Betsy's Blog on Children's Theater | BaileyKidsMusicals.com - BaileyKidsMusicals.com

Scene Shops

12/7/2025

Scene Shops are magical places. In back of most theater spaces (professional, high school, or community) there lies a world of creativity. I sang a concert this weekend at a high school. The choir and orchestra entered the stage through the scene shop.

Most of the space was taken up with levels, platforms, stair units, window units, even a picturesque fountain unit, and other large set pieces from previous shows. Flats were stacked against the walls as well as lumber, tools, building supplies, and boxes filled with smaller props and set pieces. It was a maze to walk through to get onto the stage beyond the curtains. (The audience has no idea what goes on back stage!)

Portions of that Scene Shop were used for building and painting sets. We walked by large tools such as table saws, and big storage cases of lights and other technical equipment. (I could only guess what plays and musicals had been presented at this high school recently.)

One of the first big musicals I performed in was "The Sound of Music" done at this High School. I doubt if that was the actual building from so many years ago, but it was the same location and brought back many, many fun memories. (In case you wonder, I played one of the littlest Von Trapp girls.)

I can only ponder how many hours teachers, students, and interested others worked on sets in that scene shop or how many shows had been produced on that stage. It was a very nice facility.

Many other theater groups and community companies never get to produce theater with such great facilities. Most "scene shops" are in someone's garage, and storage areas are in basements, or sheds in the director's back yard. And technical support is probably lacking, to say the least. Still, "the show must go on..." Well, let's just say, dedicated people just feel motivated to do the best they can with what they've got.

What a luxury to have a great Scene Shop!

Walking around places that clearly exemplify WORK got me thinking of various WORKING songs I have written into shows. Here are a few:

From "Never Cry Wolf" the family and servants sing "Hurry, Hurry, Busy, Busy" and the company sings "Everybody Works"

From "The Adventures of Dick Whittington" the kitchen staff sings "Too, Too Much to Do," and the sailors sing "Over the Briny Sea."

From "Stone Soup" the company sings "Cooperation."

Working together can get the jobs done.

Ever Wake Up with a Song in Your Head?

7/1/2025

Have you ever woken up with a song playing in your head? A very random song that you have no idea how it got there?

For me, when this happens the refrain that keeps playing like a broken record is usually part of a lyric from the third verse or something well buried deep in the nether parts of the song.

This song was from the musical Peter Pan produced on Broadway in the mid 1950s. It starred Mary Martin as Peter Pan, and when I was young, I never quite fathomed how a grown woman could play the part of a young boy. My mother had the Vocal/Piano folio of the songs that had the picture of Mary Martin as Peter Pan on the cover. I also wondered if my mother gravitated towards this show because the composer was named Carolyn Leigh. My mother's name was Carolyn Lee (pronounced the same.) I had so many questions.

Anyway, the real interesting fact is that in those days, we didn't need to have seen the show or heard a recording of the songs to learn the music. We just needed access to the score. I remember sitting at the piano plunking out the parts and singing the songs in my own fashion until my mother couldn't stand it anymore. Then she would kick me off the piano, slide herself onto the bench, and command, "I play better than you, you just sing." In this way, I think I learned every song from that score.

So why did I wake up this morning with this running through my head?

"I've gotta crow, (crow),
I'm just the cleverest fellow 'twas ever my fortune to know (crow),
I can climb trees and play tag with the breeze in the meadows below,
I've gotta crow."

I'm pretty sure that I could still sing the entire song from beginning to end complete with all of the lyrics in the right order. (This is remarkable because I can't seem to remember the songs I wrote for my new show just weeks ago, and keep the melodies and lyrics in the right order.)

Is it because I learned that song in my youth with a fresh brain?

I guess it's true. That what you learn in your youth has the power to stick with you throughout your life. That's why it is especially important to learn positive songs in your youth. Those songs, if they teach or reiterate sound principles, can be so important to help guide people throughout their lives.

This is the reason I write Children's Theater Musicals that showcase good character values. My hope is that those songs might be a comfort and guide to the children as they go through life. Whether just fun or explaining a true principle, songs have power for good!

