Songs From an Unmade Bed

Songs from an Unmade Bed is a theatrical song cycle for one performer and three musicians that explores the romantic life of a gay man living in the city. One lyricist and eighteen composers (one per song) combined to create a unique theatrical event that is funny, poignant and ultimately hopeful about love.

Composers:

Debra Barsha – Mark Bennett – Peter Foley – Jenny Giering – Peter Golub – Jake Heggie – Lance Horne – Stephen Hoffman – Gihieh Lee – Steven Lutvak – Steve Marzullo – Brendan Milburn – Chris Miller – Greg Pliska – Duncan Sheik – Kim D. Sherman – Jeffrey Stock – Joseph Thalken

Premiere

New York Theatre Workshop, 2005

Subsequent productions

1. Nautilus Theatre, Minneapolis, MN 2006
2. New Works Collective and Know Theatres, Cincinnati, OH, 2007
3. Celebration Theatre, Los Angeles, 2009
4. Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Orlando, FL, 2009
5. Ringwald Theater, Ferndale, MI, 2009
6. Theatre Three, Inc., Dallas, TX, 2010
7. Provincetown Counter Productions. Provincetown, MA, 2010
8. Judith Wright Centre for Performing Arts, Sunnybank Hills, Queensland, 2011
9. Empire Theatre, Toowomba, Queensland, Australia, 2011
10. Columbia College, Chicago, IL, 2011
11. Gaslight Theater,  St. Louis, 2011
12. Teatro del Hotel NH, Mexico City, 2012
13. The Little Musical Theatre Company, Washington, D.C. 2013
14. Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Adelaide, South Australia, 2013
15. Pride Films and Plays, Chicago, IL 2014
16. New Helvetia Theatre, Sacramento, CA 2014
17. Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA 2015
18. Subculture, New York City 2015
19. Gatherwool Theater, White River Junction, VT, 2016
20. The Orlando Fringe Festival, Orlando FL, 2016
21. Compulsion Dance & Theatre, San Diego, CA, 2017
22. Macabre Theatre Ensemble, Ithaca, NY 2018
23. Bourbon Baroque, Inc. Louisville, KY 2018
24. Onyric Teatro Condal, Madrid 2019
25. Broadway Cares (BD Wong), livestream 2020
26. BW Productions, livestream 2022
27. 54 Below, New York City, Sept. 2023

Quotes

Funny, light, sardonic, [Songs] depicts a familiar kind of New York gay life that’s seldom celebrated in this manner. There’s no big political agenda here, no coming-out statement or demand for equal time: just amusing observation with an understated acuity that gives this entertaining evening a little extra punch.
—The New York Times

Songs From an Unmade Bed might be one of the best hours not spent in bed. Mark Campbell’s lean style, sly point of view and overall sensibility are entirely his own.
—Variety

Comical and moving…An amusing and entirely unsentimental tableau of single life in the city…Campbell’s lyrics are witty, imaginative and at times seemingly very personal.
—Associated Press

Songs From an Unmade Bed is really meant to be experienced. Though not sweeping and epic as some musicals or rugged and stuffy as some recitals, it is touching and delicate and that is something you don’t see everyday.
—EDGE, Los Angeles

You can purchase the piano/vocal score here.

You can purchase the CD here.

Licensing

To inquire about the rights to perform Songs from an Unmade Bed, please fill out a quote request here.