Script and all Musical Arrangements by Chip Deffaa
Fanny Brice worked her way up from singing on street corners for pennies as a kid, to burlesque, to Broadway… to becoming America’s highest-paid singing comedienne. She fell for a dashing confidence man, Nicky Arnstein–and when she introduced her immortal “My Man,” the whole country knew she was singing about him.
There’s no better showcase to be found anywhere for a strong triple-threat actress than ONE NIGHT WITH FANNY BRICE. The score mixes fierce torch songs (like “My Man,” “After You’ve Gone,” “Baby Won’t You Please Come Home”) with irresistible comedy numbers (“Second-Hand Rose,” “Oh, How I Hate that Fellow Nathan”), ragtime (“That Mysterious Rag”) and vintage pop (“Lovie Joe,” “Rose of Washington Square”). The actress gets to sing, to dance; to go from laughs to pathos, triumphs to heartbreaks… and back again.
Everyone loves a good rags-to-riches story.
ASCAP award-winner Chip Deffaa’s dynamic one-woman show, ONE NIGHT WITH FANNY BRICE has received rave reviews everywhere. Brice’s story had previously inspired the musical “Funny Girl.” And Defaa’s own THE FANNY BRICE STORY (a large cast musical for Community and Educational theatre performers)
There is some small about of language in the script, but the author has provided a way to edit it out if the theatre company prefers.
PLAY DETAILS:
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- one-woman show
- simple unit set
- 90 minutes
- 60 minute competition/festival version will soon be available
- Piano Accompaniment only (A Violin part is also available)
- Order # 3078
- NOTICE: One small section of the play has a repetition of coarse language that is not entirely family friendly. There is an edit provided in the script, if your company needs that option.
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Available for all production groups!
WINNER! of the CTFEST2018 Connecticut State Play Competition
as produced by Phoenix Stage Company, Ed Bassett, Artistic Director
In The Following Categories:
- Outstanding Production (as directed by Sharon W. Houk)
- Outstanding Solo Performance by Mary Cantoni Johnson
- Best Musical Direction by T. J. Thompson
- Best Lighting Design by Sharon W. Houk
- Special Judges Award for the Development of New Work given to Phoenix Stage Company of Naugatuck, Connecticut.
Congratulations to all! Now on to the New England Regional Play Festival on March 9, 2019!
REVIEWS
As The New York Times noted in its glowing review of ONE NIGHT WITH FANNY BRICE “‘Funny Girl’ was a whitewash. ‘One Night…’ delves deeper into her story.”
Jennifer Farrar of the Associated Press called ONE NIGHT WITH FANNY BRICE “a charming new musical…. Written, directed and arranged by Chip Deffaa, the solo show chronologically covers Brice’s immigrant childhood and long career in show business, and her tumultuous love life with faithless con artist Nick Arnstein. Deffaa has distilled Brice’s busy life and career into a well-paced two-hour show.”
The Washington Examiner proclaimed: “Deffaa’s script neatly describes [Brice’s era], including many details about Fanny’s life, making her rags-to-riches story very credible…..One of the nicest elements of ‘One Night With Fanny Brice’ is the way Deffaa brings Fanny’s historical contemporaries to life: Flo Ziegfeld, Eddie Cantor, Gypsy Rose Lee, Billy Rose, W.C. Fields, Al Jolson and all the lowlifes associated with Nicky Arnstein, Fanny’s one true love.”
The Sun Gazette Newspapers raved: “ONE NIGHT WITH FANNY BRICE delivers what it promises…. This may be as close as devotees will ever get to Fanny Brice.”
And Joe Franklin—Bloomberg Radio–called the show “Fresh and impressive! A true Golden-Age-of-Show-Business love story. The audience was exhilarated! A personal triumph for author Chip Deffaa…”
Critic Daryl Glenn wrote in New York’s Nightlife Exchange of the original Off-Broadway production, “The audience seemed transported.”
