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Matthew Kwatinetz

M Productions Donald & Yvonne Davidoff Dr. Robert F. Ryan


3

Ernest Shackleton Loves Me first opened in NYC on May 7, 2017 at the Tony Kiser Theatre, produced by Matthew Kwatinetz, where it won the award for Best New Musical 2017 by the Off Broadway Alliance.
The world premiere of Ernest Shackleton Loves Me was produced by Matthew Kwatinetz in association with ACT Theatre at the Seattle Repertory Theatre on April 18, 2014 where it won Broadway World’s
Critics Pick for Best New Musical 2014. It was subsequently presented by George Street Playhouse on April 25, 2015 (David Saint, Artistic Director; Kelly Ryman, Managing Director) and then presented by
ArtsEmerson at the Paramount in Boston in October 2015 (David Dower, Artistic Director; David Howse, Executive Director). Ernest Shackleton Loves Me- was originally co-commissioned by TheatreWorks
(Silicon Valley) and La Jolla Playhouse and was first developed at the TheatreWorks New Works Festival in August 2009.
1. STOP/REWIND/PLAY/RECORD
2. PHOENIX, ARIZONA
3. O KATERINA
4. WE’RE ON OUR WAY
5. THE MORNING THE NEWSPAPER ADVERT APPEARED
6. AND THEN SHACKLETON SAID
7. ALRIGHT MEN
8. ADRIFT ON AN ICEFIELD
9. MONEY AND MUSICIANS
10. EVERY HAND TO THE LIFEBOATS
11. EYE OF THE STORM
12. BOAT JOURNEY
13. CLIMBING SOUTH GEORGIA ISLAND
14. TOWARD ELEPHANT ISLAND
15. BURNED AGAIN
16. FINALE: WE’RE ON OUR WAY - REPRISE

