13 (musical)

13
2008 Original Broadway Cast Recording
Music	Jason Robert Brown
Lyrics	Jason Robert Brown
Book	Dan Elish Robert Horn
Productions	2007 Los Angeles 2008 Goodspeed Musicals 2008 Broadway

13 is a musical with lyrics and music by Jason Robert Brown and a book by Dan Elish, with Robert Horn newly joining as co-librettist. The story concerns the life of 13-year-old Evan Goldman as he moves from New York City to Appleton, Indiana, and his dilemma when the move conflicts with the celebration of his Bar Mitzvah. It premiered in 2007 in Los Angeles and transferred to Broadway on September 16, 2008.

Productions

Pre-Broadway

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. The original cast included Tinashe Kachingwe who would later rise to prominence as a pop star in 2010. This production received a nomination for the 2007 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, World Premiere Musical.

The musical was next presented at the Norma Terris Theater in Chester, Connecticut, by Goodspeed Musicals from May 9, 2008 through June 8, 2008, with direction by Jeremy Sams and choreography by Christopher Gattelli.

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. The director and choreographer were as at Goodspeed, and most of the Broadway cast was also in the Goodspeed production (except Moro, Hammond and Williams). There is a teen band, as in prior productions. This production received one Drama Desk Award nomination, for Outstanding Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown.

Off-Broadway

The musical opened Off-Broadway at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre on April 23, 2011, in a production by the Children's Acting Company. This is a six performance engagement featuring revisions made by Brown, Dan Elish and Robert Horn which were performed at French Woods Performing Arts Camp in summer 2009 and Theatre Under the Stars, Houston, in the fall 2009 as well as Indian Head camp in summer of 2010.

First amateur production

In July 2009, the first amateur production of 13 premiered at French Woods Festival, New York. In the last week of production, composer and former French Woods alumnus, Jason Robert Brown worked on the orchestrations and monitored the production. The song "Being a Geek" (and all remaining subplots with the rabbis) from the Los Angeles run was reinserted into the production. This new version was also produced at the Theatre Under the Stars, Houston, Texas, in September 2009, by the Apprentice Conservatory Training at Theatre Under The Stars. In March 2010, it was performed by Moonlight Productions in Georgetown, MA. In Summer 2010, 13 was performed by Stages, a children's theatre company, in East Hampton New York and was repeated in December at the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, NY. And in Summer 2011, it was performed at the Wildfish Theatre in Houston, TX, as well as at the Community Theatre of Howell in Howell, MI. In April 2011 the Rival Youth Theatre Performed the Regional London Premiere of 13 at the Walton Playhouse. It was co-produced by The Rival Theatre Company and Directed by Frazer Brown.

Israel

In 2009-2010, the first production of 13 in Israel occurred in Jerusalem, and surprisingly became an Israeli phenomenon overnight, with three re-mounts in larger venues in Jerusalem as well as national newspaper and television coverage. The production was enhanced by incorporating direction by a teenager and extensive dramaturgy.

Mexico

In the summer of 2010, 13 had it's legitimate World Spanish Premiere in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. It should be noted that it was directed, translated, and performed entirely by teenagers, with all revenue donated to the Mexican Red Cross. Directed and translated by Héctor Flores Komatsu, and choreographed by Pepe Esparza & Brenda D'Granda. Subsequent productions across Mexico and Latin America have also used this production's translation.

First UK Productions

The first UK performance of "13" was performed by Riverside Theatre Company, a youth theatre company from St Neots, performed at Comberton Village College on the 17th July 2010. Directed by Richard Mann, choreographed by Sara Johnson, and Ian Tipping and Jo Ryan were the musical directors. This was swiftly followed by Empire Theatre Arts, a youth theatre company based in Dunstable, performed at Queensbury School Hall in August 2010, with a cast of teenagers directed by Lucy O'Hare, choreographed by Ashley Mead and musically directed by Beth Thomas.

Wales

In February 2012 "13" The Musical was performed by Blackwood Comprehensive School in South Wales. It was staged over 2 nights (8th and 9th) in the school's hall. It was the first production that has been preformed in the school hall for over 20 years. The entire cast and band were pupils and all other people involved were school staff. The director of the production was Rachel Rawson and the musical director was Neil Hawkins, both teachers at the school. The school are now looking at preforming a school production every year.

