Back when my two youngest children were in elementary school, the music teacher did a school musical every spring. She chose a vehicle that had a few lead characters and narrators. The rest of the children sang and/or danced as an ensemble. These productions turned out cute, but to my mind were not real children's theater. There was very little acting. But the production numbers turned out fun.
At that time, I had already been working professionally as a vocal coach and assistant director for community theater children's theater companies for many years. Those companies had entirely different goals for their shows. They wanted as many of the children who enrolled to have a named character, lines and/or songs, interaction between characters, and opportunities to be featured. Sometimes the shows had to be quite small to accomplish those goals, but sometimes they would accommodate 40-50 kids. No small feat.
I really enjoyed working with Ariel Productions in Monterey California. The Artistic Director Gail Higginbotham often wrote her own shows just so that she could have a show to use that would suit her goals. I learned so much from her! I saw first hand how to organize an original script to include parts for many children as well as where to insert music and songs to pack the biggest punch. This gave me confidence to write my own shows later on.
Recently, I have sold the script and score to "The Empty Pot." In my heart of hearts, I would love to know something about the group that may be performing it. Are they kids in a large elementary school? Are they in a small private school or a church group? Are they in a community children's theater?
"The Empty Pot" started out as a speculation. I wrote it because I thought that story deserved becoming a musical production not because I had immediate plans to direct a show. It had such dramatic flow, many characters, colorful costume, scenery, and props opportunities, good morals, and a happy ending. I had no trouble picturing how to stage it and how the music should sound. But I always write better if I know the kids I am writing for.
So later when I actually got the opportunity to mount this show myself, I rewrote parts of it to give some characters more to do as well as some songs that showed off of the talents of these "real life" kids. So, I gave it a new title, "A Successor to the Throne", as well.
I can't help wondering if the group that bought the script will be working with children who need to use a simpler production, or if they might actually have the talent to pull off the more involved show.
Guess I'll never know.
At that time, I had already been working professionally as a vocal coach and assistant director for community theater children's theater companies for many years. Those companies had entirely different goals for their shows. They wanted as many of the children who enrolled to have a named character, lines and/or songs, interaction between characters, and opportunities to be featured. Sometimes the shows had to be quite small to accomplish those goals, but sometimes they would accommodate 40-50 kids. No small feat.
I really enjoyed working with Ariel Productions in Monterey California. The Artistic Director Gail Higginbotham often wrote her own shows just so that she could have a show to use that would suit her goals. I learned so much from her! I saw first hand how to organize an original script to include parts for many children as well as where to insert music and songs to pack the biggest punch. This gave me confidence to write my own shows later on.
Recently, I have sold the script and score to "The Empty Pot." In my heart of hearts, I would love to know something about the group that may be performing it. Are they kids in a large elementary school? Are they in a small private school or a church group? Are they in a community children's theater?
"The Empty Pot" started out as a speculation. I wrote it because I thought that story deserved becoming a musical production not because I had immediate plans to direct a show. It had such dramatic flow, many characters, colorful costume, scenery, and props opportunities, good morals, and a happy ending. I had no trouble picturing how to stage it and how the music should sound. But I always write better if I know the kids I am writing for.
So later when I actually got the opportunity to mount this show myself, I rewrote parts of it to give some characters more to do as well as some songs that showed off of the talents of these "real life" kids. So, I gave it a new title, "A Successor to the Throne", as well.
I can't help wondering if the group that bought the script will be working with children who need to use a simpler production, or if they might actually have the talent to pull off the more involved show.
Guess I'll never know.
Madame Wong singing "The Road of Life" with the Shoppers
Here's one of the songs I wrote for "A Successor to the Throne" because we needed to add a particular character and that young talented actress needed a song.
"The Road of Life" sung by Madame Wong.
"The Road of Life" sung by Madame Wong.
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