Written and Arranged by Chip Deffaa
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
(For Professional, College/University, Community production)
ASCAP award-winner Chip Deffaa–creator of such acclaimed solo shows as George M. Cohan Tonight! and One Night with Fanny Brice –has now written Irving Berlin: In Person.
Berlin was a small boy when his family–with little more than the clothes they were wearing–fled Russia to escape religious persecution. He never had much formal education. He never learned to read or write music. But he gave the world songs that will live forever. This is the first one-man show ever to be written and published about Irving Berlin. For a strong triple-threat performer, it’s a wonderful showcase. This dynamic solo show includes 40 Berlin songs–some famous, some rarities and rediscoveries; all irresistible.
Irving Berlin was the most successful single songwriter in history. He wrote more hits, and made more money, than any of his colleagues. He worked with–and wrote for–the greatest entertainers of the 20th century. In many ways, his life is a quintessential American success story.
But, if truth be told, he was a complex man; and his life was often far from happy. Now, for the first time, his life story is being told–forthrightly and frankly, and set to his own unforgettable music–in a vivid one-man show. Featuring 40 terrific Berlin songs.
This candid portrait of an inconic American songwriter–a terrfic showcase for an outstanding singer/dancer/actor–is the first one-man show about Irving Berlin. We’re taking inquiries now from those who might be interested in presenting or performing this dynamic solo show.
PLAY DETAILS
- 1M 1PianoPlayer
- About 90 mins
- Open Stage with props and furniture
- ORDER #3115
PERUSAL MATERIALS
- A PDF PERUSAL PAGES file is available IrvinBerlinInPersonPERUSAL It contains the first half of the script.
- SONG LIST
(Unless otherwise indicated, numbers are sung by Jed Peterson with accompaniment by Richard Danley.)- 1. “AFTER YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT YOU DON’T WANT IT” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 2. “SAY IT WITH MUSIC” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 3. “EVERYTHING IN AMERICA IS RAGTIME” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 4. “ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 5. “PIANO MAN” (words by Irving Berlin, music by Ted Snyder)
- 6. “I LOVE A PIANO” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 7. “THE DYING RAG” (words by Irving Berlin, music by Bernie Adler)
- 8. “I BEG YOUR PARDON, DEAR OLD BROADWAY” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 9. “THE SCHOOLHOUSE BLUES” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 10 “EVERYBODY’S DOIN’ IT NOW” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 11 “STOP STOP STOP” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 12 “DO YOUR DUTY, DOCTOR” (words by Irving Berlin, music by Ted Snyder)
- 13 “MY WIFE’S GONE TO THE COUNTRY” (words by George Whiting and Irving Berlin, music by Ted Snyder)
- 14. “TELL ME, LITTLE GYPSY” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 15. “IN A COZY KITCHENETTE APARTMENT” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 16 “SMILE AND SHOW YOUR DIMPLE” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 17. “ALWAYS TREAT HER LIKE A BABY” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 18. “WHEN I LOST YOU” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 19 “WE’RE ON OUR WAY TO FRANCE” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 20 “BRING ON THE PEPPER” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 21 “SMILE AND SHOW YOUR DIMPLE”-reprise (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 22. “A PRETTY GIRL IS LIKE A MELODY” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 23 “SOMEONE ELSE MAY BE THERE WHILE I’M GONE” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 24 “THIS IS THE LIFE” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 25 “MANDY” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 26 “WILD CHERRIES” (also known as “Wild Cherry Rag”) (words by Irving Berlin, music by Ted Snyder, 1909)
- 27 “WHEN THE MIDNIGHT CHOO CHOO LEAVES FOR ALABAM’” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 28. “YOU’D BE SURPRISED” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 29. “THE INTERNATIONAL RAG” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 30. “I’M GONNA PIN A MEDAL ON THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 31. “OH, HOW I HATE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 32. “LADY OF THE EVENING” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 33. “MONTMARTRE” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 34. “EVERYBODY STEP” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
- 35. Bows music: “SAY IT WITH MUSIC” (instrumental) (music by Irving Berlin)… Richard Danley, piano
- 36. Encore: “PLAY A SIMPLE MELODY”/“MUSICAL DEMON” (words and music by Irving Berlin)… sung by Jed Peterson and Hawkins Gardow
- 37. Exit Music: “PIANO MAN” (instrumental) (music by Ted Snyder)… Richard Danley, piano
- 1. “AFTER YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT YOU DON’T WANT IT” (words and music by Irving Berlin)
DEMO SAMPLES (Selected and edited cuts from the Original Cast Album: “IRVING BERLIN: In Person”)
- You can purchase the Concept Album with Jed Peterson HERE
- You can purchase the Original Cast Album Jon Petersen HERE.
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)
- 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 #3115a : $25.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- Vocal Book in PDF format — NO VOCAL BOOK AVAILABLE FOR THIS PRODUCTION
- Piano-Vocal Score in PDF format — Order #3115c : $25.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- First Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3115d : Royalty terms quoted on application.
- Second Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3115e : Royalty terms quoted on application.
- Professional Royalties will be quoted upon application.
PRODUCTIONS
- 13th Street Repertory Theatre, NYC — Staged Reading 2014
BILLING CREDITS
The following is how the credits should read in all programs, posters, fliers, handbills and other promotional advertising for the show:
IRVING BERLIN: IN PERSON
Written and Arranged by
CHIP DEFFAA
Music and Lyrics by
IRVING BERLIN
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.
ALSO:
THIS NOTICE MUST APPEAR IN ALL PROGRAMS, ON ALL POSTERS AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS AND INTERNET ADVERTISING/WEBPAGES FOR THE PLAY:
“Irving Berlin: In Person is presented through special arrangement with Leicester Bay Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”
Available from
