A musical about the ill-fated Children's Crusade in 1212, Let the Children Play was originally produced at the Hartke Theatre, Washington, D.C. beginning 18 April 1975. Music, book, and lyrics by John Franceschina, directed by Leo Brady, choreography, and musical numbers by Stephen Lyon, set design by Gerard P. Bourcier, costumes by Jo-Ellen La Rue, lighting by James D. Waring, musical direction, and orchestrations by John Franceschina. The original cast included Joseph McDonald, Christy Newland, Michael Rothhaar, Robyn Dobson, Nicholas Leone, Katherine McKenna, James Kelly, Oran Sandell, Brendan Conway, John R. MacDonald, Vincent Clark, Susan Golash, Nathan Hull, Fred W. Greene Jr., Thomas Harrington, Ken Lackey, Martin Brady, Gerry Appel, Robert Daley, Brendan Conway, Lynn Gardner, Michelle Buteau, Donnie Kanter, Mary Jo Carabello, Lynn Steinmetz, Diane D'Amico, Novella Suttora, Debra Cerruti, Anne Trapolin, and Fran Sims. It enjoyed a fiftieth-anniversary production in March 2025 by the Drama Guild at St. Benedict's Prep, Newark, New Jersey, directed and choreographed by Patricia Flynn, with musical direction by Marc Pannullo.
Music by John Franceschina
(Titles in this Series)
Requiem
(Chorus, soloists, accordion ensemble)
Concerto voor Saxofoon en Blassensemble
Vuurwerk (""Fireworks"")
(Accordion ensemble, percussion)
Kynaston; Concert Variations on a Theme by Henry Purcell
(Accordion ensemble, percussion)
Oroonoko; Rhapsody for Bayan Accordion Ensemble and Percussion
Leiden Suite (Accordion Ensemble)
Journey to the Center of the Earth; 3 Ballets
(Accordion ensemble, actors, dancers, percussion)
Scenes from the Jungle, an opera
(Vocal soloists, accordion ensemble, percussion)
Houtebeen, an oratorio
(Male chorus, string orchestra, accordion ensemble, percussion)
Joppenszoon, a cantata for tenor and baritone
(Accordion ensemble, percussion)
Concerto Grosso for Blassensemble, Accordion Ensemble, and Percussion
Desire Under the Elms: Incidental Music for Orchestra
Candida: Incidental Music for String Quartet
