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Frankly Ben Franklin, A Musical Memoir

A Musical Memoir

Book, Music, & Lyrics by Darryl G. Bojanowski

Orchestrations by Bill Corcoran

Performance Time

approx. 90 min. + intermission

Casting

SMALL CAST: 3 M, 3 F with multiple roles OR LARGE CAST: 5 M, 4 F, Boy (age 8-12); and SATB Chorus any size (singer/actors needed)

Songs Include:

William My Son, Poor Richard and Poor Ben, Don't Pay Too Much for the Whistle, That's Fine, The Downfall of Piracy, Equality, The Old Man's Wish, The Power of the Press, It's Shocking, The Best Parts, If You Can Keep It

Libretto/Vocal Scores
(must be purchased at JW Pepper)

13 Copies Minimum Purchase

Synopsis

Frankly Ben Franklin, largely based on the founding father’s autobiography, is more than a simple recap of his many accomplishments. It does feature such things as his successful printing business (including Poor Richard’s Almanack and the Pennsylvania Gazette) and his famous kite-flying experiment. But it also looks at his relationships with his wife Debby and his son William. While married for 44 years Ben was in England for 15 of those years, returning to Philadelphia after she died. William became governor of New Jersey and remained loyal to George III and the two never reconciled. In the musical, as Ben is writing his memoirs, he is bombarded by a barrage of memories that refuse to come one at a time. By the end, we see his proudest memory, the signing of the Constitution of the United States, which created “a republic. If you can keep it.”

Production History

A Premiere Playhouse, a regional musical theatre in Columbus, OH, June 28 - July 2, 1994

What Critics Are Saying

"The brightest moments feature barbed exchanges between Franklin and Richard, especially when they recall humorous lines from the Almanack"

Nancy Gilson -— The Columbus Dispatch

All PRODUCTION materials will be digitally delivered 10 weeks before your first rehearsal. 

  • Piano / Vocal Score: Casting/Vocal Ranges, Synopsis, Scenes and Songs List, Orchestra Tracks Guide

  • Full Orchestral Score (not just cues!) with Keyboard Patch lists, Percussion Lists, Tacet Lists  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

  • Producing a TND Musical features FLEXIBLE instrumentation choices:  

        1) Full Orchestra OR 2) Piano/Keyboard and Percussion OR 3) .MP3 Digital Orchestra Performance  Tracks 

FULL ORCHESTRA

8 Instrumental Part Books:

Flute/Piccolo (optional Irish Flute)
Clarinet in Bb

Violin
Viola
Cello
Keyboard (Harpsichord, Piano and Accordion)
Double Bass
Percussion (Drum Set, Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Woodblocks, Ratchet,      

Cowbell and Triangle)

Everything you need to produce a successful show—organized, accessible, and ready when you are 

Production Resources

  • Director Script

  • Costume, Set & Technical Notes (with production photos)

  • Prop List

  • Study Guide with lesson ideas

  • Writer’s Perspective & staging insights

Music & Rehearsal Materials

  • Integrated Piano/Vocal Score (script + music together)

  • Full Conductor’s Score

  • Orchestra Performance Tracks (.mp3)

  • RMS Learning Tracks for efficient rehearsal

  • Flexible instrumentation options

Marketing & Promotion Assets

  • Social Media graphics & ready-to-use captions

  • Press Release templates

  • Show Logo package (print + digital formats)

  • Marketing copy for programs, posters & websites

  • Editable Show Program template (Canva-ready)

  • Customizable Official Video Trailer

Digital Convenience

  • Digital delivery of all materials

  • No shipping • No returns • Instant access

 Designed to support theatres of all sizes while keeping licensing costs manageable
                        More of your budget goes onstage—where it belongs.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR SHOW

1) Purchase the minimum number of hard copy Libretto/Vocal Scores from JW Pepper               

2) Purchase your Digital Production Pack ($370), complete the TND licensing contract, and pay the licensing fee (if applicable)       

TND Musicals, LLC

Licensing stage-tested musicals for educational, community,

and regional/professional theatres

Cleveland, Ohio
TND@LicenSINGMusicals.com
440-299-7822

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© 2022-2026 by TND Musicals, LLC.

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