The Funkentine Rapture

In a funky, animated 1977 Harlem, mop-boy George Preston dreams of R&B stardom. But when a legendary funk icon may return to pass the torch — and a disco-loving villain plots to steal it — George is pulled into a soulful showdown. With secrets, soul food, and a girl named Simone in the mix, will George become the next true master of funk?

(Core) Cast Size (14)

• African American Males (7)
• African American Females (3)
• White Male (1)
• White Female (1)
• East Asian Male (1)
• South Asian Male (1)

Character Breakdown

George Preston

An African American R&B singer and guitar player who dreams of performing at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre. By day he’s an earnest mop boy, clueless that his call to action will be from the funk.

Gender: Male

Age: 21 – 35

Vocal Range top: C4

Simone Funk

The daughter of Oscar and Gladys; nurtured on soul food with a full-figure to verify. She now hungers for love. Her heroines are the black divas of disco and R&B of the seventies. Due to the single generational wealth of her parents, she’s a college girl. 

Gender: Female

Age: 18

Vocal Range top: C4

Oscar Funk

African American; husband of Gladys, father of Simone and owner of The Funky Diner. His secret past fuels him to fight for the future of funk. 

This actor also plays:

Freddie Nelson

The long lost Uncle of Funk. A legendary artist whose music career spanned rock and roll and R&B and, just as things were getting funky, he walked away from it all.  Freddie was peer to George Clinton and Booty Collins before disappearing 18 years ago. Rumor has it he may return for the Apollo Funkfest this Friday.

Gender: Male

Age: 44

Vocal Range:

Gladys Funk

African-American; wife of Oscar and mother of Simone. Cooking is her passion; her specialty is Catfish Surprise.  She is secretly unnerved at the thought of Freddie Nelson’s return, as it could destroy her family. The 1950’s/1960’s music of her youth fuels her voice as she prepares for the worst. 

Gender: Female

Age: 42

Vocal Range:

Reverend Stankley

The extra-large African American beloved neighborhood evangelist who preaches of a promised land of fast food and sedentary lifestyles. 

This actor also plays:

The Big Bad Man

A super-sized diabolical disco villain who will do anything to get his American Dream of ultimate riches. In a battle of genres, he denies his own innate funk and instead wields disco as his weapon. Underneath it all, he is evidence that hurt people can hurt people. 

Gender: Male

Age: 45

Vocal Range:

Morry Steinenstein

A young Jewish man from New Jersey who has a shockingly soulful voice. Although he is brainy as one of the Big Bad Man’s reluctant henchmen, Disco Rainbows, he is naive to the world and to show biz. 

Gender: Male

Age: 30

Vocal Range:

Eiji Mickorobe

An Asian male actor/singer who reluctantly dons a cultural stereotype in order to reach his show business dreams. He is also one of the Big Bad Man’s reluctant henchmen as part of the Disco Rainbows.

Gender: Male

Age: 20

Vocal Range:

Leslie Neilson

A milk toast blonde white girl who is smarter than she appears. She is also one of the Big Bad Man’s reluctant henchpersons as part of the Disco Rainbows.

Gender: Female

Age: 18

Vocal Range:

Jennifer Bedlays

A sexy black girl with a soulful range who was born Southern but speaks with a fake French accent. She is also one of the Big Bad Man’s reluctant henchpersons as part of the Disco Rainbows. 

Gender: Female

Age: 20

Vocal Range:

This actress also plays:

Mrs. Coleman

Aged 70, an elderly African American control freak; a Harlem busy body (think “Helen” from “227.”) She is possibly a secret alcoholic who either wants to relive the peace and quiet she once knew in the South; or maybe she is just hung over. She proves she knows George better than we realize. 

Abdul Hussein

Has a fake East Indian accent and a comedic flair; is revealed to have deeper connections to Dick and Old Charlie and an even deeper connection to Barbra Streisand. 

Gender: Male

Age: 20

Vocal Range:

This actor may double as: 

Ronny Snivel

Aged 30, An African American bassist for the R&B Masters (who become the Funksters); Ronny is older and George inspires him to run the final mile of his career.

Floyd Collins

African American drummer for the R&B Masters (who become the Funksters); Floyd is usually concerned about getting paid.

