13 (musical)

13 is a musical with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn.

13
2008 Original Broadway Cast Recording
MusicJason Robert Brown
LyricsJason Robert Brown
BookDan Elish
Robert Horn
Productions2007 Los Angeles
2008 Goodspeed Musicals
2008 Broadway
2012 London
2019 Mexico

Following a move from New York City to small-town Indiana, young Evan Goldman grapples with his parents' divorce, prepares for his impending Bar Mitzvah, and navigates the complicated social circles of a new school. 13 is the only Broadway musical ever with a cast and band entirely made of teenagers. It originally began previews on September 16, 2008 and officially opened on October 5, 2008 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

The Broadway production closed on January 4, 2009 after a total of 105 performances. The show was directed by Jeremy Sams and starred Graham Phillips as Evan Goldman and Allie Trimm as Patrice. It also starred Corey Snide as Evan on the matinee performances, Aaron Simon Gross as Archie Walker, Eric Nelsen as Brett Samson, and Delaney Moro as Kendra. The 2008 Broadway production is notable for being the professional debuts of Ariana Grande and Elizabeth Gillies, who would later go on to star together in the Nickelodeon television series Victorious.

Plot synopsis

Twelve-year-old New Yorker Evan Goldman is soon to have his Bar Mitzvah. He wants his party to be amazing, but that might not happen because his parents are splitting up as his father starts to fall in love with a stewardess, causing his mother to file a divorce against her husband ("Thirteen/Becoming A Man"). Just as Evan thinks that maybe things will be fine, his mother calls to tell him they are moving to Appleton, Indiana. Once there, Evan finds a friend in his neighbor, Patrice, who develops a crush on Evan while telling him about Appleton, Indiana ("The Lamest Place in the World").

Later that month, Evan meets Brett Sampson, the most popular kid in school, along with his goons, Malcolm and Eddie, and tells Brett and his friends to take Kendra, a very pretty girl whom Brett wants to date, to a scary movie where Brett can do "The Tongue". Brett nicknames Evan "Brain" because of his idea. Later, Brett asks out Kendra, but Lucy, her jealous friend who has a crush on Brett, tries to tell Kendra she can't go ("Hey, Kendra"). When Brett tells Evan that the idea seems to have worked, Evan is thrilled; this means that Brett will come to his Bar Mitzvah, and if Brett comes, everyone else will come. Patrice, however, is displeased. If she goes to the Bar Mitzvah, nobody else will go because the other kids don't like her and Evan will be viewed as "uncool" for hanging out with her. Evan does not think that it will be that bad, but when he hands out the invitations, he sees that Patrice is right, and in a moment of panic, rips up her invitation so the popular kids will come ("13 (Reprise)"). As the other kids express their excitement over Evan's party, Archie, a boy with muscular dystrophy, enters and introduces himself. He is upset at Evan for humiliating Patrice – his best and only friend – but promises to help make it up to her if Evan gets him a date with Kendra. When Archie's attempts to use his degenerative illness to guilt Evan into getting him the date do not work, Archie tries to convince him that Evan is the only one who can get Archie the date and if he doesn't, Archie will show up to Evan's Bar Mitzvah and ruin it ("Get Me What I Need"). Evan finally relents. Later, at cheerleading practice, Kendra teaches a new cheer while Lucy resolves to make Brett her boyfriend ("Opportunity"). Archie tries to talk Patrice into giving Evan a second chance, especially since she has a crush on him, but she has lost faith in him and is still upset at what he did to her ("What It Means To Be A Friend").

In class, Brett tells Evan to get his mother to buy them all tickets to "The Bloodmaster." Evan protests that his mother will not buy them tickets to an R-rated movie, but Brett points out that if she doesn't, nobody will go to his Bar Mitzvah and Evan will be uncool. Evan cycles through possible plans, eventually realizing that he will have Archie use his illness to guilt Evan's mother ("All Hail the Brain/Terminal Illness"). To make things better with Patrice, Evan asks her to go to the movie with him as a date. He then realizes that he "just set Brett and Archie up to be on dates with the same girl, on the same night, in the same place...." Evan makes Archie promise to do nothing more than sit next to Kendra so as not to screw up Brett's date. Archie agrees, and everyone prepares for Friday night ("Getting Ready").