2012 Adelaide Fringe

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. The cast were played by Evan - Benji Riggs and Kyle Hall. Patrice - Sarah Thorpe and Tahlia Fantone. Archie - Jamie Hornsby and Ben Johnson. Lucy - Georgia Payze and Naomi Belet. Brett - Beatles O'Brien and Wade Lindstrom. Kendra - Madeleine Russell and Abi Dibb. Molly-Melissa Pullinger. Charlotte-Helen Smith. Cassie - Sarah Polanco. Malcolm- Chris Bartlett. Eddie -Connor Olsson-Jones. Richie-Ben Francis. Simon -Benjamin Maio Mackay. The show was very well reviewed by critics. [2] It will be returning in May after a sellout season. Tickets on sale through Bass March 12.

Plot

12-year old New Yorker Evan Goldman is surrounded by rabbis. After chanting to him, one of them explains that when a boy has his Bar Mitzvah, he becomes an adult. As the rabbis reveal that they're actually other New York kids, Evan tells the audience about how stressful turning 13 is - especially since his parents are getting divorced and he's under pressure to have the best Bar Mitzvah imaginable ("13 / Becoming A Man"). Just as Evan thinks maybe things will be fine, his mother calls to tell him they're moving to Indiana. Once there, however, Evan finds a friend in his neighbor, Patrice. Evan is disappointed that there aren't any cool places to have his Bar Mitzvah. Patrice agrees that their town is lame, but things have gotten better since Evan moved there ("The Lamest Place in the World").

When school starts, Brett, the most popular kid in school, summons up the courage to ask Kendra, the prettiest girl in school, to a scary movie Friday night so he can kiss her with tongue. Despite her best friend Lucy's attempts to dissuade her, Kendra consents. Inviting Kendra to a scary movie was Evan's idea, so Brett decides that Evan is cool and refers to him as "Brain." Evan is thrilled. This means Brett will come to his Bar Mitzvah, and if Brett comes, everyone else will come. Patrice, however, is not pleased. If she goes to the Bar Mitzvah, nobody else will go because they hate her. Evan doesn't think it'll be that bad, but when he hands out invitations, he sees Patrice is right, so he rips up her invitation ("Hey Kendra / Invitations"). As the other kids express their excitement over Evan's party, Archie enters and introduces himself. He's upset at Evan for humiliating Patrice—who's his best and only friend—but promises to help make it up to her if Evan gets him a date with Kendra. When using his degenerative illness to guilt Evan into getting him the date doesn't work, Archie tries to convince him that he can't turn to anyone else ("Get Me What I Need / Kendra Dream"). Evan finally relents. Later, at cheerleader 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's lost faith in him ("What It Means To Be A Friend").

In class, Brett tells Evan to get his mom to buy them all tickets to "The Bloodmaster." Evan protests that his mother won't buy them tickets to an R-rated movie, but Brett points out that if he doesn't, nobody will go to his Bar Mitzvah. Evan cycles through possible plans, eventually settling on having Archie use his illness to guilt his 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 set up Archie's date with Kendra when everyone is seeing "The Bloodmaster", which is Kendra's date with Brett. Evan makes Archie promise to do nothing more than sit next to Kendra to not screw up Brett's date. Archie agrees, and everyone prepares for Friday night ("Getting Ready").

At the movie, Patrice is upset that Evan isn't even sitting next to her. Brett and Kendra overthink their impeding kiss, and just as they're about to actually do so, Archie ruins it ("Any Minute"). Brett swears revenge on Evan and Archie, and Lucy, seeing her chance, kisses Brett. Patrice tells off Evan when she sees all he cares about is Brett being angry at him ("Good Enough"). Even Archie is upset with Evan, who then realizes he's in danger of being a lonely geek ("Being A Geek").

As Lucy and Brett begin dating, she forces him to spend more and more time with her. Brett's friends recognize that Lucy isn't good for Brett or for them at all ("Bad Bad News"). Evan promises to help get Brett and Kendra back together so he can get back on everyone's good side. Archie, fearing that this is a suicide mission, begs Patrice to help Evan. She shows up just in time to tell Brett to talk to Kendra, and she and Evan suggest things to say - while resolving their own issues ("Tell Her"). Brett takes their advice, and he and Kendra are a couple again. Lucy, however, won't stand for this. She spreads a rumor that Kendra is cheating on Brett with Evan, and then gets Evan and Kendra in the same place so Brett can catch them ("It Can't Be True"). Her plan works. As Kendra runs after Brett, Evan realizes that he didn't really want to be friends with Brett, anyway, and that Archie and Patrice are his real friends. He wants to call off the Bar Mitzvah because it'd only be the three of them, but Archie and Patrice point out it won't be that bad. Evan has his Bar Mitzvah after all ("It that's What It Is / Evan's Haftorah"). He's starting to understand what growing up means ("A Little More Homework"). The show ends with the cast singing "Brand New You".

