ABOUT THE SHOW

Moby Dick: A Sea Shanty is an original theatrical adaptation that interweaves authentic sea shanties and maritime folk music into the Melville's classic novel. The musical reimagines Moby Dick as a memory play told by the lone survivor, Ishmael.

What emerges is not a literary retelling, but a fully realized theatrical event. A nine-actor ensemble, a visible onstage band, and a score built from authentic sea shanties and maritime folk music drive the story forward with relentless momentum.

The result is a muscular and presentational story that invites the audience aboard the Pequod in real time, transforming the piece into an immersive voyage shaped by rhythm, voice, and live performance.

FOR PRODUCERS

At A Glance

Cast: Flexible, 9-12 actors
Musicians: Flexible, originally conceived for a 4-piece onstage band
Runtime: approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes (including one 15-minute intermission)
Staging: actor-driven with minimal fixed scenery required

Why It Programs 

• Recognizable Title, Fresh Execution
A familiar story delivered through a bold, music-driven theatrical form.

• Scalable, Flexible Staging
Designed to work in black box, thrust, or proscenium spaces with minimal build requirements.

• Small Cast, Expansive World
An ensemble ranging from 9-12 actors create the full scope of the Pequod through innovative storytelling rather than fixed scenic demands, using rope, ladders, light, and movement to define space.

• Music That Drives the Action
In addition to original incidental music and arrangements, the songs are drawn entirely from public domain sea shanties and maritime folk music. The music functions as both atmosphere and narrative engine. 

• Distinctive Programming
Occupies a unique space between play and musical, giving theaters a clear point of differentiation within a season.

MATERIALS AVAILABLE

Script and score (licensed)
Select orchestrations and musical arrangements
Marketing assets and production photography
Consultation with creators (as available)

THE EXPERIENCE

Set in a Nantucket bar that blurs past and present, the story unfolds as memory, confession, and myth. The band plays as the audience arrives and underscores the action throughout.

The line between performer and audience dissolves as the voyage accelerates toward its inevitable end.

It is intimate and expansive at the same time.