A Funny Thing... Forum

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Sondheim's joyous, musical romp through Rome has desperate lovers, scheming neighbors and secrets behind every toga.

Broadway's greatest farce is light, fast-paced, witty, irreverent and one of the funniest musicals ever written. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum takes comedy back to its roots, combining situations from time-tested, 2000-year-old comedies of Roman playwright, Plautus, with the infectious energy of classic vaudeville.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a nonstop laughfest in which Pseudolus, a crafty slave, struggles to win the hand of a beautiful, but slow-witted, courtesan named Philia for his young master, Hero, in exchange for freedom. The plot twists and turns with cases of mistaken identity, slamming doors and a showgirl or two.

This unforgettable, hysterical musical allows a terrific ensemble of comedic actors to shine – "something for everyone, a comedy tonight!"

Full Synopsis Materials and Orchestration

Concert Selections for A Funny Thing... Forum

Concert Selections are original Broadway orchestrations and exciting new symphonic arrangements of select songs for use in concert performances. Concert Selections are the perfect way to give audiences a taste of the musical theatre experience without the sets, props and costumes.

Pricing

Pricing is for individual songs only.

Pricing for Orchestral Suites and other items can be provided on receipt of your Application Form.

Amateur

A$99.50 for 1st five minutes (Base Hire rate)

A$19.00 per minute thereafter (to a maximum of 40 minutes for Small Rights works)

The minimum Base Hire period is 2 months which is calculated from the date required to the first performance date.

Extra months are charged at 25% of the hire fee per month or part thereof.

A 50% discount of the Base Hire fee is available for 2^nd and subsequent performances provided the fee is not less than the Base Hire rate (amateur only).

If your order requires immediate processing, a A$44.00 Priority Fee per work is applicable.

Professional

We will provide a quote once we receive your Application Form.

BOWS ("FUNNY THING...FORUM")

From
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
IRWIN KOSTAL & SID RAMIN

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Arrangement Details
Song Type: Show Extraction
A show extraction is taken directly from the licensed show materials. No edits have been made to the song.

Arranged for
INSTRUMENTAL

Starting Key
E♭
Estimated duration
3 min 45 sec
Instrumentation

1 Reed 1, 1 Reed 2, 1 Reed 3, 1 Reed 4, 1 Reed 5, 2 Trumpet 1&2, 1 Trombone 2, 1 Trombone 1, 1 Trumpet 3, 1 Trombone 3, 7 Viola, 17 Violin, 6 Cello, 5 Bass, 1 Harp, 3 Percussion, 1 Piano Vocal, 2 Piano Conductor

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BRING ME MY BRIDE

From
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Lyrics by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
IRWIN KOSTAL, SID RAMIN

show more...show less...
Arrangement Details
Song Type: Show Extraction
A show extraction is taken directly from the licensed show materials. No edits have been made to the song.

Arranged for
MALE VOICE, CHORUS

Starting Key
B♭m
Estimated duration
3 min 20 sec
Instrumentation

5 bass, 6 cello, 7 viola, 17 violins, 1 harp, 3 percussion, 1 reed 1, 1 reed 2, 1 reed 3, 1 reed 4, 1 reed 5, 3 trombones, 3 trumpets 2 Piano Vocal Scores, 2 Piano Conductor Scores, 25 Vocal Books

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COMEDY TONIGHT

From

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

First Performance Fee:

$175

Each Additional Performance:

$100

Music by

Stephen Sondheim

Lyrics by

Stephen Sondheim

Orchestrated by

Sid Ramin, Irwin Kostal & Arthur Beck

Arrangement Details

Song Type: Show Extraction

Arranged for

1 Voice (Typically Male) and Chorus

Starting Key

Estimated duration

5 min 04 sec

Instrumentation

Part Name	Doubling	Quantity
FULL SCORE		1
PIANO/VOCAL SCORE		12
REED 1	Clarinet, Piccolo, Flute	3
REED 2	Clarinet	1
REED 3	Clarinet	1
REED 4	Bass Clarinet	1
REED 5	Flute, Clarinet	2
TRUMPET 1		1
TRUMPET 2		1
TRUMPET 3		1
TROMBONE 1		1
TROMBONE 2		1
TROMBONE 3		1
PERCUSSION 1 & 2	PERCUSSION 1: Timpani, Bells, Slap-Stick, Xylophone PERCUSSION 2: Drum Set, 2 Woodblocks, Cowbell, Chinese Cymbal, Bass Drum	3
HARP		1
PIANO	(Can also be used as Piano/Conductor)	1
VIOLINS		17
VIOLA		7
CELLO		6
BASS		5

