''Shenandoah'' is a

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwo ...

that was composed during 1974 with music by Gary Geld, lyrics by

Peter Udell Peter Udell (born 1934) is an American lyricist and writer, best known for his collaborations with composer Gary Geld. He started his career in popular music in the 1960s, writing lyrics for songs including " Sealed With A Kiss", " Save Your Heart ...

, and book by Udell, Philip Rose, and

James Lee Barrett James Lee Barrett (November 19, 1929 – October 15, 1989) was an American author, producer and screenwriter. Biography Barrett was born in 1929 in Charlotte, North Carolina and graduated in 1950 from Anderson University (South Carolina). ...

. The musical is based on Barrett's original

screenplay ''ScreenPlay'' is a television drama anthology series broadcast on BBC2 between 9 July 1986 and 27 October 1993. Background After single-play anthology series went off the air, the BBC introduced several showcases for made-for-television, f ...

for the 1965 film ''Shenandoah''.

Plot

Charlie Anderson, a widower, lives with his large family in the

Shenandoah Valley The Shenandoah Valley () is a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridg ...

in Virginia, during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and t ...

. Anderson does not wish to be involved with the war because he doesn't consider it "his" war, but he is forced to take action when his youngest son Robert is taken prisoner by Union soldiers. In the course of searching for Robert, Charlie, his daughter Jenny, and some of his sons rescue Sam (Jenny's newlywed Confederate soldier husband) from a Yankee POW train. After enduring the tragedy of losing his eldest son Jacob (to a sniper) and his second eldest son James and James' wife Anne (to deserters), Charlie and the rest of the family return home, defeated. In his despair, Charlie is reminded to return to church, where he, at long last, is reunited with Robert once more.

Productions

The play was first performed at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut, during 1974. It then moved to the Colonial Theater in Boston for a pre-Broadway run from November 25, 1974 - December 14, 1974. It then transferred to the Alvin Theatre on Broadway beginning on January 7, 1975. where it played for a total of 1,050 performances, ending August 7, 1977. The cast featured

John Cullum John Cullum (born circa 1930) is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in many stage musicals and dramas, including '' Shenandoah'' (1975) and '' On the Twentieth Century'' (1978), winning the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Mu ...

(Charlie Anderson, the main role),

Joel Higgins Joel Franklin Higgins (born September 28, 1943) is an American actor and singer with a stage career spanning over 40 years. Life and career A graduate of Michigan State University where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta International Fraternit ...

(James), Penelope Milford (Jenny), Robert Rosen (Henry), Ted Agress (Jacob), Gordon Halliday (Sam), Chip Ford (Gabriel), Joseph Shapiro (Robert, the boy), David Russell (John), Jordan Suffin (Nathan), Gary Harger (Corporal), Charles Welch (Rev. Byrd), and

Donna Theodore Donna Glory Theodore (born July 25, 1941) is an American actress and singer who first came to attention as a headliner at many famous nightclubs during the 1960s including the Copacabana, The Fountainebleau Hotel, the Fairmont Hotel, and the El ...

(Anne), who won a

Drama Desk Award The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. F ...

for her performance. The cast also included Betsy Beard, Tedd Carrere, Stephen Dubov, Gary Harger, Brian James, Robert Johanson, Sherry Lambert, Craig Lucas, Gene Masoner, Paul Myrvold, Dan Ormond, Casper Roos, J. Kevin Scannell, Jack Starkey, E. Allen Stevens, Marshall Thomas, Matt Gavin, Edward Penn, and Ed Preble. The production was directed by Philip Rose, with scenery by Chuck Murawski, lighting by

Thomas R. Skelton Thomas R. Skelton (September 24, 1927 – August 9, 1994) was an American lighting designer. In a career spanning more than four decades, he was best known for his lighting designs for ballet and Broadway theatre productions. Biography Born in No ...

, costumes by Pearl Somner and Winn Morton, choreography by Robert Tucker, dance arrangements by Russell Warner, musical direction by Lynn Crigler, and orchestrations by Don Walker. Michael P. Price was executive director of the Goodspeed Opera House. The production was nominated for six

Tony Awards The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...

, including Best Musical, and won two: one for Best Actor in a Musical (

) and the other for Best Book of a Musical. ''Shenandoah'' was revived at the Virginia Theatre on Broadway, again with Cullum in the main role, on August 8, 1989, and ended September 2, 1989. It returned to the Goodspeed Opera House during 1994, featuring Marc Kudisch. A new production began on March 22, 2006 at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., featuring Scott Bakula. A positive critical response and strong sales resulted in the run being extended through May 21, although Bakula left the production April 30. ''Shenandoah'' was staged by The Serenbe Playhouse in Serenbe, Georgia the spring of 2019. It featured Taylor Hicks and Rachel Potter in the cast. It was received with good reviews.

Characters

;Characters * Charlie Anderson * Anne * James Anderson * Jenny Anderson * Jacob Anderson * Nathan Anderson * John Anderson * Sam * Gabriel * Robert Anderson * Henry * Corporal * Sergeant Johnson * Reverend Byrd * Mr. Carol * Tinkham

Musical numbers

;Act I * Raise the Flag of Dixie (Prologue) - Ensemble * I've Heard it All Before - Charlie * Pass the Cross to Me - Ensemble * Why Am I Me? - The Boy and Gabriel * Next to Lovin' (I Like Fightin') - Jacob, James, Nathan, John and Henry * Over the Hill - Jenny * The Pickers are Coming - Charlie * Next to Lovin' (I Like Fightin') (Reprise) - Jacob, James, Nathan, John, Henry and Jenny * Meditation - Charlie * We Make a Beautiful Pair - Anne and Jenny * Violets and Silverbells - Jenny, Sam and Ensemble * It's a Boy! - Charlie, Jacob, James, Nathan, John and Henry ;Act II *

Entr'acte (or ', ;Since 1932–35 the French Academy recommends this spelling, with no apostrophe, so historical, ceremonial and traditional uses (such as the 1924 René Clair film title) are still spelled ''Entr'acte''. German: ' and ', Italian: ''in ...

- Orchestra * Freedom - Anne and Gabriel * Violets and Silverbells (reprise) - James and Anne * Papa's Gonna Make it Alright - Charlie * The Only Home I Know - Corporal and Ensemble * The Only Home I Know (Reprise) - Corporal * Papa's Gonna Make it Alright (Reprise) - Jenny * Meditation II - Charlie * Pass the Cross to Me (Finale) - Ensemble * Freedom (curtain call) - Ensemble

References

External links

*
''Shenandoah'' at Ford's Theatre
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shenandoah (Musical) 1974 musicals Broadway musicals Musicals based on films Tony Award-winning musicals