No one in theatrical history ever did so many things so well as George M. Cohan--"the Man Who Owned Broadway."
A dynamic entertainer, songwrighter, playwright, director, and producer, Cohan practicall;y invented American musical comedy. The great Cohan hits--from "Give My Regards to Broadway" to "Mary" to "You're a Grand Old Flag"--are timeless bits of Americana.
Chip Deffaa, the foremost authority on Cohan, has created five sensational shows--suitable for any size venue--brimming with Cohan's rousing music. All are available for licensing or touring. As are Deffaa's other shows...
GEORGE M. COHAN: "...born on the Fourth of July..."
In this web site, you can learn about our five Cohan shows... and other great shows, such as "The Seven Little Foys," "Song-and-Dance Kids," "The Family That Sings Together...," "Theater Boys," and "The Johnny Mercer Jamboree." You can read reviews, find out how to license a script or bo0k a production, purchase a cast album, or get tickets to see a show. Whether you're a performer, a producer, or an audience-member, we have the info you'll need.
Jon Peterson as George M. Cohan
Cohan's joyously syncopated rhythms just make you feel good. And Chip Deffaa has written--and successfully staged--five different productions celebrating Cohan's legacy--as well as assorted other shows. Whatever your budget, size or age of audience, we have a show for you:
"GEORGE M. COHAN: IN HIS OWN WORDS" (published by Samuel French Inc.) is a big, two-act book musical, designed for a cast of 16 or more. Theaters from New York to Texas have been having fun with this full-length musical hit.
"THE GEORGE M. COHAN REVUE" (published by Baker's Plays) gathers a whopping 60 songs, telling Cohan's life story in two lively acts. This musical comedy can be performed by eight to ten singing actors, with an optional chorus of any size. (One school is planning to do the show as their next Spring musical, adding a chorus of 90 on ten of the numbers.) This musical comedy offers the biggest, brightest representation of Cohan's music ever put together.
"YANKEE DOODLE BOY" (published by Drama Source) is a fast and funny, 65-minute one-act musical comedy, written for a flexible cast of six to nine singing actors (with an optional chorus). It's easy to mount, too--which makes it particularly appealing for community theaters and schools. (The most recent production was a school in Katonah, New York; the next will be a community theater in New Jersey.)
"GEORGE M. COHAN & CO." (published by Eldridge Plays) is a two-character musical play. (The director has the option of adding a handful of other singers as memory figures, if desired). "GEORGE M. COHAN & CO." offers a more thoughtful, intimate look at the man behind the myth. Running time (with intermission): an hour and forty-five minutes.
"GEORGE M. COHAN TONIGHT!" is a 95-minute solo show, successfully presented Off-Broadway in New York by the Irish Repertory Theatre, which has wowed audiences everywhere from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Coral Springs, Florida... to Seoul, Korea and Edinburgh, Scotland! It's now booking tour dates. The cast album is available from Sh-K-Boom Records. This show is a terrific tour-de-force for one strong song-and-dance man!
"THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS" is a two-act musical comedy, written for three adult actors (portraying Eddie Foy, his wife, and their friend George M. Cohan) plus seven kids. In our world-premiere engagement, the kids often seemed to steal the show. No musical anywhere gives young performers more to do. And audiences love seeing kids sing and dance on stage. This new musical is based on the real story of Eddie Foy, a top Broadway star who took his seven kids into show business with him, becoming the most popular family act of the era. The score mixes nostalgic standards (like "Moonlight Bay," "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland," and "Some of These Days") with spirited new originals by Deffaa.
This show was the only hit family musical to emerge from the 2008 New York International Fringe Festival, and reviews have been terrific. (See the page on this website titled "Foys at the Fringe.") "THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS" has roles for 10 actors. Deffaa has written two other family musicals, inspired by the Foys, with roles for more actors.
"SONG-AND-DANCE KIDS" has 37 speaking parts. (Flexible casting is possible; the show could be mounted with anywhere from 24 to 40 players.) This show has lots of humor, lots of heart, and some of the most enduringly popular songs from the golden age of Tin Pan Alley ("In the Good Old Summer Time," "Aba Daba Honeymoon," "Play a Simple Melody," "Alexander's Ragtime Band," etc.). Lots of smaller roles (including Harry Houdini, Mae West, Marie Dressler, Irving Berlin). An ideal choice for a school or theater that wants to do a exuberant musical with a big cast.
"THE FAMILY THAT SINGS TOGETHER..." (published by Drama Source) has 22 speaking parts. (Flexible casting is possible; this wholesome family musical, set in the vaudeville era, can be performed with anywhere from 16-25 players.) We follow America's favorite performing family as they barnstorm the country, playing everywhere from Thomaston, Connecticut to Salt Lake City. The score includes such old-time favorites as "I Love a Piano," "Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?," and "I Want to be in Michigan (Down on the Farm)," plus a rousing original by Deffaa, "Faith!"
"The Seven Little Foys"
"THE JOHNNY MERCER JAMBOREE" is a two-act celebration of one of America's master songwriters. Mercer actually wrote the lyrics for more hit songs than any other writer in history. (Alan Jay Lerner called Mercer's songs "pure Americana.") This revue--conceived, written and directed by Chip Deffaa--gathers Mercer songs that everyone knows (like "Moon River," "Blues in the Night," "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive," "Days of Wine and Roses") along with delightful rarities and rediscoveries. The show is currently running in Rochester.
"THEATER BOYS," an original musical comedy by Chip Deffaa, mixing rollicking camp humor with the tenderness of first love, premiered successfully in New York City in 2008.
Jon Peterson as George M. Cohan
LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OF THESE SHOWS, AND MORE, INSIDE....
"The Seven Little Foys"
And if you need more info, contact: CHIP DEFFAAPRODUCTIONS LLC, 50 Quartz Lane, Paterson, NJ 07501-3345; telephone: (973) 684-3340; Email: OriginalCast1@aol.com
