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Carnegie

by Ian Hammond Brown



Musical Theatre Drama: 'Carnegie' by Ian Hammond Brown


Synopsis

Set in the last few hours of Andrew Carnegie’s life, Peterson, the embodiment of St Peter, brings John, a steelworker killed in the infamous Carnegie Steel Homestead steel plant dispute of 1892, back from the afterlife to help him hear the story of Carnegie’s life and to ultimately decide on Carnegie’s eternal fate.
 
Carnegie tells Peterson his story from being a young man in Dunfermline, through his journey to America, then his early life in Pittsburgh and finally to the ruthless deals, the intrigue and loves and losses on the journey which lead to him becoming the richest man in the world when he sold his steel empire to JP Morgan in 1901 for $480 million.
 
As the musical progresses it reveals how Carnegie came to understand that someone with so much wealth and power is ultimately only its custodian for future generations and he draws the conclusion that, through strategic philanthropy, he must give his money away for the good of mankind and he then strives to do this before he dies. His famous quote ‘The man who dies thus rich, dies disgraced’ is the inspiration for modern philanthropists such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. In the end John the steelworker must decide if Carnegie should go to Heaven or Hell, and if he can forgive Carnegie for causing his death.
 
Carnegie’s legacy lives on to this day through the likes of The Carnegie UK Trust, The Carnegie Hero Fund and the Carnegie Corporation of New York which today still support many good causes, together with scientific and academic research throughout the world, as well as his ultimate goal that came to him towards the end of his life, of world peace for all time.
 
Written by Ian Hammond Brown, the composer and lyricist of ‘Whisky Galore: a Musical!’, ‘Carnegie - The Star Spangled Scotchman’ premiered at the Edinburgh fringe in 2016. With a cast of 20 characters plus an ensemble of 10 or more and a score written for a 6 piece band, it’s an ideal new show for an amateur company to undertake. It’s a great rags to riches tale of a universal story which everyone can relate to, showing that: ‘Anyone can be, in life, what they choose to be’.

Characters

Principals (3m, 2f)

  • Andrew Carnegie – The famous Industrialist/ Entrepreneur
  • Peterson – An embodiment of St Peter
  • John – A Steelworker and deceased former employee of Carnegie
  • Louise – Andrew Carnegie’s Wife
  • Mrs Margaret Carnegie – Andrew Carnegie’s Mother

 Support (3m, 3f)

  • Mrs Whitfield – Louise’s Mother
  • Mary – John’s wife
  • Henry Clay Frick – Carnegie’s closest business partner
  • Rudyard Kipling – A Famous Writer and Friend of Carnegie
  • Mrs Kipling - Rudyard Kipling’s Wife
  • Phillip Burne-Jones – An Artist and cousin of Kipling

 Together with an Ensemble of Men and Women providing these other (9m) cameo roles:

  • William Carnegie – Andrew Carnegie’s Father
  • Uncle Thomas Morrison – Andrew Carnegie’s Uncle
  • Hunt – Landowner of Pittencrief Park
  • Frank – Carnegie’s Assistant
  • Soldier – A young wounded American Civil War soldier
  • Thomas Scott – Carnegie’s Mentor
  • Chairman – The Chairman of The Board of Carnegie Steel
  • Phipps – Frick’s Business Associate
  • Charles Schwab – Carnegie’s Protégé

N.B. A small cast production could consist of 12 actors:-

Principals: Carnegie, Mrs Carnegie, Louise, Peterson, John

Other roles: the other seven actors could play all these roles as required:

  • Frick   - Also plays the role of Hunt
  • Ensemble 1 – William Carnegie, Phillip Burne Jones, Phipps, Steel Wkr, JP Morgan
  • Ensemble 2 – Morrison, Thomas Scott, Chairman, Frank, Rudyard Kipling, Steel Worker
  • Ensemble 3 – Charles Schwab, Soldier, Servant, Steel Worker
  • Ensemble 4 – Mrs Whitfield, Kipling’s Wife, Secretary, Washer Woman 2
  • Ensemble 5 – Mary, Maid
  • Ensemble 6 – Washer Woman 1, Clerk

