hamlet of Town Line, New York seceded from the Union during the Civil War (a true story) but didn’t get around to voting to rejoin until eighty-three years later! Themes of racism, homophobia and sexism come pouring out of two pivotal American moments: 1863 and 1946.
(3m/2f/1-5 musicians | 1:45)
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“A musical play defying racism, chauvinism and intolerance.”
book, music and lyrics
by Neal Radice
A musical spoof of small town beauty pageants featuring talent, swim suit and evening gown competitions; back stabbing, parental interference, audience participation plus a finale that even the actors can’t predict. (1m/6f/1m pianist/1m extra/stage crew | 1:40)
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"Hilarious" "Great fun... an experience more than a play." “A beautiful little show!”
book, music and lyrics
by Neal Radice
On The Canal is a musical ride that flows from the mind of the first visionaries, who dreamt of navigation through hundreds of miles of land, to the exceptional New Yorkers who built, expanded and travelled the Erie Canal.
(3m/3f 1-5 musicians | 1:40)
Scheduled in 2025, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal.
book, music and lyrics
by Neal Radice
(based on a play by Arlene Brent Fanale)
In the great age of American dare-devils, mild-mannered grade school teacher Anna Edson Taylor leaves her life behind as she journeys to Niagara to go over the Falls in a barrel. (4m/4f/piano or 11 piece orchestra | 1:55)
“It’s a musical delight riding the rapids of her life.”
“A strong character driven work with eclectic songs… strong melodies and contemporary themes”
book, music and lyrics
by Neal Radice
The lives of four turn-of-the-century Americans are intertwined during the great Pan American Exposition of 1901 when, on one fateful day, shots are fired, and they, a city and a nation, are forced to embrace a new future.
(5m/3f/piano or orchestra | 1:50)
“The music is simple and elegant…
there are beautiful melodies… 4 stars!”
“The book is well-conceived, and the lyrics and
dialogue spare and graceful.”
book and lyrics
by Neal Radice,
music by Neal Radice & Ken Kaufman
based on Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen
A self-centered and reckless young man spends his life on a narcissistic and hedonistic binge searching for ultimate success only to arrive at one final, triumphant moment of truth in this fun, fast-paced all-music musical that travels even into the Mountain of the Troll King. (6m/5f | 1:50)
“Peer is without peer!” “A sparkling musical”
“A triumph of the stage: with plenty of wit and taste.”
book by James Englehardt
music & lyrics
by Neal Radice
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A powerful musical based on the true story of the man who claimed the impossible... his great perpetual motion wheel turned non-stop for 54 days!
(8m/2f | 1:50)
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“Did science ignore the greatest discovery in modern times?”
book by James Engelhardt and Neal Radice
music and lyrics
by Neal Radice
A photographer uses his talent to search for truth and beauty only to discover a dark side when he mysteriously loses his shadow and finds an enemy. (5m/3f/piano or orchestra | 2:00)
“Don’t forget to look over your shoulder!”
“… a delectable idea for a musical.”
“Scenes are well chosen to move the narrative along quickly.”
Brand New!!
book by John Louis Cimasi and Neal Radice
music by Neal Radice
with two songs by Tom Dudzick and John Louis Cimasi
An innocent farm boy finds himself working and falling in love during his first city job in a rundown hotel in Buffalo’s pleasure district of the 1950’s. (4m/5f piano or jazz combo | 1:50)
rock opera ballet
music and lyrics
by Neal Radice
An average small-town, teen-age boy leaves his girlfriend behind to seek his destiny in the big city where he discovers that he’s not so ordinary after all.
(3-4 vocalists/4 or more dancers/4-5 piece rock band | 1:30)
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“The decade of peace, love and revolution declares
him a phenomenon.” "Tooley was a time bomb!”
Sherlock Holmes Musical Trilogy
story and book by Gordon Farrell, music and lyrics by Neal Radice
This trilogy of Sherlock Holmes musical mysteries is the creation of composer/lyricist Neal Radice and playwright Gordon Farrell. They are new stories based on the original characters created by Arthur Conan Doyle. Although the three full-length shows are designed to be produced independently, they share musical themes and casting and design requirements which make all or any two of them ideal for production in repertory. They are intended to play in the order listed below.
SHERLOCK IN LOVE
story and book by Gordon Farrell
music and lyrics by Neal Radice
The world’s greatest detective is confounded by a beautiful woman bent upon revenge. South American artifacts, mysterious Bavarian royalty, and a damsel in distress are just some of the pieces of this fast-paced and musical Holmesian puzzle.
(7m/3f, piano or orchestra, 2:15)
SHERLOCK ALONE
story and book by Gordon Farrell
music and lyrics by Neal Radice
Mycroft Holmes plays a deep game as he attempts to outwit foreign agents while his brother Sherlock is led by Professor Moriarity to the brink of Reichenbach Falls … and disaster.
(7m/3f, piano or orchestra, 2:05)
SHERLOCK FOREVER
story and book by Gordon Farrell
music and lyrics by Neal Radice
Now that the world’s greatest investigating detective has apparently perished at Reichenbach Falls, how will Dr. Watson solve the mystery of bodies floating in the Thames?
(8m/2f, piano or orchestra, 2:00)