Inspired, in part, by Hans Christian Andersen’s, “The Little Match Girl,” it tells the story of a grumpy, overworked New Yorker who resolves to spend New Year’s Eve alone in his apartment when an unexpected visitor brings some much-needed cheer. The evening springs to life through an eclectic score that combines pop, rock, jazz, showtunes, and more.
Striking 12 is a perfect alternative to standard holiday fare while still being family-friendly. On New Year’s Eve, an over-worked and under-inspired single guy who’s had enough of holiday cheer makes a resolution: to stay home and go to bed early. On another New Year’s Eve, a continent away—and more than a century earlier—Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Match Girl tries unsuccessfully to sell her matches in the snow. The two stories are brought together when a young woman selling special “full-spectrum holiday light bulbs” to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder shows up at the grumpy man’s door.
Though the man (who probably could use the bulbs) seems to enjoy the young woman’s company, he sends her away. It’s not until he reads “The Little Match Girl” that he is finally pulled out of his funk. All of this unfolds through a tuneful pop/rock/jazz score that retains the vibrant style of its original performers: the celebrated band, GrooveLily. (The show has since been expanded to 8 or more actors and 6 musicians). The witty and deeply moving script weaves three stories and settings: contemporary New York City, 19th century Denmark, and the very room in which the show is presented. Through simple, unpretentious theater created through the voices and instruments of the performers, Striking 12 reminds us that “the world looks like new… on the first day of the year.”
STRIKING 12
By Brendan Milburn, Rachel Sheinkin, and Valerie Vigoda
Original New York City Production produced by Nancy Nagel Gibbs and Greg Schaffert Striking 12 was originally presented by Prince Music Theatre, Philadelphia Subsequently produced at The Old Globe, San Diego, California Striking 12 was developed at TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, California Striking 12 was presented at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s Festival of New Musicals in 2004
NOTE: The names of the Composer, Lyricist, and Bookwriter shall be equal in size, type, coloring, boldness, and prominence. No billing shall appear in type larger or more prominent than the billing to the Authors except for the title of the play.
NARRATOR 1 (Master of Ceremonies)
THE MAN WHO’S HAD ENOUGH
S.A.D. LIGHT SELLER LITTLE MATCH GIRL JACK SMALL PART GUY: GRANDMA; CRAIG; HOGART CAROLER; JONNY, POST-NASAL-DRIP GUY NARRATOR 2 (band member): PASSERBY; DIANE; TV ANNOUNCER; HOGART CAROLER NARRATOR 3: LYDIA; ERICA; TV NEWS CORRESPONDENT; HOGART CAROLER; MRS. PALAMINO; SPACE-INVADING GIRL HAPPY FOLEY/DRUMMER (band member, can also be combined with one of narrators or HAPPY FOLEY): BOSS, HOGART SPOKESMAN
CHORUS roles that can be played by subset of chorus include: COWORKERS; TRAIN CONDUCTORS; PARTIERS; PASSERSBY ON STREET; HOGART CAROLERS
Note that roles can be played by more, or by fewer actors, for desired cast size. The overall sense should be that there is one group of players: musicians, singers, actors, out of which everyone steps to become their character when needed. When not playing a role in any given moment everyone is in a sense themselves, as well as a potential chorus member. We recommend including band members act as narrators to bolster the sense of the whole group creating the story together.
6 Musicians:
Keyboard (Synth)
Violin
Cello
Guitar (Electric, Acoustic)
Bass (Electric)
Drums (Drum Set, Shaker, Tambourine, Sleigh bells, Mark Tree, Finger Cymbal, Shaker, Triangle, High Gong, Chimes, optional Happy Foley)