Daddy Long Legs
A heartwarming Cinderella story about a witty and winsome young woman and her mysterious benefactor, based on the treasured novel that inspired the classic 1955 film.
Show Essentials
2
Roles
PG
Rated
2
Acts

Full Synopsis

Act One

Jerusha Abbott is "The Oldest Orphan in the John Grier Home." On the day that the Trustees come to visit, she is summoned to the office for an interview with Mrs. Lippett, the Principal. On her way there, she glimpses one of the Trustees leaving the school, or rather she sees his shadow, cast by the headlights of his waiting car – a long, spindly, spidery shadow that she will never forget.

Mrs. Lippett hands her a letter. It is from the Trustee whom she has just seen leaving the home. Impressed by her amusing satirical essays about life at the orphanage, he has devised a detailed plan for her further education. He is sending her to college with all expenses paid, with the intention that she educate herself to become a writer. Her only duty will be to write him a letter once a month, describing her progress and her impressions of the college. He is so reclusive and allergic to gratitude that he doesn't even want her to know his name, calling himself Mr. Smith.  "Who Is This Man?" Jerusha wonders.

Having arrived at college, Jerusha writes her first letter. She can’t bear the thought of addressing him as Mr. Smith, so she tries out some other possibilities in "Mr. Girl Hater" before deciding to call him Daddy Long Legs.

In his study in Manhattan, the young philanthropist, Jervis Pendleton, is amused by Jerusha’s letter but  puzzled, too ("She Thinks I’m Old").

In her next letter, Jerusha describes her anxiety at not being able to fit in to college life. She can't bear the thought of anyone knowing that she comes from an orphanage. She wants to be "Like Other Girls" and struggles to catch up with her classmates because of the "Things I Didn't Know."

During Christmas vacation, Jerusha is left alone at college, where she devotes herself to catching up on her reading. In her loneliness, she sends love to her Daddy Long Legs. The shy and awkward Jervis is disturbed by her use of the word and wonders "What Does She Mean By Love?"

Jerusha flunks two of her first exams and is mortified by her failure. She becomes ill and is confined to the infirmary, from where she writes angrily to Mr. Smith, accusing him of not caring for her and supporting her merely out of a sense of charity.  Moved by her plight, Jervis sends her a bouquet of flowers. Deeply affected by this gesture, Jerusha is penitent ("I’m a Beast").

Enthralled by her letters but cautious about revealing his true identity, Jervis decides to pay a visit on Jerusha, his pretext being a visit to his niece, Julia, who is also Jerusha’s least favourite friend ("When Shall We Meet?"). Jerusha is fascinated by the eccentric young Jervis but becomes more and more curious about the true identity of the man whom she thinks of as her old, grandfatherly Daddy Long Legs ("The Color of Your Eyes").

Summer vacation arrives, and Jerusha has nowhere to go. She begs Mr. Smith to save her from having to return to the orphanage as Mrs. Lippett’s drudge. Through an imaginary "secretary" to "Mr. Smith," Jervis sends her instead to Lockwillow, a beautiful hillside farm, where Jerusha starts to explore her talent as a writer and feels that she has discovered "The Secret of Happiness." She also stumbles upon a connection between Jervis Pendelton and Lockwillow Farm but fails to make the connection with her Daddy Long Legs.

Act Two

Back in college for her sophomore year, Jerusha continues with her studies and her novel-writing and becomes increasingly involved socially with the family of her close friend, Sallie McBride. Stung by her apparent attachment to Sallie’s attractive brother, Jimmy, Jervis starts to realize that he is falling for Jerusha himself. He invites Jerusha, Julia and Sallie to New York for a long cultural weekend ("My Manhattan").

Summer vacation comes round again, and Jerusha asks to be allowed to stay with the McBrides at their country home. In an irrational fit of jealousy, Jervis uses his secretarial alias to instruct her to return for another summer at Lockwillow.

Feeling trapped, lonely and bored, Jerusha finds it hard to forgive Mr. Smith for his silence and lack of heart ("I Couldn't Know Someone Less").

Jervis continues to agonize about his deception of Jerusha but can now see no way out of his web of lies, thinking that, if he confesses his true identity, Jerusha will now never forgive him ("The Man I’ll Never Be")Instead, he visits Jerusha in Lockwillow, the farm in which he grew up as a boy, where they tramp through the countryside together and are both surprised to find themselves growing more and more attached to one another ("The Secret of Happiness – Reprise").

After four years of study and several failed attempts at a first novel, Jerusha completes her studies.  She begs Daddy Long Legs to attend her graduation ceremony so that she can finally meet the man who has changed her life. Jervis does attend the ceremony, ostensibly in support of his niece, Julia, but cannot declare himself to Jerusha as her Daddy Long Legs. They both find themselves fighting back the tears on "Graduation Day."

Back in his study, a deeply disturbed and lonely Jervis ponders the meaning and effect of "Charity" on both the giver and receiver and how his life has been turned upside down by the young woman whom he has supported. At the same time, in Lockwillow, Jerusha swears that she will never think of her Daddy Long Legs again ("I Have Torn You from My Heart").

A few months later, Jerusha writes to Mr. Smith to tell him that she has finally had her novel accepted by a publisher. She encloses a cheque for $1000 as a first repayment of her college fees. Overwhlemed by this gesture and feeling a new equality between them, Jervis visits Jerusha in Lockwillow and asks her to marry him. Unable to tell Jervis of her humble origins, Jerusha feels that she has to turn him down because of the huge difference in their social origins.  She writes to Daddy Long Legs one last time, declaring her love for Jervis and appealing for a personal meeting with the man whom she believes is her only true friend.  Jervis writes back as Daddy Long Legs, agreeing to meet her. 

