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Synopsis
RIP – A Musical Comedy of Life & Death speaks to regret and redemption. At the McCobb Mortuary, The Living tend to their tasks while The Dead await their fate. There is love and there is laughter, suspense, and romance. But in the end, RIP reminds us that whatever comes next matters less than what we leave behind.
The show features a script and over a dozen new songs by Milwaukee composer Robert Grede. It was included in a workshop reading at Sunstone Studios MKE in April 2022 and received its World Premiere at Next Act Theatre's performance space in July 2024.
If you would like to perform RIP - A Musical Comedy of Life & Death at your theater, please email: licensing@RIP-TheMusical.com
The Characters
THE LIVING...
George McCobb
Running the family business - the esteemed McCobb Mortuary - is running the life out of Mr. McCobb. Can he find someone to carry on when he's gone?
Margaret McCobb
Mrs. McCobb longs for travel and excitement, but hasn't found the excitement she dreamed of as the wife of a mortician. Can she insure a new lease on life?
Vic Fenestra
Vic, lackey to Mr. McCobb at the mortuary, deeply cares about his work - even if the boss thinks he's 'useless.' Is there more to life than this 'dead end' job?
Julia Huckabee
Julia's father is dead and her mother is in hospice when she loses her sister in a car crash. Is there hope in tragedy? Will she never again have a family of her own?
Gina DeVon
Gina works in hospice, but wants a new start. Will she find it in the morgue? Or does that just take her career from dying to dead?
THE DEAD...
Emily Huckabee
A car accident left Emily, a single mom, in the morgue, making orphans of her two children. Will they have to lose everything simply because they lost her?
Doris Kitrik
Doris lived a good, long life... she thinks... dementia has left her with no memories. Now she waits in the morgue for... something... she can’t remember what. Can she... something...?
Robert "RJ" Jerome
Upon retirement, RJ thought he’d mend his evil ways. But a heart attack on the 18th hole cut short his plans. Was there more to his life than just senseless debauchery?
Chrissie Vastat
Chrissy partied 'til she dropped - literally - and found herself with the ultimate downer. Until her parents found a way for her to live forever.
John Doe
John Doe showed up at the morgue without any ID. The police said he was shot while robbing the convenience store. Can he learn who he is before it’s too late?
For more information about the performers who brought these characters to life (or death) in the world premiere, visit the Artists page.
The Songs
ACT ONE
Midnight at the Morgue (The Dead)
See an interview with the Composer below to learn more!Better Kind of Guy (Vic)
Useless (McCobb)
Dead End Job (Vic)
I Have a Sister (Emily, Doris, Chrissie)
I Digress (RJ)
You Can't Take It With You (The Dead)
ACT TWO
Doing the Zombie Dance (Chrissie & The Dead)
See an interview with the Choreographer below!Eton Ridge / Am I Somebody? (RJ's Daughters & John Doe)
One More Day (Julia & Emily)
Check out a sneek peak preview from rehearsal below!All Coming Back (Doris)
See an interview with the Composer below to learn more!Useless (Reprise) (Margaret)
One Wish (McCobb)
Dead End Job (Reprise) (Vic & Julia)
I Am Somebody (John Doe & Company)
About the Author
ROBERT GREDE | Playwright, Composer, and Lyricist
Although better known as a marketing consultant and best-selling author, Milwaukee native Robert Grede has been a musician and composer for most of his life. A Music major with an MBA, Grede combined his ear for music with his business acumen to create award-winning jingles for ad agencies before building his professional career as an advertising and marketing executive, educator, and author.
Grede’s best-selling book, Naked Marketing - The Bare Essentials [Prentice Hall] is now in its 3rd edition. His Civil War novel, The Spur & the Sash, was hailed by ForeWord Magazine as, “soaring with glorious, descriptive prose…”
As an active Rotarian, Grede used his global connections to raise funds and deliver critical medical supplies for Ukraine's military and refugees. Upon retiring, Grede pondered the question: “What next?” This led to his writing the script and music for RIP – A Musical Comedy of Life & Death.
Check out more by the author...
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