Everyone gets to the movie and Brett prepares for "The Tongue." Lucy is on "Tongue Patrol" and Kendra waits for it along with Eddie and Malcolm. Amidst it all, Patrice is upset because Evan is not sitting with her; he is saving a seat for Archie ("Any Minute"). When Archie gets there, he pokes Brett with a crutch, and panic ensues: Archie squeezes his face, closes his eyes, and goes in to kiss Kendra, while Brett at the same time, turns his head, sticks out his tongue, and goes in for the kiss. Evan sees, and as he mouths "Nooooo!", reaches to pull Kendra back, while Lucy reaches for Kendra, too, but only so she can stop Kendra from getting the tongue. When Brett and Archie don't realize that Kendra is out of their way, their mouths meet. Kendra knees Brett in the crotch, trying to stop him from hurting Evan or Archie, after Archie reveals how Evan set him up on a date with Kendra. Brett breaks up with Kendra, and Lucy asks if Brett's "tongue is still available." Meanwhile, Evan is left alone by Patrice ("Good Enough").

As Lucy and Brett begin dating, she forces him to spend more time with her. Brett's friends recognize that Lucy is good neither for Brett nor for them at all ("Bad News"). Evan promises to help to get Brett and Kendra back together so that he can get back on everyone's good side. Archie, fearing that this is a lost cause, begs Patrice to help Evan. She tells Archie she is not going, but he knows she's lying. When Patrice gets there, she surprises Evan by helping him help Brett, but instead of telling Brett what to say to Kendra, they end up telling each other that they are sorry, but Brett is oblivious ("Tell Her"). Brett takes their advice, and when he learns that Lucy and Kendra are fighting over him, he interferes and makes a feeble attempt to get Kendra back, and to his surprise, she forgives him. Meanwhile, Lucy learns of it and won't take the hit. She spreads a rumor that Kendra is cheating on Brett with Evan, and then gets Evan and Kendra in the same place so that Brett can catch them ("It Can't Be True"). Her plan works, and Brett lashes out at Evan. Evan, finally having enough of Brett, stands up to him and says that Archie and Patrice are his real friends. After Brett insults Archie and Patrice, Evan shoves him, and Brett punches him in the nose, giving him a nosebleed. Patrice immediately rushes to Evan's aid. Kendra shows kindness towards Archie before running after Brett. Evan wants to call off the Bar Mitzvah because it would only be him, Patrice, and Archie, but Patrice and Archie point out it that won't be that bad, and Evan starts to agree. He surprises Patrice with a kiss, and she surprises him back ("If That's What It Is"). Evan has his Bar Mitzvah after all; he is starting to understand what growing up means, and the characters tell of what surprises turning thirteen brought for each of them ("A Little More Homework"). Evan tells the audience that he is "thirteen years old. And [he's] just getting started."

An encore is performed to end the show and the band is brought onstage ("Brand New You").

Musical numbers
  • "13/Becoming a Man" – Evan and Company
  • "The Lamest Place in the World" – Patrice
  • "Hey Kendra" – Brett, Malcolm, Eddie, Lucy, and Kendra
  • "Get Me What I Need" – Archie and Company
  • "Opportunity" – Lucy and Cheerleaders
  • "What It Means to Be a Friend" – Patrice
  • "All Hail the Brain" – Evan
  • "Terminal Illness" – Evan, Archie, and Company
  • "Getting Ready" – Archie, Evan, Lucy, Kendra, Brett, and Company
  • "Any Minute" – Brett, Kendra, Patrice, and Archie
  • "Good Enough" – Patrice
  • "Being a Geek" – Evan, Rabbi, and Rabbis
  • "Bad News" – Eddie, Malcolm, Simon, and Richie
  • "Tell Her" – Evan and Patrice
  • "It Can't Be True" – Lucy, Molly, Cassie, Charlotte, and Company
  • "If That's What It Is" – Archie, Patrice, and Evan
  • "A Little More Homework" – Evan and Company
  • "Brand New You" – Cassie, Charlotte, Molly, and Company

"Good Enough" was included in the Original Broadway Production, but was not on the Cast Recording.

"Opportunity" and "Here I Come" were both included on the Original Broadway Cast Recording, but were cut from the production before opening night. The song "Here I Come" originally came after "Good Enough", followed by "Opportunity", which was retooled and included in the MTI Version with new lyrics and a new spot in the show. "Being a Geek" was likewise not included in the Original Broadway Production, but took the place of "Here I Come" in the MTI Version.

