Groundhog Day
The hilarious film turned West End and Broadway hit will have audiences returning again, and again, and again...
Available in the US, Canada and Select International Territories. Currently restricted in UK/Ireland, Australia/New Zealand and South Korea. For inquiries, please contact your Licensing Representative.
Show Essentials
20
Roles
+ Ensemble
PG13
Rated
2
Acts

Full Synopsis

Act One

After the ("Overture"), we begin before sunrise in Punxsutawney, PA, where Groundhog Day is officially commemorated every February 2nd ("There Will Be Sun"). Phil Connors – a veteran weatherman for a Pittsburgh TV station – makes the annual trek to Punxsutawney to see the groundhog reveal his annual “prediction” about the arrival of spring. As alone as he is jaded and sarcastic, Phil can barely conceal his contempt for the assignment or for his crew, in particular the enthusiastic Rita Hanson, an associate producer posted on her first remote broadcast to cover the groundhog festivities ("Day One"). Once their work is done, a major snowstorm descends on Punxsutawney. There is no way out of town so Phil is trapped there for the night.

When he awakes the next morning, Phil gradually discovers he is in a mysterious time warp: it is Groundhog Day all over again – in every maddening detail, just as it occurred the day before ("Day Two"). And Phil is the only one who knows it. Every time he goes to bed, the cycle repeats itself. He encounters, again and again, the same cast of small-town characters and their quirks, saying and doing the same things that infuriated him the day before ("Day Three"). He seeks help, or an explanation, from various local “experts” but to no avail ("Stuck"). Seeking solace in a local dive bar, a sudden realization dawns on him... because every day resets to the start, it means there are no consequences, no regrets, no hangovers. For the first time in his life he is free ("Nobody Cares"). He embarks on a hedonistic spree ("Philandering") which ultimately leads him back to the one thing still out of reach, Rita Hanson ("One Day").

Act Two

As Act Two begins ("Entr'acte"), we are given a surprise moment alone with local girl Nancy Taylor, a fling from one of Phil’s more lecherous rewinds of the day ("Playing Nancy"). Meanwhile, the monotony of Phil’s daily rewind and his many futile attempts to win Rita, have driven him to the end of his rope. He does everything he can think of to end it all ("Hope"), but attempt after attempt to kill himself simply results in him awakening, back in his bed, without a scratch.

He turns once again to Rita, but this time simply as a friend, and tells her of his predicament ("Everything About You"). Finding it understandably hard to believe, she nevertheless sees an array of positives in such an unlikely scenario ("If I Had My Time Again"), and when they spend the whole day together Phil starts to learn how to see things differently ("Everything About You – Reprise").

Phil’s daily encounter with an annoying old acquaintance, Ned Ryerson, suddenly takes a different turn ("Night Will Come"), and he begins to understand Ned’s catch phrase “You gotta love life.” Now everything shifts and Phil tries to use the hours in the day to help as many of the locals as possible with random acts of kindness ("Philanthropy"). Without realizing it, he becomes the sort of man that Rita could fall in love with, and when they meet up at the Groundhog Gala ("Punxsutawney Rock"), she astonishes him by bidding the contents of her purse for one dance together ("Seeing You"). Phil and Rita break through into tomorrow as the sun rises, at last, on February 3rd.

Casting
← Back to Groundhog Day
Cast Size: Large (21 or more performers)
Cast Type: Star Vehicle Female
Dance Requirements: Standard

Character Breakdown

Phil Conners

Over it and everybody, a burned-out TV weatherman, resentful, entitled.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: B4
Vocal range bottom: F#2
Rita Hanson

A TV producer, professional, down to earth, empath, but knows what she wants, and knows what she does not want even more.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: F#3
Larry
TV Cameraman, constantly disrespected by Phil.
Gender: male
Ned Ryerson / Healer

An old friend of Phil Connor’s from high school. A comedic, fast-talking life insurance salesman who crosses paths with Phil every morning.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: Ab2
Nancy Taylor

Self-aware, up against the odds. A fatalistic surrender to her never-changing lot in life as the “pretty one.” In a rut of her own.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: B4
Vocal range bottom: F#3
Mrs. Lancaster

A chipper, older, bed and breakfast owner with a huge smile and broken coffee maker.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: A3
Freddie / Psychiatric Pharmacologist

Freddie is a pro wrestling fan and marching band member. In a relationship with Debbie (but afraid to pop the question). Upbeat, huge fan of Phil Connors.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: D4
Ralph

Punxsutawney Townie who hangs out at the local dive bar, aside from shooting cans in a field somewhere and sleeping in every day.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: C#5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Debbie

Debbie is a pro wrestling fan and marching band member. In a relationship with Freddie (but no ring yet). Upbeat, huge fan of Phil Connors.

