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

Aesop's Fable "The Monkey and the Fox"

9/3/2024

Adorable kid as a fox

For my good, I suppose, my children like to keep me busy. The latest idea is for me to write a new Children's Musical using the Aesop Fable "The Monkey and the Fox."

I was not previously acquainted with this particular fable. Not long ago, my daughter Cami checked out an Eric Carle retelling of this fable from the library. She said she had some ideas for how this could make a wonderful children's play. It just needed some tweaking and some fun songs.

Here's an idea for ears and a tail

At first when I researched the fable online, I read a summary that was literally just a few sentences. Most of the Aesop fables are very short anyway, but this was exceedingly short. My first worry about the story was how to fill out the POPULATION. This story had very few characters. When I mentioned that to Cami, she said that we had an entire Jungle to work with! I could always write in extra parts for more animals. This story is a perfect vehicle for using forest or jungle animals of all kinds and the parts do not have to be specifically male or female --- PERFECT FOR A KID'S SHOW! (Kids love acting like animals!)

Cute concept for a lion

The next problem is COSTUMING. Animal costumes can be expensive to buy or even to make. Then she said an economical way was to just use MASKS or EARS AND TAILS. Then the children can wear solid-colored shorts and T-shirts in the color of the animal such as grey for an elephant, yellow for a lion, or brown for a bear.
Masks can be problematic, though. It's better for the audience if the parents and grandparents can actually see the children's faces!

Ideas for a jungle set

After reading the abbreviated story only once, I really didn't think there was enough of a story to make a 30 minute musical. But yesterday, Cami told me to go get a pen and paper so that she could give me her ideas. In just a few minutes, she had told me her thoughts which were actually well fleshed out. She had the setting, the characters, the plot line, some dialogue, and even song titles.

They were impressive ideas! I immediately went to the computer to write them down so that I wouldn't forget them. After I combined my ideas with hers and wrote them out in a first draft script, she proof-read them. She was able to fix the order and some of the lines to flow better. Soon almost the entire script was mapped out. Pretty good for one morning's work!

Too bad I'm already working on a different huge project, so this one needs to perculate on the back burner until after Christmas. But, it looks like I will be writing a new show for next Summer's Theater Camp 2025. Thanks Cami!

When a Song Just Doesn't Fit the Show

8/26/2024

Editing... it can be hard to take.

While on my flight last Thursday, I had a stimulating conversation with the guy on my row. After the opening niceties, he explained why he was having trouble with his hand movements. He said that he was recovering from an accident and a stroke.

Of course, I was interested in letting him tell his story --- at least all he wanted to tell. When he said that he was also trying to recover his singing voice, I mentioned how that was something I could relate to. I had also had an accident and was trying to retrain my voice. That was just the opener to other things that we found we had in common.

Come to find out, he had been working in Los Angeles in the film industry. But he was having trouble getting back up to speed after his accident, so he changed the subject and asked me what projects I was working on. I told him I was in the process of writing a children's picture book. I said that I had sketches with me, but they were in no state to be shown to people. However, I happened to have a copy of the book I finished last year. He said he'd love to see it.

Justin carefully studied each page and gave me meaningful comments about what was good or could be better on each page. The most encouraging critique he gave was that he could see everything in the storybook CINEMATICALLY. He praised my storytelling and said how he thought he would really have liked my aunt "Janie Thompson: The Girl from Nowhere Who Went Everywhere."

Most of what he told me was positive, but he did have a few criticisms that were a little tough to hear. It sure would have been nice to have a good editor to help me create that book in the first place.

Cruel Stepmother and Ugly Stepsisters

When I arrived at my daughter's house in Washington, it was time to go see the show she was performing in. The local community theater was doing Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella." Carolyn was playing the cruel stepmother. (She did a marvelous job, too, I may say.)

I had never seen this particular production. It had many additions to the script that I was unfamiliar with. It also included some songs that kind of threw me. It seemed that they didn't really fit.

One of those songs was "Boys and Girls Like You and Me." This song had been written years ago for the precursor show that became "Oklahoma." It was pulled from that show because it just didn't fit. Then it was sold to be used in the movie "Meet Me in St. Louis." It was cut from that show, too. Apparently it had been tried in several more shows including "State Fair," and was cut from them too. (I guess a lot of brutal editing goes into the professional productions, too.)

