Thanks to everyone involved in our table-read of VIVA MAX! based on the novel by Jim Lehrer

A table-reading of VIVA MAX!, a new musical based on the novel by Jim Lehrer, was presented for an invited audience on November 21, 2013.  The musical has a book by Julie Miller & Fred Landau, and music & lyrics by Skip Kennon.  

The cast was:

Kurt Bardele –  Governor of Texas, Sheriff

Michael Cone –  Private Ungaro, Farmer

Milla Ilieva –  Carmela, Lady Bird Johnson

Joseph Kolinski -  General Maximilian de Santos

William Parry –  Police Chief Sylvester, Lyndon Johnson

Ric Ryder –  Corporal Crecencio

Maureen Silliman –  Hattie [also Lynda Bird Johnson]

Jake Smith –  John Wayne, Highway Patrolman

Janie Smulyan –  Luci Johnson, Ida Fellows

Christianne Tisdale -  Paula

For the table-read, the performers also play Mexican soldiers, members of the Future Farmers of America, townspeople, Texas Rangers and reporters

Thanks to Evan Pappas for all his help!

Skip posted on his Facebook page:  

"We did a first table-reading of our musical version of Jim Lehrer's novel VIVA MAX today. We invited about 20 close theatre-writer friends and Mr. Lehrer, his wife and one of his daughters attended. Mr. Lehrer gave us a standing O at the end. Man, that felt good. Mrs. Lehrer gave me huge praise for the music and lyrics. I have to thank a wonderful cast for nailing it today. Joe Kolinski, Christianne Tisdale, Milla Ilieva, Ric Ryder, Maureen Silliman, Bill Parry, Jane Smulyan, Michael Cone, Kurt Bardele and Jacob Leonard Smith.
Evan Pappas did wonderful work with our cast on Tuesday helping them with music-stand-eography and boosting the oomph of their characterizations."


Musical numbers at the table-reading were:

ACT 1

Scene 1 – Town of Nuevo Laredo, a restaurant, and Max’s office

Nuevo Laredo Awaits You (Max, Corporal Crecencio, Soldiers)

I Don’t Think So   (Carmela)

Scene 2 – Laredo, Texas at Washington Birthday parade and the road to San Antonio

The Marching Song  (Soldiers, Future Farmers of America, other parade marchers)

To Leave a Mark  (Max)

Scene 3 – Around the Alamo and the gift shop

Remember the Alamo  (Paula, Hattie and visitors to the Alamo)

‘Twas Ever Thus  (Paula, Max)

Scene 4 – Chief Sylvester’s office & the Governor’s office

You Gotta Give a Guy a Gun (Sylvester and everyone in his office)

Scene 5 – The Alamo, inside and outside

What a Woman Wants  (Crecencio)

The Battle

ACT 2

Scene 1 – Max’s dream (The White House bedroom) and in the gift shop

What Do You Do When It’s Two in the Morning

          (Lady Bird and Luci & Lynda, LBJ, John Wayne, Reporters, Hattie)

Honestly    (Max)

Scene 2 – Inside and outside the Alamo

These Are the Gifts  (Max and reporters, with Paula and Hattie)

Scene 3 – Alamo courtyard and adjoining areas

What a Woman Wants – reprise – (Hattie, Private Ungaro)

I Was Wrong  (Paula, Max)

Scene 4 –  Nuevo Laredo

Finale – Nuevo Laredo Awaits You