Book by Mark Dissette Music and Lyrics by Bill Francoeur © Copyright 2014, Pioneer Drama Service, Inc. Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that a royalty must be paid for every performance, whether or not admission is charged. All inquiries regarding rights should be addressed to Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., PO Box 4267, Englewood, CO 80155. All rights to this musical—including but not limited to amateur, professional, radio broadcast, television, motion picture, public reading and translation into foreign languages—are controlled by Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., without whose permission no performance, reading or presentation of any kind in whole or in part may be given. These rights are fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America and of all countries covered by the Universal Copyright Convention or with which the United States has reciprocal copyright relations, including Canada, Mexico, Australia and all nations of the United Kingdom. ONE SCRIPT PER CAST MEMBER MUST BE PURCHASED FOR PRODUCTION RIGHTS. COPYING OR DISTRIBUTING ALL OR ANY PART OF THIS BOOK IN ANY MANNER IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN BY LAW. On all programs, printing and advertising, the following information must appear: 1. The full name of the musical 2. The full name of the playwright and composer/arranger 3. The following notice: “Produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Englewood, Colorado” JITTERBUG JULIET Book by MARK DISSETTE Music and lyrics by BILL FRANCOEUR CAST OF CHARACTERS (In Order of Speaking) # of lines NARRATOR ......................Shakespearean 5 MR. MONTAGUE ...............successful, yet struggling with his 59 business BETTY ABRAHAM .............quiet, unassuming accountant who 33 dreams of conquering her fears and being something bigger one day BRAD GREGORY ...............Montague’s lawyer; evil and slimy, 49 despite first appearances as a nice guy RON MONTAGUE ..............son of Montague; a dashing 65 young man who’s charming, caring, handsome, happy-go-lucky and a good dancer MAYOR ............................more hot air than a balloon 24 festival; loves to come in and take over; is always shadowed by the Yes People THE YES PEOPLE .............never far from the mayor, they live 10 to tell her “yes”; it’s like watching ants hovering around to make sure the mayor is happy; there can be any number of Yes People JUDY ...............................appears to be a cleaning lady who 20 has a bit of a hearing issue, but looks can be deceiving; walks with a slight limp from a war wound MR. CAPULET ..................considers himself to be a great 46 director, but he’s not; at one time best of friends with Montague JULIET CAPULET...............daughter of Capulet; she’s a young 84 beauty with brains and a sense of humor ii MERCY O’REILY ...............Ron’s best friend; a bundle of 37 energy who’s always ready with a quip to set off those in charge; goes a hundred miles an hour and laughs a lot DANCERS: .......................energetic and excited, they just love to dance; as many as your stage can hold GIRL ONE ........................a dancer; 5 BOY ONE .........................another dancer 4 BOY TWO .........................another dancer 2 GIRL TWO ........................another dancer 3 GIRL THREE .....................another dancer 1 SPIDER JOHNSON ............wiry little fellow with quick eyes 64 and even quicker hands; starts out as a weasel, but who knows? THE ACTORS: ...................they mean well; however, their talents aren’t quite up to the task of the Bard; uncoordinated and melodramatic, the broader their performance, the funnier MARK .............................an actor in Romeo and Juliet; 9 plays Mercutio ROBERT ..........................another actor; plays Tybalt 6 JOHN ..............................another actor; plays Romeo 11 ALAN ...............................another actor; plays Benvolio 8 CHORUS .........................again, as many energetic performers as your stage can handle SET DESCRIPTION The set is a large dance hall. There are a few small tables with chairs are set around the space. The center is open. A banner hangs in the back of the hall with “The Verona Room” lettered on it. iii SEQUENCE OF MUSICAL NUMBERS MC1 We Got It All in Our Town–Prologue......Narrator, Company MC2 Heartburn .........................................Mr. Montague, Ron, Brad MC3 Jitterbug Juliet ..................................Mercy, Juliet, Ron, Chorus MC4 We’re So Bad ....................................Brad, Spider MC5 Think Like a Winner ...........................Juliet, Robert, Mark, Alan, John MC5a Romeo and Juliet–Underscore ............Juliet, Ron, Mr. Capulet MC5b We Got It All in Our Town–Reprise .......Narrator, Cast MC5c Entr’acte–Jitterbug Juliet ....................Instrumental