Pangaea: The Musical

Rena and James are an unlikely pairing enrolled as students in the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program (GMTWP) at NYU/Tisch. We follow them as they create the original story, libretto, music, and lyrics of “Pangaea the Musical.” The story begins “once upon a time” on a mystical sea when the supercontinent Pangaea stood alone. One night, a jealous moon became angry at the calm sea and caused a thunderous storm to rage. Pangaea was horrified, and before she knew it, she was being torn apart by the tormented waters. When the storm was over, Pangaea was no longer herself; instead, she had become the seven individual continents we know today: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Australia, and Europe. Now in spirit, Pangaea told these siblings to find one another and reconnect, or the world would be forever doomed to chaos, conflict, and division. The traumatic split had also given them access to see into the future. Conflict arises when it is discovered that one of the continents has plans to dominate, forcing the others to lead the resistance. Anchored in the reality of an African American man and an Asian female partnered to create Pangaea, we simultaneously track their experience as graduate students alongside their opinionated classmates, who are affected over time, as their thesis asks: “Can we ever put a divided world back together?”

Casting 

• Cast Size: Leads 7 – (3 Males of Color, 1 White Male, 1 Asian Female, 2 Females of Color)
• Cast Type: Diverse Ensemble (13- 17)
• Dancing, Acting, Singing

Characters

RENA/ASIA (F) – A Korean American, fully assimilated female singer/actress/pianist, who portrays a composer, aged 20 – 28.  She is Ivy League-educated and has worked in Finance, but her classically trained past as a pianist has led her to grad school at NYU/Tisch. RENA has a commanding presence while also possessing vulnerability. As ASIA, she’s a headstrong sibling continent who wants power and to save the world; she can do an “Asian” accent (Japanese or Korean if required). Vocal quality: soulful, R&B/pop, strong belt. Vocal range: Alto/Mezzo.

JAMES/AFRICA (M) – An African American, male singer/actor who portrays a gay librettist/lyricist, aged 35 – 55. Decade’s prior, he performed in an iconic Broadway show, which inspired him to study to create musicals – eventually leading him, laden with many experiences, to grad school at NYU/Tisch. As AFRICA, he is the heterosexual cradle of humanity seeking his legacy while protecting his sister ASIA along their quest to find their siblings to save the world. Vocal quality: soulful, R&B/pop, strong high tenor belt. Vocal range: Tenor with strong low notes.

MICHAEL/EUROPE/CRONEUS/(M) – A Caucasian male (Greek, Italian, Irish) aged 25 – 40. MICHAEL is RENA and JAMES’ professor/advisor at GMTWP whose mid-western upbringing gives him an informed perspective on the American majority. A successful artist himself, he challenges RENA and JAMES to dig deeper and broader as they create their thesis, PANGAEA the Musical. He is also EUROPE/CRONEUS, the youngest continent, who becomes obsessed with everything he’s not. CRONEUS is a White Ben Vereen, a seductive showman who loves the stage, over-powering all as he charms with an agenda. Vocal quality: “Justin Timberlake” pop/rock, strong belt. Vocal range: Tenor. Can spit rap. 

CHRIS/NORTH AMERICA/TAINO/ZEALLY/ MC CONFUCIUS – A Latin/East Asian/South Asian male, aged 20 – 35. RENA and JAMES’ classmate, CHRIS is a talented “wordsperson” who becomes RENA’s easygoing boyfriend and sounding board.  As NORTH AMERICA/TAINO (“TAINO” is NORTH AMERICA but under a different name), he is a scruffy, hippy-like continent. When NORTH AMERICA/TAINO goes undercover, he becomes ZEALLY, an undiscovered future continent. Lastly, he is MC CONFUCIUS, ASIA’s wise conscience. Vocal quality: legit, pop, belt. Vocal range: Tenor.

ALEXA/MOSA/SOUTH AMERICA/SLATE BOY- A Latina female aged 20 – 35. As ALEXA, she is RENA and JAMES’ classmate whose arc spans skeptical rival observer to fully “woke supporter” of PANGAEA the Musical. As SOUTH AMERICA she’s a voluptuous, sassy, tropical continent who must find her other siblings (although she’s quite sick of the ones she travels with) to eventually live out her tropical beauty. She is also MOSA, the bossiest in the trio of TRAVERSODETTES. She also plays a SLATE BOY in ASIA’s future. Vocal quality: R&B/pop, belt. Vocal range: Soprano with a rich soulful color.

JALISE/TROCA/ANTARCTICA/MOTHER NATURE/MAKE-UP PERSON – An African American female aged 20 – 35. As JALISE she’s RENA and JAMES’ classmate, a composer from Brooklyn who eventually becomes an ally to JAMES. As ANTARCTICA, she’s out of her element and melting – like any arctic creature (i.e. Polar Bears) her black skin underneath is fully exposed. She is also TROCA(KISHA), the self-proclaimed “fun” TRAVERSODETTE. She is also MOTHER NATURE, a sexy, confident, omnipresent force, nicknamed SAPPHIRE by AFRICA. She also plays a MAKE-UP PERSON in ASIA’s future. Vocal quality: Gospel, R&B/pop, belt. Vocal range: Mezzo-soprano.

