Overview
GHOST is a captivating musical adaptation of the beloved Academy Award-winning film by Bruce Joel Rubin featuring a hauntingly beautiful score by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard, along with the classic hit “Unchained Melody.” The story follows Sam and Molly, a young couple whose lives are shattered by Sam’s tragic, untimely death. As Sam’s spirit remains trapped between two worlds, his love for Molly intensifies when he discovers she is in grave danger. Desperate to communicate with her, Sam enlists the help of Oda Mae Brown, a quirky storefront psychic who becomes an unexpected ally in his quest to protect Molly and avenge his death.
Blending romance, suspense, and comedy, Ghost is an immortal love story that delivers a deeply emotional journey, culminating in an ethereal climax that audiences will never forget.
GHOST School Edition has been adapted from the original Broadway production. The School Edition has been carefully edited, with additional director’s notes throughout, to make the show more producible for high school groups. Song keys have been adjusted to sit more comfortably in the range of high school performers. 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
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
Casting 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 and Lyrics by BRUCE JOEL RUBIN
Music and Lyrics by DAVE STEWART and 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
Media
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