Playwrite Frank Gagliano

Songs From My Musicals

I have written original musical books and lyrics with composers Claibe Richardson, Jim Reichert and Raymond Benson—among other composers.

Eventually, this link will feature selections from all of the musicals—including full texts with dialogue and lyrics.

1) CONGO SQUARE, The Musical
(Original Book and Lyrics by Frank Gagliano
Music by Claibe Richardson)

WHAT "CONGO SQUARE" IS ALL ABOUT:

“I know that you’ve been worryrin’
but you don’t have to worry anymore—
‘cause I am safe now. . .”
(Lyric from opening song, "Safe Now")

A trap door flies open, a rifle is thrown up onto the stage and Willy Beau, a young Black Man, wearing an R.O.T.C. uniform and carrying a rifle, climbs up into a dimly-lit space, where cobweb-covered Mardi Gras costumes, floats, elaborate masks and costumed mannequins have been stored for years. Willy Beau is pursued by the Mayor, the police, and an angry mob. Not knowing why they’re after him, Willy Beau wildly shoots some rounds out over the mob! In a kind of self-induced, frenzied amnesia, he retreats into musical fantasy worlds with his mannequin friends; fantasies that involve corruption, madness, the heroism of historical or mythical black characters--and Congo Square, where the slaves would dance to release their joy! A white woman, Delphine, enters, with her own fantasies and, together, the two innocents fall in love; confront a corrupt mayor who gets into the space, and they journey through a minefield of corruption to discover the truth about what brought Willy Beau to this point. Finally -- and often with outrageous humor -- they find the strength to face a violent -- but transcendent --destiny.

Through powerful, moving music and lyrics, CONGO SQUARE is a musical tour-de-force that takes the audience on a roller coaster ride of audacious theatricality -- and into a moving spectacle of shattered, romantic innocence.

(CongoFullTextLyrics.pdf/For Download)

2) THE FAREWELL CONCERT
OF IRENE AND VERNON PALAZZO
(Original play and lyrics by Frank Gagliano
Music by Bill Young)

WHAT "THE FAREWELL CONCERT. . ." IS ALL ABOUT:

—no, no don’t stop playing!—even though I see you want to butt in. —Well, you can’t butt in— you’re not able to butt in except through your playing — so pleeeeease butt out! —stay background! Just keep playing! —Like in the old Warner Brother’s films, I want wall-to-wall, fade in to fade out, music—I want underscoring throughout this whole shebang! —Yes! I want — No! — I DEMAND! —no dead spots—in this wino riff I’m on!”

On a snowy night in Bodoni County, the songwriting team of Irene and Vernon Palazzo attempt to finish their new and final song — and wait for a long-lost daughter to return. Playwright Gagliano plunges Lyricist/Faculty wife Irene Palazzo, into an over-the-edge, wine-induced. monologue of rage, of regrets, thwarted expectations, self loathing, outrageous and raunchy humor, fear, guilt and pain; a tidal wave that breaks on a series of shocking discoveries; receding, finally, to a calming flow of love and reconciliation; and all underscored throughout by original and standard songs, and by the improvisations of Irene’s brilliant, unable-to-speak, composer/accompanist husband, Vernon.

Here is the song that Irene and Vernon Palazzo finish composing in, THE FAREWELL CONCERT OF IRENE AND VERNON PALAZZO.

It's All Right.mp3
(Lyric, Frank Gagliano/Music, Bill Young
Performed by Rita Gardner/Bill Young, Piano)

(Palazzo Full text for pdf download)

FROM THE BODONI COUNTY SONGBOOK ANTHOLOGY
(Original Book and Lyrics by Frank Gagliano / Music by Claibe Richardson)

WHAT ". . .BODONI. . ." IS ALL ABOUT

FROM THE BODONI COUNTY SONGBOOK ANTHOLOGY is a 21st Century combination Our Town/Spoon River/Jacques Brel on acid.

FROM THE BODONI COUNTY SONGBOOK ANTHOLOGY was first developed at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center’s Musical Theatre Conference, then at the Vineyard Theatre’s Musical Workshop in New York, and then, by a Workshop in Pittsburgh.

FROM THE BODONI COUNTY SONGBOOK ANTHOLOGY is a musical revue (of sorts), in which the inhabitants of a mythical American County (most of whom want to get out) step out and sing their angst away. Songs range from the opening number, “BUY ME A TICKET OUT,” — to the Bush-era anthem, “REAGAN’S LEGACY: I DON’T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT ANYONE ELSE BUT ME,” — to the sung monologue, “A SONG OF LIFE FOR ALZHEIMER MARY” — to the realistic sung scene, “CUL-DE-SAC,” in which a bunch of teenagers and a grieving mother explore Perry Carrington’s suicide — to the satiric and surreal sketch, “DANCING WITH JOY,” in which two innocents, Eubie Copocolo and Joy, walk into a travel poster to escape Bodoni County, and which features Joy’s raunchy song, “SAND DUNE BLUES.”

Overseeing it all is the Master of Ceremonies Jonathan Overview, who chronicles the fables and foibles of Bodoni’s inhabitants, and whose need to become more than a Point Of View, culminates in his haunting song, “NOVEMBER IS MY TIME,” an autumnal moment that changes Jonathan forever — and which poignantly, and lyrically, brings down BODONI’s curtain on a note of compassion.

Here are five songs from, FROM THE BODONI COUNTY SONGBOOK ANTHOLOGY.

Reagan's Legacy.MP3
("I don't give a shit about anyone else but me")
(Lyric, Frank Gagliano/Music, Claibe Richardson
Performed by Patrick Hamilton)

Head Waltz.MP3
(Lyric, Frank Gagliano/Music, Claibe Richardson
Performed by Claibe Richardson)

MARIANNA.mp3
(Lyric, Frank Gagliano/Music, Claibe Richardson
Performed by Claibe Richardson)

November Is My Time.MP3
(Lyric, Frank Gagliano/Music, Claibe Richardson
Performed by Max Showalter)

Sand Dune Blues.mp3
(Lyric, Frank Gagliano/Music, Claibe Richardson
Performed by Susan Collins)

A Song Of Life for Alzheimer Mary.mp3 (Lyric and Mary's Monologue, Frank Gagliano/Music, Claibe Richardson/Long, may take a few seconds to download)

Bodoni.pdf download [complete text and lyrics]

[The following musical pieces will be posted shortly.
Keep checking. And listening]

THE RESURRECTION OF JACKIE CRAMER
Original Book and Lyrics, Frank Gagliano; Music, Raymond Benson

THE PRINCE OF PEASANTMANIA
Original Play and Lyrics, Frank Gagliano; Music James Reichert