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MUSICAL THEATRE WORKS
by Richard B. Evans
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ENCHANTED APRIL,
The Musical
Music and Orchestrations by
Richard B. Evans
Book and Lyrics by Kleban award-winning Charles Leipart
A cold, rainy post-war-London, February, 1922. A wisteria-covered medieval castle in Italy.
Life and love are about to bloom for four London women: Rose - earnestly good but hiding a secret desire; Lottie - full of life and a mischievous streak; Lady Caroline - a stunningly beautiful but jaded debutante; and Mrs. Fisher - a widow who believes her glory days are all behind her. These four ladies find each other and the castle of their dreams for one magical month on the Mediterranean. They seek a much needed antidote to their dreary London cares, and what they find on the Italian shore awakens them to a world of beauty, ardor, and the joys of living. Love and comedy ensue when their husbands and lovers descend on the ladies’ heavenly retreat - where passions bloom in the Italian spring!
Based on the exquisite novel by Elizabeth von Arnim.
For more info and music samples from the show, click here: www.EnchantedAprilthemusical.com
Art by Tony Howell
 HAMLET’s BIG HOLIDAY
Shakespeare’s Lost Musical Comedy!
Music by Richard B. Evans
Book and Lyrics by Howard Ervin
Brought to the stage at last – The Bard’s lost musical comedy, with its madcap whirl of surprising twists and sparkling unforgettable songs you’ll go home singing!
Our melancholy Hamlet and his wisecracking sidekick Yorick venture off “on holiday” to Merrie Old England. Who does Hamlet meet at the uproarious Boar’s Head Tavern but the larger-than-life Sir Jack Falstaff, the wayward Prince Hal and the tavern’s enterprising Mistress Quickly! With a crew like this, can Hamlet ever be the same? And who is this fair and mysterious damsel who calls herself Iphelia? Can Iphelia’s charms break through Hamlet’s “issues”?
Ever the rogue, Falstaff takes charge of the reticent Hamlet to show him the excitement he’s been missing in life, and soon enlists him in a caper to rob the Crown Jewels by disguising themselves – and Yorick – in the tall bearskin hats of the “Big Hat Guards.”
Oh, woe is me – their wild escapade fails and all is lost. Really? Is Hamlet still the Prince of Nebbishes with no future, no family and no friends? Look out, Denmark, he’s ready to rock and roll! Hamlet’s “Goin’ Back to Elsinore!” – with Falstaff as his wingman – for an outrageous fortune-filled finale!
For more info and demo audio tracks, including "The Play's The Thing," "Melancholy Me," "Fat City," and more,
go to: www.HamletsBigHoliday.com
Art by Cris Hammond
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SO NICE TO COME HOME TO
A Soldier's Love Story
Music by Richard B. Evans 
Lyrics by Kate Hancock
Book by Evans & Hancock
"It’s New York City, 1944, a time of innocence and uncertainty, humor and hope, as the stresses of war weigh on soldiers and civilians alike. This touching, sweet, funny, and thought-provoking musical tells the story of a decorated war hero home on leave from the brutal European battlefield, and one middle-aged woman’s determination to become an essential part of America’s war effort."
Inspired by two plays by James M. Barrie.
SO NICE TO COME HOME TO premiered at the Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma, CA, commissioned by Cinnabar's Jan Klebe for the Theater's 40th Anniversary Season.
For more info, click here.
THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD,
An Irish Musical Comedy
Music by Richard B. Evans
Lyrics by Kate Hancock
Book by Hancock & Evans
Life in the village of Balyduff is turned upside down by the sudden appearance of a handsome, mysterious stranger – who claims to have killed his lout of a father! Awed by the audacity of his act, the village embraces – (and curses!) – this courageous and charming new hero, and Christy Mahon is dubbed THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD!!
But is Christy a brave lad done a bold deed, or is his just a tall tale that enthralls this remote Irish village and threatens to change their safe and familiar world forever?
Beware, hero - celebrity has its price!
Based on the renowned Irish comedy, The Playboy of the Western World, by John Millington Synge. Inspiring riots at its initial production, this outrageous story has been re-imagined as a riotous and ironic Broadway musical comedy full of laughter, romance, Irish music and dance!
The Chicago Sun Times says: "...This show deserves a thriving future. Along with its ready-made tragicomic story and marvelous characters, it comes with a lovely lyrical score that very skillfully blends traditional Irish melodies and a Broadway sound."
