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Plays and Musicals for All Audiences and Theatre Groups, Amateur, Educational, Professional, and Religious

At Canossa: The Pope, The Emperor, and the Marchioness

At Canossa: The Pope, The Emperor, and the Marchioness

by Eric Samuelsen

It is 1077. The Holy Roman Emperor, The Pope, the Abbot of Cluny, and the Marchioness of Tuscany. A schism presents itself, the fracture of a Church that may be even greater than the one with Byzantium. Will there be war? Will it further divide the Kingdom of God and the region of Europe? Does the contrition of an Emperor mean that The Holy Roman Empire will endure, even through bribes, scandal, celibacy, crusades? Who will prevail: German, Roman, Tuscan, Swabian, Englander, Norman, Aragonese, Catalan, Provencal? This crossroads of history may have been the first sexual revolution — in minutiae — the beginnings behind the Crusades, the results of William conquering Anglo-Saxon England, and the foment of the roar of a Church heard around the world. A Marchioness fights to have a choice in marriage. An Emperor longs to have control over an empire. An Abbot strives to keep the Church (and its followers) pure through celibacy. And Pope Gregory tries to balance the things of God where balance may not be possible.

This is a hard hitting, adult play with themes and language meant for mature audiences.

PLAY DETAILS:

  • 3m 1f
    • Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor—27 when these events took place. At the peak of his powers, a good deal smarter than he looks.
      Pope Gregory VII, formerly, the monk Hildebrand—his birth year is disputed, but he was at least 49 when these events took place, and could have been as old as 62. Ascetic, bitter, uncompromising.
      Hugh of Cluny—Abbot of Cluny, later St. Hugh The Great. 53 when these events took place.
      Matilda of Canossa, Marchioness of Tuscany—31, recently and happily widowed from Godfrey The Hunchback, who she had assassinated.
  • Period or modern costumes (1077 AD)
  • Exterior of Matilda’s castle, maybe a garden
  • About 90 minutes
  • ORDER #3283
  • This is hard hitting subject matter that may best be handled and viewed by mature individuals.
  • PART OF THE PREMIERE PLAY FILE

As of the current date, the WORLD PREMIERE  rights are available for producers interested in PREMIERING this new musical.

PERUSAL MATERIALS:

  • A copy of the PERUSAL SCRIPT (in PDF format) which contains half of the script of the play is available, (it also has an extensive Author’s Note.):  At Canossa PERUSAL

PRODUCTION/REHEARSAL MATERIALS:

(Any PDF purchased will be emailed to your email address — if you need to provide that to us (not the one on your PayPal account?), email us. CDs will be mailed to a snail mail address. Do not purchase rehearsal materials or pay for royalties until you have performance clearance.)

  • Script in PDF format  — Order #3283a : $25.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
    (Please email us)
  • First Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3283d : $70
    (Please email us)
  • Second Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3283e : $60
    (Please email us)
  • Professional Royalties will be quoted upon application
  • EMAIL us for rights and information. Be sure to give us anticipated performance dates and the address of your group and, if different, your theatre. Please also include a contact name and phone number.



PRODUCTIONS

  • Premiered ––  maybe by your theatre, company, or group?

BILLING CREDITS

The following is how the credits should read in all programs, posters, fliers, handbills and other promotional advertising for the show:

At Canossa: The Pope, The Emperor, and the Marchioness
A New Play

by
Eric Samuelsen

NOTE: The names of the Playwright(s), Composer, Lyricist, and Bookwriter shall be equal in size, type, coloring, boldness, and prominence. No billing shall appear in type larger or more prominent than the billing to the Authors except for the title of the play. (In a press release all type, will of course, be the same size.)

ALSO:

THIS NOTICE MUST APPEAR IN ALL PROGRAMS, ON ALL POSTERS AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS AND INTERNET ADVERTISING/WEBPAGES FOR THE PLAY:
“At Canossa: The Pope, The Emperor, and the Marchioness is presented through special arrangement with Leicester Bay Theatricals.  All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”