Characters and original cast
13 the Musical
Character Description Original Broadway Cast[1][2] Original West End Cast[3]
Evan Goldman An almost thirteen-year-old Jewish city boy from New York City who tries to fit in at his new school in Indiana. Graham Phillips (Corey Snide on matinee performances.) Guy Harvey
Patrice A somewhat bookish girl. She is the first person Evan meets and they soon become friends. She has a crush on Evan. Allie Trimm Sienna Kelly
Archie A boy who's unpopular and is only friends with Patrice. He walks on crutches as the result of muscular dystrophy. Madly in love with Kendra. Aaron Simon Gross Tim Mahendran
Brett The popular football kid who all the cheerleaders have big crushes on. Not very smart at all. Eric Nelsen Jacques Miché
Kendra The head cheerleader in school. She has a major crush on Brett and they are an on-and-off couple. Delaney Moro Hannah Thompson
Lucy Kendra's best friend, who shouldn't be trusted by anyone. She also has a huge crush on Brett and tries to get Brett to break up with Kendra so she can start dating him. Elizabeth Gillies Georgia Riley
Eddie Brett's goons. Wannabes who flank him constantly. Al Calderon Jack Cashion
Malcolm Malik Hammond Robin Franklin
Molly Cheerleaders and friends of Kendra. Caitlin Gann Lindsay Kearns
Charlotte Ariana Grande Lauren Ellington
Cassie Brynn Williams Amara Okereke
Simon Other boys in the school. Joey La Varco Toby Turpin
Richie Eamon Foley Sario Watanabe-Solomon

Productions

Los Angeles

The musical premiered on January 7, 2007 at The Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, California, and ran through February 18, 2007. The production was directed by Todd Graff, with choreography by Michele Lynch, and the cast and band were all teenagers.[4] This production received a nomination for the 2007 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, World Premiere Musical.[5] The cast and band for the Mark Taper Forum production: Ricky Ashley, Caitlin Baunoch, Molly Bernstein, Jenáe Burrows, Emma Degerstedt, Jamie Eblen, Julia Harriman, Jordan Johnson, Tinashe Kachingwe, Tyler Mann, Sara Niemietz, Ryan Ogburn, J.D. Phillips, Ellington Ratliff, Chris Raymond, Charlie Rosen, Alex Scolari, Chloé Smith, Christian Vandal, Nehemiah Williams and Seth Zibalese.[4]

Goodspeed

The musical was next presented at the Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Connecticut, by Goodspeed Musicals from May 9, 2008 through June 8, 2008, with direction by Jeremy Sams and choreography by Christopher Gattelli. It starred most of the original Broadway cast, except that it featured Ashton Smalling as Kendra, Taylor Bright as Cassie, Matthew McGinn as Eddie and Kyle Crews as Malcolm.[6]

Broadway

The musical opened on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on September 16, 2008 in previews, with an official opening on October 5, 2008 and closed on January 4, 2009 after 105 performances and 22 previews.[7] The director and choreographer were the same as at Goodspeed, and most of the Broadway cast was also in the Goodspeed production (except Moro, Hammond and Williams). There was a teen band, as in prior productions.[8] The production received one Drama Desk Award nomination, for Outstanding Lyrics by Brown. 13 is the first and only all Teenager Cast and Band to ever hit Broadway.

Post-Broadway productions

Revivals featuring revisions to the show made by Brown, Dan Elish and Robert Horn were staged at French Woods Performing Arts Camp in summer 2009, Theatre Under the Stars, Houston, in the fall 2009, and Indian Head camp in summer 2010.[9] In 2010, Ransom Everglades Theatre staged a revival in Miami from March 19–22, directed and choreographed by Angelica Torres.

The musical opened Off-Broadway at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre on April 23, 2011, in a production by the Children's Acting Company. This six-performance engagement used the revisions by Brown, Elish and Horn.[9]

13 had its first production in Seattle at Nathan Eckstein Middle School in May 2010. It was produced the following year by Broadway Bound Children's Theatre at ACT Theatre in Seattle Washington, under the direction of the company's artistic director, Jimmy Nixon. It was performed twice by that company, first in December 2011, and later in July 2015. In 2009–2010, show was performed in several productions in Jerusalem, Israel.[10][11]

The first UK production of 13 was given by The Rival Theatre company at Cecil Hepworth playhouse in April 2010. Jason Robert Brown gave his blessing and a quote for the poster. Riverside Theatre Company of Cambridgeshire and very closely followed by Young Performers Theatre Company, of Shrewsbury, both in June 2010. The West End production of 13, by the National Youth Music Theatre, premiered at the Apollo Theatre in Westminster, London on August 22, 2012 and ran for 6 performances. The production was directed by Jason Robert Brown. As with the Broadway production, the cast were all teenagers. A West End cast recording was made at Sphere Recording Studios in Battersea, London[12] and released on December 18, 2012.[13][14]

In 2011, Theatre Noir presented the first Hong Kong productions in both English and Cantonese.[15] The premiere of the Cantonese version took place at Jockey Club Auditorium, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 7 October 2011.[16] In September 2014, Theatre Noir presented a re-run in both English and Cantonese in Yuen Long Theatre.

