# Being Earnest ## Metadata - Slug: being-earnest - Type: Full-length Musical - Genre: Comedy - Acts: 2 acts - Duration: 120+ minutes - Cast: Medium (7-14) - Cast Summary: Without doubling: 4f, 5m. With doubling: 4f, 3m. - Suitable For: - Professional Theatre - Community Theatre - College/University - High School/Secondary - Primary Image: https://content.uproartheatrics.com/eolgnxkc8onadyvdvmmziq40a2gf - Album Cover: https://content.uproartheatrics.com/hwr3518lqekto1021yljscznfv07 --- ## Authors - Music by [Paul Gordon](https://www.uproartheatrics.com/md/authors/paul-gordon) and [Jay Gruska](https://www.uproartheatrics.com/md/authors/jay-gruska) - Book and Lyrics by [Paul Gordon](https://www.uproartheatrics.com/md/authors/paul-gordon) ## Overview ***Being Earnest,* ****but wearing go-go boots.** Tony Nominee Paul Gordon and Grammy/Emmy nominee Jay Gruska have transformed Wilde's Victorian era play into a mod masterpiece set on Carnaby Street in 1965. The score pays homage to the likes of The Beatles, The Kinks, The Who, and The Bee Gees, while the script crackles with the witty Wilde-isms. Will it make the local English teacher clutch their pearls, or Beatles-fan with delight? It's anyone's guess... Want to stream it right this second? [Streaming Musicals](https://www.streamingmusicals.com/film/being-earnest/) has got you covered. “Purists of the original classic will be scandalized." – *Talkin’ Broadway* “**You may want to see this one more than once before it takes Broadway by storm**. It's great fun, and great humor, and adds up to a terrific evening.” — *Mountain View Voice ​* “The songs are breezy and toe-tapping and often very successful at advancing the plot. The beauty in **the songs also help give this a more mass appeal, reaching a larger audience than even the source material could.**” — *Examiner.com* ## Plot An updated version of the Oscar Wilde Classic set in 1965 in the heart of Carnabey Street. In the midst of a London buzzing with mod fashion, new music, and evolving ideas of morality, handsome, witty young friends Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff each find themselves adopting the pseudonym 'Ernest' for various complicated reasons. When the two women they court both confess to loving the name as much as the man and all four unexpectedly meet at Worthing’s country home under the disapproving eye of Lady Bracknell, one of theatre's most sharp-tongued dowagers, a wild comedy of romance and mistaken identities ensues. ## Cast | Name | Role | Description | | ---- | ---- | ---- | | ALGY | Principal | A young man in his 20s. | | JACK | Principal | A young man in his 20s. | | CECILY | Principal | A young woman in her 20s. | | GWENDOLEN | Principal | A young woman in her 20s. | | LADY BRACKNELL | Supporting | Gwendolen's mother. | | MISS PRISM | Supporting | Cecily's tutor. | | DR. CHASUBLE | Supporting | A vicar. Can be doubled with Land and Merriman. | | LANE | Supporting | Algy's butler. Can be doubled with Chasubule and Merriman. | | MERRIMAN | Supporting | The chauffeur. Can be doubled with Lane and Chasubule. | ## Materials ### Materials fee also includes **ONE** of the following: | Name | Description | | ---- | ----------- | | Orchestra Sheet Music | | | Orchestra Tracks | | ### Available for additional fee: | Name | Description | | ---- | ----------- | | Orchestra Sheet Music | | | Orchestra Tracks | | | 60-Minute Talkback with the Creators | A 60-minute Zoom/Google Meet with one or more of the show's creator(s). Licensees and guests can ask questions, share experiences, and hear about the artistic journey of the show and creative team. This can be scheduled before or after the performances. If we are unable to make scheduling work, the cost will be refunded. | | Video Recording License | License to create an archival recording of the show that may be distributed to the cast and crew. This does not allow publicly posting the performance. | ## Production Images | URL | Caption | Credit | | --- | ------- | ------ | | https://content.uproartheatrics.com/uk28zzt5i5hkjj940iyvwx61prty | | | | https://content.uproartheatrics.com/app4ofgsx18ysa1v8ogjh0jdayfr | | | | https://content.uproartheatrics.com/3t0dueuv4suzi8sepme8jyc3isbm | | | | https://content.uproartheatrics.com/2rmi8g832uafprt7xo0olfwo84fd | | | | https://content.uproartheatrics.com/eu3gbaj5q35k04jz1sx29kbqw3g1 | | | | https://content.uproartheatrics.com/2jsf05vdzto5sjl2cxk2y0n0itf0 | | | | https://content.uproartheatrics.com/p3kvtpcmeabbzss70dbh7bjbs16u | | | | https://content.uproartheatrics.com/zjrfmfdxhkd8r650uc9fpiginv7q | Dave Heard and Michael Jennings Mahoney: Greater Boston Stage Company | | | https://content.uproartheatrics.com/w1ikknx4qgnmdxw9piavt8pot8r0 | The Cast of BEING EARNEST: Greater Boston Stage Company | | | https://content.uproartheatrics.com/6b29rqz5fj2skvq5fer7rqm2k0e1 | Michael Jennings Mahoney and Ephie Aardema: Greater Boston Stage Company | | | https://content.uproartheatrics.com/mwajunyvbrib35r6mui044o6e5pl | The Cast of BEING EARNEST: Greater Boston Stage Company | | ## Videos - https://www.youtube.com/embed/r_PfuVsYEsg - https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZahbuqEGW6U - https://www.youtube.com/embed/yyq9dcB-wEU ## Press | Title | URL | Image | | ----- | --- | ----- | | Theatreworks goes mod and musical in 'Being Earnest' - The San Francisco Examiner | https://www.sfexaminer.com/entertainment/theatreworks-goes-mod-and-musical-in-being-earnest/ | https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/sfexaminer.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/f7/8f7ae92c-4906-512a-bd75-beed23d93af6/628ba50c2b61f.image.jpg?resize=600%2C400 | | Review: TheatreWorks’ pretty production of ‘Earnest’ remains true to the original | https://bayareaplays.com/2013/04/18/review-theatreworks-pretty-production-of-earnest-remains-true-to-the-original/ | https://bayareaplays.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/phpq8txmdpm.jpg?w=300 | | Theater Review: 'Being Earnest' at TheatreWorks \| Stark Insider | https://www.starkinsider.com/2013/04/being-ernest-theatreworks-theater-review.html | https://cloud.starkinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Being-Earnest-TheatreWorks-Review-stark-insider.jpg | | BWW Review: East Coast Premiere of BEING EARNEST at Greater Boston Stage Company | https://www.broadwayworld.com/boston/article/BWW-Review-East-Coast-Premiere-of-BEING-EARNEST-at-Greater-Boston-Stage-Company-20180917 | https://cloudimages.broadwayworld.com/columnpic10/680224CBDBD-F09F-29C6-082CDEB05DF39B7D.jpg | ## Links - [View HTML page](https://www.uproartheatrics.com/shows/being-earnest)