Tabloid

Tabloid
Book and Music
By Marta Jorgensen
Additional music by Robi Hager
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Tabloid is a new full-length musical full of scandal, revenge, and whimsy!
Rhoda Haynes is quite happy with her life as a successful playwright, wife, and mother. Her husband, Hubert, is a congressman. Her daughter, Blaze, is an internationally renowned singer. But...
Tabloid
Book and Music
By Marta Jorgensen
Additional music by Robi Hager
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Tabloid is a new full-length musical full of scandal, revenge, and whimsy!
Rhoda Haynes is quite happy with her life as a successful playwright, wife, and mother. Her husband, Hubert, is a congressman. Her daughter, Blaze, is an internationally renowned singer. But suddenly Rhoda, Hubert, and Blaze are all the target of fabricated scandals invented by crooked media-mogul Frenchy King. Rhoda and the audience have now crossed over into the “world of the tabloid”, a magical theatrical space where anything can happen and Rhoda can address the audience.
Donny O’Connelly, a reporter for King Media, attempts to blow the whistle on Frenchy and his lyin’ rag. Unfortunately, Donny’s attempts fail and Frenchy sacks him. Nearly penniless himself, Donny becomes a manager of a local homeless shelter.
Unsatisfied with merely firing Donny, Frenchy plots to frame him for embezzling funds from the homeless shelter. When Rhoda reads this newest slander, she decides Frenchy must be stopped at all costs.
Rhoda, her family, and Donny, team up to dethrone Frenchy King with a familiar Christmas Carol-esque ruse, updated for the 21st century. Rhoda, Hubert, and Blaze disguise themselves as “ghosts' ' and warn Frenchy that should he not un-frame Donny within twenty-four hours, he will be condemned to hell. The ruse is a success, leading King to immediately try to un-frame Donny.
But Frenchy finds that un-framing a man is much harder than he suspected. Twenty-four hours pass, and he now finds himself an inmate at Mr. Perry’s Poorhouse, a metaphysical “hell-on-earth” composed of the souls Frenchy has slandered. The world of Frenchy’s tabloid (aliens, bigfoot, and all) has come to life, and he must now live in it.
In the end, Frenchy escapes only after pawning his company for a dollar, and recanting his deceitful ways, proving that “fake news” can never beat the truth. Rhoda, her family, and Donny, can now live their lives in peace.
Tabloid features a cast of 9 principle roles and a small and expandable ensemble. The score is a rich and delightful palette of traditional theatre, film-noir jazz, and operatic arias. Tabloid is a choreographer’s dream, filled with solo, partnered, and company dance numbers!
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Tabloid

Recommended by

  • Tom David Barna:
    7 Jan. 2022
    So what do you get when you mix a singing ghost in chains, a Chia Pet based on alien technology, a sleaze queen you just have to love (I know I do), fake news, innuendos, lots of secrets and more rumors and gossip mongering than you can shake a stick at? Oh and did I mention songs, dancing and dark humor? And please don’t tell me there will be redemption….but who am I to spoil a great story? Tabloid by Marta Jorgensen is a journey you have to take. A must read. A must show.
  • Susan Kaminski:
    9 Jul. 2021


    I am not an avid reader of tabloids, but Tabloid is a funny and exciting play. Marta Jorgensen’s portrayal of Rhoda Haynes, disgraced playwright, is captivating and relatable. It was enjoyable meeting the larger-than-life personalities of this script in their bright coloured tabloid world. I would highly recommend this for anyone who likes reading about celebrity news being bandied about. Besides, the music and lyrics are great too.
  • Kerr Lockhart:
    5 Jul. 2021
    TABLOID by Marta Jorgensen is a mad, extravagant CANDIDE- in- reverse carnival, where all is for the worse, and the dark denizens of the world struggle mightily to make it so. Maybe there is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so, but framing can make everything bad, only in a bold, lusty, entertaining way. If you find THE SIMPSONS too subtle, JERRY SPRINGER too polite, and the SUN too fancy and elegant, you will be right at home in the world of TABLOID.

Character Information

  • Rhoda Haynes
    50's,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Out of work New York playwright. Older woman, slender, wiry and agile. Red hair, aged or fading. Eccentrically dressed. Interesting vocal qualities. Can do other character voices.
    Very present. Must sing and be physically able to climb around and bend into small places.
  • Hubert Haynes
    60's,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Disgraced and out of work Congressman who is married to Rhoda. Slender and mid- height. May be balding. Well spoken and must sing but not operatic. Some dancing required and must be able to get into small places.
  • Blaze Haynes
    30's,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Out of work singer and daughter of Rhoda and Hubert. Can be glamorous and dramatic and can sing well. Can be sultry on cue. Somewhat taller than her parents in high heels. Red haired.
  • Francis P. King II (Frenchy King)
    50's,
    Any (but probably white)
    ,
    Male
    Rugged good looks, on the short side, silver hair, must be able to sing. Flamboyant media tycoon. Well kept but not overly athletic. Excitable and his voice might crack.
  • Sheila Acer
    30's, Array,
    Female
    Frenchy's girlfriend and a news front woman on camera. Not a cliche. Blonde and medium build.
  • Donny O'Connely
    30's, Array,
    Male
    Somewhat tall. A little rough around the edges. Must sing and dance well. Expressive with hands.
  • Laura Fitzpatrick
    30's,
    Any (but probably white)
    ,
    Female
    Social worker with degree. Hyper and bossy. Must sing well and dance. Any body type but not short. Cry on cue.
  • Trench Coat Bob
    any ,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Related to Frenchy and is family. Could be a Danny Devito type. Has to sing but not on key so much.
  • Mr. Perry
    unknown,
    Any
    ,
    Any (but probably Male)
    Lord of the Underworld and owner of Perry's Poorhouse. Can be any body type and background but must have a deep voice when he sings and be a bit menacing at times.
  • Lawyer
    any,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Any body type but looks good in a suit.
  • Kids Ensemble
    16-25,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    Colorful collection of modern Generation Z's who must sing and do choreography involving set pieces.
  • Homeless house residents/Perry's Poorhouse Inmates Ensemble
    any,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    Ensemble to sing dance and do costume changes.

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    MJAM Music
    ,
    2018
  • Reading
    ,
    MJAM Music
    ,
    2017

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Hatchfund - Crowdfunding Campaign
    ,
    2017

Awards

Selection
,
Stage Play Selection
,
Lonely Seal Film Festival
,
2022