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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.

Picture
                                                Digital downloads available purchase at SMP Press:
Director's Script - with costume, staging, acting games, and choreography tips, and Acting Games
Production Kit - Reproducible booklet 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)
                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.
           Preview the video of the Provost Elementary School 2013 Performance of:
                                                    A Successor to the Throne
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.
Copyright: Bailey Kids Musicals, 2015