MC5d Romeo and Juliet–Underscore ............Instrumental MC6 Listen to the Beat .............................Ron, Juliet, Chorus MC7 Jump ’n’ Jive .....................................Betty, Mercy, Chorus MC8 Old Friend of Mine .............................Mr. Capulet, Mr. Montague, Chorus MC8a Romeo and Juliet–Underscore ............Instrumental MC8b Jump ’n’ Jive–Underscore ..................Instrumental MC8c Jitterbug Juliet–Reprise ......................Juliet, Ron, Company MC8d Curtain Call–Jump ’n’ Jive ..................Cast iv JITTERBUG JULIET ACT ONE Scene One 1 AT RISE: In the dance hall. MUSIC CUE 1: “We Got It All in Our Town– Prologue.” The NARRATOR ENTERS, crosses to CENTER. She carries a copy of the script. As she begins, the rest of the CAST ENTERS from RIGHT and LEFT. As the NARRATOR speaks, she moves DOWN RIGHT 5 to give room to the first group. NARRATOR: (Speaks.) In Venice Beach, where we do set this tale, an ancient grudge does threaten to prevail. As students gather to rehearse a play, and others come to dance the night away, when they find their schedules do compete, there, a pair of star-cross’d 10 lovers meet. CAST: (Sings.) Come on and join the masquerade, A Romeo and Juliet cavalcade, The big band forties and the hit parade. We got it all in our town! 15 GIRLS: (Sing.) Come on along, now take a ride. Swing a little, sway a little side by side, BOYS: (Sing.) Jitterbug, boogie woogie, slip ’n’ slide, ALL: (Sing.) We got it all in our town! GIRLS: (Sing.) There’s Romeo and Juliet, 20 BOYS: (Sing.) Montague and Capulet, GIRLS: (Sing.) Benvolio and Tybalt, too. ALL: (Sing.) We got ’em all for you, you bet! Come on along, don’t hesitate. There’s one thing sure to aggravate. 25 When the curtain goes up don’t walk in late. We got a jail in our town! Our town! Our town! (MUSIC UNDER following dialogue.) NARRATOR: (As the NARRATOR speaks, each character moves to CENTER and presents themselves and then moves RIGHT and LEFT 30 to make room for the next character. MR. MONTAGUE and MR. CAPULET move CENTER. Speaks.) Here, Montague and Capulet we see, once loving friends, now bitter enemies. (RON and JULIET move CENTER.) And now doth come the son of Montague. His name is Ron, just home from N.Y.U. He soon will look with love 35 on Juliet, unaware that she’s a Capulet. (The ACTORS and BETTY move CENTER.) Now actors, Shakespeare’s words will bring alive… (The DANCERS take CENTER STAGE.) …as dancers kick up heels to jump ’n’ jive! (BRAD GREGORY, SPIDER JOHNSON, the MAYOR, the 1 1 YES PEOPLE and JUDY move CENTER.) But foul play is brewing here about with evil villains moving in and out. (The NARRATOR moves CENTER.) Our play is cast and now the scene is set. Make ready, dear friends, for Jitterbug Juliet! (MUSIC UP.) 5 ALL: (Sing.) Come on and join the masquerade, A Romeo and Juliet cavalcade, The big band forties and the hit parade. We got it all in our town! GIRLS: (Sing.) Come on along, now take a ride. 10 Swing a little, sway a little side by side. BOYS: (Sing.) Jitterbug, boogie woogie, slip ’n’ slide, ALL: (Sing.) We got it all in our town! Our town! Our town! Our town! Our town! 15 We got it all in our town! (MUSIC OUT. The CAST EXITS.) MR. MONTAGUE: (Immediately, loud, from OFF RIGHT. ENTERS RIGHT as he speaks, followed closely by BETTY, a slight woman with large glasses who is meek and quiet.) What do you mean, we’re double booked? 20 BETTY: Well, sir, it seems your son has booked the Verona Room for his dance contest tonight and, and… MR. MONTAGUE: (Waits.) And what?! BETTY: (Sheepish.) Well, Mr. Capulet had already booked the room for his final rehearsal. 25 MR. MONTAGUE: (Yells.) Capulet! I told you never to mention that name again. BETTY: I’m sorry, sir. But you did ask. MR. MONTAGUE: Fine. Call Cap… you know who, and tell him his rehearsal is canceled. (As he says this, BRAD GREGORY ENTERS 30 LEFT. He is carrying a briefcase and some papers. BRAD hears the last line.) BRAD: Whoa. Now just a minute, boss. I know you don’t like Mr. Cap— MR. MONTAGUE: Don’t say that name! BRAD: Okay, okay. I know you don’t like… (Thinks.) Mr. C, but we made 35 a deal with the city council. The play is a benefit for the veterans of the war, and they’re counting on that money. BETTY: Sir, the mayor told you not to fight anymore with… (Timidly.) … you-know-who. MR. MONTAGUE: (Yells.) I know what the mayor told me. But our 40 dance contest will also help pay for the Veteran’s Center. (Bites his thumb. As he does, his son RON comes in LEFT.) 2 1 RON: Dad, are you biting your thumb? MR. MONTAGUE: (Startled.) What? (Takes his thumb out and looks at it.) Yes, I suppose I am. RON: Are you biting it at me? ’Cause you only do that when you’re 5 upset. MR. MONTAGUE: No, I’m not biting it at you. It’s those darn Capulets. (Realizes what he has said.) Arrggghhh, I’ve said it again. MAYOR: (ENTERS RIGHT. She is followed by the YES PEOPLE.