CAST
KAT VAL VIGODA
ERNEST SHACKLETON, OTHERS WADE MCCOLLUM
Kat rushes to Wikipedia to discover that Shackleton JOURNEY). Though he must leave his twenty-
SYNOPSIS is attempting to trek across Antarctica (THE two men behind, Shackleton vows to return and save
MORNING THE NEWSPAPER them all. Miraculously surviving the boat journey, Kat and
Kat is a new mother and a downtown, multi-media ADVERT APPEARED). As snow begins to Shackleton reach an island with a whaling station, only
composer. And she is broke. And her apartment is freezing. fall in Kat’s apartment, Shackleton calls again to say that to find an impenetrable mountain range stands between
And her baby daddy, Bruce, has abandoned her and their his ship, the Endurance, is frozen in the ice, but her music them and the station. Having little choice, they trek over
newborn, Zach, to hit the road with a Journey cover band. is inspiring his men to keep the faith (AND THEN the treacherous cliffs (CLIMBING SOUTH
While a weird electrical storm shakes up the night, Kat SHACKLETON SAID). The Endurance is GEORGIA ISLAND) and, through sheer
attempts to jumpstart her life by making a very honest trapped for months, and then finally destroyed, forcing optimism and force of will, reach civilization.
dating video (STOP/REWIND/PLAY/ Shackleton and his men to abandon their vessel and
RECORD). trudge across the endless ice on foot. Although the chances seem slight that any of the
twenty-two men have survived, Ernest and Kat
And soon as she sends the video into cyberspace, her Kat panics, wondering how they could possibly survive commandeer a tugboat and head back (TOWARD
phone starts ringing. Her employer calls to release her such an ordeal. Shackleton bursts out of Kat’s refrigerator ELEPHANT ISLAND). Battling thick
from her latest gig as a video game composer. Next, and vows that not only is he determined to survive this ice, they struggle and struggle until finally, they see all
Bruce, calls from his tour van to drunkenly insist that he ordeal, he’s taking Kat along with him for the journey twenty-two of Shackleton’s men, staggering to the shore.
misses her (PHOENIX, ARIZONA). But (ALRIGHT MEN). Shackleton, along with Kat, has completed the greatest
during his call, Kat realizes he’s already dating somebody rescue mission in nautical history.
else. Kat agrees to go along, but as she tries to push heavy cargo
through a blizzard, it all seems hopeless (ADRIFT Enamored of his heroics, Kat confesses to Ernest that
At wit’s end, Kat screams to the universe that she can’t ON AN ICEFIELD). Buoyed by his never- he’s all she’s ever wanted. She asks why can’t all men
do this alone, when another call assures her that she is ending optimism, Shackleton shares some seal blubber be like him, and he asks, in return, why can’t she? After
not alone. It is Ernest Shackleton, the great Irish explorer with Kat, and they realize they have much in common all, Kat has more than proven her mettle with Ernest.
who’s been dead for many decades. Kat assumes that it’s (MONEY AND MUSICIANS). Although Kat begs him to stay, Shackleton informs her
a prank call, but Ernest insists that he was so inspired by that it’s time he returns to his wife, and he disappears
her music, he has travelled through time and space to take Suddenly, the ice breaks, and open sea is ahead (EVERY back through her refrigerator. Kat tears into a song about
her on the historic journey of the Endurance. Ernest hangs HAND TO THE LIFEBOATS). Rowing her disillusioned dreams (BURNED AGAIN).
up, but promises she’ll hear from him again. Then more through unbearable elements, they finally reach a stretch Bruce enters, interrupting the song, and tells Kat that
dead explorers call Kat to express their love, including of land, but the land is a desolate and barren island. In he’s come back to her for good. He’s got a steady gig
Ponce de León (O KATERINA). Kat assumes the next room, Zach, Kat’s baby, cries, reminding her of in Vegas and he expects Kat to come with him. But Kat
she’s losing her mind when Ernest calls back, excited with her sense of hopelessness, but Shackleton urges her to refuses. She’s decided to be the hero of her own story.
the news that he is about to begin his greatest adventure remain steadfast (EYE OF THE STORM). She kicks Bruce back into the snowy night and sings to her
yet — the journey of the Endurance (WE’RE ON son Zach, assuring him that they’re going to be all right
OUR WAY). Realizing that they can’t stay on this barren island, Kat (FINALE: WE’RE ON OUR WAY
and Ernest decide to travel in a rowboat across 800 - REPRISE).
miles of storm-tossed, freezing waters(BOAT — JOE DIPIETRO
STOP/REWIND/ THEY STAND AROUND JUDGING AND STROKING THEIR VOICE ECHOES BUT SOON, SOMEONE’LL HEAR ME
BEARDS AS THEY SIP FROM A REAL JOB! REAL JOB! REAL JOB! ASIDE FROM MYSELF:
PLAY/RECORD BOX OF FREE WINE WHEN THIS GAME COMES OUT
KAT
BUT HEY I DON’T CARE ABOUT THEM, IT HURTLES GEEKY BOYS WITH MY BIG MACHO SCORE,
INSTRUCTIONAL VOICE ALL I KNOW IS THE MUSIC THE WHOLE INDUSTRY WILL BE
Welcome to the internet’s newest matchmaking site THROUGH SPACE AND MAKES
THEY’RE HEARING IS MINE... THEM FEEL LIKE SUPERMEN HUNGRY FOR MORE,
— CupidsLeftovers.com, your last stop for finding YEAH I’M THERE TO AND THOSE DECADES I TOILED
any hope of love. Now state your name and actual THEY’LL SAVE THE UNIVERSE,
STOP/REWIND/PLAY/RECORD I’LL SAVE MY SANITY IN HUMBLE OBSCURITY
age. STOP/REWIND/PLAY/RECORD WILL LEAD TO SOME KIND OF
KAT STOP/REWIND/PLAY/RECORD VOICE ECHOES FINANCIAL SECURITY
MY NAME IS KAT, I’M THIRTY-FIVE. STOP/REWIND/PLAY/RECORD SANITY! SANITY! SANITY! FOR NOW I’M A BROKE SINGLE MOM
INSTRUCTIONAL VOICE WHEN THE BABY WON’T SLEEP KAT WITH A BABY
Are you sure? AND HE CRIES ALL THE TIME AND SOON THERE’LL BE HEAT I’M DESPERATE BUT SEXY
AND IT ALL BECOMES IN MY APARTMENT ONCE AGAIN SO HEY CALL ME, MAYBE
KAT IF YOU’RE AN ADVENTURER, READY TO TREK
MY NAME IS KAT, I’M THIRTY-NINE TOO MUCH FOR ME AND I GET TO MAKE SYMPHONIES