Shocked and aggrieved but ultimately delighted to discover that Jervis and Daddy Long Legs are one and the same, Jerusha finally understands what has been happening "All This Time."

Casting
← Back to Daddy Long Legs
Cast Size: Small (Up to 10 performers)
Cast Type: Star Vehicle Female
Dance Requirements: None

Character Breakdown

Jerusha

Aged 18 years, the oldest orphan in the John Grier Home. Witty and intelligent, received funding for college from an anonymous benefactor whom she dubs Daddy Long Legs. 

Gender: female
Age: 18 to 25
Vocal range top: Bb5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Jervis

Jerusha's anonymous benefactor. A shy, highly educated East Coast aristocrat.

Gender: male
Age: 30 to 40
Vocal range top: G#4
Vocal range bottom: G3
Full Song List
Daddy Long Legs : Oldest Orphan
Daddy Long Legs : Who Is This Man?
Daddy Long Legs : Mr. Girl Hater
Daddy Long Legs : She Thinks I'm Old
Daddy Long Legs : Like Other Girls
Daddy Long Legs : Things I Didn't Know
Daddy Long Legs : What Does She Mean By Love?
Daddy Long Legs : I'm a Beast
Daddy Long Legs : When Shall We Meet?
Daddy Long Legs : The Color of Your Eyes
Daddy Long Legs : The Secret of Happiness
Daddy Long Legs : My Manhattan
Daddy Long Legs : I Couldn't Know Someone Less
Daddy Long Legs : The Man I'll Never Be
Daddy Long Legs : The Secret of Happiness (Reprise)
Daddy Long Legs : Graduation Day
Daddy Long Legs : Charity
Daddy Long Legs : I Have Torn You From My Heart
Daddy Long Legs : I'm A Beast (Reprise)
Daddy Long Legs : All This Time

Show History

Inspiration

WIth music and lyrics by Paul Gordon and a book by John Caird, Daddy Long Legs is a small two person musical based on the novel of the same name by Jean Webster. Set in the turn-of-the-century New England, an orphan, Jeusha, is awarderd the opportunity to attend college based on the generous donations of an anonymous benefactor. It was developed at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, CA and premeired in 2009. 

Productions

The show premeired at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, CA in 2009 starring Megan McGinnis as Jerusha. 3 years later, in October 2012, the show opened in London's West End at the St. James Theatre. 

In Septermber 2015, the show opened Off-Broadway at the Davenport Theatre after a successful industry reading presented by producer Ken Davenport. It ran until June 6, 2016. 

Internationally, the show has been performed in Japan, South Korea and Canada. 

 

Critical Reaction

"A great treat!... Mr. Gordon’s music and lyrics have a charm and ease... Mr. Caird’s book is appealing and his direction... nimble."
– The New York Times

"An enchanting new musical with an exquisite score. Daddy Long Legs is an absolute charmer that's perfect for date night and suitable for the whole family."
– BroadwayWorld.com

"A heartwarming musical with soothing melodies and a quick with."
– TheaterMania

Drama Desk Award

2016 - Outstanding Musical, Nominee (Daddy Long Legs)
2016 - Outstanding Book of a Musical, Winner (John Caird)

Outer Critics Circle Award

2016 - Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical, Nominee (Daddy Long Legs)
2016 - Outstanding Book of a Musical, Nominee (John Caird)
2016 - Outstanding New Score, Nominee (Paul Gordon)

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.
DADDY LONG LEGS
(100%)
 
Music and Lyrics by PAUL GORDON
(50%)
 
Book by JOHN CAIRD
(50%)
 
Based on the novel by Jean Webster
(25%)
 
The credits for the Authors shall appear whenever and wherever the title of the Play appears on a separate line immediately following the title of the Play and in a size not less than 50% of the size of the largest letter of the title of the Play. No one but producers, prior presenters of the Play and stars of the Play may receive billing above the title, and no one except stars receiving billing above the title may receive larger or more prominent billing than that afforded Authors. 
The following credit shall appear on the title page for all programs of the Play utilizing the original orchestrations of the Play, in first position of the credits for the music staff:
Orchestrations by Paul Gordon and Brad Haak
 
The following credits shall appear on the bottom of the title page of all programs for the Play:
Originally presented Off-Broadway by
Ken Davenport   Michael Jackowitz
Hunter Arnold   Peg McFeeley Golden  Tres Rosas
Ben Bailey   David Bryant   Caiola Productions   Carl Daikeler
Jeffrey Grove   Marguerite Hoffman
 
Originally produced by a consortium that includes the Rubicon Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and  TheatreWorks Palo Alto, the Gem Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre and David Elzer.
 
SHORTENED BILLING: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary above, in advertisements of less than 1/4 page size or where only the title of the play, performance dates and venue are provided, the following "shortened billing" is permissable:
DADDY LONG LEGS

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.

If you purchase a video license to allow non-commercial video recording of this production, then you MUST include the following warning in all programs and in a pre-show announcement:
ANY VIDEO RECORDING MADE OF THIS PERFORMANCE IS AUTHORIZED FOR PERSONAL, AT-HOME, NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY. THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF SUCH RECORDING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED UNDER FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAW.

Included Materials

ItemQuantity Included
LIBRETTO/VOCAL BOOK5
PIANO CONDUCTOR'S SCORE2

Production Resources

Resource
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON-10/CS
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON?
PRODUCTIONPRO-DIGITAL SCRIPT/SCORE
REFERENCE RECORDING
STAGE WRITE APPLICATION
VIDEO LICENSE

STANDARD ORCHESTRATION

InstrumentationDoubling
CELLO
GUITAR