“My son will tell you flat out that this production saved his life.”
- Mandy Hensley
Man Up: A Musical
Written and Composed by Cordelia Zars
Tyler Corcoran (as 2019 Duncan) in his solo, “I Can’t Be Myself Anymore.”
“Stop crying like a girl.”
“Grow some thicker skin.”
“What are you, gay?”
Why don’t you learn to man up?
Many boys in America must answer to these unsettling criticisms in order to defend their manhood. In doing so, they may learn to dissociate from their emotions, adopt aggressive behaviors, and turn away help when they most need it.
In three acts, Man Up: A Musical presents a touching, intergenerational coming-of-age story about Duncan— a boy forced to choose between staying true to himself or being socially accepted.
The show serves to understand, unpack, and ultimately heal the wounds all genders carry from a culture shaped by unattainable ideals of masculinity.
MEET THE CHARACTERS
Hi, I’m Duncan.
I love barns. I love frogs. I love my sister Jill. I love my best friend Clara (don’t tell her that though!!). What I most want is for all people and animals to be happy. P.S. Save the Lemur Leaf Frogs!
Hi, I’m Clara.
My favorite thing to do is take care of animals. They are my friends. Duncan is my best friend. When we grow up we are going to be wildlife biologists together.
Hi, I’m Jill.
My biggest dream is to dance on Broadway. When I’m not practicing ballet, I’m keeping my little brother out of trouble and trying to cheer up my dad.
Julia Jacobson, our 2019 Act II Clara, performs her solo “Supposed To Be.” Filmed at our 2022 Launch Party by Saraphina Redalieu.
Hayden Hensley, our 2019 Act I Duncan, performs his solo “Lemur Leaf Frogs.” Filmed at our 2022 Launch Party by Saraphina Redalieu.
Soundtrack Highlights
From our 2019 and 2022 performances
All music written by Cordelia Zars and arranged by Aric Vyhmeister
Copyright 2019
PRODUCTION HISTORY
November, 2019
First staged performance workshop in Theatre O, Boulder, CO. Directed by Max Middleton, Music-Directed & Produced by Cordelia Zars, Stage-Managed by Katelyn Skeen, Choreographed by Ashley Frary. Arranged & Piano-Conducted by Aric Vyhmeister. Our 8 workshop-performances had an overwhelmingly positive reception.
May, 2020
Produced virtually in Relative Theatrics’ Playwrights Voiced Festival, Laramie, WY. Directed by Noelia Berkes, Produced by Anne Mason.
April, 2022
Produced at the Nomad Playhouse, Boulder CO. Directed by Max Middleton, Music Directed & Produced by Cordelia Zars. Choreographed & Stage-Managed by Amanda Aurigemma. 8 shows, 8 standing ovations.
“As parents of a young boy examining his own person, this show has given him the strength to move through a difficult phase of his own life, and more importantly paved a path for him to walk on throughout his journey of adolescence into adulthood. The show was beautifully scored, choreographed and acted; we cannot recommend Man Up enough for anyone interested in bettering themselves or the community that surrounds us all.”
— Jonathan Hensley
“The beauty of Man Up, both in prose and substance, will continue to transcend the physical bounds of the theatre and impact the ways we shape the world through compassion, kindness, and love.”
— Amanda Aurigemma
“This musical should be mandatory viewing! The melodies are beautiful and haunting, and they create the perfect partner for a story that deserves to be told. It will speak to young men (and women) about the pressures placed on them by an often unforgiving society, and it will remind parents that theirs is fragile and important work with regard to raising children that can hear their own hearts and honor their own dreams.”
— Laura Jordan