In March 2012, 13 made its South Australian debut when it was performed by Adelaide Youth Theatre for the Adelaide Fringe Festival at the Adelaide College of the Arts. It was directed by Rodney Hutton and musically directed by Michelle Nightingale.[17]

A West Australian production of 13 opened on February 4, 2015 as part of the Fringeworld Festival. Presented by Playlovers at Hackett Hall, Floreat, it was directed by Kimberley Shaw with musical direction by Stepnhen Beerkens and Madeleine Shaw.[18][19][20] In December 2013, a Flemish/Dutch version was mounted by Jeugdtheater Ondersteboven, a youth theatre company in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium.[21]

Film adaptation

In 2014, CBS Films announced that they intended to produce a film adaption of the musical.[22] The screenplay was expected to be written by Bert V. Royal, with producers Laurence Mark, Bob Boyett and executive producer David Blackman. Jason Robert Brown is expected to oversee the adaptation's music and lyrics.[23]

However, in 2019 it was announced that 13 would become a Netflix original film with Neil Meron producing. The screenplay is now expected to be written by Robert Horn and directed by Tamra Davis.[24]

References
  1. "13: Opening Night Cast". Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Playbill. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  2. "Playbill Vault". Musical 13. Playbill Vault. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  3. "13: Opening Night Cast". National Youth Music Theatre. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  4. Hernandez, Ernio."Middle School Musical: Jason Robert Brown's '13' Opens in Los Angeles" Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, January 7, 2007
  5. Hernandez, Ernio."Kaye, Fishburne, Felder Among Nominees for 2007 L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Awards" Archived 2012-10-19 at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, September 24, 2007
  6. Jones, Kenneth. "Teen Time! Cast Announced for Goodspeed Run of '13' Musical" Archived 2008-05-02 at the Wayback Machine, playbill.com, April 22, 2008
  7. Gans, Andrew and Kenneth Jones. "New Musical 13 to Close on Broadway in January 2009" Archived 2008-12-16 at the Wayback Machine, playbill.com, November 21, 2008
  8. Jones, Kenneth. "13, A New Musical Comes of Age on Broadway Sept. 16" Archived 2008-09-18 at the Wayback Machine, Playbill.com, September 16, 2008
  9. Hetrick, Adam. After Broadway Growing Pains, 13 The Musical Returns to NYC in Revised Version April 23" Archived 2011-04-27 at the Wayback Machine, playbill.com, April 23, 2011
  10. Dekel, Ayelet. "13 Mania Grips Jerusalem", MidnightEast.com, March 1, 2010
  11. "Avi Chai". World News.
  12. Shenton, Mark (30 August 2012). "U.K. Company of Jason Robert Brown's 13 Records Cast Album". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2014-07-18. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  13. "13: The Musical (Original West End Cast Recording) by Jason Robert Brown". 18 December 2012.
  14. "13 (Original West End Cast Recording)". Ghostlight Records. Archived from the original on 2014-07-12. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  15. "13". www.theatre-noir.hk.
  16. "《13》音樂劇 - Timable". Timable.
  17. ""13" the musical". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2019-01-11.
  18. Chris Eaton. "New Adelaide Theatre Guide: South Australia's Only Comprehensive Internet Guide to Local Arts". Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  19. Clayton, Kym. "13 - A New Musical". www.thebarefootreview.com.au.
  20. "13 – A New Musical | BankSA Talk Fringe". Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  21. Jeugdtheater Ondersteboven vzw, Production details for first dutch performance.
  22. Gioia, Michael (12 August 2014). "Teenage Dream! CBS Films Will Bring Jason Robert Brown's 13 to the Big Screen". Playbill. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  23. Kit, Borys (12 August 2014). "CBS Films Bringing Musical '13' to Big Screen". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  24. McPhee, Ryan. "Netflix Adaptation Jason Robert Brown Musical 13 in the Works" Playbill, September 20, 2019
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