Cheaper by the Dozen

Cheaper by the Dozen is a fast-paced, funny, and heartfelt story based on the real-life Gilbreth family. At the center is Frank Gilbreth, an eccentric and brilliant pioneer of industrial efficiency, who runs his household of twelve children with the same logic and order he brings to the workplace. Determined to save time and maximize productivity, Frank applies his unorthodox methods to everything from household chores to morning routines—often to the embarrassment of his children. His systems are bizarre, clever, and surprisingly effective, but not always easy to live with. As the family tries to keep up, the play explores the balance between structure and spontaneity, discipline and love—all with humor and heart. There are several versions of Cheaper by the Dozen out there—including a musical and the well-known Steve Martin movie—but our production is not a musical and is not based on the 2003 film. Instead, we’ll be performing the classic stage play set in the 1920s adapted from the original 1948 book by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey.