Runaways (musical)
Encyclopedia
Runaways is a musical which was written, composed and directed by Elizabeth Swados
, about the lives of children who run away from home and live on the city streets. The characters were taken from workshops conducted by Swados with real-life runaways in the late 1970s.
, who agreed to produce it. She looked for the children who would be in the musical in various places in New York City, such as a community center, and "little by little, we built a world where runaways came together, told their stories, and acted out the hardships they endured." Swados did research for her project as she gathered the cast, and some in the cast were actual runaways. The show was done in a series of songs, monologues, scenes, poems, and dances.
on February 21, 1978 at the Public Theater
Cabaret as presented by the New York Shakespeare Festival. It moved to Broadway
at the Plymouth Theatre on May 13, 1978 and closed on Dec 31, 1978 after 274 performances and 12 previews. The director and choreographer was Elizabeth Swados, with scenic design by Douglas W. Schmidt and Woods Mackintosh, costume design by Hilary Rosenfeld, and lighting design by Jennifer Tipton
.
The orchestra consisted of Piano and Toy Piano, String Bass, Congas, Timbales, Bongos, Bell Sirens and Others, Trap Set, Triangle, Glass and Ratchet, Saxophone and Flutes, and Guitar (played by Elizabeth Swados).
Act II
Harold Clurman
wrote: "Though the show offers a number of attractive features, only a few of them are actually congruent with its theme...There are...a few charming numbers: one of them is called 'Enterprise' derisive of our national fetish...The Swados music is utilitarian rather than lyrically or dramatically expressive-it is employed, as in the Japanese or Chinese theatres, as sound to call attention to signal moments...Even if I had liked more of the numbers than I did, I would still have thought 'too much show!' ".
The New York Times reviewer wrote of the Public Theatre production that the show was an "inspired musical collage...[it] takes a harsh and uncompromising look at the world of runaways, but it is written and performed with great compassion." The music is "disco, salsa, country and western and blues...Not just the songs, but the soliloquies and poems - some of them contributed by members of the cast - are also deeply personal...In all aspects 'Runaways' is a triumph."
Drama Desk Award
Obie
Awards
Elizabeth Swados
Elizabeth Swados is an American writer, composer, musician, and theatre director. While some of her subject matter is humorous, such as her satirical look at Ronald Reagan, Rap Master Ronnie, and Doonesbury - both collaborations with Garry Trudeau - much of her work deals with dark issues such as...
, about the lives of children who run away from home and live on the city streets. The characters were taken from workshops conducted by Swados with real-life runaways in the late 1970s.
Background
Swados took her idea for a musical with the theme of running away "from home, from a boyfriend, from a predator,... from yourself" to Joseph PappJoseph Papp
Joseph Papp was an American theatrical producer and director. Papp established The Public Theater in what had been the Astor Library Building in downtown New York . "The Public," as it is known, has many small theatres within it...
, who agreed to produce it. She looked for the children who would be in the musical in various places in New York City, such as a community center, and "little by little, we built a world where runaways came together, told their stories, and acted out the hardships they endured." Swados did research for her project as she gathered the cast, and some in the cast were actual runaways. The show was done in a series of songs, monologues, scenes, poems, and dances.
Productions
The musical premiered off-BroadwayOff-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
on February 21, 1978 at the Public Theater
Public Theater
The Public Theater is a New York City arts organization founded as The Shakespeare Workshop in 1954 by Joseph Papp, with the intention of showcasing the works of up-and-coming playwrights and performers. It is headquartered at 425 Lafayette Street in the former Astor Library in the East Village...
Cabaret as presented by the New York Shakespeare Festival. It moved to Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
at the Plymouth Theatre on May 13, 1978 and closed on Dec 31, 1978 after 274 performances and 12 previews. The director and choreographer was Elizabeth Swados, with scenic design by Douglas W. Schmidt and Woods Mackintosh, costume design by Hilary Rosenfeld, and lighting design by Jennifer Tipton
Jennifer Tipton
Jennifer Tipton is a lighting designer. She has designed for dance, theater and opera.In 1958, she graduated from Cornell University...
.
The orchestra consisted of Piano and Toy Piano, String Bass, Congas, Timbales, Bongos, Bell Sirens and Others, Trap Set, Triangle, Glass and Ratchet, Saxophone and Flutes, and Guitar (played by Elizabeth Swados).
Original Broadway cast
- Hubbell — Bruce Hlibok
- Interpreter for Hubbell — Lorie Robinson
- A.J. — Carlo Imperato
- Jackie — Rachael Kelly
- Luis — Ray Contreras
- Nikki Kay Kane — Nan-Lynn Nelson
- Lidia — Josie de GuzmanJosie de GuzmanJosie de Guzman is an American actress of Puerto Rican descent best known for work in the theatre. After studying at the Boston Conservatory of Music, Guzman made her Broadway debut in 1978 as Lidia in the original production of Elizabeth Swados's Runaways...
- Manny — Randy Ruiz
- Eddie — Jon Matthews
- Sundar — Bernie Allison
- Roby — Venustra K. Robinson
- Lazar — David Schechter
- Eric — Evan H. Miranda
- Iggy — Jonathan Feig
- Jane — Kate Schellenbach
- Ez — Leonard D. Brown
- Mex-Mongo — Mark Anthony Butler
- Melinda — Trini AlvaradoTrini AlvaradoTrinidad "Trini" Alvarado is an American actress best known for her performances as Margaret "Meg" March in the 1994 film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel Little Women and Lucy Lynskey in the comedy/horror film The Frighteners...