I COME TO THIS ROOM SWEEPING AND SOARING THROUGH SOME UNCHARTED DATING FRONTIERS
INSTRUCTIONAL VOICE AND I TURN ON MY GEAR WITH A WOMAN LIKE ME,
FOR EACH LITTLE SPACE CRUISER
No, seriously. AND THEN JUST FOR A MOMENT AND YOU DON’T MIND CHANGING
REVVING AND ROARING
KAT I’M FREE THEY WANT ALL THE MUSIC TO A DIAPER NOW AND THEN,
MY NAME IS KAT, I’M FORTY-ONE YEAH, I GET TO SOUND LIKE JOHN WILLIAMS, THEN REMEMBER:
STOP/REWIND/PLAY/RECORD AND THAT WAY THIS GAME MY NAME IS KAT I’M THIRTY-FIVE
INSTRUCTIONAL VOICE
STOP/REWIND/PLAY/RECORD WILL SELL MILLI-OMS AND BILLI-OMS MY NAME IS KAT I’M THIRTY-NINE
Fine. Go on. MY NAME IS KAT I’M FORTY-ONE
AND THIS IS WHY I’M SO NOW I MAKE SOUNDTRACKS
KAT MY NAME IS KAT I’M FORTY-FIVE!
ADDICTED TO RECORDING FOR GAME-PLAYING BOYS
I’M AN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL
’CAUSE YOU GET TO REWIND, THE SONG OF THEIR SWEAT
(cough)
MODESTLY SUCCESSFUL GO BACK AND EDIT THINGS OUT AND THEIR PAIN AND THEIR JOYS PHOENIX, ARIZONA
COMPLETELY HOPELESSLY THE ECSTASY OF VICTORY
TOTALLY BROKE COMPOSER.
ADDICTED TO RECORDING AND THE AGONY OF DEFEAT BRUCE
This is me. And this is my gear. And this is live- THE INTERGALACTIC EXPLORER Babe, it’s Bruce calling — your baby daddy! Guess what I’ve
YOU CAN ACT WITHOUT FEAR, been working on — a beautiful song just for you, yeah!
looping. I can lay down a couple of bars of music like ROCKETING TO MY BEAT
AND YOU CAN WIPE AWAY DOUBT
this ... Strings! Trumpets! Low brass! Some bombast! And I KAT
WHEN YOU’RE RECORDING YOU CAN
Then it plays back while I lay down another... And I turned these teenage couch potatoes into... Not what I need right now —
WRAP YOURSELF UP INSIDE
trigger each of them with my pedals like this. I am a BRUCE
A BIG WALL OF SOUND, STAR BLAZERS!
one-woman symphony. SCRANTON PENNSYLVANIA IS CONFUSING
AND NOTHING’S WRITTEN IN STONE STAR BLAZERS!
STOP/REWIND/PLAY/RECORD IT FEELS SO GOOD WHEN YOU’RE RECORDING THAT GO FORTH AND FIND YOUR DESTINY JUST LIKE YOU —
STOP/REWIND/PLAY/RECORD YOU ALMOST CAN FORGET ON EVERY DISTANT SHORE KAT
I COMPOSE MUSICAL INSTALLATIONS THAT YOU’RE BROKE, YOU FLY AGAINST THE ODDS What?
CONCEPTUAL HAPPENINGS IN BROOKLYN SOMEWHERE THAT YOU’RE COLD, IMMORTAL AS THE GODS BRUCE
WEIRD, OBSCURE AND FAR THAT YOU’RE TRULY ALONE YOU FAIL AND THEN YOU PREVAIL AGAIN BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS IS SO HOSTILE
OUT ON THE EDGE OF THE MUSICAL GALAXY BUT I’M NO LONGER ALONE TO SAIL WHERE NO ONE’S EVER BEEN BEFORE JUST LIKE YOU
A HANDFUL OF HIPSTERS COME TO SO I NEED A REAL JOB SO MY WEIRD SOLO SHIT
SHOW HOW HIP THEY ARE SO I WROTE THE SCORE FOR THIS VIDEO GAME. GATHERS DUST ON THE SHELF
KAT SHE STOLE MY HEART BECAUSE BRAVE AND HEARTY MEN BUT WE’VE BRAVED THEM BEFORE
You’re the reason I’m hostile! I HEAR HER SWEET SONG WITH A HEY AND A HO A AND WE’LL BRAVE THEM AGAIN
BRUCE SHE IS MY DARLING AND I CANNOT BE WRONG ND WE’RE ON OUR WAY FOR MY LOVE, IT IS TIMELESS
MUNCIE, INDIANA MAKES ME WANNA CALL YOU UP KATERINA ERNEST AND VAST AS THE SKIES
AND TELL YOU HOOSIER BOYFRIEND? ME! I LISTEN AND I KNOW UNTIL THAT FINE DAY IT IS STRONG AS THE TIDE
Get it? Hoosier! O KATERINA MY OWN WE WILL KEEP SAILING ON AND THE WAVES WHEN THEY RISE
I WANNA MAKE-A YOU MY QUEEN-A DE LEÓN THROUGH THE STORM AND THE WIND IT IS I, ERNEST SHACKLETON,
YOU’RE THE VERY BEST THING
YOUR MUSIC MAKES ME WEEP, AND THE GREY OF THE DAWN HERE IN COMMAND
I HAVE EVER KNOWN
I’M CRYING RIGHT NOW AND WE MIGHT HIT SOME REALLY ROUGH SEAS AND I PROMISE MY DARLING
DON’T HANG UP THE PHONE
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH IT’S LIKE HOW YOU SAY - WOW NOW AND THEN WE’RE GONNA FIND LAND
KAT KATERINA BUT WE’VE BRAVED THEM BEFORE ERNEST & KAT
Bruce, why are you calling? I LISTEN AND I KNOW. AND WE’LL BRAVE THEM AGAIN OH DARLING MY DARLING
BRUCE I have to go now and discover Florida. Adios. FOR MY LOVE, IT IS TIMELESS WITH YOU I LONG TO BE
You need me, babe, Zach needs me. And... AND VAST AS THE SKIES BRAVE AND HEARTY MEN
PHOENIX, ARIZONA’S SUPER HOT, IT IS STRONG AS THE TIDE WITH A HEY AND A HO
A LOT LIKE YOU
WE’RE ON AND THE WAVES WHEN THEY RISE AND WE’RE ON OUR WAY
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA IS SO GORGEOUS OUR WAY IT IS I, ERNEST SHACKLETON,
ERNEST & KAT
JUST LIKE YOU HERE IN COMMAND
ERNEST OH DARLING MY DARLING
OKLAHOMA CITY JUST REMINDS ME THAT A LIFE AND I PROMISE MY DARLING
And now, a sea chanty to inspire us all. Chanty, I SAIL UPON THE SEA
WITHOUT YOU CANNOT BE OK WE’RE GONNA FIND LAND
YOU’RE THE VERY BEST THING I’VE EVER KNOWN men! ERNEST
KAT
I’M SO ALONE OH DARLING MY DARLING I know it’s unusual getting a call from a dead
Oh God, I’m a sucker for a song. No what am I
WITH YOU I LONG TO BE explorer, but please, my muse, believe in me. For
saying?! This is crazy!
I, Ernest Shackleton, believe in you. After hearing
O KATERINA BRAVE AND HEARTY MEN ERNEST your music, how could I not?
WITH A HEY AND A HO So is being an explorer! Or an artist! Please, my
BRAVE AND HEARTY MEN
The phone rings. AND WE’RE ON OUR WAY love - join me on your violin –
WITH A HEY AND A HO
KAT ERNEST KAT AND WE’RE ON OUR WAY
Hello? OH DARLING MY DARLING It’s an electric violin, actually.
PONCE DE LEÓN I SAIL UPON THE SEA ERNEST
Is this Katerina, the composer of the most BRAVE AND HEARTY MEN
THE MORNING
How can that be?
glorious music under God’s sweet heaven? WITH A HEY AND A HO KAT
THE NEWSPAPER
KAT AND WE’RE ON OUR WAY Oh, it has... it has a spark to it. ADVERT APPEARED
Who is this? ERNEST ERNEST
PONCE DE LEÓN ONE DAY WE’LL DROP ANCHOR Ah, a spark! Of course — it’s like you. KAT
Ponce De León. Ernest Shackleton gave me your AND GO ON ASHORE Join me... I’ve got it! What to do next! An epic video opera
number. Oh Katerina, your music for Blazers BRAVE AND HEARTY MEN installation based on the journey of ...
UNTIL THAT FINE DAY
of the Stars has inspired me to search for the WITH A HEY AND A HO WE WILL KEEP SAILING ON THE MORNING THE NEWSPAPER