Original Broadway cast

• Graham Phillips as Evan Goldman, a 12 ½ year old Jewish boy from New York City
• Allie Trimm as Patrice, a somewhat eccentric and bookish girl
• Aaron Simon Gross as Archie, his energy and look are unlike anything else, and he walks on crutches as the result of muscular dystrophy
• Elizabeth Gillies as Lucy, Kendra’s best friend who, as a rule, is not to be trusted.
• Eric Nelsen as Brett, the prototypical junior high school football star, cool, handsome, and not quite as smart as a postage stamp
• Delaney Moro as Kendra, not only the prettiest and most popular girl in school, but also the most oblivious
• Ariana Grande as Charlotte, a gossipy, popular cheerleader
• Al Calderon as Eddie, one of Brett’s goons, a wanna-be who flanks him constantly
• Malik Hammond as Malcolm, one of Brett’s goons, a wanna-be who flanks him constantly
• Brynn Williams as Cassie, a cheerleader
• Eamon Foley as Richie, one of Brett's goons
• Joey La Varco as Simon, one of Brett's goons
• Caitlin Gann as Molly, a cheerleader.

Understudies

• Evan - Corey Snide, Henry Hodges
• Patrice - Ariana Grande (original Charlotte), Mary Claire Miskell, Liana Ortiz
• Archie - Riley Costello, Henry Hodges
• Brett - Joey La Varco (original Simon), Max Schneider
• Kendra - Caitlin Gann (original Molly). Liana Ortiz
• Eddie - Gerry Kenneth Thibou
• Malcolm - Eamon Foley (original Richie), Max Schneider
• Charlotte – Mary Claire Miskell, Liana Ortiz
• Cassie – Mary Claire Miskell, Liana Ortiz
• Richie – Riley Costello, Henry Hodges, Max Schnader
• Simon – Riley Costello, Henry Hodges, Max Schneider
• Molly – Mary Claire Miskell, Liana Ortiz

Band

• Chris Raymond
• Zach Page
• Zac Coe
• Lexi Bodick
• Adam Michael Kaufman

Musical numbers

Los Angeles

• “13 / Becoming a Man” – Evan and Company
• “All the Cool Kids” – Brett, Malcolm, Eddie and Company
• “Get Me What I Need” – Archie and Kendra
• “What It Means to Be a Friend” – Patrice
• “Getting Ready” – Archie, Evan, Brett, Kendra, Lucy and Company
• “The Bloodmaster” – Charlotte, Molly, Cassie, Simon, Richie and Company
• “Being a Geek” – Evan, Rabbis and Boys
• “Angry Boy” – Brett, Malcolm, Kendra, Lucy and Company
• “Tell Her” – Evan and Patrice
• “It Can’t Be True” – Lucy, Charlotte, Molly and Cassie
• “Getting Over It” – Evan
• “My Name is Archie” – Archie
• “Brand New You” – Kendra, Patrice and Company

Two songs, "Introduction" (Company) and "I Know You Want Me" (Lucy, Archie & Company), were written and recorded, but were cut before any actual performances.

Goodspeed

Act I

• “13”/“Becoming a Man” – Evan and Company
• “I’ve Got a Feeling” – Patrice, Brett and Company
• “Get Me What I Need” – Archie and Company
• “What It Means to Be a Friend” – Patrice
• “All Hail the Brain”/“Terminal Illness” – Evan, Archie and Company
• “Getting Ready” – Company
• “Any Minute” – Brett and Kendra
• “Good Enough” – Patrice
• “Here I Come” – Evan and Company

Act II

• “Anything You Want” – Brett, Lucy, Kendra and Company
• “Bad Bad News” – Malcolm, Eddie, Simon and Richie
• “Tell Her” – Evan and Patrice
• “Big Day” – Company
• “Perfect Pieces” – Evan
• “It Can’t Be True” – Lucy, Charlotte, Cassie and Molly
• “If That’s What It Is” – Archie, Patrice and Evan
• “A Little More Homework” – Evan, Charlotte and Company

Broadway

See main article on the soundtrack: 13 (soundtrack)

