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Bernard J Taylor

BERNARD J TAYLOR  (1944 - )

 Nationality:    British (living in the USA)
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    Click here

Literary Agent:    n/a


Bernard J. Taylor is the author/composer of ten stage musicals and two plays. More details can be found on his website: www.bernardjtaylor.com

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below is a list of Bernard J Taylor's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

 Cinderella Nouveaux         Corporate Pirate of Penzance, The         Ghosts in the Afternoon         Lady Of Shalott, The         Liberty!         Make Me a Musical         Marsh King's Daughter, The         Much Ado         Nosferatu the Vampire         Pride and Prejudice         Snow White and the Evil Queen         Success!         Wuthering Heights

Cinderella Nouveaux

Synopsis:
Cinderella is discovered by a talent scout, gets a makeover, falls into peril, is rescued, falls in love and appears on "Ruritania's Got Talent." It has music taken from a raft of composers and features some of Taylor's favorite music of all time, plus pieces of his own: Leo Delibes, W.A. Mozart, J.S. Bach, Jules Massenet, Carl Maria von Weber, Antonin Dvo?ak, Luigi Boccherini, Edvard Grieg, Josef Haydn, Felix Mendelssohn, Frederic Chopin, Jacques Offenbach, P.I. Tchaikovsky, Camille St Saens and Bernard J. Taylor.

Notes:
Orchestrations provided for 10-12 instruments. Orchestral backing tracks with percussion Also Available.

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Stagescipts UK Ltd, 2010   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  4            Other:  Chorus of 12 to 25

Further Reference:
-

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Corporate Pirate of Penzance, The

Synopsis:
This show incorporates many of the usual narrative elements of a Gilbert and Sullivan story -- love across the social barriers, people not being who they seem to be, etc - and weaves them into a more modern story of a corporate mogul (a Franchise King also known as the Corporate Pirate of Penzance) who is hoping his daughter will marry into the British aristocracy, and a penniless young poet who falls in love with the daughter. The show uses some of Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular and well known songs from Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado, Iolanthe, Trial by Jury and The Gondoliers, mixing the music of Arthur Sullivan and the words of W.S. Gilbert with lyrics that reflect the modernized narrative.

Notes:
Orchestrations provided for 10-12 instruments. Orchestral backing tracks with percussion Also Available.

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Stagescripts Ltd UK, 2007   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  2            Other:  The show requires a cast of 8 main characters, nine secondary characters, and a general chorus of at least 10, but the chorus can be expanded to 20 or more.

Further Reference:
-

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Ghosts in the Afternoon

Synopsis:
An introverted and burned-out middle-aged writer ends a hollow relationship with a married woman at the same time he rents a room in his city apartment to Rachel, an irrepressible extravert . He ends up torn between his attraction to her, his self-consciousness and his fear of involvement. Complicating the situation is the fact that he is haunted by the ghost of his youth and the specter of a diminished old age. But when the immovable objectivity of his introvert nature is challenged by the irresistible force of the outgoing tenant, something's got to give.

Notes:
Written in collaboration with Taylor's son Simon. It has A single set . A German translation is Available.

1st Produced:
Overtime Theatre, San Antonio, Texas    Jan 2012

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Stagescripts UK Ltd (http://shop.stagescripts.com/, Oct 2010   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Dark comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  Silhouettes (one male, one female)

Further Reference:
-

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Lady Of Shalott, The

Synopsis:
Helen, a professor of literature long settled in a relationship with her former tutor, is visited by a former student, Elliott, who has achieved considerable success as an author. There is immediate tension between Helen and Lloyd, the professor she lives with but has never married. Lloyd senses that there is a strong attraction between Helen and Elliott and feels that the raw animal energy of Elliott could overwhelm and destroy Helen. Elliott, meanwhile, sees Helen as someone who has been stifled, robbed of any passion and spontaneity by Lloyd. It soon becomes evident that something happened between Helen and Elliott at a literary conference that left Helen highly unsettled, but which she is reluctant to discuss. Then everything explodes into the open with unforeseen consequences. The play features symphonic and piano music composed by the author.

