Character Breakdown
1. JOHNNY O’KEEFE
Ages from 15 to 40. Most of the action is in his 20’s. In every way “a wild one”. A man of a very complex temperament: Cocky, ambitious, both charming and compulsive. In later years he succumbed to mental and drug and alcohol problems. A highly emotional role. Acting, singing some dancing. In the end a man with an electric stage persona. A man obsessed with fame which he gained, making him Australia’s first rock icon.
(Note: this part can be played by two actors if the demands are seen to be too great for one performer. An older Johnny would play scene one and return for the “Mockingbird” scene. He would then perform “Shout!” as duet with his younger self.
2. MARIANNE RENATE
Johnny’s girlfriend and then wife. Ages from early 20s to mid thirties. German accent. Brunette, very attractive. Shy, devoted, loyal. She thought she was marrying Johnny but was married to his career. As Johnny declines she finds it difficult to cope. After much pain she walks away from the marriage still in love with the Johnny she first met. Acting singing and some dance.
3. LEE GORDON
Johnny’s promoter. Thirtysomething. Short to medium height. Charismatic but with a touch of danger. He’s the man who made Johnny a star but set him on the road to ruin.
American accent (New York). Actor, singer, dancer (vaudeville style). Flair for comedy and menace.
4. THELMA O’KEEFE
Johnny’s mother. 50+. Some singing. A powerful presence. A driving force in Johnny’s career she was an iron butterfly. A product of a stitched-up Catholic background but paradoxically swept up in the showbiz world.
5. RAY O’KEEFE
John’s father. 50+. Short, balding. Local politician. Unassuming and ill ease in showbiz.Solid old fashioned businessman. Needs enough command and charisma to wrap up the show with news of Johhy’s death.
6. ACTOR
First seen as Brother Marzaroni, Johnny’s school teacher. A no-nonsense Christian brother. Fortysomething.
Firm but with a sense of humour. He predicted at school that Johnny would start a revolution, little knowing what the revolution would be.
Also to play variety of roles, journalist, cleric, tour manager, policeman, doctor, record company executive, etc. Sing & act and play musical instrument in finale.
7. ACTRESS
25 - 35. To play a variety of roles. Johnny’s 2nd wife Maureen, psychiatric nurse, semi-nude in party, socialite, etc.
8. ACTOR
30’s. To play a variety of roles. Disc Jockey, American Bandstand host, Dick Clarke, policeman, beatnik, Festival records manager. psychiatrist, etc.
9. - 13. THE DEE JAYS
Johnny’s backing band. Excellent musicians with some acting. Drums, (John “Catfish” Purser), bass (Gerry Gardiner), guitar (Lou Cash), 2 sax. (Dave Owens & John Greenan - “Greeno”) One is an Indonesian.
14 - 17. THE DELLTONES
Vocal backing group, led by bass singer “Pee Wee” Wilson. The others are Noel Weiderberg, tenor, and two baritones. “Pee Wee” must be tall (at least 6’ 4”).
18. COL JOYE
Tall, attractive singer, in his mid twenties. Plays other roles thoughout the show in disguise.
19. - 34. CHORUS of 16 singer/ dancers. (8 boys, 8 girls)
They should be very young as they represent the youth of Australia.
Girls and boys will need to wear revealing costumes and boys will need to wear drag for the Lee Gordon’s Jewelbox scene.
Song List
1 Faith of our fathers
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11 Get A Job
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21 She's My Baby
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Author's Note
Shout! is all about beginnings.
The musical charts the beginning of teenage culture in Australia. It charts the beginning of Australian rock. It tells the story of a young man setting out on the journey of his life with dynamism verve and ambition.
Johnny O’Keefe wants to conquer the world. He never actually does, but that’s beside the point. His career gives him spectacular highs and tragic lows. He battles drugs, alcohol, mental illness and a shocking car accident. But he never gives up the fight.
It is fitting that his fight begins in a boxing arena: the old Sydney Stadium.
The old tin shed was the scene of performances as diverse as Frank Sinatra and The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Judy Garland, Roy Orbison and Dusty Springfield.
The fight Johnny embarks on in the mid-fifties didn’t have its payoff until after his career had long since burnt out. JO’K fought to establish Australian musical performers as forces in world music. In his footsteps came The Bee Gees, INXS, Olivia Newton-John, Peter Allen and AD/DC, The Little River Band and Kylie Minogue.
Johnny’s rise, fall and rise again is a great Aussie musical epic. The language in the script brings back an Australia now almost gone: With ten cents being called a “deener” and Cold Duck wine the height of sophistication.
Sure, to the baby boomers, it’s nostalgia but, having Shout! performed by a new generation of Aussie teens continues the celebration of a great era of beginnings.
Shout it out!
The musical charts the beginning of teenage culture in Australia. It charts the beginning of Australian rock. It tells the story of a young man setting out on the journey of his life with dynamism verve and ambition.
Johnny O’Keefe wants to conquer the world. He never actually does, but that’s beside the point. His career gives him spectacular highs and tragic lows. He battles drugs, alcohol, mental illness and a shocking car accident. But he never gives up the fight.
It is fitting that his fight begins in a boxing arena: the old Sydney Stadium.
The old tin shed was the scene of performances as diverse as Frank Sinatra and The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Judy Garland, Roy Orbison and Dusty Springfield.
The fight Johnny embarks on in the mid-fifties didn’t have its payoff until after his career had long since burnt out. JO’K fought to establish Australian musical performers as forces in world music. In his footsteps came The Bee Gees, INXS, Olivia Newton-John, Peter Allen and AD/DC, The Little River Band and Kylie Minogue.
Johnny’s rise, fall and rise again is a great Aussie musical epic. The language in the script brings back an Australia now almost gone: With ten cents being called a “deener” and Cold Duck wine the height of sophistication.
Sure, to the baby boomers, it’s nostalgia but, having Shout! performed by a new generation of Aussie teens continues the celebration of a great era of beginnings.
Shout it out!