Richard Hoover
A self-help entrepreneur. Created a pathway to success following his “Ten Step Method." Still waiting for success.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: A2
Sheryl Hoover
The Hoover matriarch who loves her family very much. Feeling strain in her marriage.
Gender: female
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Grandpa
Richard’s formerly estranged father. In his sixties and a little worse for the wear. Coaches Olive for pageants.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: E4
Vocal range bottom: A2
Olive Hoover
The youngest member of the Hoover Family and aspiring beauty queen.
Gender: female
Vocal range top: Eb5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Dwayne Hoover
Sheryl and Richard’s teenage son. Determined to become a pilot and has taken a vow of silence until he gets to flight school.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: B2
Uncle Frank
Sheryl’s academic brother. Suffers from depression and recently attempted suicide after a heartbreak.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: E4
Vocal range bottom: A2
Larry Sugarman
A Proust Scholar who stole Frank’s lover. (Can double as Buddy Dean Gardner and Doctor).
Gender: male
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: E2
Buddy Dean Gardner
A Little Miss Sunshine contest official and host. (Can double as Larry Sugarman and Doctor).
Gender: male
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: B2
Doctor
A doctor who talks with the Hoover Family after Grandpa is brought to the hospital. (Can double as Larry Sugarman and Buddy Dean Gardner).
Gender: male
Linda
A bereavement liaison at the hospital. (Can double as Miss California).
Gender: female
Miss California
Co-host of the Little Miss Sunshine finals. (Can double as Linda).
Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Joshua Rose
Frank’s old beau and former graduate student. (Can double as Kirby and Funeral Home Worker).
Gender: male
Vocal range top: E4
Vocal range bottom: C2
Kirby
A laid back stoner who enters Olive in the Little Miss Sunshine Finals after the family arrives late. (Can double as Joshua Rose and Funeral Home Worker).
Gender: male
Funeral Home Worker
A worker at the funeral home. (Can double as Joshua Rose and Kirby).
Gender: male
Bridget / Mean Girl
A contestant in the Little Miss Sunshine finals and a mean girl in Olive’s mind.
Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Tracee / Mean Girl
A contestant in the Little Miss Sunshine finals and a mean girl in Olive’s mind.
Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: B3
D'Borah / Mean Girl
A contestant in the Little Miss Sunshine finals and a mean girl in Olive’s mind.
Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Chelsea (Optional)
A contestant in the Little Miss Sunshine finals and a mean girl in Olive’s mind.
Gender: female
Inspiration
Little Miss Sunshine is a musical with a score by William Finn (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, A New Brain, Elegies) and a book by James Lapine (Into The Woods, Falsettos, Passion). It is based on the Oscar-nominated 2006 film of the same name, which tells the story of a quirky family that treks west to enter their youngest daughter in a child beauty pageant.
Productions
Little Miss Sunshine had workshops at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab at White Oak in Yulee, Florida. It then had its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse in a run from February 15 to March 27, 2011. La Jolla then did another private reading in La Jolla in September 2011 before moving east. The musical premiered Off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre on November 14, 2013. It was directed by book writer James Lapine, and closed on December 15 of the same year, after the run was extended.
Trivia
- Celebrities that have starred in Little Miss Sunshine include: Dick Latessa, Raul Esparza, Sherie Renee Scott, Hunter Foster, Stephanie J. Block, Malcolm Gets, Will Swenson, Rory O'Malley, Jennifer Laura Thompson, and Taylor Trensch.
- Little Miss Sunshine changed significantly from the La Jolla tryout to its Off-Broadway run. Composer William Finn only retained three of his songs in the show between productions.
"An ingenious, jaunty, sweet but not sticky sweet invention that honors the hit movie while, unlike so many adaptations, happily justifies its life on the stage. Lapine's book is full of such smart little throwaways." - Newsday
"Without straying too far from the structure of and characterizations in that film, Lapine and Finn put their own spin on the story, emphasizing and fleshing out certain relationships. Lapine's generally witty book [provides] enough such high points to sustain Little Miss Sunshine." - USA Today
"The show's moving central ballad, "Something Better Better Happen" really hits the show-tune sweet spot, heightening a moment without simplifying or sentimentalizing it." - The New York Times
"[The song] "The Way of the World," is terrific - a jaunty kvetch from that master of the form, William Finn." - Vulture
"[The] mix of dark and light - the bitter, almost nihilistic humor counterbalanced by an innocent sparkle - [is] the source of its curiously potent beguilement." - The LA Times
"Memorable movie scenes where the van gets cantankerous and the family has to give it a rolling start are handled effectively." - NBC News
Inspiration
Little Miss Sunshine is a musical with a score by William Finn (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, A New Brain, Elegies) and a book by James Lapine (Into The Woods, Falsettos, Passion). It is based on the Oscar-nominated 2006 film of the same name, which tells the story of a quirky family that treks west to enter their youngest daughter in a child beauty pageant.
Productions
Little Miss Sunshine had workshops at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab at White Oak in Yulee, Florida. It then had its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse in a run from February 15 to March 27, 2011. La Jolla then did another private reading in La Jolla in September 2011 before moving east. The musical premiered Off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre on November 14, 2013. It was directed by book writer James Lapine, and closed on December 15 of the same year, after the run was extended.
Trivia
- Celebrities that have starred in Little Miss Sunshine include: Dick Latessa, Raul Esparza, Sherie Renee Scott, Hunter Foster, Stephanie J. Block, Malcolm Gets, Will Swenson, Rory O'Malley, Jennifer Laura Thompson, and Taylor Trensch.
- Little Miss Sunshine changed significantly from the La Jolla tryout to its Off-Broadway run. Composer William Finn only retained three of his songs in the show between productions.
"An ingenious, jaunty, sweet but not sticky sweet invention that honors the hit movie while, unlike so many adaptations, happily justifies its life on the stage. Lapine's book is full of such smart little throwaways." - Newsday
"Without straying too far from the structure of and characterizations in that film, Lapine and Finn put their own spin on the story, emphasizing and fleshing out certain relationships. Lapine's generally witty book [provides] enough such high points to sustain Little Miss Sunshine." - USA Today
"The show's moving central ballad, "Something Better Better Happen" really hits the show-tune sweet spot, heightening a moment without simplifying or sentimentalizing it." - The New York Times
"[The song] "The Way of the World," is terrific - a jaunty kvetch from that master of the form, William Finn." - Vulture
"[The] mix of dark and light - the bitter, almost nihilistic humor counterbalanced by an innocent sparkle - [is] the source of its curiously potent beguilement." - The LA Times
"Memorable movie scenes where the van gets cantankerous and the family has to give it a rolling start are handled effectively." - NBC News
Billing
Video Warning
The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.Included Materials
| Resource | Quantity |
|---|---|
| KEYBOARD1 - CONDUCTOR SCORE | 1 |
| LIBRETTO/VOCAL BOOK | 16 |
| PIANO VOCAL SCORE | 1 |