The Total BentWhen a British record producer arrives in Montgomery, Alabama to hook Marty Roy, a young black musical prodigy, he launches us back into Marty’s tumultuous upbringing. The son of a gospel star and self-proclaimed healer, Marty spent his childhood writing the songs that have made his charismatic father famous. But in a nation on the verge of social upheaval, with the rising heat from the street guiding his pen, Marty finds himself at odds with his spiritually forceful father as he strives to create a masterpiece that will change America—no matter the cost. A funny, fiery, one-of-a-kind show, THE TOTAL BENT is about the passions that divide a father and son as they make their music and make their choice between salvation and selling out.
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Roles
8M, 4 Any
Musicians
7
Acts
1
Duration
110 minutes |
Creators
Heidi Rodewald
Music Heidi Rodewald has spent over a decade as a performer, arranger, producer, and composer for both The Negro Problem and the multi-disciplinary ensemble known as Stew. She co-wrote the musical Passing...
Reviews
"Blazingly entertaining, fresh, and funny, 'The Total Bent' keeps you hooked through the surging power of its sensational score, which blends elements of the blues, gospel, funk and throbbing guitar-driven rock. Stew’s lyrics, too, are a consistent pleasure. An ecstatic combination of revival meeting and rock concert."
New York Times
"Daring! A shaggy, idiosyncratic patchwork of Civil Rights–era satire, father-son drama and an allegory about the birth of funk. The music is funky, fierce, and sticky-sweet."
Time Out New York
"A religious experience of the highest caliber. The music is revelatory. Stew and Rodewald have created a thrilling score— sharp, often bitingly funny, and thoroughly mesmerizing from start to finish."
TheaterMania
"If you’re at all familiar with the Stew/Rodewald collaboration, you know it produces wildly pleasing music across pretty much every contemporary genre. 'The Total Bent' is no exception, and as always, this one is just packed with heart."
Deadline
Orchestration
7 Musicians
PIANO/VOCAL (For Rehearsal Only)
KEYBOARD 1
ORGAN (Keyboard 2)
TRUMPET
REED (Tenor Sax, Bari Sax, Clarinet, Flute)
BASS (Electric), GUITAR (Acoustic or Electric)
DRUMS
Production Materials
The required production package will include the materials listed below. These materials will be shipped upon receipt of payment if your license request is approved.
12 Cast Script/Vocal Books
A combination of the show’s full script and the full vocal book. All dialogue within each song is printed in the score to prevent flipping back and forth during rehearsals. All books are spiral-bound and double-sided.
2 Director’s Scripts
A single-sided, spiral-bound script designed with plenty of space for the director to take notes and add blocking during the rehearsal process.
1 Stage Manager’s Script
A single-sided, three-hole punched script that can be inserted into your three-ring binder.
2 Piano/Vocal Scores
This piano score includes all vocal parts. It can be used during the rehearsal process and during performance.
Orchestration Set
Bass, Drums, Guitar 1, Keyboard 1, Organ (Keyboard 2), Trumpet, Winds
Production Resources
Digital Orchestration PDFs
Prefer playing or rehearsing from your tablet? All of our orchestration scores (including PC and PV) are available in digital copies.
Digital PC or PV $50
Full Digital Orchestration Set $150
Broadway Plus
A workshop experience in which a Broadway artist speaks and works with students in an educational setting through our partnership with Broadway Plus.
Prices Vary by Product
