Overview
WE WILL ROCK YOU is a high-octane, adrenaline-fueled musical featuring more than 20 iconic Queen hits, including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are the Champions,” “Somebody to Love,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” and of course, “We Will Rock You.” Set in a post-apocalyptic future where individuality has been outlawed and music is controlled by algorithms, the story follows two young revolutionaries who dare to defy the system to save rock ‘n’ roll.
This fist-pumping, foot-stomping anthem to freedom and self-expression is a musical for our time—unapologetically bold and filled with the timeless power of Queen’s legendary music. With over 7 million fans rocked in its original 12-year West End run, WE WILL ROCK YOU made history as the longest-running show at London’s Dominion Theatre. A global phenomenon, WWRY has been performed in 28 countries and seen by more than 16 million people worldwide, this explosive, rockin’ spectacle is a celebration of the power of music and individuality that will leave audiences cheering for more.
WE WILL ROCK YOU School Edition has been adapted from the original West End production. The School Edition has been carefully edited, with additional director’s notes throughout, to make the show more producible for secondary school and college groups/performers. Song keys have been adjusted to sit more comfortably in the range of secondary school and college performers. In some cases, problematic language has been changed, while in others an alternate choice is offered at the discretion of the director.
Casting & Production
Casting
3 female, 3 male and 1 gender flexible featured roles
Large ensemble with featured solos and lines
GALILEO (Male) A misfit who keeps hearing strange voices and songs in his head which deliver messages he can’t understand. Galileo won’t dress like a Ga Ga kid and has been caught trying to make music. He is confused and unaware that he is the one the Bohemians have been waiting for, who will lead them to the place where the last remaining live instruments have lain hidden for hundreds of years.
SCARAMOUCHE (Female) Another misfit who also gets into trouble with the Secret Police, Scaramouche meets Galileo in hospital and they run away together. Her sharp wit keeps Galileo on his toes and gradually they fall for each other.
KILLER QUEEN (Female) Killer Queen is a ruthless businesswoman and is in charge of Global Soft, the worldwide corporation which is responsible for the suppression of all live music. She’s power crazy and tough, as well as beautiful.
KHASHOGGI (Male) He works for Killer Queen, getting rid of any original or creative musical thoughts and going after the Bohemians. His victims are sent to the Seven Seas of Rhye.
SECRET POLICE (Male and/or Female) These semi-automated characters carry out the bidding of the Killer Queen and Khashoggi.
GA GA KIDS/TEEN QUEENS (Male and Female) Living in a world of consumerism and downloadable music, the Ga Ga kids don’t notice their own soulless-ness.
BUDDY (Male) Buddy is an old librarian and a hippy who has studied the sacred musical texts to the extent that even the Seven Seas of Rhye cannot entirely erase them from his mind. He’s a comic character who acts as a foil to Galileo and Scaramouche towards the end of the play.
THE BOHEMIANS (Male and Female) A group of rebels, determined to fight against Global Soft and its downloadable music. Their base is Tottenham Court Road Tube station, and they have taken the names of musical heroes from the past, such as Paul McCartney, Cliff Richard, and Britney.
BRIT (Male) and OZ (Female) Two of the Bohemians who are intent on discovering the secrets of live music, and who believe that someone will come who will show the Bohemians the way. When they find Scaramouche and Galileo they are unsure at first, but are eventually persuaded that Galileo really does have strange musical lyrics in his head over which he has no control. When the Secret Police attack the Bohemian hide out, Brit is killed and Oz is captured along with the other Bohemians.
SUPER YUPPIES (Male and Female)
TEACHER (Female)
DOCTORS (Male and Female)
Orchestral Information
8 Musicians
Piano-Conductor
Keyboard 2
Keyboard 3
Bass
Guitar 1
Guitar 2
Drums
Percussion
Media
Authors
Upcoming Productions
Alpine Theatre Project
Whitefish, MT
Westminster High School
Westminster, MD
CAPA College
Pontefract, Yorkshire, UK
Resources
