Robin Hood
and the Free People of the Forest
Jump to: Streamable Soundtrack • Bonus Tracks
This 23-track musical drama recording brings to life the legend of Robin Hood. A new character, the young firebrand Diana, transforms the Merry Men from a band of disorganized outlaws into passionate freedom fighters, adding many new wrinkles to the original story.
Diana persuades Robin to leave the relative freedom of Sherwood Forest and join her larger revolution. The spreading rebellion brings triumph as well as tragedy. The story includes romance, action and historical perspective. But mostly it presents emotionally powerful music.
Marion and Robin's love story remains, as does the swashbuckling fun of the Merry Men. The cruel yet comical interactions with the Sheriff of Nottingham and his evil uncle Lord Gisbourne, and a breif appearance by King Richard lend historical context. In addition, after the men return from the ill-fated Crusades, Diana encourages the converted Norman landowner Will Scarlet to draft what would later become the Magna Carta. Their are many layers of inspiration and entertainment. This is a wise cautionary tale that remains relevant and popular to this day.
Robin Hood and the Free People of the Forest was one of CenterStage Productions' most successful musicals, touring the US and Canada in 1991-1992, then again in 1994-1997 with an expanded script. It also had an extended run Off Broadway in 1994-1995, with additional music added and a new script (under the title Freedom's First Light). This recording highlights music from each version, with minimal narration, remastered from stage recordings and composer demos by Factory Underground Studios. It includes new music from the Off-Broadway version.
Appropriate for all ages. The original CenterStage Troupe performed the show with students ages 5 to 18. Recommended cast size is 34 to 60. The Off Broadway version's cast was 16, with one major casting different: Friar Tuck was played by a woman and renamed Sister Tuck. See CenterStage-Musicals for more information. Contact: Tobin Mueller.
The CenterStage Players on this recording include:
Narrator: Kathryn Purdy
Diana: Kate Brehm/Emily Rohm
Robin Hood: Chris Vanderlinden/Tobin Mueller
Marion: Angela Verrier/Jessica Flood/Emily Rohm
Friar Tuck: Philip Vanderhyden III
Diana's Mother: Jessica Flood
The Sheriff: Jason Gubbles
Lord Gisbourne: David Cohen
Much, the Miller's Son: Will Mueller
Will Scarlet: Tobin Mueller
Additional Merry Men: Eric Westphal, Brett Logan, Dan Jessup, Michael Triolo, Nick Glisczinski, Justin Leath, Anton Mueller
Additonal Women's Chorus: Holly Thomas, Dawn Thomas, Amanda Nelson, Sarah Gribble, Brie McKee, Laney McKee, Lindsey Teetaert, Trish Armstrong, Alissa Misun, Jessie Thompson
Original version recorded at Bonzai Recording Studio, Jeff Maroscek engineer.
Feel free to download the two versions of the script currently available:
• Original Robin Hood script from 1992
• expanded touring script of Robin Hood from 1995 (includes additional songs, etc.)
Click the Play buttons below to listen (website may take a moment to start streaming). Click on the Download link to listen at your leisure.
Jump to: Bonus Tracks and Composer's Demos
"Too many years they steal us blind. Too many years we bow before them. Too many years we live despised..."
"Too many years they steal us blind. Too many years we bow before them. Too many years we live despised..."
"Can you hear it now? It is all around you... There is freedom in the air. Shot out from a bow, guarded hope has taken wing, flaming from a hero fair..."
"We're free men, all! Beyond the law! We head the call of Robin Hood...
Before us all the mighty fall. The weak stand tall with Robin Hood..."
"We can change the world, change it now. Throw away the chains, free us all. Build a better land, dressed in joy, dressed in forest green..."
How I love to hear, "Hail to the Sheriff," in the wood. Soon each man will cheer, "Hail to the Sheriff," in the wood...
"Sometimes in this world, there are troubles you cannot master. When you loose control, lay your burdens down at my feet..."
"Who? Why? Can you guess what is here, deep inside? Who am I? Who defines? Who decides? Who am I, but a common thief in disguise, when here, at this moment, here, all my lifeʼs concealed. Playing the hero, praying the world would heal. Seal all its wounds. Feel the force of the words written here on the altar, on my heart, here, in your eyes..."
"I was once a ʻrespectableʼ man. Owning gold, owning souls, owning land. An existence so parceled and planned. I hadnʼt a clue of what freedom meant. The power that I held bought its own consent. The wealth that I owned, it really owned me. Demanded my soul... I had to break free. So I cast off all petty pretense. Turned my back on my inheritance. To be true, Iʼve not stopped running since..."
Narration of the aftermath of the escape attempt
"One more life gone. One more wrong. One more lesson learned, too hard won..."
"Let’s wage peace, in the Great Dream. Hate must cease, in the Great Dream. Each must be, in the Great Dream, equal and free, in the Great Dream..."
Narration summarizing the connecting scene.
"We can change our lives. Youʼve shown us how. We have seen a way to live life now. Look what we have gained. Made a place where new life can reign..."
"See her great light, parting the night. My only queen: Sweet Liberty..."
"Stretch up to heaven. Stretch up. Stretch up. Closer to the sky, hold your chin up high... Keep tryinʼ...)" This is a composer's demo of the scene in which Little John and Merry Men free Robin Hood from being hung by the Sheriff. The Merry Men pretend to be traveling players and put on a show. They stir up the crowd to create a distraction and in the resulting chaos free Robin. However, Much the Miller's son is killed in the process.
A duet between Lord Gisbourne and his nephew The Sheriff of Nottingham:
Gisbourne: Some men will flinch when challenged.
In a pinch, they turn tail, missing chances.
No advancement goes to the sloppy sop weighed down by conscience.
Sheriff: Some men will stray when fortune comes their way.
But not dear Uncle (specially if the fortune belongs to others)
An alternative version including lead in music over which talking takes place in the later script.
All music and lyrics by Tobin Mueller, ©1991/1994/1995/2019.
