What’s hot at Broadway Licensing Group? Check out the top trending titles of the week from Broadway Licensing, Dramatists Play Service, and Playscripts
Peace, Love and Cupcakes: The Musical JV by Rick Hip-Flores
THE STORY: In the best-selling children’s book series adaptation, Kylie Carson faces her ‘different’ identity in 7th grade, where being unique isn’t easy. Her passion for monsters isolates her at the new school. To fit in, she initiates a cupcake club with three other unnoticed girls, forming a strong bond. Together, they master cupcakes, transforming it into a successful business. When school’s popular girl, Meredith Mitchell, tries to thwart them, Kylie must find the courage to stand up and unite the school. This musical celebrates friendship, self-belief, and empowering young voices.
Winter Break by Joe Calarco
THE STORY: On the first night of Winter Break, nineteen teenagers, some who know each other, some who don’t, wrestle with friendships, breakups, loss, graduating, and finding their place in the world. Alternately hilarious and touching, WINTER BREAK was slated for the 2020 Educational Theatre Association commission.
Visiting Mr. Green by Jeff Baron
THE STORY: Mr. Green, an elderly, retired dry cleaner, wanders into New York traffic and is almost hit by a car driven by Ross Gardiner, a 29-year-old corporate executive. The young man is sentenced to community service in which he must help the recent widower once a week for six months. What starts as a comedy about two men who do not want to be in the same room together becomes a gripping and moving drama as they get to know each other, come to care about each other, and open old wounds they’ve been hiding and nursing for years. Translated into 24 languages, with over 600 productions in large and small venues, it has won numerous Best Play and Best Actor awards throughout the world. Updated in 2023 by the playwright to reflect technological and cultural changes.
Frankenstein: The Musical Music by Mark Baron, Book and Lyrics by Jeffery Jackson, Original Story Adaption by Gary P. Cohen
THE STORY: With earnest ballads and soaring ensemble numbers, this compelling musical brings the suspense and romance of the classic tale to life in a uniquely faithful, yet thoroughly innovative adaptation of Mary Shelley’s original novel. In his quest to discover the secret of life, Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant young scientist, creates a human of his own design that turns out to instead be a horrifying beast. This is no “Hollywood monster,” but a flesh-and-blood man who, while terrifying in appearance, grows to become articulate, cunning, and thirsting for revenge upon the creator who abandoned him. A tragic love story and exploration of humanity, Frankenstein: The Musical breathes new life into the world-renowned story of man and creator pitted against one another in epic battle.
Red Speedo by Lucas Hnath
THE STORY: Ray’s swum his way to the eve of the Olympic trials. If he makes the team, he’ll get a deal with Speedo. If he gets a deal with Speedo, he’ll never need a real job. So when someone’s stash of performance-enhancing drugs is found in the locker room fridge, threatening the entire team’s Olympic fate, Ray has to crush the rumors or risk losing everything. A sharp and stylish play about swimming, survival of the fittest, and the American dream of a level playing field—or of leveling the field yourself.
Gloria: A Life by Emily Mann
THE STORY: Decades after Gloria Steinem began raising her voice for equality and championing the voices of others, her vision is as urgent as ever. In this exploration of the iconic feminist’s legacy, the first act tells her story, and the second invites the audience to share their own. GLORIA: A LIFE embodies Steinem’s philosophy that conversation is a catalyst for change as it celebrates one of the most inspiring women of our time.
The New Century by Paul Rudnick
THE STORY: When the playwright is Paul Rudnick, expectations are geared for a play both hilarious and smart, and THE NEW CENTURY is no exception. It is a provocative and outrageous comedy, featuring a collection of hilarious characters.
Homework Eats Dog and Other Woeful Tales by Alan Haehnel
THE STORY: For science teacher Douglas Kobekeaneski, there’s nothing greater than “The Hour of Desperation,” that magical hour before his immensely important, grade-devastating assignment is due. Each year, his students frantically scramble to come up with their method of escape — and this year is no exception, as they trot out a litany of outrageous excuses, including the greatest of them all: My homework ate my dog.
Blackademics by Idris Goodwin
THE STORY: There’s something strange about the trendy new restaurant in town. When Ann and Rachelle meet there for dinner, there’s already tension in the friendship they’ve built on their common experience navigating academia as black women: While Ann just got tenure at her tony liberal arts college, Rachelle’s struggling to find her place at the less prestigious state university. So at first it’s easy to overlook odd things like the single water glass they’re offered, or the mysterious server who keeps assigning points to their conversational gambits. But as the hunger sets in, the two professors find themselves the unknowing stars of an absurdist dinner theater performance of black plight. Somebody’s got to get the first bite, after all. A sharp, surreal satire about who gets a place at the table.
The Velveteen Rabbit by Elise Kauzlaric
THE STORY: In the world of toys, life begins when humans leave the room. When one group of toys discovers a velveteen rabbit, they learn what it means to be truly loved by their owner. Adapted from the classic story by Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit tells the story of the unconditional love between a boy and his toy bunny and how that love makes the rabbit real.