fountain of youth, so that all women may remain AND WE’RE ON OUR WAY THROUGH THE STORM AND THE WIND ADVERT APPEARED
as forever young and forever beautiful as you! ERNEST AND THE GREY OF THE DAWN THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF SAILORS
O KATERINA MY LOVE AND NEVER GO OUT AND WE MIGHT HIT SOME REALLY ROUGH SEAS WHO ALL VOLUNTEERED
I’VE NEVER EVEN EVER SEEN-A MY DOVE ON THE WAVES ANY MORE NOW AND THEN IN SPITE OF THE DANGER, IN SPITE OF THE PAY
THEY WERE DRAWN BY THE SEA WITH THE NIGHT CLOSING IN, KAT & ERNEST SQUEEZES TIGHTER
AND THE SKY AND THE SPRAY THEIR CAPTAIN COMMANDED, WHYN’T YOU WIPE AWAY THAT FROWN, IT SHATTERS AND SNAPS AND DESTROYS
AND THE PROMISE, THE LURE ERNEST ERNEST FREEZING WATER
OF A QUEST ALL THEIR OWN “PLAY MUSIC!” I SAY POURS IN BELOWDECKS
THE VAST POLAR ICE AND Katherine, look what I’m learning to play! IT’S A MIRACLE THE MEN DO NOT DROWN
KAT & ERNEST
THE GREAT WHITE UNKNOWN ALL THEY TAKE IS
KAT WE WILL BROOK NO SADNESS HERE
SO SHACKLETON HIRED A CREW WHAT THEY CAN CARRY
You brought a banjo on such a dangerous journey? WE ARE CHEERFUL IN THE FACE OF FEAR
OF BRAVE MEN AND THEN THEY WATCH THEIR SHIP GO DOWN
AND THEY ALL KNEW THEY MIGHT ERNEST ERNEST
Wait. They have to leave their ship in the middle
NEVER COME HOME AGAIN Why I hired one of my crewmen solely because That’s the spirit, my love!
of the Antarctic?
OH, VALIANT MEN, SAIL ON, SAIL ON! he knew how to finger pick! We all need music, KAT
Katherine. Of course, my musicianship pales in ERNEST, YOUR MEN
SAIL ON, SAIL ON, SAIL ON! So has the ice melted?
comparison to yours — ALL YOUR POOR HELPLESS MEN
BUT THEN ERNEST THEY BELIEVE IN YOU,
ONLY ONE HUNDRED MILES KAT No, it’s drifting, and the ship is drifting with it. But for THAT’S WHY THEY’RE HERE
ONLY ONE DAY AWAY Well, I bet I’m not as good a sailor as you! now, the men remain in good spirits, for our sled dogs
FROM THE COASTLINE BUT THE ICE CRUSHED THEIR SHIP
ERNEST have had puppies, and by God, they’re adorable!
THEY KNEW WAS SO NEAR NOW IT’S CRUSHING THEIR HOPES
No one is, Katherine. Now guess what my men’s KAT
THE TEMPERATURE PLUMMETED THEY’VE LOST EVERYTHING THEY HELD DEAR
favorite song is? And 1 and a 2 and a 3! SO THE PUPPIES, THE MEN
FORTY DEGREES THERE’S NO WAY TO GET HOME
WE ARE A LONG WAY FROM TIPPERARY AND THE BANJO PLAY ON
AND THE MEN FELT A BONE-CHILLING FEAR THERE’S NO WAY TO GET HELP
BUT STILL THE GRAMOPHONE WILL PLAY THROUGH THE WINTER
FROM TWENTY ABOVE THERE’S NO WAY IN HELL
KAT THAT SEEMS NEVER-ENDING
TO TWENTY BELOW YOU’LL SURVIVE THIS
AND YOU HAVE CONCERTS THOUGH THE SONGS AND THE GAMES
IN WHAT FELT LIKE NO MORE THAN A MINUTE IT’S HOPELESS
DOWN IN THE MESS HALL HELP THEM ALL PASS THE TIME
THE ICE PACK CLOSED IN IT’S COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE
WHERE YOU CAN SING STILL THE DARKNESS
THE WHOLE OCEAN FROZE IT’S COMPLETELY FUCKING IMPOSSIBLE...
THE NIGHTS AWAY JUST KEEPS ON DESCENDING
AND THE SHIP FROZE IN IT. ERNEST
ERNEST AND THE BLACK OF THE NIGHT
DON’T YOU LET YOUR HEART
WE PLAY THE BANJO FOR THE PENGUINS FASTENS ONTO THEIR SOULS
AND THEN SINK DOWN, I SAY
IN THE CRISP ANTARCTIC BREEZE EVEN MUSIC IS SCANT REASSURANCE
WHYN’T YOU WIPE AWAY
SHACKLETON SAID FOR THERE’S NO WAY TO STOP
KAT THAT FROWN, I SAY
THE IMPLACABLE ICE
WITH ALL THE MUSIC YOU BARELY NOTICE I WILL BROOK NO MOURNFUL TALK
KAT AS IT THREATENS TO WRECK THE ENDURANCE
THE WHOLE DAMN OCEAN FREEZE FOR TOMORROW,
AND THEN SHACKLETON SAID THE MEN SUDDENLY FIND COME THE DAWN,
Ernest, that’s amazing!
TO HIS BRAVE HEARTY MEN TO THEIR HORROR AND FEAR WE WALK.
IT’S TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE WINTER MAN, YOU ARE A FULL-FLEDGED OPTIMIST. THAT THEY’RE CAUGHT IN A
WE WILL WAIT OUT THE STORMS ERNEST STRANGLEHOLD GRIP
IN THE GRIP OF THE ICE Indeed, I am! AN IMMENSE FROZEN VISE ALRIGHT MEN
WE WILL RATION OUR FOOD AND OUR TINDER KAT & ERNEST CRACKING TIMBERS LIKE TWIGS
THE ICE IS ATTACKING THE SHIP ERNEST
NOT A MOMENT TO SPARE A TRUE BLUE FULL-FLEDGED OPTIMIST.
SHE BUCKLES It is time that I, Ernest Shackleton, rally my
NOT A CRUMB WENT TO WASTE DON’T YOU LET YOUR HEART SINK DOWN,
AND SHE SPLINTERS men with a speech, inspired by history’s two
WHATEVER THEY HAD, THEY WOULD USE IT ERNEST greatest poets — Shakespeare and you! Chin
AT THE EDGE OF THE EARTH SHE CRACKS WITH A TERRIBLE NOISE
I SAY up! Chest out! Now I sing!
THEN THE ICE PACK
ALL RIGHT MEN, COME AND LISTEN TO ME, ADRIFT ON AN KAT WE AIN’T LIKE OTHER FOLKS
NEVER MIND THAT THE SHIP BUT YOU’LL LOSE YOUR SHIRT WE PUSH AND PULL AND PRY AND COAX
HAS SUNK UNDER THE SEA, ICE FIELD AND ALL YOUR CASH, OR WORSE THE BEAUTY FROM THE BORING AND MUNDANE
NEVER MIND THAT WE’RE PERCHED ERNEST WE DON’T KNOW FROM FINANCIAL THINGS
ON THE FAR OUTER EDGE OF THE PLANET ERNEST DON’T YOU GIVE YOUR MONEY WE LIVE LIKE PAUPERS, DREAM LIKE KINGS
Pish posh. ADRIFT TO NO MUSICIAN AND EVERYBODY THINKS THAT WE’RE INSANE
WE ARE ALL ENGLISHMEN, NEVER FORGET IT ON AN ICE FIELD THEY’LL BLOW IT ALL ON BETTER BRILLIANT-ER AND BROKER
I CHOSE YOU FROM THOUSANDS, UNDER WET REINDEER SKINS GUITAR STRINGS AND BREAD THAN WELL OFF AND MEDIOCRE
I’LL NEVER REGRET IT KAT IF YOU WANT A SOUND INVESTMENT WE’LL BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT IT ANYWAY
YOUR STRENGTH AND FORBEARANCE WE ARE SAILORS KAT BETTER DIRT POOR AND INSPIRED
WILL CARRY YOU THROUGH WITHOUT A SAILBOAT THEN YOUR MONEY WILL BE BEST SPENT THAN ALL RICH AND FAT AND TIRED
KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP, AT THE MERCY OF THE WINDS
ERNEST & KAT DOWN AND OUT MUSICIANS AND EXPLORERS,
I AM COUNTING ON YOU Ernest, how long have we been drifting. ON A SLOT MACHINE THAT’S HOW WE’RE GONNA STAY!
EVERY THOUGHT, EVERY EFFORT ERNEST OR ROULETTE WHEEL INSTEAD
GOES TOWARD OUR NEW GOAL Thirteen months.
WHICH IS SIMPLY TO GET US ALL HOME ERNEST EVERY HAND TO
KAT THEY’LL TELL YOU ANYTHING
SAFE AND WHOLE
We’ve been drifting on ice in the Antarctic for TO CHANGE YOUR MIND
THE LIFEBOATS
EVERYONE BACK TO ENGLAND!
