Ghost the Musical School Edition

Overview

Adapted from the hit film by its Academy Award-winning screenwriter, Bruce Joel Rubin, GHOST THE MUSICAL follows Sam and Molly, a young couple whose connection takes a shocking turn after Sam’s untimely death. Trapped between two worlds, Sam refuses to leave Molly when he learns she is in grave danger. Desperate to communicate with her, he turns to a storefront psychic, Oda Mae Brown, who helps him protect Molly and avenge his death. Elements of comedy, suspense, and deeply felt emotion blend to an ethereal climax that audiences will never forget.

GHOST THE MUSICAL School Edition is a slightly reworked version of the National Tour script. The School Edition has been carefully edited, with additional director’s notes throughout, to make the show more producible for high school groups. In some cases problematic language has been changed, while in others an alternate choice is offered at the discretion of the director.

Casting & Production

Casting

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

SAM WHEAT – 20’s, lead, male, office-worker in NYC, living with long-term girlfriend, MOLLY. Vocal Range: G# to Bb

MOLLY JENSEN – 20’s, lead, female, artist living in NYC with boyfriend, SAM. Vocal Range: G to Eb

ODA MAE BROWN – 20’s – 40’s, lead, black female, spiritual advisor at a storefront séance parlor in Brooklyn, told as a child that she had “the gift” by her mother and grandmother (who were both able to communicate with the dead). Larger than life, able to play for laughs but with sincerity and truth. Vocal Range: G to E

CARL BRUNER – 20’s, lead, male, “friend” and colleague of SAM. Strong actor and singer who becomes corrupted and jealous of everything that SAM has, including MOLLY. Vocal Range: F to G

WILLIE LOPEZ – 18 – 20’s, a Puerto Rican male, streetwise criminal. Not a singing role.

SUBWAY GHOST – male, any age. He believes the trains are his because he was pushed onto the track and killed. Aggressive and powerful, a good physical actor is required. He must be able to fight with SAM and physically and emotionally dominate him. Not a singing role.

HOSPITAL GHOST – can be played by a male or female and is one of the first ghosts that SAM encounters and is usually played older but not necessary. A good comic actor and singer. Vocal Range: C to A

*CLARA – black female, Oda Mae’s sister/helper at her séance parlor. Comic role, good singer. Vocal Range: D to D

*LOUISE – black female, Oda Mae’s sister/helper at her séance parlor. Comic role, good singer. Vocal Range: D to D

*For the School Edition, you could add a new character, MARIA in addition to CLARA and LOUISE, breaking up the dialogue between 3 girls instead of 2.

CAMEO ROLES:

LIONEL FURGESON, A bank officer

DETECTIVE BEIDERMAN, NYPD homicide detective, can be played by a male or female

MRS. ROSA SANTIAGO, client of ODA MAE

OFFICER WALLACE, can be played by a male or female

OFFICE ASSISTANT, can be played by a male or female

MINISTER, can be played by a male or female

ORTISHA JONES, female client of ODA MAE

ORLANDO, a male ghost, deceased husband of ORTISHA JONES

NUN 1, female, any age

NUN 2, female, any age

CHORUS/ENSEMBLE:

GHOSTS IN HOSPITAL

PARLOR GHOSTS

BUSINESSPEOPLE/BANK WORKERS

Note: Where race and ethnicity are indicated, they should be honored. Where race or ethnicity are not indicated, that does not by default indicate whiteness, but rather that a character can be of any race or ethnicity.

Orchestral Information

9 Musicians

Piano/Conductor (Keyboard 1)

Utility (Keyboard 2, Acoustic Guitar)

Reed (Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax & Tenor Sax)

Trumpet (doubling Flugelhorn)

Violin (doubling waterphone)

Cello

Guitar (Electric, Acoustic, e-bow)

Bass (Electric)

Drums/Percussion (Drum Set, Triangle, Shaker, Tambourine)

Credits

GHOST
THE MUSICAL

Book & Lyrics by BRUCE JOEL RUBIN
Music & Lyrics by DAVE STEWART & GLEN BALLARD

Based on the Paramount Pictures film written by Bruce Joel Rubin

Original West End Production Produced by Colin Ingram, David Garfinkle, Adam Silberman, Land Line Productions, Donovan Mannato, Michael Edwards / Carole Winter

“Unchained Melody” written by Hy Zaret and Alex North, courtesy of Unchained Melody Publishing LLC