Please Note: In some instances (i.e. Reeds, Percussion, etc.), additional copies of parts may be provided, in the event you wish to split out the doublings to multiple players.

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COMEDY TONIGHT ("SYMPHONIC SONDHEIM")

From

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

First Performance Fee:

$175

Each Additional Performance:

$100

Music by

Stephen Sondheim

Arranged by

Don Sebesky

Arrangement Details

Song Type: Concert/Symphonic Arrangement (Instrumental)

Starting Key

Estimated duration

5 min 04 sec

Instrumentation

Part Name	Doubling	Quantity
FULL SCORE		1
FLUTE 1		1
FLUTE 2		1
FLUTE 3	+Piccolo	1
OBOE 1		1
OBOE 2		1
CLARINET 1	B♭ Clarinet, E♭ Clarinet	1
CLARINET 2	B♭ Clarinet, Bass Clarinet	1
CLARINET 3	B♭ Clarinet	1
BASSOON 1		1
BASSOON 2	+Contrabassoon	1
HORN 1		1
HORN 2		1
HORN 3		1
HORN 4		1
TRUMPET 1		1
TRUMPET 2		1
TRUMPET 3		1
TROMBONE 1		1
TROMBONE 2		1
TROMBONE 3		1
TUBA		1
PERCUSSION 1 & 2	Xylophone, Handheld Cymbal, Glockenspiel, Woodblock, Mark Tree, Flexatone, Tambourine, Tuned Tom Toms, Small Splash Cymbal, Small Triangle, Tuned Woodblock, Finger Cymbal, Vibraphone, Ratchet, Slide Whistle, Ooga Horn	2
PERCUSSION 3 & 4	Timpani, Tight Snare, Bass Drum, Bell Tree, Mouth Siren, Mounted Cymbal, Rubber Duck, Cow Bell, Sandpaper Block, Chimes, Handheld Cymbal, Firebell, Bulb Horn, Slap Stick, Crow Call	2
PIANO	+Celesta	1
HARP		1
VIOLIN 1		8
VIOLIN 2		8
VIOLA		7
CELLO		6
BASS		5

Please Note: In some instances (i.e. Reeds, Percussion, etc.), additional copies of parts may be provided, in the event you wish to split out the doublings to multiple players.

Request License

ENTR'ACTE ("FUNNY THING...FORUM")

From
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
IRWIN KOSTAL & SID RAMIN

show more...show less...
Arrangement Details
Song Type: Show Extraction
A show extraction is taken directly from the licensed show materials. No edits have been made to the song.

Arranged for
INSTRUMENTAL

Starting Key
C

Estimated duration
2 min 50 sec
Instrumentation

1 Reed 1, 1 Reed 2, 1 Reed 3, 1 Reed 4, 1 Reed 5, 2 Trumpet 1&2, 1 Trumpet 3, 1 Trombone 1, 1 Trombone 2, 1 Trombone 3, 5 Bass, 6 Cello, 17 Violin, 7 Viola, 1 Harp, 3 Percussion, 1 PV, 2 Piano Conductor

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EVERYBODY OUGHT TO HAVE A MAID

From
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Music by
Stephen Sondheim

Lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim

Orchestrated by
Irwin Kostal & Sid Ramin

show more...show less...
Arrangement Details
Song Type: Show Extraction
A show extraction is taken directly from the licensed show materials. No edits have been made to the song.