SO HERE IS MY PLAN thirteen months? TELL YOU HOW THEY’RE IN A BIND
KAT
WE WILL DIVE THROUGH THE WRECKAGE ERNEST HOW THEY’RE ON THE VERGE
Ernest, what’s that horrible sound?
AND TAKE WHAT WE CAN The world must think we’re dead. And we’re no OF SOMETHIN’ GREAT
ERNEST
closer to open water. ERNEST & KAT
WE WILL HOLD OUR HEADS UP PROUDLY It’s salvation! That’s the ice cracking! And do you
TRACKING THEN THEY’LL PROMISE YOU THE MOON
WE ARE MASTERS OF OUR FATE see it there? Open water!
OUR POSITION THE RENT COMES DUE,
LET’S NOT FORGET THE BANJO Katherine, after thirteen months, we are free!
BY THE STARS AND THE SUN THEY CHANGE THEIR TUNE
WE WILL SLEDGE TO THE TUNE OF THE GREAT AND THEN YOU REALIZE IT’S MUCH TOO LATE... EVERY HAND TO THE LIFEBOATS,
STAR BLAZERS! KAT YOU BRAVE HEARTY MEN!
SLOWLY KAT
KAT & ERNEST IT IS TIME FOR US ALL TO BE SAILORS AGAIN
SLIPPING BACKWARDS OH NEVER GIVE YOUR MONEY TO NO MUSICIAN
STAR BLAZERS! IT IS I, ERNEST SHACKLETON,
GO FORTH AND FIND YOUR DESTINY PAST THE PLACE WHERE WE’D BEGUN ERNEST HERE IN COMMAND
ON EVERY DISTANT SHORE Or explorer! AND I PROMISE, MY HEARTIES,
YOU FLY AGAINST THE ODDS MONEY AND KAT WE’RE GONNA FIND LAND
IMMORTAL AS THE GODS DON’T GIVE US DOLLARS, SHEKELS, KAT
YOU FAIL AND THEN YOU PREVAIL AGAIN MUSICIANS PESOS, POUNDS OR YEN SO WE PADDLE WE PULL
TO SAIL WHERE NO ONE’S EVER BEEN BEFORE! ERNEST NEVER SLACK NEVER SLOW
WITH A HEY AND A HO KAT
‘CAUSE DESPITE OUR BEST INTENTIONS ERNEST & KAT PLUS HARMONY BOX
AND WE’RE ON OUR WAY! DON’T YOU GIVE YOUR MONEY
TO NO EXPLORER KAT WITH A HEY AND A HO AND WE’RE ON OUR WAY
ADVENTURE FILLS THE HEART YOU’LL NEED LEGAL INTERVENTIONS KAT
BUT NOT THE PURSE ERNEST THOUGH OUR FINGERS ALL FREEZE
OH HE’LL TELL YOU THERE’LL BE RICHES IF YOU EVER WANT THAT MONEY BACK AGAIN TO THE OARS AS WE ROW
ERNEST ERNEST & KAT HARMONY BOX
AND THE POLAR ICE BEWITCHES ‘CAUSE YOU KNOW WITH A HEY AND A HO AND WE’RE ON OUR WAY
ERNEST THAT NO MAN HAS SEEN IF YOU CAN’T CATCH A BREAK, SAILING AND BAILING AND ROWING
THE NEAREST KNOWN ISLAND GLISTENING GLACIERS OF AQUAMARINE HUNKER DOWN, SOLDIER ON, KAT
A HUNDRED MILES ON LUMINOUS CRYSTALLINE SPIRES OF ICE NOW YOUR TASK IS TO MAKE ROWING AND BAILING AND SAILING
HARMONY BOX AN OTHERWORLDLY PARADISE THOSE YOU LOVE SAFE AND WARM
ERNEST
WITH A HEY AND A HO AND WE’RE ON OUR WAY SUN-SPECKLED SAPPHIRE SEAS, THE BREEZE, DON’T REGRET SO HARD TO KNOW WHERE WE’RE GOING
ERNEST & KAT THE ENDLESS GAPING SKY...
KAT KAT
THROUGH THE STORM AND THE WIND KAT & ERNEST DON’T REGRET
AND AFTER SEVEN UNBEARABLE DAYS BODIES WEAK AND SYSTEMS FAILING
AND THE GREY OF THE DAWN
OUT AT SEA ERNEST WHAT KEEPS YOU FROM GIVING UP?
HARMONY BOX WHAT HAS BEEN WHAT KEEPS YOU FROM GIVING UP?
WITH A HEY AND A HO AND WE’RE ON OUR WAY THE MEN GIVE A SHOUT —
ERNEST KAT ERNEST
ERNEST WHAT HAS BEEN I AM
AND WE’RE GRITTING OUR TEETH LAND AHOY! COULD IT BE?
ERNEST A FULL-FLEDGED OPTIMIST!
AND WE SHAKE OFF THE COLD KAT & ERNEST
WE’VE SPOTTED AN ISLAND LET IT GO, ERNEST & KAT
AS THE SLEET FALLS IN SHARP LITTLE SPECKS
WITH STONE AND WITH SAND ERNEST & KAT A TRUE BLUE FULL-FLEDGED OPTIMIST!
BUT THE HUNGER IS STARTING
FOR WE’LL NEVER BE RIGHT HERE AGAIN. DON’T YOU LET YOUR HEART SINK DOWN,
TO WEAKEN US ALL KAT
AS THE ICE WATER POURS DOWN OUR NECKS AND JUST AS YOU PROMISED THEM, ERNEST ERNEST
WE’RE GONNA FIND LAND WHO NEEDS SLEEP? I SAY
KAT
NOW WE’RE SEASICK AND STARVING WE’RE GONNA FIND LAND KAT ERNEST & KAT
AND SOAKED TO THE SKIN BREATHE IN DEEP WHYN’T YOU WIPE AWAY THAT FROWN
ERNEST
TORMENTED BY TERRIBLE THIRST AND WE HAVE FOUND LAND ERNEST & KAT ERNEST
FROSTBITTEN, FEVERISH, BARELY ALIVE BE THE CALM IN THE EYE OF THE STORM. I SAY
AND STILL WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE WORST ERNEST & KAT
ERNEST
EYE OF THE WE WILL BROOK NO DARK DESPAIR
THE CREW IS OVERWHELMED BY HUNGER STORM BOAT JOURNEY WE HAVE COME THIS FAR —
EXHAUSTION WE’RE ALMOST THERE
ERNEST ERNEST & KAT
MISERY KAT
DRY YOUR EYES, THERE’S MY DEAR SAIL ON,
ERNEST & KAT We’re not, are we?
THE CHANCE OF FINDING LAND SO REMOTE NEVER MIND WHERE YOU ARE, KAT
ERNEST, ERNEST
SO REMOTE ONLY KNOW YOU ARE HERE
No. But we must convince ourselves we are.
AND YET WE SAIL ON/SAIL ON/SAIL ON IN THE EYE OF THE STORM ERNEST & KAT
SAIL ON! THIRST-RIDDEN, SICK
SAIL ON — NOW CHIN UP, TAKE MY HAND
WITH OUR LIPS DRY AND CRACKED
THROUGH THE JAWS OF THE JAGGED ICE PACK YOU MAY BE FAR FROM HOME, KAT
WE BOTH SEEM TO BE BEYOND HELP
AS THE KILLER WHALES CIRCLE NEARBY BUT YOU’RE SAFE ON DRY LAND THE WATER’S EVEN WORSE THAN THE SNOW
BUT LOOK SOMETHING GREEN
HARMONY BOX LOOPED IN THE EYE OF THE STORM ERNEST IN THE BLACK RAGING SEA
SAIL ON NEVER MIND THAT YOU’RE OUT EVERY DAMNED WAVE IS MY GOD IT APPEARS TO BE —
KAT & ERNEST ON THE EDGE OF THE EARTH DRENCHING OUR BOAT
THROUGH THE CRAGS AND THE CANYONS WHERE WE AND IT SEEMS LIKE YOU’LL NEVER SUCCEED Kelp! Do you see it, Katherine! Kelp!
KAT
COULD BE CRUSHED IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE WHEN YOU THINK THAT YOU’RE DOWN, KAT
OUR FINGERS ARE TOO NUMB TO ROW
KAT & ERNEST PLUS HARMONY BOX FIGHT FOR ALL THAT YOU’RE WORTH, Should I be excited about kelp?
AND YOU’LL FIND THAT YOU HAVE ERNEST
THROUGH MAGNIFICENT VISTAS BUT SOMEHOW WE MUST STAY AFLOAT
ALL THE STRENGTH THAT YOU NEED
ERNEST WHEN YOU JUST DON’T KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO WITH THE STORM WORSE THAN EVER, LEAVING US STRANDED, DEFENSELESS
For it means that land is not far! We have travelled YOU PRETEND THAT YOU DO SCARED OUT OF OUR WITS ERNEST
eight hundred miles in a rowboat and we have AND YOU DO WHAT YOU MUST HOW MUCH MORE DAMN THE FATES! DAMN THE GODS!
survived! Bloody hell — a hurricane! THEY ARE COUNTING ON YOU CAN WE TAKE DAMN THEM ALL STRAIGHT TO HELL
KAT YOU’RE THE ONE THAT THEY TRUST. TILL THE WIND AND THE PACK ICE FOR NOT GIVING A DAMN
They have hurricanes in the Antarctic? ERNEST & KAT WILL SMASH US TO BITS BUT GUESS WHAT? I’M STILL HERE!
THROUGH THE SHRIEKS OF THE STORM YOU FLY AGAINST THE ODDS KAT TAKE A LOOK, MOTHER NATURE —