Here's "Being Sincere" from Never Cry Wolf

They Couldn't Help Themselves

6/29/2025

The premiere performance of my new children's theater musical "No Time for Monkey Business" happened yesterday. I count it a success when the audience goes home singing the songs. As well-wishers came up to me after the performance, that was practically all they would say, or sing rather. "What a beautiful day...the sun is shining..." or they'd say, "Those songs were so catchy!" Many literally said that they couldn't help themselves, they just kept singing the songs. They were stuck in their heads.

We tried to construct a jungle set with craft paper vines and tissue paper flowers made by the kids.

We were lucky. We only had one minor disaster during the show. Partway through the first big number a blast of wind came up and blew down the drapes in the back. They didn't fall far, fortunately, and my daughter jumped into action along with another tall friend to fix the problem. Apparently, they were so discreet that many in the audience were unaware of the situation. Another of my daughters who was the Stage Manager on that side of the stage found herself too busy calling cues and handing out props to do anything about the set problem. She was thankful that other people swiftly acted. So was I!

The flats were painted by Tiffany Lee and her two daughters Indie and London.

When you consider that the set was held together mainly by masking tape, cotton string, and safety pins, it is amazing that it held together at all. To think that a set built of styrofoam, bed sheets and construction paper had the hope of lasting through a day of wind, heat, and sun on an outdoor patio is actually pretty presumptuous, I admit. We knew we couldn't risk setting anything up the day before and leaving it over night, so we got up at the crack of dawn to build the stage with great hope that it could last until noon when the show would be over. And most of it did just fine.

These are the drapes that blew off the pipe that was holding them up.

With the real possibility that many things could go wrong, I am just glad that so many things went right and that the audience seemed to enjoy the show. They told me that the show was delightful and the songs were so catchy. They said that they appreciated how it had such a great message of learning to take responsibility. They were happy that the children would have such a wonderful memory to take with them through their lives.

Thankless Roles

5/26/2025

Old Lion King costume

Sometimes a story must be told with that character or two that are very important for the plot line, but not very fun to play. They might not get a song or if they do, the song isn't comedic or the showstopper. Or the character, as important as he is, dies off after the first scene. Those are the thankless, but important, roles. They are also difficult to cast.

In my new show "No Time for Monkey Business," the Old Lion King is such a character. He has a few lines in the first scene, displays his importance to the storyline, and then is never seen again. He dies off, and is only talked about throughout the rest of the scenes.

The Wise Fox

The Fox is also kind of a thankless role. The Fox is the only character with a strong moral compass in this show. So all of the Fox's lines and both songs are contemplative and pensive. Even though eventually the Fox is seen as heroic, it could prove hard casting an actor who can hold character while all of the other characters are being light, upbeat, and funny.

Fortunately, this summer, I know all of the kids that have signed up to do the Camp. Two older kids are well suited to do these two roles. One is actually only able to come to Camp for one of the weeks. He had actually volunteered to come anyway for the other week to help out as Junior Staff. And because he has a commanding presence he will be great as the dying Old Lion King who only has a few lines in one scene.

The other 12-year-old that can do the other thankless role is fortunately a good singer. She has younger siblings, too, that she is used to "tending" and 'lecturing" about making better choices. She will be perfect for the role of the Fox, and besides that, she is willing to do this more serious role.

I am grateful for these older kids who are willing to take on the thankless roles. They will surely be missed in the future when they are definitely too old to do my Summer Theater Camps.

How Could This Happen?

Fox     How could this happen?
            Why won't they see?
            Unwise decisions force them to be
            Beholding to the one who's whims throw caution to the wind.
            How could this happen?
            Perhaps their eyes have dimmed.
            They do not see.
            They cannot see.
            Then who will see?
            Perhaps it’s me.

Creating a Catchy Title

3/8/2025

Some authors I admire are so good with words! They have a knack for coming up with memorable phrases or pithy puns. I especially admire the power of catchy Titles. Take for instance the Disney movie "Tangled" that is the story of Rapunzel. Now the girl's name is the normal title of the fairy tale, but "Tangled" gives it an added comedic flair. Those of us who have daughters that we try to keep their hair managed know immediately how descriptive the title "Tangled" is. We all have our own memories of fighting with our daughters over the fuss of combing out the tangled knots of "bed head" hair in the mornings.

(Straightening out granddaughter CJ's hair in the mornings is not usually a smiling, happy affair!)