Arranged for
4 Male Voices

Starting Key
D

Estimated duration
3 min 47 sec
Instrumentation

Reed I (Flute, Alto Saxophone 1), Reed II (Clarinet 1 in Bb, Alto Saxophone 2), Reed III (Clarinet 2 in Bb, Tenor Saxophone), Reed IV (Bass Clarinet), Reed 5 (Piccolo, Baritone Saxophone), 1 Oboe, 1 Bassoon, 3 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in Bb, 1 Trombone, (3) Percussion (Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Drums), 1 Harp, 1 Guitar, 1 Piano, (8) Viola, (6) Violoncello, (5) Contrabass. Your rental materials also include 1 Full Score and 4 Piano-Vocal Scores.

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FINALE ULTIMO ("FUNNY THING...FORUM")

From
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Lyrics by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
IRWIN KOSTAL & SID RAMIN

show more...show less...
Arrangement Details
Song Type: Show Extraction
A show extraction is taken directly from the licensed show materials. No edits have been made to the song.

Arranged for
CHORUS

Starting Key
G

Estimated duration
1 min 25 sec
Instrumentation

1 Reed 1, 1 Reed 2, 1 Reed 3, 1 Reed 4, 1 Reed 5, 2 Trumpet 1&2, 1 Trumpet 3, 1 Trombone 1, 1 Trombone 2, 1 Trombone 3, 6 Cello, 5 Bass, 17 Viola, 3 Percussion, 1 Harp, 2 Piano Conductor, 1 Piano Vocal, 25 Chorus books

Request License
FREE

From
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Lyrics by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
IRWIN KOSTAL & SID RAMIN

show more...show less...
Arrangement Details
Song Type: Show Extraction
A show extraction is taken directly from the licensed show materials. No edits have been made to the song.

Arranged for
2 MALE VOICES

Starting Key
C

Estimated duration
3 min 35 sec
Instrumentation

(1x) Full Score; (3x) Piano/Vocal Score; (2x) Reed 1: Clarinet, Piccolo; (1x) Reed 2: Clarinet; (1x) Reed 3: Clarinet; (1x) Reed 4: Bass Clarinet; (2x) Reed 5: Piccolo, Flute; (1x) Trumpet 1; (1x) Trumpet 2; (1x) Trumpet 3; (1x) Trombone 1; (1x) Trombone 2; (1x) Trombone 3; (3x) Percussion 1&2 (Percussion 1: Timpani, Xylophone, Vibraphone; Percussion 2: Drum Set); (1x) Harp; (2x) Piano/Conductor; (17x) Violins; (7x) Viola; (6x) Cello; (5x) Bass

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IM CALM

From
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Lyrics by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
IRWIN KOSTAL & SID RAMIN

show more...show less...
Arrangement Details
Song Type: Show Extraction
A show extraction is taken directly from the licensed show materials. No edits have been made to the song.

Arranged for
1 MALE VOICE

Starting Key
G

Estimated duration
3 min 00 sec
Instrumentation

(1x) Full Score; (2x) Piano/Vocal Score; (1x) Reed 1: Flute; (1x) Reed 2: Clarinet; (1x) Reed 3: Clarinet; (2x) Reed 4: Bass Clarinet, Clarinet; (2x) Reed 5: Piccolo, Clarinet; (1x) Trumpet 1; (1x) Trumpet 2; (1x) Trumpet 3; (1x) Trombone 1; (1x) Trombone 2; (1x) Trombone 3; (3x) Percussion 1 & 2 (Percussion 1: Xylophone, Timpani, Bells; Percussion 2: Drum Set); (1x) Harp; (2x) Piano/Conductor; (17x) Violins; (7x) Viola; (6x) Cello; (5x) Bass

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LOVE, I HEAR

From
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Music by
Stephen Sondheim

Lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim

Orchestrated by
Irwin Kostal, Sid Ramin

show more...show less...
Arrangement Details
Song Type: Show Extraction
A show extraction is taken directly from the licensed show materials. No edits have been made to the song.