Songs

  1) Somewhere In The Heart Of Man
Carnegie, Steelworkers x 2, & Ensemble
  2) Those Were The Days Carnegie & Ensemble
  3) Going To America  Mrs Carnegie & Ensemble
  4) Sarsparilla Carnegie, John & Ensemble
  5) Another Life Carnegie
  6) A Sense Of Adventure Steelworkers & John
  7) Henry Clay Frick John, Frick & Ensemble
  8) Together Louise & Carnegie
  9) Fallen Mrs Carnegie, Mrs Whitfield, Louise & Carnegie
10) Could It Be Love John & Mary
11) The Battle For Homestead John & Ensemble
~~ Interval ~~  
12) The Battle For Homestead (Short Reprise) Newspaper Seller
13) Slipping Away Mrs Carngie
14) Shine Louise & Carnegie
15) Maybe I Should Have Done More Carnegie
16) All Is Well Carnegie
17) A Condition, Not A Theory Kipling & Jones
18) I Was Born An American Frick
19) The Decision Carnegie
20) The Gospel Of Wealth Mary & Mrs Whitfield
21) Where Did My Dream Go? Carnegie
22) Something In The Heart Of Man (Reprise) Carnegie
23) Follow Your Heart / Finale Carnegie & Company

Information for Production Administrators

Here's a list of all the supporting material available and some other information you might need. Pricing for the production materials is supplied automatically with a Perusal Set. Royalty pricing can only be provided as a formal quotation.

Available now (see below) ...
 
 
Perusal Set
These are available for customers in European Union countries only to borrow free of charge (but you have to pay the postage to return the set to us). The set contains ...
 
  • Printed Libretto
  • Printed Piano/Vocal Score
  • Cast Recording CD (Dialogue in Dutch, Sung in French)
Available after Perusal ...
 
Libretti/Vocal Scores

Available to purchase in this form ...

  • Rehearsal Master Set on a Data CD (Cast). This contains the script and piano vocal score for your cast and crew provided as A4 pdf files. No problem about possible loss of deposit on sets of rented books, as they are yours to print out and mark up as required. The price includes a multiple copying licence allowing you to copy the Data CD itself (enabling you to give or sell copies to your cast for them to make up their own rehearsal books) or to make multiple prints of the pdf's on the Data CD for your production company to organise and provide to your cast or crew.

To order this, create an account with us, then go to the 'Order Rehearsal Material' page

Please note that we do not sell printed copies of libretti, nor do we hire sets of printed rehearsal libretti or scores.

Available after Rights Obtained ...
 
Backing Tracks
n/a
Orchestrations

These are available for an 6 piece orchestra as below, for hire to production companies only, who hold a valid, unexpired, licence to perform.

 
  • MD / Keyboard 1
  • Keyboard 2
  • Guitar
  • Violin
  • Cello
  • Drum Kit
Royalty Type
Royalties for this title are 'variable fee, post paid', and will be calculated on a percentage of your box office income once your production has finished. See our pricing policy for details. We work on a quotation system for royalties, based on information you supply to us. Complete a printed application form or create account with us, and use the online version.
Video Licence
We have secured the rights to video productions of this title from the Author, and we manage them on his behalf. Once a 'Licence To Perform' has been granted, and then on payment of a fee, we will be able to issue a 'Licence To Record'. There are some strings attached to this, but these are far outweighed by the benefits.
 
  • Record one or more live performances and mix down to a single video
  • Give or sell copies to your cast and crew
  • Sell copies to your audiences (take advance bookings on the night)


Order your free preview script or perusal material now ...

  • Production Video (Carnegie)
    £7.50 Production Video (Carnegie)
    This item provides a ticket which enables you to watch a full production on Youtube of the musical 'Carnegie', recorded in May 2019 during a production at the Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline, Scotland. Add this item to your...
  • Royalty Quotation Form (FL)
    Royalty Quotation Form (FL)
    The rights to perform and record for all the titles in our catalogue are managed by Stagescripts Ltd. You should not assume that a licence to perform will always be granted. Please request a quotation at the earliest...