"The Monkey and the Fox" is a very short Aesop Fable that I am attempting to fill out to become a new show for this year's Summer Theater Camp. My first inclination is to use "Monkey Business" somewhere in the title. Truly, there are a lot of silly shenanigans with the Monkey and his pals in the script. However, the Monkey is not the hero of the Tale. In fact, the moral of the story is that "someone who cannot control himself should not be the one leading a kingdom."

The real hero of this Fable is the Fox who displays wisdom and selfless leadership skills. Near the beginning of the story, the old Lion King dies, and because the Monkey parades himself around draped in the royal robes of the old King, the jungle animals mistakenly view him as kingly, and elect him their King. Then, as the story plays out, the Fox thinks it is his duty to watch out for and even save the silly Monkey from his un-kingly ways.

The Fox continually warns the Monkey that he should take better care of himself. Finally, even the Fox gets tired of always rescuing the Monkey. Eventually, he lets the headstrong, unthinking, silly Monkey fall into the trap set by the trio of Tricky Trappers.

The last the jungle animals see of their King is when the Trappers haul off the Monkey from their trap. Only then do the animals realize that the Fox should be their ruler. They have a quick meeting and soon crown the Fox as the rightful King of the Jungle.

So, do I use "Monkey Business" in the title or keep searching for something that honors the wisdom of the Fox?

It's a problem.

In the meantime, I am finding fun costume ideas.

* * * * * * * * * * *

This just in --- My daughter Cami suggested a title: "No Time for Monkey Business." I think that's just right. I'm going with that.

People are so Clever

10/15/2024

It is easy to get depressed about your own creative efforts when you compare them to other people's creative efforts. There is a children's book writer and artist who has made podcasts about illustration for years. I started following his podcasts when I was first looking for inspiration for writing my own children's books. His name is Shoo Rayner, out of the UK. Lately, after going through some hard knocks in his own life, he has been posting about getting back to the basics to find inspiration to write and illustrate again. I hope he finds his way. I have certainly learned a lot from him.

When I look at other creative people's work, I find it hard to be rational about my own work. The talent and abilities they display are so great in my estimation, and my own seem so lacking. But then again, if we don't get distracted by negative feelings, we can always learn something from them. And if we continue on a learning path, we can grow in our abilities.

The trick is to keep focused on your own goals. Your talents are not the same as someone else's. They are yours. It's up to you to work with them and develop as you can.

Over the years, I have had two big desires.

One is to write Children's Musicals for the youngest actors. But I did not want to "dumb down" the material so much that an adult audience couldn't enjoy the material. And I have especially wanted to provide songs and stories that promote good character values. So, I have been very careful to focus particularly on those things.

The costumes, props, sets designs, overly produced accompaniment tracks, and anything else just had to remain in second, third or last place. My goal was to provide pieces that the youngest actors ages 5-11 could enjoy and learn to perform well. I had to force myself NOT to be discouraged by other people's works that really excelled at all of that other stuff. That could not be my focus.

Another desire I've had is to document the funny family stories we have told in our family for years. I felt that these stories needed to be passed on from generation to generation. I may not be the best artist or storyteller, but I can do my best at passing along these stories through the medium of children's picture books.

I have toyed with the idea of trying to get these storybooks published. I have even sent in a couple manuscripts to be reviewed by editors. Two comments came back, "These are obviously family stories. They lack the general appeal for a national market." And "You should always write in simple prose, not verse."

In one of the Shoo Rayner podcasts, he also commented about how people like to send him stories asking him to illustrate them. He said how hard it is to illustrate a story that is so obviously a family story. It's all about the prospective audience. And sometimes, the only people to appreciate them are the ones who already appreciate the people in the story or understand the "inside" jokes. Obviously, a writer is sometimes not the best judge of his own work or the targeted audience.

Being a composer, I like to write in verse. And, as far as target audience goes, my family is pretty large. I guess I don't really mind keeping my focus on my posterity as my target audience.

Still, I can't help admiring clever people and their amazing works.

Simple Sets and Scrounged Costumes

7/30/2024

Chicken Licken, Henny Penny, Cocky Locky, and the rest of the family from "The Tale of Chicken Licken."

Most of my experience doing Children's Theater has been with groups that had very little in the way of funds. Occasionally, even the artists asked to do the sets were amazing and willing to trade for their services. They would put their children in the shows in exchange for their art expertise. Still, they could only do what they could do with the resources available.