Gender: Male

Age: 30

Vocal Range:

Dick Marley

A Taye Diggs prototype with a Caribbean accent; revealed to have deeper connections to Abdul and Old Charlie. 

Gender: Male

Age: 20

Vocal Range:

This actor doubles as:

Jimmy Brake

Aged 30, an African American pianist for the R&B Masters (who become the Funksters); Jimmy is usually hungry.

THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: REAL GOOD FUNK
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: NOTHIN’ BUT THE FUNKY TRUTH
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: APOLLO MARQUEE
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: SEDENTARY NATION
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: SOMETHING ABOUT HIM
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: LET YOUR TRUE FUNK FREE
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: DISCO RAINBOW
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: STILL SHE/HE
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: STICKIN’ WID IT
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: WRONG FUNK’S TO FUNK WITH
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: DISCO RAINBOW
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: THE BALLAD OF BUBBA SONDERS
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: YOU DO IT FOR ME
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: (FUNK’S) MY TRUE DESIRE
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: HIGH HOPES OF A DREAM BELIEVER
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: SHOW BIZ AND ADVERSITY
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: THE WRONG MR. RIGHT
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: I’VE GOT MY REASONS (TO SEE FREDDIE NELSON)
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: FUNK IS ALL I WANNA DO
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: NEXT BEST FUNK
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: FUNK AMONGST YOURSELVES
THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: STAR CHILD

Lee Summers hails from Nashville Tennessee, where he was raised in the Baptist church against the musical backdrop of Motown while Memphis’ Stax records was just a few miles away. By the time he was in high school the genre of funk music had gained prominence in his social circle. Artists such as the Brothers Johnson, Sly and the Family Stone and Parliament Funkadelic had become the score to his adolescence and teenaged years. Fast forward a few decades and Summers has performed in the original Dreamgirls on Broadway and year later, he and first time producer Ben Blake, who was a recent Johns Hopkins graduate dipping his toe into show business, are deep in the trenches of securing song rights for their Off Broadway producing debut: Summers’ From My Hometown on Theatre Row. One Saturday, as they spoke over the phone, Summers’ radio blasting funk music and he said to Blake, “Hear that? We wouldn’t need song rights for a funk musical, I could write those songs in my sleep.” They decided to collaborate on a draft vowing to make each other laugh while dealing with the stresses of producing. That first draft became The Funkentine Rapture. When Blake asked Summers who should sing the first demo they were walking along Eighth Avenue. Summers said, “The best singer would be my friend, Billy Porter” and seconds later they ran right into him on the street.

• Amas Musical Theatre produces fully staged reading, NY, NY
• Theatreworks fully staged reading, starring James Monroe Iglehart, Palo Alto, CA
• Selection for The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) starring Billy Porter

• Concert for ASTEP starring Candice Marie Woods, Kecia Lewis and Chester Gregory, NY, NY
• Karumu House with Cleveland Playhouse’ Fusionfest presents staged reading. Columbus, OH
• SUNY Empire State College developmental reading, NY, NY
• 54 Below Concert starring Lillias White, James Monroe Iglehart and Lawrence Clayton, NY, NY
• Possible production at City College, Aaron Davis Hall, Fall 2021

Billing

• Book By Lee Summers & Ben Blake

• Music & Lyrics By 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: 

The Funkentine Rapture

(100%)

Book By

Lee Summers & Ben Blake

Music & Lyrics By

Lee Summers

 (60%)

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 n 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.

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.

The Funkentine Rapture

Music Publishing Credits: 

Music and Lyrics by Lee Summers, Butterfly Theatricals LLC Musical Publishing, ASCAP

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

The Funkentine Rapture

Is presented through special arrangement with Butterfly Theatricals (BT)

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by 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                                                                                       10

Production Resources

REFERENCE RECORDINGS

STANDARD ORCHESTRATION

Instrumentation Doubling

BASS      ELECTRIC BASS

DRUMS COWBELL, DRUMKIT, SKAKER, WINDCHIMES, WOOD BLOCK

GUITAR  ACOUSTIC GUITAR, ELECTRIC GUITAR, NYLON ACOUSTIC ROCK GUITAR

KEYBOARD/SYNTH   ORGAN, HORN SECTION, STRINGS

Butterfly Theatricals LLC – Copyright 2020