NEARLY DASHED ON THE ROCKS IMMORTAL AS THE GODS NEVER MIND THAT YOU’RE OUT YOU’LL SEE WHO I AM
AS THE GALE TEARS THE TOPS OFF THE WAVES YOU FAIL AND THEN ON THE EDGE OF THE EARTH I’M YOUR OWN HUMBLE SAILOR
YOU PREVAIL AGAIN AND IT SEEMS LIKE YOU’LL NEVER SUCCEED WHO LOVES YOU THE MOST
ERNEST WHEN YOU THINK THAT YOU’RE DOWN,
TO SAIL WHERE NO ONE’S EVER BEEN BEFORE RESPECTS EVERY MOUNTAIN
AND IT PAINS ME TO SAY FIGHT FOR ALL THAT YOU’RE WORTH, AND ICE-BITTEN COAST
BUT I’LL TELL YOU, I FEAR AND WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH REVERES YOUR COLD BEAUTY
WE ARE DESTINED FOR WATERY GRAVES TOWARD ELEPHANT ERNEST AND TREATS YOU WITH AWE
KAT ISLAND IT’S BEEN TWO MONTHS BUT YOUR BLOODY INDIFFERENCE
No! IS YOUR FATAL FLAW
DON’T YOU LET YOUR HEART SINK DOWN I SAY KAT
ERNEST AND WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH YOU INSPIRE OUR COURAGE,
WHYN’T YOU WIPE AWAY THAT FROWN I SAY Don’t you understand, Katherine — blind, relentless YOU GRACE US WITH SPLENDOR
I WILL BROOK NO DARK DESPAIR hope is what brings about miracles. ERNEST THEN TORTURE OUR SOULS
WE HAVE COME THIS FAR, IT’S BEEN THREE MONTHS TILL WE’RE FORCED TO SURRENDER
ALL RIGHT, MY DEAR KATHERINE,
KAT & ERNEST LET’S GO GET THOSE MEN KAT YOU CRUELLY AND CARELESSLY
WE’RE ALMOST — IT IS TIME FOR US BOTH TO BE SAILORS AGAIN AND YOU’LL FIND THAT YOU HAVE CRUSH ALL OUR SHIPS
ERNEST IT IS I, ERNEST SHACKLETON, HERE IN COMMAND ALL THE STRENGTH THAT YOU NEED TAKE THE LIFE FROM OUR BODIES,
Good God in heaven, we’ve made it! We’re here. We AND I PROMISE, MY DARLING, WE’RE GONNA FIND ERNEST THE BREATH FROM OUR LIPS
have reached the island with the whaling station! LAND IT’S BEEN ONE MONTH IT’S MORE THAN A HUMAN CAN BEAR
KAT I’LL GET THE BEST OF YOU YET, I SWEAR
Play your spark.
CLIMBING SOUTH AND WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH BRING AN AX!
OKAY
ERNEST BRING A KNIFE!
GEORGIA MOUNTAIN TALLY HO
IT’S BEEN FOUR MONTHS IF THE SHIP CANNOT SAIL
WE BORROW A SHIP AND SAIL OFF
I’LL DIVE INTO THE SEA
KAT WITH BRAVE HEARTS KAT IF I SAVE
WHEN YOU CAN’T GET A GRIP KAT & ERNEST CAN WE REALLY SAVE ALL TWENTY-TWO? JUST ONE LIFE
AND YOU CAN’T CATCH YOUR BREATH ON OUR WAY ERNEST I DON’T CARE IF I DROWN,
AND YOUR FACE IS ALL FROZEN WITH SLEET HERE WE GO IT KEEPS HAPPENING / HAPPENING LET THE WAVES SET ME FREE
AND YOU KNOW IF YOU SLIP ERNEST OVER AND OVER KAT
YOU COULD FALL TO YOUR DEATH BUT NATURE KEEPS TRYING TO TEAR US APART IT’S MADNESS TO CLING YOUR CREWMEN ARE COUNTING ON YOU
AND YOU CAN’T FEEL THE TOES ON YOUR FEET KAT BUT I CANNOT LET GO AND WE HAVE TO SAVE ALL TWENTY-TWO
WHEN YOU BLEW YOUR LAST CHANCE THE ICE IS TOO THICK TO GET THROUGH I WON’T LET THEM DOWN, LET THEM DIE ON THE GROUND
ON SOME DESOLATE ROCK Look there! Can you believe it?
AND THE MONEY’S ALL GONE AND WE’LL NEVER SAVE ALL 22
AND THERE’S NOTHING BUT FREE FALL BELOW, IN THE ICE AND THE SNOW ERNEST
ERNEST There’s my first mate! Ahoy, old friend!
HOW THE HELL DO YOU FIND HANG ON KAT & ERNEST
THE RESOLVE TO GO ON FOR GOD’S SAKE THE ELEMENTS CONSPIRE AGAINST US
KAT KAT
THIRTEEN! THEY’RE ALL THERE! IMPOSSIBLE BUT TRUE
ERNEST ERNEST
And there’s our cook! By God, he’s alive! EVERY LAST ONE OF THE MEN ON MY CREW
KAT THEY HAVE TEARS
FOURTEEN! KAT & ERNEST
ERNEST IN THEIR EYES
Is that our navigator? Yes! He survived! AS THEY’RE SHOUTING TO THE SKIES
KAT KAT
FIFTEEN! THAT YOU HAVE SAVED —
ERNEST ERNEST
And three more — THAT WE HAVE SAVED —
THEM
KAT ALL!
SIXTEEN, SEVENTEEN, EIGHTEEN WE SAVED THEM ALL
KAT & ERNEST ALL TWENTY-TWO
The banjo player! NINETEEN! WE SAVED THEM ALL
ERNEST
THERE’S OUR TWENTIETH MAN,
DO I DARE TO KEEP HOPING?
BURNED AGAIN
THE CHANCES ARE SLIM TO NONE, KAT
KAT WAS THAT FOR REAL?
BUT LOOK THERE! DRAGGING HIMSELF! SOME LOVE AFFAIR
ON HIS HANDS AND KNEES! HOW COULD IT FEEL SO RIGHT?
DO YOU SEE HIM? TWENTY-ONE! YOUR HEART TAKES FLIGHT
ERNEST AND STILL YOU GET NOWHERE
DEAREST KATHERINE YOU WERE SEDUCED BY SIREN SONGS
KAT FROM MEN INSIDE YOUR FRIGIDAIRE
DEAREST ERNEST SO YOU MELT THE ICE
AROUND YOUR FROZEN HEART
ERNEST TO FIND THAT YOU BEEN BURNED AGAIN
CAN IT BE THAT THEY ALL MIGHT SURVIVE? BURNED AGAIN
KAT OKAY CONFESS
UNTHINKABLE! YOU HAD TO KNOW
ERNEST WHAT DID YOU GUESS WOULD COME
RIDICULOUS! INVENTING SOME FAKE SNOW-BOUND ROMEO
KAT YOU SKYPED A MARRIED DEAD GUY
There he is! FROM A HUNDRED YEARS AGO
LIMPING BUT CLEARLY ALIVE! NOW THERE’S NO MORE ICE
ERNEST AROUND YOUR HEART
TWENTY-TWO SO HOW CAN YOU STOP
GETTING BURNED AGAIN I WON’T LET YOU MOPE
BURNED AGAIN YEAH, I’LL BE YOUR OWN
ONLY YOU, YEAH, WHY CAN’T YOU? FREAKIN’ BEACON OF HOPE
THERE’S NO SAVIOR, THERE’S NO HERO ‘CAUSE ERNEST HAD FLAWS
WHEN LIFE BRINGS YOU TO YOUR KNEES BUT HE ALWAYS CAME THROUGH
ONLY YOU CAN MAKE IT THROUGH HELD OUT AND HELD ON AND SAVED ALL 22
‘CAUSE LIFE IS NOT AN OPERA BRIMMING FULL AS WORRIED AND SCARED
OF ARIAS AND REVERIES AS A MAN’S EVER BEEN
BUT STILL YOU KEEP ON SINGING BUT HE NEVER GAVE UP
TILL YOU REACH THE JOURNEY’S END AND HE NEVER GAVE IN
EVEN WHEN YOUR HEART IS BREAKING SO I’LL BE YOUR ERNEST
YOU GOTTA STEP UP AND LEARN TO COPE AND KEEP SAILING ON
WHEN YOU’RE STRANDED ON THE ICE FLOE THROUGH THE STORMS AND THE WINDS
ALL ALONE WITHOUT A FRIEND AND THE GREY OF THE DAWN
BE YOUR OWN FREAKIN’ BEACON OF HOPE IT IS I, ERNEST SHACKLETON,
WHAT DO YOU DO? HERE IN COMMAND
ALL ON YOUR OWN AND I PROMISE MY DARLING
IT’S ONLY YOU AND ZACH, NO TURNING BACK I PROMISE MY DARLING
WHEN YOU’RE OUT IN THE GREAT UNKNOWN I PROMISE MY DARLING...
NO HEARTY MEN, NO HOPE OF RESCUE WE’LL FLY AGAINST THE ODDS
THERE’S JUST YOU AND YOU ALONE IMMORTAL AS THE GODS
THROUGH THE ICE AND SNOW WE’LL FAIL AND THEN WE’LL PREVAIL AGAIN
AND SLEET AND STORM TO SAIL WHERE NO ONE’S EVER BEEN BEFORE!
WITH YOUR MELTED HEART EVER BEEN BEFORE!
TO KEEP YOU WARM WITH A HEY
IF YOU LIGHT THE FIRE ABLAZE AND A HO
WITHIN YOUR SOUL AND WE’RE ON OUR WAY!
YOU’LL FIND YOU CAN’T BE BURNED AGAIN
BURNED AGAIN
I WON’T BE BURNED AGAIN

