Gun and Powder at Paper Mill

APR 4–MAY 5, 2024 Gun & Powder is a new musical inspired by the true story of Mary and Martha Clarke, African-American twin sisters who take extraordinary measures to settle their mother’s sharecropper debt and save her home. In 1893 Texas, the Sisters Clarke—passing as white—embark on a remarkable Wild West adventure that examines race, family, and identity with two electrifying women who transformed from farm girls to outlaws to legends. Featuring book and lyrics by Angelica Chéri (a real-life descendant of Mary and Martha Clarke), music by Ross Baum, and direction by Obie winner Stevie Walker-Webb (Ain’t No Mo’).

Saw this show at its world premiere at Signature Theater in Arlington, VA in 2020, just before covid. Greatly enjoyed it, as did the audience. Highly recommended. (Can't believe it's been over 4 years!) I do seem to recall that the Wash Post critic felt the second act needed work, so perhaps the Paper Mill production will reflect some changes.

Updated On: 4/4/24 at 10:17 AM

Has anyone seen it yet? I'm hearing good things

This is from the same producing team that did How To Dance In Ohio which does not give me hope that this will be worth going to Jersey for

I fortunately live in NJ and see a lot of show at Paper Mill. I thought this show was a great surprise. The book needs some slight trimming but this was amazing. I really think this is a a strong musical and very well written (for the most part) and well researched (I do not think this is big enough for Broadway unless it is a 8 month limited run and in a small house). I loved the songs too and I think it fit the time period very well. One of the ushers at PMP thinks they may get a cast recording for this production. For those who do not know, this was a thesis project at NYU.



I know a lot of us do not like out of nowhere gunshots in shows. There were quite a few in this production (Signature VA production only had one according to their website). Look down below for the PMP production when the gunshots occur. One thing about this production is that it was a sound effect, not coming from the gun itself. The gunshot sound was from a sound board.



Act 1

Gun & Powder: During the song. She points the gun up.

Trigger/Act One Finale: At the end of the song/act. The gun is pointed to a character.



Act 2

Mary’s Nightmare: There are 5 gunshots in this song/sequence. The character is shooting the gun on the right side of the stage. The character is on upstairs floor of the scaffolding set.

Chase Scene: There is a chase scene/song right rafter Mary’s Nightmare (song/scene sequence). I was told by the sound designer there was a gunshot sound but I didn’t notice it/hear it.

The voices are absolutely the strongest element. IMO

The music and singing are breathtaking.Great emotional core.

Updated On: 4/14/24 at 01:33 PM

i think i confused this in my head with the Lonely Few-- wasnt Ciara Renee leading that production in LA llke a few months ago? Now its coming to NY without her?

Juan Ramirez from Theatrely loved it. https://www.theatrely.com/post/gun-powder-shoots-straight-review

"Chéri has a gift for theatricality, beautifully realized by Walker-Webb’s staging. What they create — along with the insanely talented assemble — is an often breathtaking musical as big as its ambitions, and as fun-loving as its gun-toting heroines."

Updated On: 4/17/24 at 10:51 AM

ACL2006 said: "Sounds like Papermill might have another Broadway transfer here."

It would die a quick death - take it Off-Broadway instead.

They should do the Hadestown route and do one more out of town tryout to drum up excitement.

Saw it tonight, really enjoyed it. Ciara Renee was out, it seems like she’s missed a lot of shows, but her understudy Jisel Soleil Ayon was fab. It’s a haunting and epic and wild and dramatic and beautiful musical with lots of crazy stuff going on. The ending needs rewrites, Mary leaving her husband at the end should have been done in a dramatic song, and the mother just pops out of nowhere at the end. I don’t really care about the men, and I wanted more colors from Martha. Mary is definitely the more interesting character. I also really really like the score. Good for paper mill for producing two great new musicals this season.

I hope it does go to Broadway, but it will surely flop. The theatre was maybe half full? After Midnight at Paper Mill canceled the last week of performance due to illness, people exchanged their tickets for Beautiful, they had no interest in seeing Gun and Powder, which is a shame.