A COLLECTIBLE SENSATION full-length musical for 12 Women (+optional additional ensemble) by Amy Engelhardt & Arianna Rose
Recommended by
- Bethany Dickens Assaf:23 Nov. 2022“ There is so much to recommend this delightful, powerful musical. The framing of the work in the Baltimore Museum of Modern Art is theatrically exciting and lends itself to the play's questions of art and ownership, particularly when they intersect with gender. The four characters at the center of the story are expertly constructed (flawed, empathetic, compelling) and the period elements, including the musical arrangements, are employed with care and creativity without bogging down the work in historical details. The play in general balances this setting expertly with questions of great contemporary resonance, including gender, artistry, and sexuality. A triumph! ”
Character Information
- ETTA CONE40s-60s,,May be played by any race/ethnicitya woman40+, timid, subservient to older sister Claribel. Household Manager, Art Collector. Repressed, finds her path through the study and collecting of art and textiles. Loves lace, piano, family. Her looks are plain. Her figure buried under layers of petticoats and a black skirt, white blouse.
- DR. CLARIBEL CONE40s-60s,,Any Race / Ethnic Identitywoman40+, Etta’s older sister,“the Empress”, Research Doctor, Public Speaker, Art Collector, charismatic, imperious, austere, demanding. A handsome and imposing woman. Petticoats and black skirt, white or black blouse. Often wore a black velvet cape with purple lining.
- GERTRUDE STEIN40s-60s,,May be played by any race/ethnicitylesbian Woman40+, charismatic, outspoken, melodic voice, Writer and Art Collector. Lesbian. Large in every sense of the word. Flouts conventions and dresses for comfort; more masculine look, bohemian.
- ALICE B. TOKLAS40s-60s,,can be played by any race/ethnic identitylesbian Woman40+, quiet, determined, jealous streak, writer, lover of music, flowers, cooking, lesbian, life partner of Gertrude Stein. Always dressed well, wears a succession of fabulous hats, often wears sandals instead of shoes.
- YOUNG ETTA CONE20s,,Any race/ethnic identitywomanEtta's younger self, in the memory scenes
- YOUNG DR. CLARIBEL20s,,Any race/ethnic identitya womanyounger self of Dr. Claribel, in the memory scenes
- YOUNG GERTRUDE STEIN20s,,Any race/ethnic identitya lesbian womanyounger self of Gertrude Stein, in the memory scenes
- YOUNG ALICE B. TOKLAS20s,,Any Race/Ethnicitylesbian Womanyounger self of Alice B. Toklas in the memory scenes.
- ODALISQUE ("Standing Odalisque Reflected in a Mirror", Henri Matisse, 1923)20s-30s,,Any Race/EthnicitywomanBased on this painting by Henri Matisse: “Standing Odalisque Reflected in a Mirror” (1923). Special connection with Etta.
- WOMAN 2/WOMAN IN TURBAN (based on 1917 painting WOMAN IN TURBAN (LORETTE) by Henri Matisse20s-40s,,Any Race/Ethnicitywomanbased on the 1917 painting WOMAN IN TURBAN (Lorette) by Henri Matisse. Special connection with CLARIBEL
- WOMAN 3/PORTRAIT OF GERTRUDE STEIN (based on Portrait of Gertrude Stein by Felix Vallotton 1907)20s-30s,,Any Race/Ethnicitylesbian WomanBased on “Portrait of Gertrude Stein”, Felix Vallotton, 1907. Special connection to GERTRUDE.
- WOMAN 4/PORTRAIT OF A GIRL (based on Portrait of A Girl by Marie Laurencin, 1927)teens-20s,,Any Race/Ethnicitylesbian WomanBased on “Portrait of A Girl” by Marie Laurencin, 1927. Special connection to ALICE.
- OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL ENSEMBLE (other Cone Collection artwork come to life)Any Age,,Any Race/EthnicityFemale, Non-binaryAdditional optional ensemble can be employed, as more artwork in the Cone Collection come to life. They should be either women or non-binary actors, playing women, non-binary or inanimate beings comes to life from the paintings, sculptures, textiles, etc.