PERUSAL MATERIALS
- The PDF PERUSAL PAGES file is available for download ONWFBricePERUSAL
SONG LIST
Act One:
1. “That Mysterious Rag” (words by Irving Berlin, music by Ted Snyder, 1911)
2. “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” (words by Joseph McCarthy, music by Harry Carroll, 1918)
3. “Bill Bailey” (words and music by Hughie Cannon, 1902)
4. “Will You Love Me in December as You Do in May?” (words by James J. Walker, music by Ernest R. Ball, 1905)
5. “I’m Sorry I Made You Cry”—underscore (music by N. J. Clesi, 1918)
6. “When You Know You’re Not Forgotten by the Girl You Can’t Forget” (words by Ed Gardenier, music by J. Fred Helf, 1906)
7. “Be My Little Baby Bumble Bee” (words by Stanley Murphy, music by Henry I. Marshall, 1912)
8. “Be My Little Baby Bumble Bee”–Reprise (words by Stanley Murphy, music by Henry I. Marshall, 1912)
9. “Lovie Joe” (words by Will Marion Cook, music by Joe Jordan, 1910)
10. “Rose of Washington Square” (words by Ballard Macdonald, music by James F. Hanley, 1920)
11. “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows”–Reprise (words by Joseph McCarthy, music by Harry Carroll, 1917)
12. “You Made Me Love You” (words by Joseph McCarthy, music by James V. Monaco, 1913)
13. “Oh! How I Hate that Fellow Nathan” (words by Lew Brown, music by Albert Von Tilzer, 1922)
14. “That Mysterious Rag”–Reprise ( (words by Irving Berlin, music by Ted Snyder, 1911)
Act Two:
15. “Second Hand Rose” (words by Grant Clarke, music by James F. Hanley, 1921)
16. “Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home?” (words and music by Charles Warfield and Clarence Williams, 1919)
17. “Ja-Da” (words and music by Bob Carleton, 1918)
18. “My Man” (English lyrics by Channing Pollack, music by Maurice Yvain, 1921)
19. “My Man”–Reprise (English lyrics by Channing Pollack, music by Maurice Yvain, 1921)
20. “After You’ve Gone” (words by Henry Creamer, music by Turner Layton, 1918)
20 a. “After You’ve Gone” –Underscore (music by Turner Layton, 1918)
20b. “My Man” –Underscore (music by Maurice Yvain, 1921)
21. “Rose of Washington Square”–Reprise (words by Ballard Macdonald, music by James F. Hanley, 1920)
22. Bows: “Rose of Washington Square” (instrumental for curtain calls; music by James F. Hanley. 1920)
23. Exit Music: “I’m Sorry I Made You Cry” (music by N. J. Clesi, 1918)
- 3 DEMO CUTS of the 24 songs from the Original Cast Album are available here (with Pianist, Mark Goodman, and violinist, Jonathan Russel)
- Grizzly Bear
- You Made Me Love You
- Ja-Da
- 3 DEMO CUTS of the 19 songs from the New York Cast Album are available here (with Piano by Mark Goodman, and violin by Jonathan Russel)
- Rose of Washington Square
- Oh! How I Hate that Fellow Nathan
- After You’ve Gone
DEMO SAMPLES
An interesting note concerning the song, ROSE OF WASHINGTON SQUARE, is that the song was written about Rose O’Neill, a beautiful, fabulous and wealthy eccentric who created, among other things, the Kewpie Doll. We have a musical about the story of Rose’s life HERE.
You can purchase the Original Cast Recordings below, or on their own pages:
- Details for purchase of the Original Cast Album for ONE NIGHT WITH FANNY BRICE, starring Kimberly Faye Greenburg, can be found on our site HERE
- Details for purchase of the New York Cast Album for ONE NIGHT WITH FANNY BRICE, starring Mary Cantoni Johnson, is available HERE
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.
PURCHASE 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.)
- Performance License Application: No production rights can be granted until this application is filled out and sent to us. This is a filler form that after you click “SUBMIT” will send directly to our email address. Response averages 2-3 business days.
- Script in PDF format — Order #3078a : $25.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- NO VOCAL BOOK available for this title.
- Piano-Vocal Score Order #3078c : $25.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- First Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3078d : Royalty terms quoted on application.
- Second Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3078e : Royalty terms quoted on application.
- Professional Royalties will be quoted upon application
- Violin Part — Order #3078h: $15.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- Original Cast CD Order#3078g1 — $13.99 (plus shipping and Maine Sales Tax)
- New York Cast Recording on CD Order #3078g2 — $14.99 (plus shipping and Maine Sales Tax)
PRODUCTIONS
- Phoenix Stage Company, Naugatuck, Connecticut — March 9, 2019 (entry into the New England Regional Play Festival where it won the following awards:
- Phoenix Stage Company, Naugatuck, Connecticut — October 2018 (entry in the Connecticut State Theatre Festival — WINNER! See above)
- Square Foot Theatre, Wallingford, Connecticut — November 10, 12, 17,18, 2017 (Starring Mary Cantoni Johnson from the Original New York Cast)
- Armonk Players — March 2016
- Open-Eye Theater, Margaretville, New York (2016)
- Phoenix Stage Company, Naugatuck, Connecticut — August 2015 (PSC2015Photos)
- Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids — January 2015
- Open-Eye Theater, Margaretville, New York (2014)
- The 13th Street Repertory Company, NYC (prolonged run) — 2013 (April & June)
- NYC at St. Luke’s Theater (Off-Broadway) — 2010
- Phoenix Stage Company, Naugatuck, Connecticut — 2010
- American Century Theater, (Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre) Arlington, Virginia — 2010
- Premiere production at the Rosen Theater, Wayne, New Jersey — 2010
Deffaa has also written a colorful full-scale musical, THE FANNY BRICE STORY which has more than two dozen characters; it can be performed by anywhere from 15 players (with some “doubling”) to 40 or more players. That show, too, is published and licensed by Leicester Bay Theatricals. CLICK HERE to view THE FANNY BRICE STORY.
BILLING CREDITS
The following is how the credits should read in all programs, posters, fliers, handbills and other promotional advertising for the show:
One Night With FANNY BRICE
A Solo Musical
Written and Arranged by
Chip Deffaa
With songs from the repertoire of Fanny Brice
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:
“One Night With Fanny Brice is presented through special arrangement with Leicester Bay Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”
From the catalog of