Over the past few weeks I have been working on the script and songs for my newest Musical, "Parizade's Quest - A Tale from the Arabian Nights." The story, as it was told in the version I was working from, had a lot of backstory explained at the very beginning. This wallowing through information really slows down the plot. I had to find some way to include the necessary information, but keep the momentum going. I decided to cloak much of the backstory in mystery and only reveal a little at a time. The other problem was to create a satisfying culmination for the finale song. One of my daughters read my first draft and suggested that I use the symbol of the precious pearls as a unifying element. So I went back and tried to include "precious pearls" in the plot at important junctures so that when I used it at the end, the message of "Pearls So Rare" would tie the whole story together.
Another problem of creating a piece of theater is to decide which characters need to meet the audience through their own theme music. I decided that the Weeping Queen definitely needed her own beautiful theme song "By Morning's Light" to help the audience become more sympathetic towards her. Nobody likes to be hit with sadness right at the beginning of a supposedly happy musical. Yet, for the plot development, the Queen's sadness plays a pivotal role. It worked out that her musical theme could also be used for the "Sultan's March" music by adding martial drumming. That was appropriate in order to establish that her loss was also the Sultan's loss.
What age range is my target cast? That is an important question to keep in mind while writing the script and songs. Fortunately, I am writing for a school cast with about equal ratios of boys to girls. I also know these kids pretty well because I have directed three plays at this particular school already. I have not pre-cast the show, but I have kept the particular skills of these kids in mind as I have developed characters. Besides, I had made a promise to give them a show this spring featuring lead roles for as many girls as possible! So, by writing the show based on this story, I have provided good roles for Parizade the lost princess, Jamileh the Storyteller, Shazelle the Speaking (and tap-dancing) Bird, Kazhira the Weeping Queen, Beheshteh and Chaman Banoo the jealous sisters of the Queen, Mona and Nadia the Gypsy dancers, Rasma the Housekeeper, and assorted Maids and Servants and Dancers. I am hoping that some talented dancers audition for "Parizade's Quest" so that the dance numbers can be mounted close to how I have imagined them.
My goal in writing for Children's Theater has been to tell stories that have meaningful messages. Titles include stories about Bravery, Integrity, Sincerity, Cooperation, Work, Honesty, Loyal Pets dealing with Fears and Change and Yearnings, and now the paramount importance of FAMILY. The "Pearls So Rare" as presented in "Parizade's Quest" have to do with precious and loving Family relationships. This Musical is turning out to be a wonderful adventure story filled with memorable characters and singable songs and most of all --- a reminder of the importance of FAMILY!
Another problem of creating a piece of theater is to decide which characters need to meet the audience through their own theme music. I decided that the Weeping Queen definitely needed her own beautiful theme song "By Morning's Light" to help the audience become more sympathetic towards her. Nobody likes to be hit with sadness right at the beginning of a supposedly happy musical. Yet, for the plot development, the Queen's sadness plays a pivotal role. It worked out that her musical theme could also be used for the "Sultan's March" music by adding martial drumming. That was appropriate in order to establish that her loss was also the Sultan's loss.
What age range is my target cast? That is an important question to keep in mind while writing the script and songs. Fortunately, I am writing for a school cast with about equal ratios of boys to girls. I also know these kids pretty well because I have directed three plays at this particular school already. I have not pre-cast the show, but I have kept the particular skills of these kids in mind as I have developed characters. Besides, I had made a promise to give them a show this spring featuring lead roles for as many girls as possible! So, by writing the show based on this story, I have provided good roles for Parizade the lost princess, Jamileh the Storyteller, Shazelle the Speaking (and tap-dancing) Bird, Kazhira the Weeping Queen, Beheshteh and Chaman Banoo the jealous sisters of the Queen, Mona and Nadia the Gypsy dancers, Rasma the Housekeeper, and assorted Maids and Servants and Dancers. I am hoping that some talented dancers audition for "Parizade's Quest" so that the dance numbers can be mounted close to how I have imagined them.
My goal in writing for Children's Theater has been to tell stories that have meaningful messages. Titles include stories about Bravery, Integrity, Sincerity, Cooperation, Work, Honesty, Loyal Pets dealing with Fears and Change and Yearnings, and now the paramount importance of FAMILY. The "Pearls So Rare" as presented in "Parizade's Quest" have to do with precious and loving Family relationships. This Musical is turning out to be a wonderful adventure story filled with memorable characters and singable songs and most of all --- a reminder of the importance of FAMILY!
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