Gender: female
Doris / AA Person

Diner waitress. Can’t sing but still needs to sing

Gender: female
Buster

Upbeat and offbeat Town Elder who oversees Punxsutawney Phil’s annual prediction. Leads the parade and takes care of the famed groundhog.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: Bb3
Vocal range bottom: E3
Gus / Bartender Billy

Punxsutawney Townie who hangs out at the local dive bar, aside from shooting cans in a field somewhere and sleeping in every day.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: F#4
Vocal range bottom: A2
Sheriff

One of two town cops. Forgetful, lackadaisical.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: D4
Vocal range bottom: F3
Deputy

The other town cop. Sheriff's sidekick.

Gender: male
Joelle / Nurse
Gender: female
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: D4
Chubby Man / Priest
Gender: male
Vocal range top: D4
Vocal range bottom: D3
Mrs. Cleveland / Piano Teacher / Scientologist
Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: F3
Mr. Cleveland / Elder
Gender: male
Lady Storm Chaser / Naturopath
Gender: female
Storm Chaser / Elder / Old Jenson
Gender: male
Hot Dog Vendor
Gender: any
Ensemble

Roles include: Townspeople, Director, Jeff, Radio Clock Voices, Groundhog Guy, Ticket Man

Full Song List
Groundhog Day: Overture
Groundhog Day: There Will Be Sun
Groundhog Day: Day One
Groundhog Day: Day Two
Groundhog Day: Day Three
Groundhog Day: Stuck
Groundhog Day: Nobody Cares
Groundhog Day: Philandering
Groundhog Day: One Day
Groundhog Day: Entracte
Groundhog Day: Playing Nancy
Groundhog Day: Hope
Groundhog Day: Everything About You
Groundhog Day: If I Had My Time Again
Groundhog Day: Everything About You (Reprise)
Groundhog Day: Night Will Come
Groundhog Day: Philanthropy
Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Rock
Groundhog Day: Seeing You

Billing

Requirements

You must give the authors/creators billing credits, as specified in the Production Contract, in a conspicuous manner on the first page of credits in all programs and on houseboards, displays and in all other advertising announcements of any kind.
Percentages listed indicate required type size in relation to title size.
GROUNDHOG DAY
100%
The Musical
25%
Book by
DANNY RUBIN
(50%)
Book & Music & Lyrics by
TIM MINCHIN
(50%)
Based on the Columbia Pictures Motion Picture and the story by Danny Rubin
25%
 
The credit to Columbia Pictures and Danny Rubin shall appear directly under the credit to the Authors and shall appear wherever and whenever the Authors are credited.
You must include the following clear and prominent credits on the title page of all programs for the Play:
Orchestrations & Arrangements by
Christopher Nightingale
 
Originally produced on Broadway, at the August Wilson Theatre, New York on April 17, 2017 by Whistle Pig, Columbia Live Stage, The Dodgers and Michael Watt
 
MTI will contractually require its licensees to include the following additional credits on the title page of all programs for the Play; provided that if space does not permit such credit can instead be place among the staff credits in the program:
Groundhog Day The Musical was first performed at the Old Vic Theatre on July 15th, 2016
SHORTENED BILLING:
In advertisements of 1/4 page size or less or where only the title of the play, performance dates and venue are provided, the following "shortened billing" is permissible:
GROUNDHOG DAY
The Musical

Video Warning

In accordance with the Performance License, you MUST include the following warning in all programs and in a pre-show announcement:

ANY VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS PRODUCTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

Included Materials

ItemQuantity Included
LIBRETTO VOCAL DIGITAL1
PIANO CONDUCTOR SCORE1
PIANO VOCAL SCORE1
STANDARD ORCHESTRATION DIGITAL1

Production Resources

Resource
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON-10/CS

STANDARD ORCHESTRATION

InstrumentationDoubling
BASSACOUSTIC BASS , ELECTRIC BASS
CELLOACOUSTIC GUITAR , CELLO
DRUMSANVIL (HIGH AND LOW), BELL TREE , CAJON , CASIO KIT , COWBELL , DRUM SET , MILITARY SNARE , OCTOPAD , PAD , SHAKER , SUSPENDED CYMBAL , TAM-TAM , TAMBOURINE (MOUNTED)
FULL SCORE
GUITARACOUSTIC GUITAR , ELECTRIC GUITAR , NYLON STRING GUITAR
KEYBOARD 1
REED 1ALTO SAXOPHONE , BARITONE SAXOPHONE , FLUTE , PICCOLO
REED 2BASS CLARINET , CLARINET , TENOR SAXOPHONE
TROMBONEBASS TROMBONE , EUPHONIUM , TROMBONE
TRUMPETFLUGELHORN , PICCOLO TRUMPET , TRUMPET
TRUMPET 2CORNET , FLUGELHORN , TRUMPET
VIOLINACOUSTIC GUITAR , ELECTRIC VIOLIN , VIOLIN