Bringing Down the House

by Todd Wallinger

Now available from Pioneer Drama Service!

Ever hear of a musical without songs? Well, we haven't either. Which might just make this madcap comedy a first!

Jules, Sydney, and Elliot have some mighty big dreams. An up-and-coming musical composing team, they've rented the creaky old Edgar Street Theatre for six weeks so they can mount a workshop production of their latest show. All the top investors on the Great...

Now available from Pioneer Drama Service!

Ever hear of a musical without songs? Well, we haven't either. Which might just make this madcap comedy a first!

Jules, Sydney, and Elliot have some mighty big dreams. An up-and-coming musical composing team, they've rented the creaky old Edgar Street Theatre for six weeks so they can mount a workshop production of their latest show. All the top investors on the Great White Way are slated to attend, and the team is going to need every minute of those six weeks to rehearse and polish the musical.

To their dismay, however, they discover that the theater is scheduled for demolition the very next day—and they don't have the money to rent another venue. There's only one thing to do. Throw the show together in just two hours and present it to any investors who can make it on such short notice.

And so the rehearsal begins. Unfortunately, every time a performer gets ready to sing, and the music starts to swell, someone bursts into the theater to cut the song short. There's the annoying child actor who desperately wants to be in the show. A group of very confused protesters. A pushy politician seeking a splashy photo op. And of course the bumbling demo crew themselves.

Things are looking bleak. How can they put on a show if they can't even rehearse one song?

Requiring only a few generic musical tracks, one informal dance number, the barest of sets, and no actual singing, this hilarious farce may just be the easiest "musical" you'll ever produce!

Run Time: 90-100 minutes

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Bringing Down the House

Development History

  • Type Commission, Organization Belmont Day School, Belmont, MA, Year 2023

Production History

  • Type High School, Organization Belmont Day School, Belmont, MA (World Premiere), Year 2024