Finally, for one of the several rewritten scripts for the Rodgers and Hammerstein "Cinderella," they jerry-rigged a scene where it could possibly fit. It is a scene written for the King and Queen in their dressing room. This song is supposed to show their tender romantic relationship.

It was still awkward. No wonder that song/scene is really only included in a couple of the currently available "Cinderella" scripts. I had never seen it before.

Criticism and editing can be hard to take as a writer. I understand how a song can be as special as one of your own beloved children. This cast did the best they could with the song, but if it doesn't fit, it ought to go.

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...

Remembering Things from Youth

7/22/2024

Bonnie Lee age 3

My sister was telling me about her first memories from when she was very little. She remembered when she was 20 months old, sick in the hospital for days and days stuck inside a crib with jail-like bars. She could also describe in detail the bedspread fabric on my parent's bed in Texas, as well as playing with dolls in a sea of pillows inside our bedroom closet. Being 12 years older, I could validate those memories for her.

It is funny though how memories can be so clear from childhood, when as we age, it can be hard to remember what happened yesterday.

Bonnie also told me her memories of watching a favorite movie when she was little, "Lost Horizon." She loved to dance around the house to the music which was written by a pop composer of the time, Burt Bacharach. That got me thinking. Suddenly I was remembering tunes and lyrics from the score. I could remember entire songs that I hadn't sung or even thought about in decades.

Then I thought about how when I watched "Brigadoon" recently, I remembered not only the songs, but most of the dialogue. I had been in that show in High School, but that was ages ago. Nowadays I have trouble remembering the most recent show I not only wrote but also directed. So why was I getting words and scenes mixed up when I had been thinking about all of the aspects of that show for months!

You'd think that the most recent memories would be the freshest and clearest. But I guess not...

There was one cute girl in the cast of my summer camp this year that was always first to remember the next line or who should deliver it. She was sharp as a tack, but not a know-it-all or obnoxious about it. She reminded me of me at that age. Whenever I was doing a show back then, the lines and lyrics came easily to me. I simply could remember them. Oh, to be nine years old again.

This is actually a testament to me about how important it is to put lots of good things into the memory banks of our children when they are young. That's the best hope for them having those good things popping up again and again, intact, at various times throughout their lives!

"On a Once Upon a Time" from "The Frog Prince" - guide vocals sung by three of my granddaughters.

The Frog Prince Musical Now Available

7/19/2024

After our successful premiere performance of "The Frog Prince," I am now ready to offer it in DIGITAL DOWNLOAD format. These materials are now published at SheetMusicPlus.com and SheetMusicDirect.com. Just search for "The Frog Prince" by Betsy Lee Bailey.

"The Frog Prince Children's Musical" - Director's Script
The Director's Script includes stage directions, dialogue, and vocal lines for the seven songs all embedded within the script. Perfect for the Artistic Director and the Music Director especially. Some songs are written in two-part harmony.

"The Frog Prince Children's Musical" - Piano/Vocal Score
The Score includes all of the songs, plus the dances and incidentals. Some pieces have orchestrated parts (displayed in concert pitch) besides the Piano/Vocal parts. Individual Instrumental Parts for live performances may be requested through the Contact Info tab.

"The Frog Prince Children's Musical" - Production Kit
The Production Kit includes the Performance License (good for one run of shows), and reproducibles: a streamlined handheld script for the cast members, an "invitation to our show" coloring activity, and a prop "scroll invitation to Princess Caroline's Party" needed in Scene 2.

"The Frog Prince Children's Musical "- Show Order MP3 Tracks
Accompaniment mp3 tracks are available individually from both Sheet Music Plus and Sheet Music Direct. See Show Order Tracks List to order 21 separate mp3s.

Guide Performance recordings can be heard on the Songs from Musicals tab Songs from The Frog Prince.

Video of the first ever production can be seen on YouTube. The Frog Prince Video

If you like these efforts, please leave a Review or a Like, especially on SMP, SMD or YouTube. Thank you!

Making a List, Checking It Twice

6/21/2024

No, it's not my Christmas List. It's my list of all the things I need to prepare for the Summer Theater Camp starting in 3 days. Too bad I got the sickness my family shared with me from having our Family Reunion here last week. We had a great time, but the sniffling and sneezing lingers on. I just haven't been very able to get things done.