• “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
• “What It Means to Be a Friend” – Patrice
• “All Hail the Brain”/“Terminal Illness” – Evan, Archie, Brett and Company
• “Getting Ready” – Company
• “Any Minute” – Brett, Kendra, Patrice and Archie
• “Good Enough” – Patrice
• “Bad Bad News” – Eddie, Malcolm, Simon and Richie
• “Tell Her” – Evan and Patrice
• “It Can’t Be True” – Lucy, Charlotte, Molly and Company
• “If That’s What It Is” – Archie, Patrice and Evan
• “A Little More Homework” – Evan, Charlotte and Company
• “Brand New You” – Charlotte, Cassie, Molly and Company

During previews the show ran for two hours and an intermission. “Here I Come” closed Act I and “Opportunity” picked up Act II. The show was later revised into one continuous act. The Original Broadway Cast Album was recorded during previews. The album does not include the song “Good Enough”, but it does include the following cut songs:

• “Here I Come” – Evan and Company
• “Opportunity” – Lucy and Company

MTI Version

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

Latin American

• “13 / Un Hombre Seré” – Evan and Company
• “El Lugar Más Chafa Que Hay” – Patricia
• “Hey Kendra” – Brett, Malcolm, Eddie, Kendra, Lucy
• “Invitaciones” – Evan and Company
• “Haz Mi Voluntad” – Archie and Company
• “Oportunidad” – Lucy and Company
• “Lo Que Un Amigo Es” – Patricia
• “Den Ovación / Niño en Muletas” – Evan, Archie and Brett
• “Ya Estoy Listo” – Archie, Evan, Lucy and Company
• “En Minutos” – Patricia, Archie, Brett and Kendra
• “No Fui” – Patricia
• “Ser un Recha” – Evan and Company
• “La Chica es Mala” – Malcolm, Eddie, Simon and Richie
• “Dile” – Evan and Patrice
• “Esto No Es Verdad” – Lucy, Molly, Cassie, Carla, and Company
• “Si Es lo Que Es" – Archie, Patricia and Evan
• “Tarea Por Hacer” – Evan, Carla and Company
• “Un Nuevo Tú” – Carla, Cassie, Molly and Company

Theatre Noir

English version

• “13”/“Becoming a Man” – Evan and Company
• “The Lamest Place in the World” – Patrice
• “Hey Kendra” – Brett, Malcolm, Eddie, Kendra, Lucy
• “Invitations” – Evan and Company
• “Get Me What I Need” – Archie and Company
• “Opportunity” – Lucy and Company
• “What It Means to be a Friend” – Patrice
• “All Hail the Brain / Terminal Illness” – Evan, Archie and Brett
• “Getting Ready” – Archie, Evan, Lucy and Company
• “Any Minute” – Patrice, Archie, Brett and Kendra
• “Good Enough” – Patrice
• “Being a Geek” – Evan and Company
• “Bad Bad News” – Malcolm, Eddie, 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, Charlotte and Company
• “Brand New You” – Charlotte, Cassie, Molly and Company

Cantonese version

• “想點/年少快將老成” – Evan and Company
• “彈極唔起之地” – Patrice
• “Hey Kendra” – Brett, Malcolm, Eddie, Kendra, Lucy
• “邀請卡” – Evan and Company
• “幫我在乎你” – Archie and Company
• “Opportunity” – Lucy and Company
• “友誼未有” – Patrice
• “創奇者 / 悲情病痛” – Evan, Archie and Brett
• “起錨” – Archie, Evan, Lucy and Company
• “一直去等” – Patrice, Archie, Brett and Kendra
• “楔期/知己” – Patrice
• “囧人型” – Evan and Company
• “惡女禍水” – Malcolm, Eddie, Simone and Richie
• “讓她” – Evan and Patrice
• “越似真先至假” – Lucy, Molly, Cassie, Charlotte, and Company
• “遞進潛行” – Archie, Patrice and Evan
• “未完功課” – Evan, Charlotte and Company
• “第二面” – Charlotte, Cassie, Molly and Company

The world premiere of 13's Cantonese version takes place at Jockey Club Auditorium, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 7 October 2011.

External links

• Official website
• ​13​ at the Internet Broadway Database
• Curtain Up review, includes song list
• Theatremania.com review, Jan. 10, 2007
• Variety review, Jan. 8, 2007
• Talkin' Broadway review
• New York Times review, October 6, 2008