Starting Key
G

Estimated duration
2 min 51 sec
Instrumentation
(1x) FULL SCORE, (2x) PIANO/VOCAL SCORE, (1x) REED 1 (Flute), (1x) REED 2 (Clarinet), (1x) REED 3 (Clarinet), (1x) REED 4 (Bass Clarinet), (2x) REED 5 (Flute, Clarinet), (1x) TRUMPET 1, (1x) TRUMPET 2, (1x) TRUMPET 3, (1x) TROMBONE 1, (1x) TROMBONE 2, (1x) TROMBONE 3, (2x) PERCUSSION 1 & 2 (Percussion 1: Timpani, Percussion 2: Drum Set), (1x) HARP, (2x) PIANO (can also be used as Piano/Conductor), (17x) VIOLINS, (7x) VIOLA, (6x) CELLO, (5x) BASS

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LOVELY

From
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Lyrics by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
IRWIN KOSTAL & SID RAMIN

show more...show less...
Arrangement Details
Song Type: Show Extraction
A show extraction is taken directly from the licensed show materials. No edits have been made to the song.

Arranged for
1 FEMALE VOICE, 1 MALE VOICE

Starting Key
G

Estimated duration
3 min 10 sec
Instrumentation

(1x) Full Score; (2x) Piano/Vocal Score; (1x) Reed 1: Flute; (1x) Reed 2: Clarinet; (1x) Reed 3: Clarinet; (1x) Reed 4: Bass Clarinet; (2x) Reed 5: Clarinet, Flute; (1x) Trumpet 1; (1x) Trumpet 2; (1x) Trumpet 3; (1x) Trombone 1; (1x) Trombone 2; (1x) Trombone 3; (2x) Percussion: Timpani, Drum Set; (1x) Piano (Optional Piano/Conductor); (1x) Harp; (16x) Violins; (7x) Viola; (6x) Cello; (5x) Bass

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OVERTURE ("FUNNY THING...FORUM")

From
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
KOSTAL, IRWIN RAMIN, SID

show more...show less...
Arrangement Details
Song Type: Show Extraction
A show extraction is taken directly from the licensed show materials. No edits have been made to the song.

Starting Key
D♭
Estimated duration
3 min 15 sec
Instrumentation

1 Flute 1, 1 Flute 2, 1 Oboe, 1 English horn, 1 Clarinet 1, 1 Clarinet 2(Tenor sax), 1 Bass clarinet(Baritone sax), 1 Opt Tenor sax, 1 Opt,Baritone sax, 2 Trumpet 1&2, 1 Trumpet 3, 1 Trombone 1, 1 Trombone 2, 1 Trombone 3, 17 Violin, 7 Viola, 6 Cello, 5 Bass, 1 Harp, 3 Percussion(TimpAb-Eb, Bells, Bongos, Vibes, Xylo, Drum set), 2 Piano Conductor

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Show Essentials

Book by

Music and Lyrics by

Songs

That Dirty Old Man

That'll Show Him

Funeral

Overture

Comedy Tonight

Love, I Hear

Free

Lovely

Pretty Little Picture

Everybody Ought to Have a Maid

I'm Calm

Bring Me My Bride

Full Song List

Price

Upcoming

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Questions & Answers

Ask a Question See All Questions

By DJCHORUS

December 03, 2018

Gender Switch?

Does the licensing agreement allow for gender switching as has been allowed in the past? I’m specifically referring to Whoopi Goldberg as Pseudolus. Thanks for the help!

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This question has no answers

By helen59169

August 08, 2016

If a show is currently restricted, does it say so on the website?

Just wondering if the individual shows' pages are updated to reflect whether or not they are restricted, or does one have to request a license in order to find that out. May not want to bother requesting a show if it's restricted. Thanks!

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By Ken Getz

December 30, 2010

Optional instrumentation for Forum

Getting ready to MD a community theater production of Forum. I've seen the orchestration list online. Can anyone comment on the following questions: * are any of the books optional? * are the woodwind doublings cued for optional instruments (I live in a small community, and it's difficult to find folks that double as indicated) Thanks. Any other words of wisdom from a conductor that has done the show would be appreciated! -- ken

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