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The Scarlet Pimpernel
Original Cast Recording
Music	Frank Wildhorn
Lyrics	Nan Knighton
Book	Nan Knighton
Based upon	Baroness Orczy's novel The Scarlet Pimpernel
Productions	1997 Broadway[1]

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a musical by composer Frank Wildhorn and lyricist Nan Knighton, based on the novel of the same name by Baroness Orczy. The show is set in England and France during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution. The story is a precursor to the spy fiction and the superhero genres, where a hero hides under a mild-mannered alias.

The musical debuted on Broadway in 1997.

Contents 1 Productions 2 Recordings 2.1 Commercial recordings 2.2 Demo/Promotional recordings 3 Plot 4 Songs 5 Awards and nominations 5.1 1998 Tony Award nominations 5.2 1998 Drama Desk Award nominations 5.3 1998 Theatre World Award 6 Notes and references 7 External links

The Scarlet Pimpernel opened at the Minskoff Theater on October 7, 1997, directed by Peter H. Hunt, with Douglas Sills in the lead role of Sir Percy, Christine Andreas playing Marguerite, and Terrence Mann in the role of the villain, Citizen Chauvelin.

A second Broadway run played in 1998, starring Sills, Rex Smith and Rachel York; a third played in 1999, starring Ron Bohmer, Marc Kudisch and Carolee Carmello; and a fourth Broadway run opened later in 1999 and closed on 2 January 2000. The National Tour ran from 20 February 2000 to 1 April 2001.

The musical has enjoyed numerous regional U.S. productions and has been produced in Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland, Canada and Mexico, as well as Malta, among others.

Concept Album (1992)

Features Chuck Wagner as Percy, Linda Eder as Marguerite and David Clemmons as Chauvelin. Orchestrations on this album are more contemporary versions than are found in other recordings of the show. Songs that are exclusive to this release are: "Home Again," "Marguerite" (Substituted later for "Where's The Girl?"), "Now When The Rain Falls," "Our Separate Ways" and "There Never Was A Time."

Original Broadway Cast Album (1998)

Features Douglas Sills as Percy, Christine Andreas as Marguerite and Terrance Mann as Chauvelin. This recording has songs from the first version of the Broadway production which had some major alterations later on.

Encore! Album (1999)

Features the same cast as the OBC Album. This recording was created to reflect the changes in the production when the first version didn't live up to expectations on broadway. Only four songs were re-recorded for this album. Rex Smith recorded "Where's The Girl" and "Falcon In The Dive." While Rachel York sings "Storybook" and "I'll Forget You." Also included are two songs from the concept album, "You Are My Home" and "Only Love."

German Highlights (2003)

Features Christoph Goetten as Percy, Ann-Christin Elverum as Marguerite and Christopher Murray as Chauvelin.

See: http://www.castalbums.org/recordings/5205

Austrian Highlights (2007)

See: http://www.castalbums.org/recordings/7787.

Pre-Broadway Demo (1996)

Features Chuck Wagner as Percy, Linda Eder as Marguerite and Michael Lanning as Chauvelin. Similar to the concept recording above but with a few new songs and orchestrations that aren't in the contemporary style that the concept recording featured. Rob Evan and others also sang on this demo. The one song exclusive to this release is "High Time."

See: http://www.castalbums.org/recordings/6619

Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English aristocrat, has married the beautiful French actress Marguerite St. Just. However, on the night of their wedding, Percy learns that his wife betrayed his friend the Marquis de St. Cyr to the Revolutionary government, ultimately leading to the Marquis' execution by the guillotine. The Blakeneys' marriage grows cold and Percy determines to make amends for his friend's death by saving other innocents from the guillotine. Thus, he takes on the identity of "the Scarlet Pimpernel" and convinces some of his friends (subsequently called "bounders") to join him in his daring rescue attempts. The band pretend to be inane fops, effectively throwing off any suspicions about the identity of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel.

Soon, the French agent Chauvelin is sent to England with orders to discover the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel. He enlists the aid of Marguerite, threatening to have her brother Armand, also a member of the League, guillotined if she refuses.

Marguerite manages to have a conversation with the Scarlet Pimpernel, who remains hidden in the shadows, keeping his identity concealed. She tells him of Chauvelin's plans and explains that she betrayed the Marquis de St. Cyr under coercion. The Scarlet Pimpernel, Percy, sets out for France in order to save Armand. Still unaware of the Pimpernel's identity, Marguerite does the same. Disguised as a tart, Marguerite attempts to uncover information about her brother, but is quickly recognized and apprehended by Chauvelin. Marguerite finds her brother Armand in prison, but Chauvelin allows the two to escape, knowing that Armand will head for the hide-out of the Scarlet Pimpernel. They find him in a town on the French coast, where Marguerite learns her husband's true identity. Chauvelin confronts the Scarlet Pimpernel but is outwitted once again. Percy, Marguerite, and Armand escape safely to England.

Act I Madame Guillotine - French Chorus Believe - Percy Blakeney, Marguerite St. Just and British Chorus Vivez! - Marguerite St. Just, Lady Digby, Lady Llewellyn and Percy Blakeney Prayer - Percy Blakeney Into The Fire - Percy Blakeney and Percy's Men Falcon in the Dive - Chauvelin When I Look At You - Marguerite St. Just The Scarlet Pimpernel - Percy Blakeney, Marguerite St. Just, Marie, Armand St. Just, Lady Digby, Lady Llewellyn and Servants Where's the Girl? - Chauvelin When I Look At You (Reprise) - Percy Blakeney The Creation of Man - Percy Blakeney, Prince of Wales and Percy's Men The Riddle - Chauvelin, Marguerite St. Just and Percy Blakeney

Act II They Seek Him Here - Percy Blakeney, Prince of Wales, Lady Digby and Lady Llewellyn Only Love - Marguerite St. Just She Was There - Percy Blakeney Storybook - Leontine and French Chorus Where's the Girl? (Reprise) - Chauvelin Lullaby - Helene and Chloe You Are My Home - Marguerite St. Just, Armand St. Just and French Prisoners Believe (Reprise) - Company

• Tony Award for Best Musical - Produced by Pierre Cossette, Bill Haber, Hallmark Entertainment, Ted Forstmann, Kathleen Raitt
• Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical - Nan Knighton
• Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical - Douglas Sills

• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical - Douglas Sills
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music - Frank Wildhorn

• Theatre World Award - Douglas Sills (WINNER)

1. ^ Ibdb considers the three versions as one run.

• The Scarlet Pimpernel at The Internet Broadway Database
• Official website of The Scarlet Pimpernel musical
• Composer Frank Wildhorn's website
• Into the Fire - The Scarlet Pimpernel

v • d • e Frank Wildhorn musicals
Jekyll & Hyde • Svengali • Victor/Victoria • The Scarlet Pimpernel • The Civil War • Camille Claudel • Dracula, the Musical • Rudolf • Never Say Goodbye