- Deidre — Karen Evans
- Mocha — Sheila Gibbs
- Ensemble - Toby Parker
- Ensemble - Timmy Michaels (Michael Demetrious)
Synopsis summary
28 "multi racial, multi ethnic" children explore the "fragmented" life of the runaway in an inner city. Through songs, monologues and poems the children examine and explain why they are runaways. They are abused, come from broken families, or are in an orphanage. The children show a range of emotions, and are seen as victims but also "perpetrators". They "plead with their families and society 'Let Me Be A Kid Again.'"Songs and scenes
Act I- You Don't Understand
- I Had to Go
- Parent/Kid Dance
- Appendectomy
- Where Do People Go (song)
- Footsteps
- Once Upon a Time
- Current Events
- Every Now and Then (song)
- Out on the Street
- Minnesota Strip (song)
- Song of a Child Prostitute (song)
- Christmas Puppies
- Lazar's Heroes
- Find Me a Hero (song)
- Scrynatchkielooaw
- The Undiscovered Son (song)
- I Went Back Home
- This is What I Do When I'm Angry
- The Basketball Song (song)
- Dance
- Spoons
- Lullaby for Luis (song)
- We Are Not Strangers (song)
Act II
- In the Sleeping Line
- I Will Not Tell a Soul
- Revenge Song (song)
- Enterprise (song)
- Lullaby from Baby to Baby (song)
- Sometimes (song)
- Clothes
- Mr. Graffiti
- The Untrue Pigeon (song)
- Señoras de la Noche
- We Have to Die?
- Where Are Those People Who Did 'Hair'? (song)
- Appendectomy II
- Let Me Be a Kid (song)
- To the Dead of Family Wars
- Problem After Problem
- Lonesome of the Road/Let Me Be a Kid (Reprise) (song)
Response
According to Cecil A. Smith, "It was a novel show, even for a period of musical theatre that sought novelty. Angry, disturbing, and ultimately too prosaic for sustained musical flight, it was complete proof that Elizabeth Swados had new plans for the musical and that she had the talent to realize them.Harold Clurman
Harold Clurman
Harold Edgar Clurman was a visionary American theatre director and drama critic, "one of the most influential in the United States". He was most notable as one of the three founders of the New York City's Group Theatre...
wrote: "Though the show offers a number of attractive features, only a few of them are actually congruent with its theme...There are...a few charming numbers: one of them is called 'Enterprise' derisive of our national fetish...The Swados music is utilitarian rather than lyrically or dramatically expressive-it is employed, as in the Japanese or Chinese theatres, as sound to call attention to signal moments...Even if I had liked more of the numbers than I did, I would still have thought 'too much show!' ".
The New York Times reviewer wrote of the Public Theatre production that the show was an "inspired musical collage...[it] takes a harsh and uncompromising look at the world of runaways, but it is written and performed with great compassion." The music is "disco, salsa, country and western and blues...Not just the songs, but the soliloquies and poems - some of them contributed by members of the cast - are also deeply personal...In all aspects 'Runaways' is a triumph."
Awards and nominations
Tony AwardTony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
- Best Musical (Joseph PappJoseph PappJoseph Papp was an American theatrical producer and director. Papp established The Public Theater in what had been the Astor Library Building in downtown New York . "The Public," as it is known, has many small theatres within it...
and Elizabeth SwadosElizabeth SwadosElizabeth Swados is an American writer, composer, musician, and theatre director. While some of her subject matter is humorous, such as her satirical look at Ronald Reagan, Rap Master Ronnie, and Doonesbury - both collaborations with Garry Trudeau - much of her work deals with dark issues such as...
) (nominee) - Best Book of a Musical (Elizabeth SwadosElizabeth SwadosElizabeth Swados is an American writer, composer, musician, and theatre director. While some of her subject matter is humorous, such as her satirical look at Ronald Reagan, Rap Master Ronnie, and Doonesbury - both collaborations with Garry Trudeau - much of her work deals with dark issues such as...
) (nominee) - Best Original Score (Elizabeth SwadosElizabeth SwadosElizabeth Swados is an American writer, composer, musician, and theatre director. While some of her subject matter is humorous, such as her satirical look at Ronald Reagan, Rap Master Ronnie, and Doonesbury - both collaborations with Garry Trudeau - much of her work deals with dark issues such as...
) (nominee) - Best Choreography (Elizabeth SwadosElizabeth SwadosElizabeth Swados is an American writer, composer, musician, and theatre director. While some of her subject matter is humorous, such as her satirical look at Ronald Reagan, Rap Master Ronnie, and Doonesbury - both collaborations with Garry Trudeau - much of her work deals with dark issues such as...
) (nominee) - Best Direction of a Musical (Elizabeth SwadosElizabeth SwadosElizabeth Swados is an American writer, composer, musician, and theatre director. While some of her subject matter is humorous, such as her satirical look at Ronald Reagan, Rap Master Ronnie, and Doonesbury - both collaborations with Garry Trudeau - much of her work deals with dark issues such as...
) (nominee)
Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
- Outstanding Musical (nominee)
- Outstanding Director of a Musical (nominee)
- Outstanding Lyrics (nominee)
- Outstanding Music (nominee)
Obie
Obie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards given by The Village Voice newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City...
Awards
- Direction Elizabeth Swados (winner)