ADAM/JUDY/AUSTRALIA/DIRECTOR/ – A Brown (Latin or Indigenous Australian) male aged 20 – 35. At GMTWP he is ADAM, a bright and most articulate classmate voicing his doubt in the plausibility of personifying continents.  Coming out as gay, in the end, he eventually sees JAMES as a mentor rather than as an adversary. As AUSTRALIA, even though he is the smallest, he feels he must protect and lead his two sister continents to save the world. He also plays the female JUDY, the brainiest, most scientifically knowledgeable TRAVERSODETTE. He also plays a DIRECTOR in ASIA’S future. Vocal quality: R&B/pop, belt. Vocal range: Soulful Tenor.

From “Pangaea: The Musical”:
(Click on song titles to hear demos)

“Waters of Life”

“Waters of Life” (Soundcloud)

Performed by Janet Noh

“Spotlight” (Soundcloud)

“Spotlight”

Performed by Eric Coles

“Jurassic Duty”

Performed by  Marc De La Cruz, Catherine Gloria, Cedric Leiba Jr., Clifton Oliver, Justine Rosales, Robert Toms & Famecia Ward

“Sweat Shop”

Performed by Cedric Leiba Jr., Justine Rosales & Famecia Ward

“Human”

Performed by Clifton Oliver and Famecia Ward

Full Song List

JURASSIC DUTY/PANGAEA
SOLO
ALL BY MYSELF
HEART BEAT LOUD
TRIGGER ALERT
A MILLION YEARS
GOTTA
IF YOU HEAR ME OUT THERE
A CHILD CALLED AMERICA
GOTTA
SPOTLIGHT
HUMAN
SWEAT SHOP MINUET
MY CRADLE
HAN
VAUDEVILLE KABUKI CABARET MINSTREL SHOW
WATERS OF LIFE

2018 – Production, Marymount College

2017 – Developmental Production Bingham Camp Theatre Retreat, Devanand Janki Artistic Director

2016 – Cabaret Concert Feature – Don’t Tell Mama, New York City

2016 – Actors Equity Twenty-nine Hour Reading  – New York University/Tisch School of the Arts, Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, New York City

Billing

Book and Lyrics by

Lee Summers

Music by

Janet Noh

Story by

Janet Noh and Lee Summers

Requirements

The following acknowledgement shall appear on the table program flyers and on publicity materials distributed in connection with performances of the play. Said billing shall be in a type size no less than 50% (fifty percent) of that of the title, and will appear on a single line right below title.  Billing shall be in substantially the following form: 

PANGAEA

(100%)

Book and Lyrics by

Lee Summers

(40%)

Music by

Janet Noh

(40%)

Story by

Janet Noh and Lee Summers

(40%)

Such billing shall also appear wherever and whenever the name of the play appears in all advertising issued by, authorized by, or under the control of the producer. It is understood that under no circumstances may the director, designers, the acting company or other creative personnel receive any larger billing, except in the case of minimum single-column or directory-type ads in which the above billing may or may not be used, at the discretion of the producer.  Additionally, the individuals billed as set forth above shall be entitled to a bio in all programs whenever any other party is entitled to same, subject to space limitations no more onerous than to which any other party is subject.  No inadvertent failure to comply with the provisions of the above shall constitute a default under the terms of this agreement, provided, however, that the producer shall rectify the failure as soon as practicable upon receiving notice from the author.

ADDITIONAL TITLE PAGE AND BILLING:

Furthermore, you agree to include clear and prominent credit on the title page of all programs and in all publicity wherever and whenever the full production credits are given, in a type size not less that 25% of the type size used for the non-logo title of the play substantially as follows: 

SHORTENED BILLING: 

In advertisements of ¼ page size or less where only the title of the play, performance dates and venue are provided, the following “shortened billing” is permissible:

Pangaea The Musical

MUSIC PUBLISHING CREDITS:

In addition to the above billing, you agree to include the following musical compositions, credits on or appurtenant to the “Staff Credit Page” of the program for all licensed productions of the play:

(MUSIC AND LYRICS BY JANET NOH AND LEE SUMMERS)

JURASSIC DUTY/PANGAEA

SOLO

ALL BY MYSELF

HEART BEAT LOUD

TRIGGER ALERT

A MILLION YEARS

GOTTA

IF YOU HEAR ME OUT THERE

A CHILD CALLED AMERICA

GOTTA

SPOTLIGHT

HUMAN

SWEAT SHOP MINUET

MY CRADLE

HAN

VAUDEVILLE KABUKI CABARET MINSTREL SHOW

WATERS OF LIFE

Butterfly Theatricals Billing
In accordance with (Janet Noh and) the Dramatic Performing Rights License, all publicity materials (posters, programs, etc.) MUST include the following credit: 

PANGAEA

Is presented through special arrangement with Janet Noh and Butterfly Theatricals (BT)

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by Janet Noh and BT.

  www.Leesummersshows.com 

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Included Materials

Item                                                                                                                         Quantity Included

KEYBOARD – CONDUCTOR SCORE                                                                      2

LIBRETTO/VOCAL BOOK                                                                                         (AS NEEDED)

Production Resources

REFERENCE RECORDINGS

Standard Orchestration

Instrumentation – Some Doubling

PIANO

BASS

DRUMS

GUITAR 

PERCUSSION 

TRUMPET 

TROMBONE

WINDS (SAX, FLUTE, OBOE) 

SYNTHESIZER

Butterfly Theatricals LLC – Copyright 2020