LAURA HARRINGTON
THE PERFECT 36
TENNESSEE REPERTORY THEATRE, 1996
Book & Lyrics: Laura Harrington
Music: Mel Marvin
A dynamic musical comedy of politics, power, and persuasion. August 1920. The Tennessee legislature’s upcoming vote is the country’s last chance to ratify the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. Nashville is a political hotbed and votes are for sale to the highest bidder. The suffragists and anti-suffs battle it out in the midst of political graft, corruption and greed. Based on actual events, The Perfect 36 embodies the American spirit with its music, wit, drama and romance.
“This musical celebrates the courage, tenacity and hard-core savvy of the American women, and men, who risked so much in the battle for voting rights. Watching the show’s final triumphant scene, as the House chambers are flooded in a shower of yellow rose petals, one can’t help feel proud.” —Variety
“Women’s fight to vote sings and shines in custom made bicentennial tale. Tennessee Repertory Theatre has managed to mount the kind of show that Broadway and regional theatres have forsaken of late. The Perfect 36 is a grand musical with an engaging score anchored by an intelligently told story.” — Nashville Banner
“Seventy five years after Tennessee became the 36th state to pass the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote, Tennessee Repertory Theatre has introduced a resounding new musical about the event. The Perfect 36 is a reminder, in grand musical style, of the rip-snorting battle that took place in 1920 between suffrage and anti-suffrage leaders and how one moment changed the world when a young freshman legislator, following his mother’s advice, broke a deadlock by changing his vote in favor of ratification. This musical celebrates the courage, tenacity and hard-core savvy of the American women, and men, who risked so much in the battle for voting rights. Watching the show’s final triumphant scene, as the House chambers are flooded in a shower of yellow rose petals, one can’t help but feel proud. And grateful.” — Variety
PRODUCTIONS
Tennessee Repertory Theatre, 1996
The Perfect 36 was commissioned by Tennessee 200 and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center on the occasion of the Bicentennial of the State of Tennessee.
Artistic director: Mac Pirkle
Book and Lyrics: Laura Harrington
Music: Mel Marvin
Directed by: Mac Pirkle
Choreography: Danny Herman
Musical Direction: James Moore
Scenic Design: Marjorie Bradley Kellogg
Costumes: Susan Mickey
Lighting: Annie G. Wrightson
Sound Design: David Shimer
Fight Direction: Gary Lowery
Orhcestrations: Mike Morris
Assistant Director: Sherry R. Ridlon
Production Stage Manager: Elli Agosto
With: Mia Adama, Tom Angland, Barbara Broughton, Brooke Bryant, Matthew Carlton, Rhonda Cook, Julie Partin Cox, Elizabeth Davidson, Marianne Embree, Kathleen Estes, Connye Florance, Joy Franz, Timothy Orr Fudge, Carolyn German, Tyler Green, Travis Harmon, Denice E. Hicks, Greg Holt, Brian K. Hull, Cecil Jones, Joe Keenan, Nan Keenan, Kelly Lake,, Courtney D. Leslie, Jamie Robbins London, Gary Lowery, Eric Jon Mahlum, Brian Mathis, Ginger Newman, Shelean Newman, Anne Clarke Pirkle, Krista Pope, Frank Rains, Jr., Jon Rider, Linda Sue Simmons, Christopher Sutton, Douglas Thom, Ken Dale Thompson, Eric Tichenor, William Verderber, Garris Wimmer, Bobby Wyckoff