Alas! Alack! Zorro's Back! Lyrics: Song List
About the "Alas! Alack! Zorro's Back!" Stage Show
Material is light enough and is not meant to be delightful in the form of unexpected twists. Rather primitive and expected, but that does not mean – not interesting. Yes, the story is linear, but the question is how to play it. Some of the actors here are pure beginners, and some already have some stage experience. S. C. Barker and M. Randazzo played their first roles in the musical (they got the leading roles of Zorro and Mrs. Sweepup), and P. Proczko had some experience. He is an interesting fellow. He impresses with his ability to make a cat's eyes, coupled with its pseudo-Mexican accent. S. Lydic plays a sheriff; J. Bowen plays B. Badum, which is arrogant and unscrupulous owner of the bank in town.
Some critics do not like the fact that the acts themselves were vague, unlike the olio, which was presented during a break between them, before act two, saying it was brilliant. Many dance, mix of clothes, mad passion and the potpourri of burlesque, scenery changes, characters cutouts, as well as the kind of intervention from director in attempt to explain his vision of this staging.
Kerrie Korzatkowski responsible for the choreography, which included a need not only to put the actors to dance and move, but also a large puppet in the height of a man, which was created by Megan Hovany and we are very grateful to her for such a fresh approach to the presentation of the story.
Entrance in a hall was free and it may be due to the inexperience of the actors and due to some improvisational style that is inherent to those who learn and comprehend the new, who has not developed their unique scenic behavior, which will determine the future of the actor for years. But circling a hat for donations after the presentation does not look very natural gesture – perhaps they should make payment at the entrance at least symbolical?
Release date of the musical: 1995
"Alas! Alack! Zorro's Back! Lyrics" – Soundtrack Guide & Song Meanings
Review
This musical treats justice like a joke, then demands you care anyway.
It is a Zorro story that winks at its own cardboard walls.
The lyrics push the plot by forcing choices into rhyme.
Everyone announces motives, before anyone earns them.
That bluntness is the engine, not a flaw.
Tim Kelly’s book leans into melodrama rules and crowd permission.
David Reiser’s songs mock pop hits, then use them as shortcuts.
You hear the setup, you anticipate the punchline, you sing along.
It is pastiche first, romance second, morality play third.
The style suits Henry’s disguise, because identity here is performance.
Even love arrives like a stage direction, then lands because it is earnest.
How It Was Made
The show was built for fast laughs and flexible casting.
It premiered in the mid-1990s, then entered the licensing circuit.
Kelly supplied the book’s clean hero-villain geometry.
Reiser answered with spoof songs and direct-to-audience rhyme.
The score’s calling card is parody with a Western accent.
One number is famously sung to the tune of “Hotel California.”
That choice signals the whole project’s intent, not subtle, but specific.
It plays well in community houses, where the audience wants to participate.
Some productions even encourage popcorn throwing at the villains.
Key Tracks & Scenes
"Alas, Alack!" (Emcee and Townsfolk)
- The Scene:
- Front curtain. Bright footlights. The Emcee sets the rules, fast and loud.
- Lyrical Meaning:
- The lyrics sell a contract. Cheer the hero. Boo the crooks. Join the game.
"It's All Up To Lady Luck!" (Buck Badum and Ensemble)
- The Scene:
- The bank and deed papers. Hard side light. Buck counts the town like coins.
- Lyrical Meaning:
- Luck becomes a moral alibi. Buck frames greed as fate, not choice.
"Alice-An Heiress?" (Conchita)
- The Scene:
- Hotel Cucaracha corridor. A warm wash. Conchita tries on a stolen identity.
- Lyrical Meaning:
- The lyric is a question that bites. Class is a costume, if the town agrees.
"Zorro!" (Henry, Aunt Victoria, and Ensemble)
- The Scene:
- Night cue. Cool blue light. Henry’s cape appears, before his courage does.
- Lyrical Meaning:
- The lyric crowns an idea. Heroism is a mask that invites action.
"Fiesta!" (Townsfolk)
- The Scene:
- Town square. Lantern glow. Dancing chaos. The plot hides inside celebration.
- Lyrical Meaning:
- The lyric celebrates community, then tests it. Who gets included, and why.
"Conchita!" (Buck Badum)
- The Scene:
- Backstage reveal. A spotlight isolates Buck. His partnership starts to crack.
- Lyrical Meaning:
- He sings a name like a threat. Control slips when desire meets ambition.
"Finale" (Company)
- The Scene:
- Full stage. Warm light. Villains routed. The crowd gets the last word.
- Lyrical Meaning:
- The lyric restores order. Love closes the ledger. Justice gets a rhyme.
Note on placements. Most public materials summarize events, not cue sheets.
These scenes follow the licensed synopsis and common melodrama structure.
2025/2026 Live Updates
This title is not on a commercial tour schedule.
It lives where melodrama still thrives, schools, parks, and small houses.
Licensing remains the clearest path to a new production.
Pioneer Drama Service lists the show as a 75-minute musical for flexible casts.
Quest Theatre Ensemble helped popularize its audience-participation style in Chicago.
Quest later closed after years of free theatre, so that specific staging era ended.
In 2025 and 2026, interest is mostly grassroots, not Broadway-adjacent.
That suits the piece. It was built for local noise and local joy.
Notes & Trivia
- The story centers on deeds, including the Tottering Mine Shaft paperwork.
- Buck Badum “owns everything,” including the bank and Sheriff Toady’s loyalty.
- The heroine is Alice Sweepup, described as a hotel “slave” in the synopsis.
- Conchita is pushed to impersonate Alice, then considers double-crossing Buck.
- One score gag is “Hotel Cucaracha,” played as a “Hotel California” spoof.
- Some productions invite booing, hissing, and popcorn throwing at villains.
- The cast breakdown often includes an optional chorus for crowd scenes.
Reception
Reviews tend to split on the script versus the execution.
Critics praise lively staging, even while calling the material thin.
That tension is baked into parody melodrama.
“The artistry all comes with Quest’s hilarious execution.”
“It’s odd that ‘The Drunkard’ should feel fresher.”
Technical Info
- Composer: David Reiser
- Lyricist: David Reiser
- Book: Tim Kelly
- Premiere Date: 1995
- Genre: Comic musical melodrama, parody score
- Current Rights Holder: Pioneer Drama Service
FAQ
- Who wrote the lyrics for “Alas! Alack! Zorro’s Back!”?
- David Reiser wrote the music and the lyrics. Tim Kelly wrote the book.
- Is there an official cast album?
- No widely distributed cast recording is commonly listed. Most access is via licensed scripts.
- Is this the same as “Zorro: The Musical”?
- No. This is a shorter comic melodrama with a spoof score and audience interaction.
- Is it family-friendly?
- Many productions aim for families. Humor can be broad, and villains get loud boos.
- How do I stage or license it in 2025 or 2026?
- You typically license it through Pioneer Drama Service. They handle performance materials.
Key Contributors
| Name | Role | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Kelly | Book | Melodrama framework, plot mechanics, and audience-facing structure. |
| David Reiser | Music and Lyrics | Parody-driven score that uses familiar tunes as comic code. |
| Andrew Park | Director | Quest staging that leaned into camp and crowd participation. |
| Gary Powell | Music Director | Led live band performance in the noted Chicago run. |
| Nick Rupard | Scenic Design | Scroll-drops and cactus cutouts praised for crisp comic clarity. |
Sources: Doollee, Theatre In Chicago, Windy City Times, BroadwayWorld (Chicago), TheaterMania, PlayDatabase.