FINALE:
WE’RE ON OUR WAY —
REPRISE
KAT
IT’S JUST GONNA BE ME
AND YOU FOR A WHILE
IT MAY FEEL LIKE WE’RE STUCK
ON SOME ANTARCTIC ISLE
BUT DON’T YOU BE SAD, BABE,
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Kent Nicholson, Leigh Silverman, Christopher Ashley, Robert
Kelley, and David Saint - for help in their development of the
piece. The entire Company deeply thanks Mike & Michelle, Donald,
and Dr. Bob for being bold enough to make this collective dream
a reality. Thanks Buddy Thomas for your unflagging persistence.
Thanks to Dana Harrel and Carl Levin for their support and
guidance, and to Danielle Wood for her press and promotions
assistance. Deep appreciation to Will Swenson and Angel
Desai from the team. Soulful thanks and love to Noah Jordan.
Immense thanks to TheatreWorks and La Jolla Playhouse for
co-commissioning the original show. Thanks to Christopher and
the Alchemical Castle in LA for hosting us in early development.
Special thanks to the staff and crew at Seattle Repertory Theatre,
Arts Emerson, and George Street Playhouse who helped dream,
build, and enable us to create the show. Particular love and honor
to the memory of Jerry Manning who first invited us to Seattle.
Thanks to David Dower and Bonnie Baggessen for helping bring
us to life in Boston and for the great train companionship. Thank
you Casey and everyone at Second Stage who had faith in us and
opened their home to us. A special shout out to the backstage
crew at the Tony Kiser, and to a particularly memorable night
at the Rum House. Thanks for nothing Lucifer. Special thanks
from Matthew to his own beacon of hope Ashley Iser, without
whom, none of this would be possible. Deep appreciation for
the support of the Explorer’s Club and their launch of our NYC
journey, Professor Arnold Gordon who taught us the truth of the
Antarctic and to Tim Jarvis who helped bring a true explorer’s
eye to the proceedings. Thanks to BroadwayHD for making us one
of the first streamed Off Broadway shows. From the Producers,
thank you to the Off Broadway Alliance for recognizing our team
effort and awarding the show the Best New Musical Off Broadway
Award. Thanks to the Royal Geographic Society for sponsoring us
100 years later. Most of all, thank you to Shackleton and his crew
for being actual true blue full-fledged optimists that continue to
inspire us even today.
PRODUCED BY CURTIS MOORE
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: MATTHEW KWATINETZ (Q Theatricals) & DR. ROBERT F. RYAN (Nunataq Music, A Division of Nunataq Entertainment, Inc.)
Edited and Mixed by DERIK LEE
Recording Engineer: ROY HENDRICKSON
Production Manager: JILL DELL’ABATE
Recorded at Avatar Studios
Mastered by OSCAR ZAMBRANO at Zampol Productions

