Let the Children Play - A Musical Morality Play

<p></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>A musical about the ill-fated Children's Crusade in 1212 </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>Let the Children Play</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)> was originally produced at the Hartke Theatre Washington D.C. beginning 18 April 1975. Music book and lyrics by John Franceschina directed by Leo Brady choreography and musical numbers by Stephen Lyon set design by Gerard P. Bourcier costumes by Jo-Ellen La Rue lighting by James D. Waring musical direction and orchestrations by John Franceschina. The original cast included Joseph McDonald Christy Newland Michael Rothhaar Robyn Dobson Nicholas Leone Katherine McKenna James Kelly Oran Sandell Brendan Conway John R. MacDonald Vincent Clark Susan Golash Nathan Hull Fred W. Greene Jr. Thomas Harrington Ken Lackey Martin Brady Gerry Appel Robert Daley Brendan Conway Lynn Gardner Michelle Buteau Donnie Kanter Mary Jo Carabello Lynn Steinmetz Diane D'Amico Novella Suttora Debra Cerruti Anne Trapolin and Fran Sims. It enjoyed a fiftieth-anniversary production in March 2025 by the Drama Guild at St. Benedict's Prep Newark New Jersey directed and choreographed by Patricia Flynn with musical direction by Marc Pannullo.</span></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Music by John Franceschina</strong></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>(Titles in this Series)</span></p><p></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Requiem</em></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>(Chorus soloists accordion ensemble)</span></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Concerto voor Saxofoon en Blassensemble</em></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Vuurwerk</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> (Fireworks)</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>(Accordion ensemble percussion)</span></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Kynaston; Concert Variations on a Theme by Henry Purcell</em></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>(Accordion ensemble percussion)</span></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Oroonoko; Rhapsody for Bayan Accordion Ensemble and Percussion</em></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Leiden Suite</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> (Accordion Ensemble)</span></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Journey to the Center of the Earth; 3 Ballets</em></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>(Accordion ensemble actors dancers percussion)</span></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Scenes from the Jungle </em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>an opera</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>(Vocal soloists accordion ensemble percussion)</span></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Houtebeen </em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>an oratorio</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>(Male chorus string orchestra accordion ensemble percussion)</span></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Joppenszoon</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> a cantata for tenor and baritone</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>(Accordion ensemble percussion)</span></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Concerto Grosso for Blassensemble Accordion Ensemble and Percussion</em></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Desire Under the Elms: Incidental Music for Orchestra</em></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Candida: Incidental Music for String Quartet</em></p><p></p><p></p>