A Successor to the Throne - A Tale of Integrity
Expanded version of the ancient Chinese folktale "The Empty Pot"
Retold in Script and Songs by Betsy Lee Bailey
FLEXIBLE CAST: 10 males, 18 females and *15+ (of either gender)
RUNNING TIME: approx. 60 min.
Digital downloads available purchase at SMP Press:
Director's Script - with costume, staging, acting games, and choreography tips, and Acting Games
Production Kit - Reproducible Script, Lyrics Sheets, Coloring Page Activity, and Performance License
for one series of shows
Score - Part 1
Score - Part 2
Director's Script - with costume, staging, acting games, and choreography tips, and Acting Games
Production Kit - Reproducible Script, Lyrics Sheets, Coloring Page Activity, and Performance License
for one series of shows
Score - Part 1
Score - Part 2
To listen to Guide Vocal Performances, go to Songs from "Successor"
FULL LIST OF SONGS for digital download in MP3 Format at SMP Press:
01.Festival Fanfare Overture 02.Spring Is Here 03.The Imperial Garden Dance
04.The Imperial Processional 05.A Successor to the Throne 06.Magnificent Flower 07.Summer Comes 08.The Curiosity Shop 09.The Road of Life 10.Suspicious Activity 11.The Evening Patrol 12.Autumn Lingers on the Breeze 13.Oh, Little Seed
14.&22.Wintertime and Play-Off 15.Imperial Garden Reprise 16.Spring Is Here Reprise
17.Imperial Processional Reprise 18.Fanfare 19.Worthy to Admire (original key) 20.Bows
21.Exit Music 23.Worthy to Admire (lower key)
FULL LIST OF SONGS for digital download in MP3 Format at SMP Press:
01.Festival Fanfare Overture 02.Spring Is Here 03.The Imperial Garden Dance
04.The Imperial Processional 05.A Successor to the Throne 06.Magnificent Flower 07.Summer Comes 08.The Curiosity Shop 09.The Road of Life 10.Suspicious Activity 11.The Evening Patrol 12.Autumn Lingers on the Breeze 13.Oh, Little Seed
14.&22.Wintertime and Play-Off 15.Imperial Garden Reprise 16.Spring Is Here Reprise
17.Imperial Processional Reprise 18.Fanfare 19.Worthy to Admire (original key) 20.Bows
21.Exit Music 23.Worthy to Admire (lower key)
Or: After proof of purchase, get access to A Successor to the Throne - Show Tracks Album -
limited use digital link through Google Drive. Make your request through Contact Info.
limited use digital link through Google Drive. Make your request through Contact Info.
Synopsis: The Emperor of China, having no natural heir, decides to choose from among the children of his kingdom, one to be successor to his throne. He devises a plan whereby the child who grows the most magnificent flower from the seed he is given, will be chosen Emperor.
"A Successor to the Throne" is an expanded (larger and longer) show created from the story of "The Empty Pot."
The story line and many of the songs remain the same, but more colorful characters and situations have been created to broaden the telling.
Setting: The stage is set with an Imperial Palace façade and garden wall, UP CENTER and STAGE RIGHT. DOWN LEFT is a smaller cottage and garden. In the opening scene, the ensemble members bring on flowers and flowering trees and bushes in pots and baskets to decorate the stage for spring. To show the change of seasons, these plants need to be changed out to reflect the passing of time.
Properties:
General - Flower baskets and silk plants and trees representing the four seasons (as many
as possible) to decorate the stage.
For Chamberlain: Sunflower seeds in regal-looking container.
For Deshi’s garden: several lightweight pots for “planting,” shrubs, an ancient-looking
watering can and small garden tools, container of potting soil.
Wang Liu: flower pot in 2 stages, 1 planted with seed (dirt) and 1 with scraggly flower
For dancers: 2+ parasols for spring dancers, 4 yellow, red, or orange sunshine fans
for summer dancers, 2 Chinese ribbon wands and orange scarf for Autumn,
2 long white scarves for Winter.
Court Attendants: processional banners, lanterns, dragon puppets, swords and fans.
For Madame Wong’s shop: seed packets, pearls, scarves, powder jar, teas and tea set,
ointment jar, fans, silk fabric, jewelry box with rings, perfume bottle,
abacus, small table, shelf and stool.
Ensemble: enough flower pots for children, enough shopping baskets for mothers,
enough fans for dancers, enough straw hats, rakes, hoes and baskets for
field worker dancers, enough flags and lanterns for festival scene.
"A Successor to the Throne" is an expanded (larger and longer) show created from the story of "The Empty Pot."
The story line and many of the songs remain the same, but more colorful characters and situations have been created to broaden the telling.
Setting: The stage is set with an Imperial Palace façade and garden wall, UP CENTER and STAGE RIGHT. DOWN LEFT is a smaller cottage and garden. In the opening scene, the ensemble members bring on flowers and flowering trees and bushes in pots and baskets to decorate the stage for spring. To show the change of seasons, these plants need to be changed out to reflect the passing of time.
Properties:
General - Flower baskets and silk plants and trees representing the four seasons (as many
as possible) to decorate the stage.
For Chamberlain: Sunflower seeds in regal-looking container.
For Deshi’s garden: several lightweight pots for “planting,” shrubs, an ancient-looking
watering can and small garden tools, container of potting soil.
Wang Liu: flower pot in 2 stages, 1 planted with seed (dirt) and 1 with scraggly flower
For dancers: 2+ parasols for spring dancers, 4 yellow, red, or orange sunshine fans
for summer dancers, 2 Chinese ribbon wands and orange scarf for Autumn,
2 long white scarves for Winter.
Court Attendants: processional banners, lanterns, dragon puppets, swords and fans.
For Madame Wong’s shop: seed packets, pearls, scarves, powder jar, teas and tea set,
ointment jar, fans, silk fabric, jewelry box with rings, perfume bottle,
abacus, small table, shelf and stool.
Ensemble: enough flower pots for children, enough shopping baskets for mothers,
enough fans for dancers, enough straw hats, rakes, hoes and baskets for
field worker dancers, enough flags and lanterns for festival scene.