For more info and music samples from the show, click here.
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Book and Lyrics by Kleban Award-winning Charles Leipart
Music by Richard B. Evans
What could possibly be more timely during the world-wide economic mess of the early 21st Century than to revisit the Robber Barons of New York City's high society of the early 20th Century?
With songs such as "Greed is Good"..."Everybody Wants to Be a Star"... "We're Broke"... "Destiny Tango"... "The Status Quo"... "Ladies of Leisure"... "Things Can Change"... and "The Price of Everything"... haven't we been here before?
This high-class musical romp stars famed turn-of-the-20th-century socio-economist Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929) – here presenting his melodrama-within-a-musical to demonstrate his controversial thesis "The Theory of the Leisure Class" (including his coining the phrase "Conspicuous Consumption"!) Will he actually pay the actors? Can things ever change? Bring your food stamps, join the fun, and find out !!
For more info and music samples from the show, click here.
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MIDLIFE! The User's Guide
This sparkling musical  revue celebrates that special time of life – middle age! Hilarious, poignant and everything in between.
Lyrics by Frank Evans
Music and Additional Lyrics by Richard B. Evans
 THE GOLDEN TOUCH,
A fun, family pop musical – the story of King Midas and his daughter, whose “hip” Nursemaid teaches them all one of life’s most important lessons.
Book and Lyrics by Maryrose Wood
Music by Richard B. Evans
Drawing by Mark Fiore
Evans' music has been performed and recorded by Broadway and cabaret luminaries such as:
Rebecca Luker (Roger & Hammerstein's Cinderella, Phantom of the Opera, The Secret Garden, Show Boat, Sound of Music, The Music Man, Nine, Mary Poppins)
Jill Paice (Maltida - the Musical, Curtains, The 39 Steps. London's West End: A.L. Weber’s The Woman in White; Scarlett, in Gone With The Wind)
Robert Petkoff (Epic Proportions, Fiddler on the Roof , Ragtime, Spamalot. London’s West End: The Royal Family)
George Dvorsky (Scarlet Pimpernel, Passion, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)
SuEllen Estey (State Fair, Sweeney Todd)
Joy Hermalyn (Fiddler on the Roof, La Boheme, Candide)
Jim Poulos (Paradise Found, London)
George Lee Andrews (Phantom of the Opera)
P.J. Benjamin (Chicago)
Kathy Fitzgerald (The Producers, Nine)
Michael McGurk (The Wedding Singer, The Music Man)
Felicia Finley (Aida)
Max von Essen (Evita, Les Miserables)
Joel Briel (Cats)
Marianne Challis (Sex, Lies & Vocalises)
Glory Crampton (Yeston's Phantom of the Opera)
Susan Derry (Wonderful Town)
Kathleen Early (Play About the Baby)
Michael Flanigan (Miss Saigon)
Felicity LaFortune (The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?)
Joe Kolinski (Les Miserables)
Nora Mae Lyng (Amour)
Eric Millegan (Harold and Maude, tv's Bones)
Perry Ojeda (Dr. Sex)
William Parry (Gypsy)
Ron Raines (Show Boat Revival)
Randy Redd (Parade)
Lisa Rothauser (The Producers)
Heather Sullivan (singer-songwriter)
KT Sullivan (cabaret star)
Lynne Wintersteller (Closer Than Ever), and
Nick Wyman (Sly Fox, Les Miserables et al)
Brent Barrett (Chicago, Annie Get Your Gun)
Ben Dibble
Rachel Coloff (Urinetown, Candide, Fiddler on the Roof)
Leslie Flesner (Follies, Finian’s Rainbow)
Amy Goldberger
Florence Lacey (Follies, Hello, Dolly!, Evita)
Bruce Winant (La Cage aux Folles, Fiddler on the Roof, Ragtime)
Amos Wolff (Follies, Chicago), among others.
Opera stars singing Evans' music include Nicolle Foland, Angela Cadelago, Rachelle Perry-Ward, Cliff Romig, Rhoslyn Jones, Katharine Tier, Chuck Taylor and Melody Moore, among others.
Evans' ongoing participation in the New York theatre scene includes several short musicals for the Raw Impressions Music Theatre and the New Dramatists, including collaborations with playwrights Liz Duffy Adams, Christopher Shinn, and David Lindsay-Abaire.
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© 2008-2023, Richard B. Evans | All contents of this website © (p) Richard Bunger Evans and Seacastle Music Company
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