Camelot
The legendary love triangle of King Arthur, Guenevere and Sir Lancelot leaps from the pages of T.H. White’s novel in Lerner and Loewe’s award-winning, soaring musical.
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Show Essentials
7
Roles
+ Ensemble
PG
Rated
2
Acts

Full Synopsis

Act One

("Overture"). King Arthur nervously tries to persuade his teacher from the future, Merlyn, to tell him about his future wife and queen, Guenevere. ("I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight"). Guenevere arrives and successfully avoids the pestering crowds ("The Simple Joys of Maidenhood"). An accidental meeting occurs between Arthur and Guenevere, who are delighted to recognize mutual affection ("Camelot"). 

Merlyn, having been lured away by a mythical spirit ("Follow Me"), leaves Arthur on his own. Five years pass, and attempting to rule on the wisdom set by Merlyn, Arthur creates the Round Table, where no man shall take the head of the table and all will be viewed equally. A haughty Knight in France, Lancelot, hears of the Round Table and sets off for Camelot ("C'est Moi"). Lancelot arrives during a May Day Celebration ("The Lusty Month of May"), and all but King Arthur find him disagreeable. Arthur is dismayed by Guenevere's dislike towards Lancelot, but cannot be angry with her ("How To Handle A Woman"). 

Three knights, inspired by Guenevere, challenge Lancelot ("The Jousts"). Lancelot defeats all three, and even seemingly brings one knight back to life. Guenevere, noticing the adoration of the crowd, discovers herself falling in love with Lancelot, and wishes him to leave so as not to break her marriage vows ("Before I Gaze at You Again"). Lancelot, despite claiming immunity to love's traps and his fealty to Arthur, is madly in love with Guenevere. Arthur, meanwhile is aware of this, but hopes it will blow over ("Resolution"). 

Act Two

Years later, Lancelot and Guenevere are still tormented over their unfullfilled love ("If Ever I Would Leave You"). She has remained devoted to Arthur. Mordred, Arthur's illegitmate son, arrives in Camelot with sinister plans to destroy the chivalrous Knights of The Round Table ("The Seven Deadly Virtues"). Meanwhile, a downtrodden and exhausted Arthur discusses with Guenevere the simpler pleasures in life ("What Do the Simple Folk Do?"). 

Mordred seeks his sorceress and sweet-loving Aunt, Morgan le Fay, and bribes her to cast a spell on Arthur, rendering him unable to reach the castle. He then rallies the Knights with tales of glory, making them miss their former days of fighting and pillaging ("Fie On Goodness"). Lancelot, unable to contain his passion, visits Guenevere and kisses her ("I Loved You Once In Silence"). Mordred and the incited knights catch them. Lancelot escapes, but Guenevere is caught, tried, and sentenced to burn at the stake for her treason. ("Guenevere"). At the execution, a conflicted King Arthur is struggling with what to do. At the last moment, Lancelot arrives, rescues Guenevere and escapes, after killing some knights. Arthur now must wage war on Lancelot, all while Mordred is waging war on Camelot through England. 

Beaten down by the waging war, and the Round Table dissolved, Arthur meets Lancelot and Guenevere. Their fiery relationship failed and Guenevere is now a nun. They offer to give themselves up, but good King Arthur will not see his former love burned or Lancelot beheaed. He forgives them both and they depart. 

Later that night, Arthur meets a young boy named Tom who wants to join the Round Table. Arthur is inspired by this idealistic young man, knights him and sends him back to England to grow up there — to pass on King Arthur's ideals of chivalry and "Camelot."

 

Casting
← Back to Camelot
Cast Size: Large (21 or more performers)
Cast Type: Mainly Men
Dance Requirements: Standard

Character Breakdown

Arthur

An idealistic, compassionate and generous young King. He tends to be unsure of himself, but serves as a huge inspiration to others and strives to lead based on honor and chivalry.

Gender: male
Age: 25 to 40
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: A2
Guenevere

A young, beautiful and spirited young woman and soon to be queen. She loves Arthur and his righteous ways, but is suddenly thrown with the arrival of Lancelot. 

Gender: female
Age: 20 to 35
Vocal range top: A5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Lancelot

A self involved French Knight who is very used to excelling at everything. 

Gender: male
Age: 20 to 35
Vocal range top: B4
Vocal range bottom: A2
Pellinore

An old and eccentric knight, devoted to Arthur. 

