Book, Music and Lyrics by James G. Lambert and C. Michael Perry
(For production by Professional Groups, College/University Groups, Community Groups, High Schools, LDS & Other Church Groups, Youth Theatres)
A musical drama, biographical in nature, yet full of life, romance, beautiful music, energetic dances, with problems and solutions unique to Latter-Day-Saint culture of the period between 1830 and 1848. It is the story of Jedediah Grant as told by his namesake, Jedediah Smith. This story is basically true and generally historically accurate, certain events have been telescoped in the interest of dramatic license. The characters of Salina Wells, the Westbridges, (William Blodgett and the Weems’ in the full version) are composites of several people of the era. All the other characters herein were real people and the events portrayed actually happened. Some license was taken with ages and characterizations in the interest of contrast and humor, however, the authors intend no disrespect to the individuals or their posterity and regard them and their lives with great awe and respect. Their accomplishments, their strength of character and their perseverance in the face of uncommon trials, depredations and hardships has few equals in the history of man. Thus, to their memory, this play is respectfully dedicated by the authors. It is best suited to a small cast of 10 without a chorus. If a chorus is desired it could be worked in to the script as written, but we may also have a 2 hour version that could be prepared for your production which adds a few roles and songs and scenes PLUS a chorus.
The show comes in 2 versions — a ONE HOUR VERSION and a TWO HOUR VERSION. Both are listed on this page. Just scroll until you get there.
Available for ALL producing groups.
One Hour Version (Now Available)
CAST:
5w 5m
ACTOR 1 — JEDEDIAH SMITH — About age 40 — Frontiersman — Baritone
ACTOR 2 — JEDEDIAH GRANT — Ages 17-32 — Pioneer Leader — Tenor
ACTOR 3 — CAROLINE VAN DYKE — Ages 15-29 — Frail, Loving Wife — Soprano
ACTOR 4 — JOHN TAYLOR — 30’s — Spare & Austere — Baritone
& BATES NOBLE — 40’s — Rough & Rugged — Baritone
ACTOR 5 — JOHN YOUNG — Early 20’s — Energetic & Youthful — Dance/Bar.
ACTOR 6 — MYRA WESTBRIDGE — Mid 40’s — Large & Bombastic — Mezzo
ACTOR 7 — SOLOMON WESTBRIDGE — Early 20’s — Rugged Appearance — Dancer/Ens.
ACTOR 8 — ROSETTA ROBINSON — 20’s — Spinsterish, But Nice — Soprano
ACTOR 9 — SALINA WELLS — Early 20’s — Determinedly Shy — Ensemble
ACTOR 10 — SUSAN NOBLE — Teens — Spirited Beauty — Contralto
PERUSAL MATERIALS
- (#2002)ONE HOUR VERSION: The PERUSAL PAGES file is in PDF format and contains the first half of this musical: Jedediah1hrPERUSAL This version had a rip-snortin’ production at Jedediah’s Outdoor Chuckwagon and Show in the summer of 1982, where it filled houses all summer long. (It’s fast and fun!)
SONG LIST (One Hour Version)
- PROLOGUE
- #1 JEDEDIAH SMITH, GRANT & ENSEMBLE
- SCENE ONE-Windsor, New York-1830
- #2 JEDEDIAH (Reprise #1) SMITH
- #2a JEDEDIAH (Tag) FULL ENSEMBLE
- #3 I HAVE A DREAM YOUNG GRANT & CAROLINE
- SCENE TWO-Kirtland, Ohio, 1837
- #4 JEDEDIAH (Reprise #2) SMITH
- #5 BY MY SIDE GRANT, CAROLINE & ENSEMBLE
- SCENE THREE-Nauvoo, Illinois, June 1846
- #6 ALLEMANDE WIFE SOLOMON, BLODGETT, YOUNG & GRANT
- #7 ALLEMANDE WIFE (Reprise) GRANT
- #8 POOR THINGS FULL ENSEMBLE
- #8a POOR THINGS (Tag) FULL ENSEMBLE
- SCENE FIVE-Laramie, Wyoming, July 1847
- #9 WESTWARD TO UTAH SMITH
- #10 FRIENDS SUSAN & ROSETTA
- SCENE SIX-Fort Bridger, Wyoming, August 1847
- #11 WESTWARD TO UTAH (Reprise) SMITH
- #12 LULLABY CAROLINE
- #12a LULLABY (Reprise) GRANT
- #13 BURIAL CHIMES INSTRUMENTAL
- #14 JEDEDIAH (Reprise #3) SMITH & CAROLINE
- SCENE SEVEN-Salt Lake City, Utah, November 1847
- #15 ALLEMANDE LIFE BATES, YOUNG & GRANT
- SCENE EIGHT-Salt Lake City, Utah, August 1848
- #16 WOULD IT BE YOU? SUSAN & YOUNG
- #17 JEDEDIAH (Finale) FULL ENSEMBLE
- #18 CURTAIN CALL & EXIT MUSIC INSTRUMENTAL
SONG SAMPLES mp3 Files (1 hour version — Author’s demo; not the entire version of the song.)
REHEARSAL MATERIALS NOW AVAILABLE:
- Script in PDF format — Order #2002a : $20.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- Vocal Book in PDF format — Order #2002b : $15.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- Piano-Vocal Score in PDF format — Order #2002c : $20.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- First Performance Ward/Stake/Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #2002d : $65.00 (for the first or only performance)
- Second Performance Ward/Stake/Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #2002e : $50.00 (for each consecutive performance)
- Professional Performance License can be granted by filling out the 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.
