The Long Road - A Short Musical by Joshua Vranas

THE LONG ROAD, a chamber musical based on the Aesop's fable The Wind and the Sun, recontextualizes the old tale for a 21st century story. The moral of the original story was 'Persuasion is better than Force'. The musical expands on that to say, 'Persuasion is better than Force, but far worse than Consent, of course.'

THE LONG ROAD is meant to be a low-budget production...
THE LONG ROAD, a chamber musical based on the Aesop's fable The Wind and the Sun, recontextualizes the old tale for a 21st century story. The moral of the original story was 'Persuasion is better than Force'. The musical expands on that to say, 'Persuasion is better than Force, but far worse than Consent, of course.'

THE LONG ROAD is meant to be a low-budget production that can be done for any audience. It sounds best with the band as written above, however, a piano-only version is available upon request. The band is encouraged to participate in the show dressed as a family of birds. The will occasionally comment and sing along with some of the songs so they must be onstage. Should this not be possible, their parts can be substituted by other actors, but the effect of an intimate show may be compromised.

The aesthetic of the show is very tongue-in-cheek with moments of heart. Leaning into both with give the show a dynamic atmosphere. The brighter the colors, the more bizarre the performances, the tighter the music, the stronger the message of the show will be.

It is very possible for the show to be an excellent puppet show, or experimental theater piece. The LONG ROAD can live onstage in many exciting ways. There are no rules, so have fun!
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The Long Road - A Short Musical

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Character Information

This is a gender neutral story. These characters are timeless and special. There is hardly any representation for our trans and non-binary siblings. Part of breaking those habits is broadening our language and breaking our classic tropes. In the original fable everyone is referred to with he/him pronouns, I wanted to only use they/them pronouns so that anyone could feel comfortable playing any character. The band should be dressed as birds and can/are encouraged to react and participate in the show happening around them onstage. If you have a particularly shy group of musicians, they can be elsewhere to keep the focus on only the actors. But the world will feel fuller with 6 people onstage.

  • The Traveler
    Any Age,
    Any
    ,
    Any Identity
    A weather-worn person who lives life on the road. They choose to life one journey at a time. They may not be rich, but they are rich in experience and lust for life. Because they know exactly who they are, they do not tolerate anyone tampering with their wellbeing.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • The Sun
    Any Age,
    Any
    ,
    Any Identity
    A ball of light both literally and figuratively. Definitely a Leo, the Sun sees themself as the king of the sky. This power can often lead to abuse even if they are well intentioned. But they prefer to influence Earth rather than rule with an iron fist.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • The Wind
    Any Age,
    Any
    ,
    Any Identity
    Quick witted and quick tempered, the Wind is a silver tongued tyrant. They can whistle soft as a snake, or roar as fierce as a hurricane. Jaded because they are a forgotten elemental force, the Wind seeks to prove that forcing yourself on others makes you the most important person around.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Private
    ,
    2021
  • Workshop
    ,
    Private
    ,
    2021