A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Flames

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  1w, 2m

In this original, suspense-filled musical thriller by the author/composer of Thrill Me, there are enough twists, turns and surprises to keep the audience guessing up until the final shocking moments.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1w, 2m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14 - 18)

Details

Summary
One year ago, Edmond died in horrible fire. He took with him the dreams of his fiancée, Meredith, the trust of his best friend, Eric, and the answers to the burning questions that still linger about his death and the terrible crime he committed. But on a stormy night at the cemetery where he rests, the secrets from his past will finally refuse to stay buried; and those he left behind will finally refuse to stay silent.

In this original, suspense-filled musical thriller by the author/composer of Thrill Me, there are enough twists, turns and surprises to keep the audience guessing up until the final shocking moments.
History

Flames was originally produced at LAMB Arts Regional Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa (Russell Wooley, Managing/Artistic Director/Producer; Diana Wooley, Producer), opening on October 17, 2013, under the direction of Russell Wooley.

The London production of Flames opened at the Waterloo East Theatre (Gerald Armin, Artistic Director) on May 12, 2015, under the direction of Garry Noakes.

 

 

Cast Attributes
MEREDITH - Female, 20s-Early 30s
Range: Mezzo -Soprano, F3-D5
A beautiful woman. Still grappling with the death of her fiancé, Edmond. She eventually proves to be quite strong.

ERIC- Male, 30s
Range: Baritone, Bb2-F4
A handsome man. Edmond’s best friend a source of comfort for Meredith. There is more to him than meets the eye.

EDMOND - Male, 30s
Range: Baritone, G2-E4
A non-descript man. Claims to be “Edmond,” having escaped death. But it is unclear if he can be trusted.  

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Setting A cemetery (and various flashback locales). The present. 
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No intermission, Stage Combat
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

REVIEWS

“Stephen Dolginoff plays with the audience’s mind and perception from the first minute. As the story unfolds and reality becomes fiction while fiction becomes reality, the audience is left dumfounded as they try, and fail spectacularly, to guess the next twist. I have to say that Flames was a really great show. From the opening thunderstorm, through the various plot twists, blowing away my perceptions of my skills to anticipate theatrical writing, Flames kept me spellbound all the way.” -Londontheatre1.com

“Very sophisticated and skillful. The dialogue, is pithy, tight and witty but also plausibly naturalistic and affectionate when it needs to be. Dolginoff is adept at setting up the emotional conflicts in a way that makes the transition from words to music entirely natural.  The lyrics are always plot-driven, taking the action forward ... The music is generally propulsive, showcasing the words above all rather than overwhelming them, but with pools of quieter repose to crystallise a point and emphasise an emotional nuance... Arresting chord sequences and interesting harmonic smudges that signal changes of mood and floated melodic phrases that capture the emotional and lyrical aspirations of the characters powerfully.” - Britishtheatre.com

"Four Stars! A thrilling psychological drama! Flames is a heart wrenching, gripping exploration of love, friendship, betrayal, trust and revenge.” - International Theatre Review

"A twisty plot that is partly Pinter and partly Pirandello as it flirts endlessly with menace and a final graveyard reckoning. Provokes smouldering embers of passion and interest. Suffice it to say all is not what it seems!”  - The Stage, UK

“It’s like Alfred Hitchcock meets Edgar Allan Poe!” – Sioux City Journal

“I gasped out loud!” – Sioux City Online

Videos

  • FLAMES - A Musical Thriller youtube thumbnail

    FLAMES - A Musical Thriller

Music

Song Samples

Prelude/He Can Still Hear You
You're Different
Identified the Body
Jealousy
Night of the Fire (Eric's Version)
Night of the Fire (Edmond's Version)
The Right Choice
Never Let Him Hurt You
Edmond's Eyes
Finale
  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Piano Only
  • Chorus Size No Chorus

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
3 Vocal-Book
1 Piano-Vocal
1 Accompaniment Tracks
3 Vocal-Book
1 Piano-Vocal

Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Authors

Stephen Dolginoff

Stephen Dolginoff is an award-winning, New York-based writer/composer. He received Drama Desk Award nominations for Best Musical & Best Music; an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Best Off-Broadway musical; and won an ASCAP Music Award for his musical Thrill Me: The L ...

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