An Invitation to Join Us

This is a story about love. Robert Littlefield fell in love with the Charles Dickens novel, A Tale of Two Cities, and became obsessed with bringing the work to the musical stage. For over a year, Robert discussed the idea with colleagues and friends from the music world. The response was always negative, and there were often good reasons. Then Robert mentioned his obsession to long time friend and jazz hobbyist, Bert Gassmann. Serendipitously, Bert also loved Dickens, had majored in this very novel, was passionately involved in musical theater, and couldn’t wait to begin the project. Thus began three joyous years of music and script collaboration.

The novel itself portrays a love of the highest order – what the ancient Greeks called agape. Yes, it is a work about “the best of times,” when technology and science released mankind from much disease and toil; and the rights of man were articulated in England, and then in America, and then again in Europe. It was also “the worst of times,” of course, with religion run amuck, with coal polluted skies, with the frightening energy of mob rule. And there was more technology, that of killing in the name of “La Guillotine.”

Dickens presents us with London and Paris in the convulsions that closed the Eighteenth Century. But today’s jihadists, religious zealots, hard faced ideologues, and political correctors could easily provide us with interchangeable actors.

Littlefield and Gassmann give us a great novel with music that finally stands up to that greatness. There is nothing in the world like the power and majesty of music to tell an epic story and inspire an audience. This musical must reach that audience!

What Can You Do?

You are invited to join us in a productive business discussion. Although Littlefield and Gassmann have brought boundless enthusiasm and devotion to this project, they lack the necessary resources to move the work forward. Legal fees, orchestrations, theatrical business plans, and trial production costs are all well beyond the means of the writing team. If, after examining the script and sampling the music, you find yourself impassioned to present “A Tale of Two Cities” to theatergoers; and, if you possess the resources needed to bring our seed to flowering, we invite you to join us.

Music Samples

Track 1, London: WE ARE THE PEOPLE: The citizens of Paris are expressing their deepest hatred and ire.

Track 2, London: IT WAS A TIME: The citizens reflect on an era filled with both potential and difficulties.

Track 3, Paris: DO I KNOW YOU & WEEP FOR IT: Released after eighteen years of unjust imprisonment in the Bastille, Dr. MANETTE is reacquainted with his daughter and his humanity.

Track 4, London: BLESS ME, FATHER: Leaving a tavern inebriated, Sydney Carton stumbles into a passing priest and the Soho street population.

Track 5, Paris: MARQUIS DE CHOCOLATAY: At his fortnightly reception in Paris, Monseigneur is served his hot chocolate.

Track 6, Paris: SAY YOU’RE SORRY: The Marquis De St. Evremonde has run over and killed a child. Madame Defarge sings as the carriage moves on.

Track 7, London: HONEST TRADESMAN & SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: Jerry Cruncher is a messenger for Telson’s Bank in London during the day, but at night he is, “The Resurrection Man.”

Track 8, Paris: PATIENCE (THE BLADE): The knitters in Saint Antoine, Paris are waiting for the revolution to begin.

Track 9, London: KEEP IT IN OUR HEARTS: Lucie implores her husband Charles to see the good in Sydney Carton

Track 10, Paris: IT'S IN OUR HANDS: To end Act 1, the downtrodden citizens of St. Antione have a moment of inspiration as the Revolution begins.

Track 11, Paris: LITTLE LU: Gazing up at her husband Charles’s cell in La Force prison, Lucie sings encouragement to her daughter.

Track 12, Paris: LA GUILLOTINE: Charles Darnay is visited in prison by apparitions and sees his imminent death.

Track 13, Paris: WHEN I LEFT YOU BEHIND: Before fleeing Paris for London, Lucy Manette reflects on the man who has given his life to save her family.

Track 14, Paris: I HAVE NEVER LOVED YOU MORE: Sidney Carton awaits the guillotine with a heart full of love.