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My Favorite Year The Musical |
Music by Stephen Flaherty, Book by Joseph Dougherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens |
Recommended Resources |
Plot Summary & Audition Tips |
List of Characters in My Favorite Year |
My Favorite Year (1992 Original Broadway Cast Recording)
My Favorite Year (1982 Film Version on DVD)
My Favorite Year Cast Recording
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Based on the hit film, My Favorite Year is the story of young Benjy Stone, a freshman writer on early TV’s “Kaiser Comedy Cavalcade”. Assigned the daunting task of baby-sitting a boozing Hollywood swashbuckler (played in the movie by Peter O’Toole), Benjy learns about human frailty, comedy, love – and what made 1954 his favorite year.
Audition Preparation Suggestions for My Favorite Year
My Favorite Year is an old fashioned show, so take this into consideration when choosing audition material. |
- Alan Swann
- Handsome, fading movie star who uses alcohol to deal with the guilt of abandoning his daughter. Errol Flynn type - very charming.
- Benjy Stone (mid 20s)
- fledgling sketch writer - a big fan of movies and Swann in particular, eager & alert. Acts as character narrator.
- King Kaiser (30s)
- a "big bear of a man", physical, loud. Former Catskill Comic turned TV host
- K.C. Downling
- Benjy's girlfriend, and assistant to the producer. A bright, pretty career girl. A "straight man" role.
- Belle May Steinberg Carroca
- Benjy's extremely vulgar but kind hearted mother. A beacon of Brooklyn society. Generous of nature and proportion.
- "Rookie" Carroca (Filipino, 40s)
- Benjy's stepfather. Former bantam weight champion.
- Alice Miller (comic role)
- King Kaiser's only female writer - Lois Lane with a better sense of humor. Fearless.
- Sy Benson
- Head writer - bullies everyone except King, and takes credit for everyone elses work
- Herb Lee
- A rumpled, silent but expressive writer. Alice communicates for him.
- Leo Silver
- The gray-haired, well-dressed, antacid chewing producer of the Comedy Cavalcade. Physically smaller than King, but the only one who can come close to controlling him.
- Tess (16)
- Swann's estranged daughter. Very pretty Grace Kelly type.
- Uncle Morty
- Benjy's uncle, Belle's brother. Typical funny uncle - round, thick, and bald.
- Aunt Sadie
- Morty's wife
- Chorus Girls, Male Dancers, Sketch Actors, Stage Hands, Floor Manager, Grips, Cameramen, Wardrobe People, Secretaries, Assorted Denizens of Manhattan, Tess's Classmates, Brooklyn Neighbors, and a Doorman.
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My Favorite Year Links Related Websites |
Audition Preparation Materials |
List of Songs in My Favorite Year |
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- Twenty Million People (Benjy, Company)
- Larger Than Life (Benjy)
- Musketeer Sketch (King, Sy, Benjy, Leo, Alice, K.C., Herb)
- Rookie In The Ring (Belle)
- Manhattan (Swann, Company)
- The Gospel According To King (King, Swann, Company)
- Funny/The Duck Joke (K.C., Alice)
- Welcome To Brooklyn (Morty, Rookie, Belle, Sadie, All)
- If The World Were Like The Movies (Swann)
- Exits (Swann)
- Shut Up And Dance (K.C., Benjy)
- Professional Showbizness Comedy (King, Alice)
- The Lights Come Up (Swann)
- My Favorite Year (Benjy, Company)
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