Notes:
The music for the show is supplied in mp3 form. It has A single set.

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Stagescripts Ltd UK   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama with music

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Liberty!

Synopsis:
Liberty! is a stirring retelling of the historic confrontation between Texas patriots and the Mexican army. Based on the siege of the Alamo in Texas in 1836, when fewer than 200 volunteers fought for Texan independence against the Mexican army of Santa Anna. While adhering faithfully to the facts of the matter, Taylor's presentation offers compelling portraits of the men and women, Texan, Tejano, black and white, who chose to defend liberty with their lives. The ravishing ballads that are Taylor's trademark are plentiful in the sweeping melodic score.

Notes:
The show requires A minimum cast of About 40 including the chorus. Orchestrations Are Available for either A pit orchestra of 16 or A symphonic orchestra.

1st Produced:
Josephine Theater, San Antonio, Texas, USA    1998

Organisations:
Josephine Theater

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Bernard J Taylor Studio recording 1998

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical Musical

Parts:
Male:  12            Female:  2            Other:  Chorus with solos, ensembles

Further Reference:
-

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Make Me a Musical

Synopsis:
Originally produced under the title of "Success!", this show was revamped and retitled in 2008. It is loosely based on the Faust story and is set in the modern era, revolving around the backstage events during rehearsals for a new off-Broadway show. It is essentially a parody musical, with a jazz-swing score. It was first performed as "Success!" in September, 1995, at the Civic Theatre in Rotherham, West Yorkshire, where it received standing ovations and a rave review in the local press.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Marsh King's Daughter, The

Synopsis:
Based on the story of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen and is set to music by Mozart arranged and orchestrated by Bernard J. Taylor. It ransacks Mozart's repertoire for his most well-loved and most beautiful music and puts it all together in a stirring tale of hardships overcome, evil vanquished and opposites attracted.

Notes:
Orchestrations provided for 10-12 instruments. Orchestral backing tracks with percussion Also Available.

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Stagescripts Ltd UK, 2009   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  6            Other:  Chorus of 10 - 25

Further Reference:
-

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Much Ado

Synopsis:
Based on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing," Taylor's adaptation has a lot going for it - a mixture of comedy, romance and near-tragedy, with the feisty characters of Beatrice and Benedick at its core as they exchange abuse and swear they will never marry anyone. In addition to these two, however, there is an interesting variety of peripheral personae - the sinister character of Don John, the dreamy romanticism of Claudio and Hero, the comic absurdity of Dogberry and his Watch, the dignity and spirit of Leonato. Reviewers said, "It proves to be yet another fine slab of musical writing, full of invention and, dripping with melody. It also succeeds in capturing the mood of the period courtesy of a medieval English feel amongst the diverse musical influences."

Notes:
The show presents A number of prominent roles for All Ages And can be staged with A cast of between 16 And 30. It sticks to the format of Shakespeare's original work but the dialogue has been trimmed And edited.

1st Produced:
Stratford-on-Avon    1997

Organisations:
Much Ado Co

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Bernard J Taylor Studio recording 1995

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical Musical

Parts:
Male:  15            Female:  4            Other:  Chorus with secondary characters, solos, ensembles

Further Reference:
-

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Nosferatu the Vampire

Synopsis:
Taylor's Nosferatu The Vampire is based on Bram Stoker's Dracula, a new take on the legend in a mix of musical and rock opera. He writes, "The vampire in Nosferatu is a much more tragic figure than the creature generally portrayed." Reviewers wrote, "Nosferatu is dark and sombre yet with an inherent beauty - eerie, ethereal and passionate. The real fascination proves to be the depth and grandeur of the abundance of haunting melodies. . ." and "The vigorous, wide-ranging music of Nosferatu resembles a lusty love child of a blood wedding between Carmina Burana and Les Miserables, orchestrated and performed with an onward driving force which almost recalls Bernstein in its progressive, narrative energy."

Notes:
In America the show was staged with A cast of Around 35, including A small troupe of dancers. At Eastbourne it was staged with A cast of 12.

