Ordinary Days

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Ordinary Days
Music Adam Gwon
Lyrics Adam Gwon
Productions 2008 Off-West End
2009 Off-Broadway
2011 Off-West End
2012 Australia
2016 Barcelona Israel (2015)

Ordinary Days is a musical with music and lyrics by American composer Adam Gwon.[1]

Synopsis

The story, set in New York City, follows four characters, Claire, Jason, Warren and Deb, exploring how their ordinary lives connect in the most amazing ways. Originally directed by Marc Bruni with the Roundabout Theatre Company at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre,[1] the show includes 21 songs which tell the story of these two men and two women.[2] The original cast was Lisa Brescia (Claire), Hunter Foster (Jason), Jared Gertner (Warren) and Kate Wetherhead (Deb).[3]

Characters

Claire

Claire is in her 30's and is embarking on a new stage of her life with boyfriend Jason. The decision to share an apartment is the catalyst for Claire to face her past. Her cathartic "I'll Be Here" provides the audience the final clue to her arc.

Required vocal range: Soprano[4]

Jason

Jason is in his 30's and is the boyfriend of Claire. A romantic at heart, he spends the bulk of the musical attempting to further his relationship, at first by moving in ("The Spaces Between") and then by proposing. Claire consistently resists his attempts leading to the central conflict of their story arc ("Fine").

Required vocal range: Tenor[4]

Deb

In her mid twenties, Deb is a cynical and defensive grad student who is struggling to find focus in her life. She meets struggling artist Warren when he finds her thesis notes in the street.

Required vocal range: Mezzo[4]

Warren

The cheerful and sometimes annoyingly optimistic Warren sees beauty in the simple things in life, delivering the musical's message and final number ("Beautiful").

Required vocal range: Tenor[4]

Musical numbers

  • "One by One by One" – Warren and Company
  • "Don't Wanna be Here" – Deb
  • "The Space Between" – Jason
  • "Let Things Go" – Claire
  • "Dear Professor Thompson, Pt. 1" – Deb
  • "Life Story" – Warren
  • "Dear Professor Thompson, Pt. 2" – Deb
  • "I'm Trying" – Claire and Jason
  • "Saturday at the Met" – Company
  • "Favorite Places" – Jason
  • "Sort-Of Fairy Tale" – Warren and Deb
  • "Fine" – Jason and Claire
  • "Big Picture" – Company
  • "Hundred-Story City" – Jason and Company
  • "Party Interlude" – Claire
  • "Calm" – Deb
  • "Life Story" (Reprise) – Warren
  • "Gotta Get Out" – Claire
  • "Rooftop Duet" / "Falling" – Company
  • "I'll Be Here" – Claire
  • "Beautiful" – Warren and Deb

There were two additional songs, written for Claire and Jason respectively, entitled "Canceling the Party" and "Seeing You There", which were cut from the production.[5][6]

Productions

In 2012 Squabbalogic and Darlinghurst Theatre[7] premiered the Adam Gwon penned chamber musical Ordinary Days, with Michael Falzon originating the role of Jason in Australia.[8] Directed by Grace Barnes and under the musical direction of Paul Geddes, the show starred Rachael Beck as Claire, as well as Erica Lovell (Deb) and Jay James-Moody (Warren). Set in New York, Ordinary Days was sung entirely acoustically, with the sole support of Paul Geddes on piano.[9]

Previous casts

Production Year Claire Jason Deb Warren
Finborough[10] 2008 Julie Atherton Kenneth Avery-Clark Hayley Gallivan Lee William-Davis
Black Box[11] 2009 Lisa Brescia Hunter Foster Kate Wetherhead Jared Gertner
Trafalgar Studio, 2[12] 2011 Julie Atherton Daniel Boys Alexia Khadime Lee William-Davis
Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney[13] 2012 Rachael Beck Michael Falzon Erica Lovell Jay James-Moody
Cameri Theatre[14] 2015 Naama Nahum Shachaf Ifhar Shani Shauli Ben Naftali

Recordings

Original cast recording

Original Release Date: 2010[15]

Label: Ghostlight Music and lyrics: Adam Gwon

Miscellaneous Recordings

"I'll Be Here" is included on the album Go Back Home, by Audra McDonald, released in 2013.[16]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/out-about/from-metal-to-mature-acts/story-fn9d31nx-1226250942267
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Cover of I'll Be Home

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Ordinary_Days&oldid=715441609"