Gender: male
Age: 50 to 70
Mordred

The illegitimate son of Arthur, bound to destroy his kingdom. 

Gender: male
Age: 20 to 30
Vocal range top: D4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Tom of Warwick

A young stowaway whom Arthur knights, in hopes that he will spread the word of chivalry and Camelot. 

Gender: male
Age: 14 to 20
Nimue

A mythical spirit who lures Merlyn away and steals his magical powers. 

Gender: female
Age: 20 to 40
Vocal range top: Eb5
Vocal range bottom: Eb4
Merlyn

King Arthur's long time mentor. A wizard who ages backwards. 

Gender: male
Age: 20 to 50
Morgan Le Fey

Mordred's magical Aunt who casts a spell on King Arthur. 

Gender: female
Age: 40 to 50
Ensemble

Knights of the Round Table, Lords and Ladies of the court, townspeople.

Gender: any
Full Song List
Camelot : Overture
Camelot : March
Camelot : I Wonder What The King Is Doing Tonight
Camelot : The Simple Joys of Maidenhood
Camelot : Camelot
Camelot : Follow Me
Camelot : C'est Moi
Camelot : The Lusty Month of May
Camelot : How To Handle A Woman
Camelot : The Jousts
Camelot : Before I Gaze at You Again
Camelot, Lerner And Loewe's: Resolution
Camelot, Lerner And Loewe's: Madrigal
Camelot : If Ever I Would Leave You
Camelot : The Seven Deadly Virtues
Camelot : What Do The Simple Folk Do?
Camelot : Fie On Goodness
Camelot : I Loved You Once In Silence
Camelot : Guenevere
Camelot : Finale

Show History

Inspiration

Camelot is and adaptation of T.H White's The Once and Future King, a fictional telling of the Medieval King Arthur. 

Productions

Camelot opened on Broadway on December 3rd, 1960 at the Majestic Theatre, where it played for 873 performances. The London production played 518 performances at the Drury Lane Theatre. The original company included Richard Burton, Julie Andrews, Robert Goulet and Roddy McDowall.

Camelot has been revived on Broadway many times, including a 2011 production starring Jeremy Irons as King Arthur.

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.
Lerner and Loewe's
(75%)
 
CAMELOT

(100%)

 
Book and Lyrics by
ALAN JAY LERNER
(75%)
Music by 
FREDERICK LOEWE
(75%)
Original Production Directed and Staged by Moss Hart
Based on The Once and Future King by T.H. White
(33%)
 
Such credits for all purposes shall be in a type size equal to that of any other credits except for those of the producer and star(s) above the title. The credit for the authors shall be in a type size at least 75 percent of the size of the title of the play; and wherever the name of one of the authors appears, the other name(s) shall also appear. In the programs, the credits shall appear on the title page thereof.

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 BOOK32
PIANO CONDUCTOR'S SCORE2

Production Resources

Resource
CUSTOMIZABLE SHOW POSTER
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON-10/CS
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON?
LOGO PACK DIGITAL
PRODUCTIONPRO-DIGITAL SCRIPT/SCORE
REFERENCE RECORDING
REHEARSAL ACCOMPANIMENT RECORDING
STAGE MANAGER SCRIPT
STAGE WRITE APPLICATION
SUBPLOT CUSTOMIZED SHOW POSTER
PERFORMANCE ACCOMPANIMENT RECORDING

STANDARD ORCHESTRATION

InstrumentationDoubling
BASSACOUSTIC BASS
CELLO(2 PLAYER MINIMUM)
GUITARGUITAR , LUTE , MANDOLIN
HARP
HORN
HORN 3
PERCUSSIONBELLS , DRUM KIT , GONG , SUSPENDED CYMBAL , TAMBOURINE , TIMPANI , TRIANGLE , WOOD BLOCK , XYLOPHONE
REED 1FLUTE , PICCOLO
REED 2ENGLISH HORN , OBOE
REED 3CLARINET
REED 4BASS CLARINET , CLARINET , Eb CLARINET , FLUTE
REED 5BASSOON
TROMBONE
TROMBONE 2BASS TROMBONE
TRUMPET
TRUMPET 3
VIOLA(2 PLAYER MINIMUM)
VIOLIN(2 PLAYER MINIMUM)
VIOLIN 2(2 PLAYER MINIMUM)