My granddaughters came through for me, though. They recorded the vocals for "The Frog Prince" children's musical. Somehow we figured out Garage Band enough that the vocals turned out. I even figured out the processes well enough that I could tune a single note that they got wrong in one of the harmony parts after they left. (I'm actually pretty proud of myself for that.) Little by little I am learning Garage Band. These recordings are now up on my webpage Songs from The Frog Prince.

This show has five original songs: "On a Once Upon a Time" sung by the Lords and Ladies to explain the setting of the story, "A Party for a Princess" sung by the little Princesses once they get their invitations, "To Be a Princess" sung by the Queen and Princess about how she should act at her party, "Knights in Motion" sung by the Knights as they do their swordplay routine, and "A Promise Is a Promise after All" sung by the Frog Prince and Company.

There are also other pieces of music for dances and incidentals, 23 individual bits of music in all. I always wonder at this point if I have included enough songs. And then I work on the schedule and wonder if I have included too much music and if we can learn it all in two weeks. Perhaps five songs with their reprises are enough after all.

Well, I guess it's on to finishing up the paperwork, organizing a schedule, looking over the costumes and props, gathering items to make the scenery, and getting my house ready for Monday. Some list...

Better get to work!

Blaming It All on the Birds

6/6/2024

The Dawn Chorus of birds twittering loudly in my backyard woke me up again today --- long before I actually wanted to be awake (5:00 am). Who needs an alarm clock, right? I guess it's my own fault for sleeping with the windows open. I don't really mind waking up that early, but this morning I realized yet again that I am not as young as I used to be. Aches and pains all over, even in a few new places. (Guess I should really invest in that new mattress.)

Anyway, I've been thinking about how to get good VOCAL recordings of the songs for my new show, "The Frog Prince."  In a few days, my daughter's family will be here for our Family Reunion. They don't know it yet, but I may hit up those granddaughters to sing the songs for me. Even though they are getting older, too, they are still teenagers not grandmothers.

And yet, they will still need recordings to help them learn the songs quickly as they travel cross-country for the next few days. That doesn't let me out of doing the initial recordings.  (sigh!)

Yesterday, I spent most of the day trying to figure out how to record straight onto Garage Band on my Mac computer. Over the years I have relied on my BR-1180 all-in-one digital recording studio. That worked so well for my needs and still would if it wasn't so old that it doesn't communicate easily with the computer even through a DAW. It would even give the recordings a professional polish using the Mastering Tool Kit. Trouble is that the BR-1180 won't import tracks directly from the computer. So I am left wondering about how to use the already recorded accompaniment tracks...

Back to trying to figure out Garage Band. Yesterday I loaded the accompaniment tracks into Garage band and got set-up to do some Vocal recordings, which I did. But figuring out the polishing and editing aspects of working with Garage Band has me stumped.  (Old dog trying to learn new tricks)

I haven't learned enough yet about all that Garage Band can do. So far, I am stuck at trying to quickly get up to speed with the new lingo. And then after most of the day doing prep work, I found that my upper body and neck were all tied up in knots. And the stress was hurting the quality of my singing. I was not happy with any of my recordings. They just made me think of how past my prime I am.

So, I figured I'd start again today to try to get some better recordings. Too bad those birds kept me from getting enough sleep and rest!

(I will blame it all on the birds!)

Here's one of the Herald Trumpet fanfares for "The Frog Prince." It's kind of like the Dawn Chorus.

A Peek at "The Frog Prince"

5/30/2024

Cover for "The Frog Prince" Script

Here is a peek at some of the finished parts and pieces of the new Children's Musical "The Frog Prince" for ages 5-12.

I just finished illustrating the cover for the script. The accompaniment tracks for the 5 original songs are finished along with the dances and incidental pieces. I just need to get the VOCALS recorded now.

We are madly working on sewing the costumes, hats, and making other accoutrements. (The story is set in Renaissance France so I'm trying to throw in some French lingo.)

One of my worries has been wondering if I make this show be able to accommodate many Princesses, how would I attract boys to participate. Apparently, all I needed to do was advertise that the boys would play Knights and have a sword fight.