1st Produced:
Madison Theatre, Peoria, Illinois, USA    1995

Organisations:
Madison Theatre

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Bernard J Taylor Studio recording 1995

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Through-sung musical Musical

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  6            Other:  Chorus with solos, ensembles

Further Reference:
-

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Pride and Prejudice

Synopsis:
Jane Austen's story of the Bennet family, centred on the relationship between the proud aristocrat Fitzwilliam Darcy and the high-spirited Elizabeth Bennet, is one of the most enduringly popular novels of all time. Taylor's Pride and Prejudice features his usual great melodies with songs ranging from light-hearted and humorous to powerful and moving. David Spicer said, "I've never seen audiences at a musical laugh so much."

Notes:
A show with A number of prominent roles for old And young, it Also has plenty of chorus work, with five new chorus numbers Added to the score since the CD was recorded. It requires A cast of At least 25, And preferably A lot more.

1st Produced:
Madison Theatre, Peoria, Illinois, USA    1995

Organisations:
Madison Theatre

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Bernard J Taylor Studio recording 1994

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical Musical

Parts:
Male:  8            Female:  13            Other:  Chorus with ensembles

Further Reference:
-

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Snow White and the Evil Queen

Synopsis:
In this version of the Snow White story, the Evil Queen, named Malexandria, takes centre stage along with her human mirror and stylist, Cedric The Hairdresser. After killing her sister (the former queen and Snow White's mother), Malexandria marries the widowed king and sets out to make herself the sole ruler of the kingdom. First, borrowing from the story of "The Emperor's New Clothes," she humiliates the king by arranging for two confidence tricksters to fool the king into believing they have magic cloth that is invisible to those who are stupid and impure of heart. When he appears in public in his "new clothes", and people realize he is naked, their respect for the king plummets while their respect for Malexandria grows. She then plots to get rid of Snow White.

Notes:
Orchestrations provided for 10-12 instruments. Orchestral backing tracks with percussion Also Available. A German translation is Available from Litagverlag in Germany.

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Stagescripts UK Ltd, Litagverlag Germany, 2007   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  Chorus of 12 to 25

Further Reference:
-

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Success!

Bernard J Taylor
The story of Bernard J. Taylor's musical Success! is loosely based on the Faust story and is set in the context of a "backstage musical" which embraces many of the cliches of the genre - and turns them on their head. It could almost be described as something of a parody musical, with some elements of pastiche and its tongue firmly In its cheek. It is a high-energy show, with more than its share of high kicking chorus numbers, but the score also includes some tender ballads and some funky jazz numbers which reflect the story's New York setting.

Notes:
The show requires A minimum cast of About 15, but can be expanded to include A chorus of 20 or more.

1st Produced:
Civic Theatre, Rotherham, West Yorkshire, UK    1995

Organisations:
Civic Theatre

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Studio cast recording: First Stage (DCSC-1) 1993

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical Musical

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  Chorus (min. 8: 4 men, 4 women)

Further Reference:
-

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Wuthering Heights

Bernard J Taylor
The haunting image of Heathcliffe searching the moors for the ghost of his beloved Cathy is one of the most enduringly passionate scenes in English literature. Taylor's adaptation has been recognized by the Bronte Society as marking the first time that the true spirit of this masterpiece "has been captured in music." Heathcliffe enters the House on the Hill and the wild boy falls for Cathy but attracts hatred from her brother. "The icy winds that blow across the moor would never pass beyond our door. But since the old man died, the storm has come inside, in our house on the hill - Wuthering Heights." It has magnificent music, verging on operatic arias including He's Gone and I Belong to the Earth. Taylor's big, sweepingly romantic score is dark, brooding, fiery and as dramatic as the subject.

Notes:
The show requires A minimum cast of About 15, but can be expanded to include A chorus of 20 or more. Orchestrations Are Available for A pit orchestra of 12.

1st Produced:
Theatre Heilbronn, Germany    1996

Organisations:
Theatre Heilbronn

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Studio cast recording: Silva Screen (904) 1991

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Through-sung musical Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  Chorus with solos, ensembles

Further Reference:
-

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