I admire programs that have the funds to afford great scenery as well as beautiful costumes. But in my reality, I usually end up making the costumes as well as painting the scenery and making the props for my shows. That's not to say that having scenic artists, and costumers, and working on stages with actual lights and sound amplification wouldn't be great, too

The Bluebirds Trio with Foxy Loxy from "The Tale of Chicken Licken."

But, it takes years to build up a program where those perks are normal. Good funding for a team of talented artists, technicians, seamstresses, sound engineers, and so forth.(sigh) That would be ideal!

In the mean time, I like to create. That's why I have been writing and producing Children's Theater Musicals. Besides that, I am quite particular as to what messages are being portrayed through the shows. Many kids' shows are just plain silly. I try to carefully select stories that send good messages, preferably surrounding a Character Value such as HONESTY, KINDNESS, BRAVERY, SINCERITY, WORK, PREPARATION, not giving into FEARS, APPRECIATION and KEEPING PROMISES.

Ducky Lucky and the Duck Family Team from "The Tale of Chicken Licken"

I've seen too many shows that had elaborate backdrops and scenery bought or rented from professional sources and costumes bought or rented also from professional costume houses that must have used up all of the group's budget. But the actual directing of the show and managing the young actors left much to be desired. The poor kids got lost in all of the accoutrements. Instead, the groups could have used their funds for more assistant directors to help prepare the kids.

As you may have guessed, there are a few things that really bother me about shows that are available to Children's Theater groups these days, such as:

1. Parts for only a few lead characters or narrators. All the other kids get to sing the songs as a chorus and do a little dancing, maybe, but there are no opportunities for real ACTING or DEVELOPING CHARACTERS.

2. Over-produced accompaniment tracks that overwhelm the young voices.

3. Original songs written for adults, so the ranges are not fit or healthy for very young voices.

Goosey Loosey and the Geese Family from "The Tale of Chicken Licken"

Where some shows lend themselves to gorgeous sets and fabulous costumes, even they can overwhelm a cast of first-time-ever-on-stage youngsters. I believe that a good show can stand on its own with very little in the way of "extras." Sure, having a colorful set rendered by talented artists and costumes obtained from professional sources can be great, but they can also be liabilities (as well as be very expensive).

Perhaps it is better for the students to shine rather than be swallowed up by their surroundings. The best accolades I ever get from doing my shows are the ones like "I could understand every word the kids sang," or "we will go home singing those wonderful songs," or "I'm so glad the kids had something good to think and sing about," or "we couldn't tell that there was one star of the show, there were important parts for everybody."

And, there's nothing wrong with simple sets and scrounged costumes...

Premiere Performance of "The Frog Prince"

7/7/2024

The first ever performance of "The Frog Prince" went very well yesterday. We had a very responsive audience that really got into the show. They laughed and clapped, and "Ooh-ed and Ahh-ed" in all the right places. The singing was heartfelt and the acting was hammed up where it needed to be. And of course, there was plenty of cute factor from our littlest people.

My crew started setting up shade canopies and the 30+ chairs I have during the 9:00 am hour. Other audience people kept arriving with their own chairs until 10:00 am and beyond. That's when the show was supposed to start, but people kept coming and coming. So I gave the audience a pep talk to give them a little more time to get settled. I didn't really count, but there must have been close to 200 people trying to get a spot where they could see the stage. My backyard is pretty wide, but it isn't really wide enough for that many people!

At 9:30 am, before most of the people were in their seats, we attempted to get a cast photo. The sun was low enough still that the kids wouldn't open their eyes and smile. We took a few shots anyway -- at least for history's sake.

"The Frog Prince" Summer Camp Show 2024

It's gratifying for me to hear the comments from the audience after the show.

Older man: "There were so many surprises! The part with the puppets was brilliant. I really enjoyed the show!"

A Grandmother: "You had so many good singers in this cast. It's amazing that you can get so much out of these young kids in such a short time."

Man: "We loved being able to root for the Knights during their battle scene!"

Woman: "The little princesses were adorable!"

Older woman: "I was so glad that this show had such a good message. So many kids' shows these days seem pretty dumb and the music isn't very good. I loved how the songs were so singable! I think we'll go home singing them!"