Photography: JEFF CARPENTER
Package Design: ROBBIE ROZELLE
Logo & Cover Design: DR ADVERTISING

Music Supervision: CURTIS MOORE


Vocals, Violin, Keyboards, Banjo, Percussion: VAL VIGODA
Vocals, Guitar, Banjo, Percussion: WADE MCCOLLUM
Keyboards, Banjo, Percussion, Keyboard and Ableton Programming: RYAN O’CONNELL

Dialogue © Joe DiPietro


All songs © Brendan Milburn and Val Vigoda
“Stop/Rewind/Play/Record” and “Towards Elephant Island”
© Brendan Milburn, Val Vigoda and Ryan O’Connell

Ernest Shackleton Loves Me was produced Off Broadway by Matthew Kwatinetz


at the Tony Kiser Theatre and opened on May 7, 2017.

Visit BroadwayHD.com to stream


Ernest Shackleton Loves Me.

FOR BROADWAY RECORDS


VAN DEAN (President/Executive Producer)
ROBBIE ROZELLE (Graphic Designer/Project Manager)
YAEL SILVER (Associate Producer)
KIT GOLDSTEIN GRANT, DEENA ZUCKER (Interns)
POLK & CO. (Press Representative)
ANDREW FARBER ESQ. (Legal)

℗© 2018 Shackleton Loves Me LLC, exclusively distributed by Broadway Records®.


All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. BR-DIG08017

BROADWAYRECORDS.COM @BWAYRECORDS ERNESTSHACKLETONLOVESME.COM @ESLOVESME


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