Already I have more boys enrolled than I ever imagined. I've had to rewrite the script quite a few times now. I like to make sure every kid has a featured part and a named character.

The hand puppets I bought are so cute! Can't wait to see how well the kids learn to operate the Dragon, Frog, and Prince puppets. I also have foam swords, stick ponies, coconut shells to make the "clip clop" gallop sounds, and quite a few ancient-looking instruments.

We're getting close now --- only a few more weeks until Summer Theater Camp!

Here's a preview of the Dragon's Grand Entrance and chase music.

Biting Off More Than You Can Chew

5/6/2024

"Biting Off More Than You Can Chew" is a saying that means you may have higher ambitions than you have time to reasonably accomplish. People do this all the time. The conductor of my Community Choir announced last week that we would not be doing a couple of songs on our concert that she had planned because we didn't have enough time to actually learn them. Sometimes teachers intend to get through the book by this time in the semester, but actually don't. (Unfortunately, some of my teachers still included those chapters on the final!) And working with young children can be hard because they very likely have never been on stage before.

This is always a worry for anyone who is planning out a strategy for children's theater rehearsals. Doing a Summer Theater Camp is difficult to gage as far as that goes. Most directors do a three week, three hours per day Camp session. I have learned that I reasonably only have two weeks I can count on for families in my area to commit to a kid's summer camp. There are so many other opportunities for kids' summer activities, that I just just had to choose shows that would work for this age group in the shorter sessions.

That doesn't mean there is no anxiety, though! The key is to have enough trusted help!

Teenage helpers working with the "Stone Soup" 2023 cast to learn choreography.

Still, when writing a completely new show, (even knowing what I have learned over the years) there is always that possibility that I have bitten off more that we can chew. This is untried material and many of the cast will be children I have never even met before. I don't know their abilities, and they probably won't have any previous experience with theater or understand the pace we have to work at to pull off a show.

Yet, I have high hopes. I just finished the umpteenth draft of my new Children's Musical "The Frog Prince." I've gone on to working on costumes, finishing recordings of the songs, designing scenery and props, and starting to come up with rehearsal plans. Fortunately, I know a few of the kids who have been in my shows before that I can count on to lend some maturity and stability to the cast.

As far as help goes, this year, I may have a dream team of helpers. Two sisters, two daughters, and a granddaughter have agreed to do particular jobs from doing the choreography, to teaching the songs, to being the stage manager, to creating costumes, to painting scenery, to video recording the show, and more --- they are my stacked deck!

I also know a few candidates who could do the lead roles. That makes me feel more secure. Even this song, "To Be a Princess" that has a few French language phrases, has a hope of being performed well. Yay!

Renaissance Courtly Dances

4/25/2024

In our community Chorale, we are preparing a Kaleidoscope of pieces from many eras. They cover quite a range from Renaissance to Modern day. Because I am currently writing a Children's Musical set in northern France in the 1500's, I am quite interested in the few Renaissance pieces. They have helped me get in the mood to write the needed courtly dances in a more authentic way.

My sister who just retired from the Tabernacle Choir is very skilled at creating costumes. We met together last week to discuss how she might like to help me out, and she volunteered to create the costumes for my older actors (9-12 year olds). She also is well-versed in period-appropriate dress. And as an actress/singer herself, she knows just what will work on stage --- even with little people. I am getting excited to see what she comes up with.

But back to the music. I have two plastic trumpet props. So, I decided to write parts for two Heralds. Their jobs will be very important --- they will introduce the show at the beginning and play fanfares at other transitions. Of course, they need appropriate music suitable to their official tasks.

Fortunately, I have costumes I can use from a previous show. The Balladeers costumes from "The Adventures of Dick Whittington" will work for the two Herald Trumpeters as well as become basic pieces for some of the Knights.

To the music again. I decided that as an Opener after the initial Trumpet Fanfare and welcome by the Heralds, we needed a Courtly Dance to get the Lords and Ladies onto the stage. And after singing some of these Renaissance chorals at Chorale and listening to some fun authentic instrumentals, I just have to do the Courtly dances in a minor mode resolving to major at the cadence.

This might be a little gutsy for a Children's Theater piece, but I just have to do it. Here's a sample from the Opener in "The Frog Prince."

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