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BELGIANS IN HEAVEN
BOOK & LYRICS BY FREDERICK HEIDE & LEE BECKER MUSIC BY FREDERICK HEIDE & JAMES KAPLAN
Is Heaven just for dreamers? Or are we all here forever? This uplifting hit musical comedy, set in Wisconsin’s Belgian-American farm district, combines nonstop hilarity with a moving endorsement of brotherly love.
Roger, a hard-working farmer, is too shy to pursue the woman he’s loved since third grade. And he’s perpetually frustrated with his brother Leo, who wants only to drink beer and eat cheese curds. But when a near-death experience brings Roger to Heaven, he discovers a much deeper relationship with them both. Meanwhile, the brothers’ bumbling guardian angel is dispatched to teach them to love each other in time to save the world.
Belgians in Heaven has had 11 productions, sold over 75,000 tickets, and earned a passionate return audience of one out of every three patrons.
REVIEWS
Very funny! A popular laugh-fest with a profound metaphysical theme at its heart.
Every year it manages to pack the house. The hilarity and sweet message of Belgians in Heaven shine through. You cannot miss this play! (Peninsula Pulse)
Belgians in Heaven…is about overcoming the differences that divide us and learning to appreciate what we share. It has something for everyone. Delectable!
If you haven’t had a chance to see Belgians in Heaven, do yourself a favor and go. The show has become a cult hit, with people coming back over and over. Quirky, yes, but more importantly, full of heart. It’s the rare show that speaks to adults as well as young children. Belgians in Heaven…will make a believer out of you. (Heidi Hodges, Door County Advocate)
Leo (left) and Henry sing Cheese Curds, Booyah, and Beer from Belgians in Heaven.
CAST SIZE: 6 PLUS KEYBOARD PLAYER
Originally created for actors identifying as 4M/2W but flexible. Ages and ethnicity flexible.
CHARACTERS:
LEO – An under-motivated, beer-and-cheese-curd-loving Belgian-American farmer.
ROGER– Leo’s brother, a hardworking Belgian-American farmer
HENRY - Their soft-spoken, simple handyman who is deeper than he seems
JOSEPHINE - A neighbor Roger secretly fancies
ANGELIQUE - The brothers’ clumsy but sincere guardian angel
MILDRED - Leo’s pet talking chicken. Speaks only in “brawk” with many emotional tones. Performed by an actor on microphone, sitting far stage left in view of the audience. In a convention adapted from Paul Sills’ story theatre, the audience “sees” Mildred only in the sense that other characters interact with her.
HEAVENLY VOICES – Unseen personages in Heaven. Can be played by actor who voices Mildred. SAINT PETER - Heaven’s gatekeeper (played by the same actor as Henry)
GEORGE---The pre-incarnate soul of Leo (played by the same actor as Leo).
MARIE - The pre-incarnate soul of Josephine (played by same actress as Josephine)
VERNA---A seagull. Voiced by the same actor who voices Mildred.
PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE USING THE WISCONSIN DIALECT IN THE SCRIPT.
PERUSAL COPIES OF SCRIPT AND MUSIC:
CLICK HERE FOR PERUSAL COPIES.
PLEASE USE THE “CONTACT” FEATURE ON OUR HOME PAGE TO CONTACT US ABOUT LICENSING. THANKS!
SCRIPT: /files/1405379/BELGIANS IN HEAVEN---SCRIPT
SCORE: /files/1405380/BELGIANS IN HEAVEN---KEYBOARD SCORE
Although we'd be delighted for your theater to produce this show, please be aware that both script and score are copyrighted with the Library of Congress. Producing a copyrighted show without permission violates US federal law and carries significant penalties.