Now, I just have to pack everything away. Whew!

Kids These Days are Different

5/28/2024

Monterey California is beautiful even on foggy days. Very expensive, but beautiful.

Last week I went to Monterey, where we used to live during the 1990s, and got to visit people and places we learned to know and love so many years ago. One of the ladies I went to see was Gail Higginbotham, Artistic Director and Owner of Ariel Theatrical, a children's theater company in Monterey. She had some health issues, so I went to her house to pay her a brief visit.

We got to talking about her theater endeavors and she asked about mine. She said that the current hardest problem she has is that the kids have changed. "They are different now. They come to rehearsals unprepared. They don't seem to know how to relate to people. They don't recognize how working as a team is important. They have no sense of personal discipline or responsibility. I keep wondering if this is all about what didn't happen for them during the Pandemic or if they just are not being taught in their families."

Gail also said that she is having trouble finding good help --- from acting instructors, to choreographers, to other creative workers. Most devastating of all is that the piano player who had been part of her artistic team for years recently died. She hasn't found anyone who could adequately replace him. And since she has had surgery, she has not even been able to be so hands on at rehearsals herself. Then she said, "Are you sure you don't want to come back to Ariel? You have been missed."

I can't help but wonder if one of her troubles is that the Monterey area is just unbelievably expensive. Regular folks cannot afford to live there anymore. (I certainly couldn't afford to buy back my old house.) The normal (not ultra rich) people who do live there and in surrounding regions have to work several jobs just to afford life.

But, it is possible that children at large have been changed by the problems brought on by the COVID Pandemic. Unless the children had parents who were taking up the slack, many kids missed out on learning social graces and how to relate to people face to face.

All the more a reason to have music, arts, and drama in the schools. And also why I have been writing children's musicals that have overarching Character Values as THEMES. Kids need to learn about Integrity, Kindness, Sincerity, Bravery, Cooperation, Work, Honesty, Preparation, Appreciation, Family Love, and facing Fears. Participating in Children's Theater is a great place to learn.

"The Frog Prince," that will be premiered this July, also has an important Character Value as its THEME - Keeping Promises.

Here is a clip of the EXIT MUSIC "A Promise Is a Promise After All"

Unexpected Inspirations

2/23/2024

As I was driving yesterday, I turned on the local classical music radio station. A lively march was playing. I listened thinking this is just the right rhythm and "feel" that I would like for the Overture of my new show. The announcer said it was George Bizet's "Petite Suite" which was a grouping of several of his piano solos for children arranged for orchestra.

That immediately got me thinking about just how to open the show. I have two plastic prop trumpets. I can have two Heralds playing the trumpets who can then open the show, welcome the audience, and get things rolling.

Later as I was walking out of the Rec. Center, I ran into a neighborhood friend. He is a professor who knows a lot about the Renaissance. His specialty might be in Medieval and Renaissance literature. So I stopped him and asked his advice on a few of my show ideas. He heard that I usually had 20 little girls in my show and said that it made him think of a play that was written during the 14th century that featured 20 nuns playing all of the parts. He suggested an idea for gifts that the little princesses could bring to the royal birthday party. (That was just where I was stuck!) He said that these nuns went to a party bringing gifts that symbolized Virtues. What a great idea!

When I got home, I started researching Virtues and listening to Bizet's "Petite Suite."

Doves are seen as a symbol of Hope and new beginnings.

I learned a lot about things that symbolize virtues, and decided that I needed to find the simplest representations of virtues using physical objects that children might understand. So I came up with this list: 1. Generosity - Elephant, 2. Gratitude - Flowers, 3. Wisdom - Books, 4. Love - Swans, 5. Trust - Key, 6. Cheerfulness - Bluebird, 7. Hope - Butterfly, 8. Loyalty - Dog, 9. Truthfulness - Eagle, and 10. Friendliness - Bracelet. This is just the first draft of the list. There are a lot of choices.

Recap: So, yesterday I was able to write a couple of new scenes for "The Frog Prince" and get started on the Herald's Trumpet March, decide from the many possible virtues which to use, and research what objects best represent those virtues.

All in all, a very productive day.

Here is a preview of the first actual song in the show - "On a Once Upon a Time" sung by the Ladies and the Lords. This is just the ending part.

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