John & Jen
| John & Jen | |
|---|---|
| Music | Andrew Lippa |
| Lyrics | Tom Greenwald |
| Book |
Andrew Lippa Tom Greenwald |
| Productions |
1995 Off-Broadway 2015 Off-Broadway |
1995 Off-Broadway
John & Jen (styled as john & jen) is a musical with music by Andrew Lippa, lyrics by Tom Greenwald, and a book by Lippa and Greenwald. It is a two-person show about the relationships first between a brother and sister, John and Jen, and then, after John is killed, between Jen and her son, also named John. The musical opened Off-Broadway in 1995 and was revived Off-Broadway in 2015.
John & Jen premiered at the Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam, Connecticut in 1993. Directed by Gabriel Barre, the cast featured Carolee Carmello and James Ludwig.
The musical ran Off-Broadway at the Lamb's Theatre from June 1, 1995, to October 1, 1995. It starred Carolee Carmello as Jen and James Ludwig as John, with direction by Gabriel Barre.
The show's twentieth anniversary Off-Broadway revival opened in previews at the Clurman Theatre in Theatre Row on February 10, 2015 with the official opening on February 26. The revival starred Kate Baldwin along with Conor Ryan, and was presented by Keen Company. The revival closed on April 4, 2015.
Six-year-old Jen Tracy welcomes her newborn brother John into the world, with a warning about the way things work and a promise to protect him from Dad. ("Welcome to the World") As they grow, Jen does her best to shield John from life's disappointments, including a painful Christmas Eve fight between their parents. Not long after John's seventh birthday, Jen discovers a bruise on his face. "It was my fault," he tells her, "I broke a glass." Jen vows that Dad will never hurt John again, and she and John make a deal to always be there for each other. ("Think Big") As the pair grows older, sibling rivalry crops up when John is forced to attend Jen's high school basketball finals. ("Dear God") But when it's time for Jen to go off to college, John begs her not to leave him alone. ("Hold Down the Fort") Jen is determined to break free, however, deal or no deal. "I can't hold your hand forever," she tells John. "Grow up".
Jen embraces the world of the '60s in groovy New York City, where she blossoms into a drug-experimenting hippie while John's life goes in the opposite direction. ("Timeline") Without Jen there to protect him, John falls under his father's influence and decides to join the Navy. ("It Took Me A While")
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