PRODUCTIONS:
- Adventure Entertainment & Jedediah’s Outdoor Chuckwagon and Show — 1982
Two Hour Version (Now Available)
This show adds FOUR songs and several new scenes and can be cast with a full chorus in addition to the principals.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
— 10m, 8f + ensemble
JEDEDIAH SMITH — About age 40 — Frontiersman — Baritone
JEDEDIAH GRANT — Ages 17-32 — Pioneer Leader — Tenor
CAROLINE VAN DYKE — Ages 15-29 — Frail, Loving Wife — Soprano
JOHN TAYLOR — 30’s — Spare & Austere — Baritone
BRIGHAM YOUNG — Late 30’s — Powerful & Forceful — Bass
JOHN YOUNG — Early 20’s — Energetic & Youthful — Dance/Bar.
MYRA WESTBRIDGE — Mid 40’s — Large & Bombastic — Mezzo
SOLOMON WESTBRIDGE — Early 20’s — Rugged Appearance — Dancer/Ens.
WILLIAM BLODGETT — Late 20’s — Earnest & Academic — Baritone
ROSETTA ROBINSON — 20’s — Spinsterish, But Nice — Soprano
HARRISON WEEMS — 40’s — Retiring & peaceful — Bass
SARA WEEMS — 40’s — Small & Aggressive — Ensemble
LEONORA TAYLOR — 30’s — Pleasant & Motherly — Ensemble
SALINA WELLS — Early 20’s — Determinedly Shy — Ensemble
SUSAN NOBLE — Teens — Spirited Beauty — Contralto
BATES NOBLE — 40’s — Rough & Rugged — Baritone
CADDY GRANT — 7-8 — Sweet & Adorable — Soprano
HEBER C. KIMBALL — 40s — Imposing personality — Ensemble
Wives, children, townespersons
PERUSAL MATERIALS
- (#2003)TWO HOUR VERSION: The PERUSAL PAGES file is in PDF format and contains the first act of this musical: Jedediah2hrPERUSAL
SCENE & SONG LIST
- PROLOGUE
- #1 JEDEDIAH • SMITH, GRANT & ENSEMBLE
- SCENE ONE- Windsor, New York-1830
- #2 JEDEDIAH Reprise #1 • SMITH
- #2a JEDEDIAH Tag • FULL ENSEMBLE
- #3 I HAVE A DREAM • YOUNG GRANT & CAROLINE
- SCENE TWO-Kirtland, Ohio, 1837
- #4 JEDEDIAH Reprise #2 • SMITH
- #5 HOUSERAISING DANCE • INSTRUMENTAL
- #6 BY MY SIDE • GRANT, CAROLINE & ENSEMBLE
- SCENE THREE-Commerce, Illinois, July 1839
- #7 HOPE FOR TOMMORROW • BRIGHAM,TAYLOR & ENSEMBLE
- SCENE FOUR- Nauvoo, Illinois, July 1846
- #8 JEDEDIAH Reprise #3 SMITH
- #9 ALLEMANDE WIFE • SOLOMON, BLODGETT, YOUNG & GRANT
- #10 ALLEMANDE WIFE Reprise GRANT
- SCENE FIVE-Nauvoo, Illinois, October 1846
- #11 LIVIN’S EASY • BLODGETT
- SCENE SIX-Council Bluffs, Iowa, December 1846
- #12 POOR THINGS • FULL ENSEMBLE
- #13a POOR THINGS Tag • FULL ENSEMBLE
- #13b POOR THINGS Playout • INSTRUMENTAL
- #14 WESTWARD TO UTAH • INSTRUMENTAL
- SCENE SEVEN-Laramie, Wyoming, July 1847
- #14a WESTWARD TO UTAH • SMITH
- #15 FRIENDS • SUSAN & ROSETTA
- SCENE EIGHT-Fort Bridger, Wyoming, August 1847
- #16 WESTWARD TO UTAH Reprise • SMITH
- #17 LULLABY • CAROLINE
- #17a LULLABY Reprise • GRANT
- #18 BURIAL CHIMES • INSTRUMENTAL
- #19 JEDEDIAH Reprise #3 • SMITH & CAROLINE
- SCENE NINE-Salt Lake City, Utah, November 1847
- #20 ALLEMANDE LIFE • BATES, YOUNG & GRANT
- #21 CADDY AND DADDY • CADDY & GRANT
- #22 WHEN LOVE TURNS TO ASHES • SUSAN
- SCENE TEN-Salt Lake City, Utah, August 1848
- #23 WOULD IT BE YOU? • SUSAN & YOUNG
- #24 JEDEDIAH FINALE • FULL ENSEMBLE
- #25 CURTAIN CALL & EXIT MUSIC • INSTRUMENTAL
SONG SAMPLES (in addition to the songs in the One Hour Version Playlist — also Author Demos, not the entire version of the song.)
REHEARSAL MATERIALS AVAILABLE:
- Script in PDF format — Order #2003a : $25.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- Vocal Book in PDF format — Not available for this production
- Piano-Vocal Score in PDF format — Order #2003c : $30.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- First Performance Ward/Stake/Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #2003d : $90.00 (for the first or only performance)
- Second Performance Ward/Stake/Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #2003e : $70.00 (for each consecutive performance)
- Professional Performance License can be granted by filling out the 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.
PRODUCTIONS
Adventure Entertainment & Jedediah’s Chuckwagon and Show — 1982
Sadly, James G. Lambert, longtime friend and collaborator, passed away in 2011. He will be missed by many.
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