Middle School Musicals
Show Descriptions:

​

The First Three Shows Are Available (Script, MIDI, mp3 and Finale files) for purchase through this page. Email request

The Five Shows Following Are Available For Review Upon Request

 

 

Cover Story

Script, MIDI, mp3 and Finale files available for purchase through this page. Email request

​

    You can't tell a book by its cover, that's the basis of this innovative show. The musical takes place in a middle school classroom and begins as most school days begin. However, at some point in the action, there is a point of departure in which one of the characters takes center stage and reveals something about themselves that we may never know. Following the scene, the lights come up to reveal the exact same opening until we reach another point of departure and a different character tells of their life. The opening occurs nine times and each time we find out something about a different character.

    "Everyone Has a Story" is the opening song - "Everyone has a story. Everyone in this place. The kids that you see are like you and me- there's a story behind that face."

   Sarah is being bullied, one kid imagines that he is a rock star, another is a superhero. One kid leads the class is stomp-like percussion "duel" with the teacher. The bully sings a song full of adolescent anger; "The kids in this school are losers, the teachers they treat me like dirt. They say beggars can't be choosers, but I ain't gonna beg nobody, ain't gonna shine nobody and I ain't gonna take any hurt!"

    One girl sings a song "Don't Die, Sandy" about her little brother who is dying of leukemia. Even the teacher imagines that she is the greatest teacher in the world.

And, of course, there is a totally irreverent song about school lunches - "When we get real hungry as kids are apt to do, they put us in a dungeon and try to feed us goo. The applesauce is moldy, the milk sometimes is hot. The cooks will sneeze right on your tray and charge you for the snot!"

    If your students are ready for a shot of reality rather than the silly, inane musicals that are often foisted upon us, try producing Cover Story.

​

Free look at Cover Story:

​

​

Songs:

Opening - Everyone Has A Story

Deirdre’s Song – rock song

Rhythm or Without ‘Em (percussion ensemble)

Teacher’s Song

Starr’s Song – Orff ensemble

A Love Song - duet

Lucretia, The Star Maiden

Sarah’s Song – guitar accompaniment

Ben’s Song

Don’t Die, Sandy

Grace’s Song

Lunch - company

 

Production details:

• Large Cast - Seventeen roles and two offstage voices

• Originally written for all girls but names can be changed easily - there is little reference to gender in the script.

• Accompaniment - almost all piano with one guitar and a little electronic drum track/keyboard

• Singers - one strong soprano for "Don't Die, Sandy" and strong alto for bully's "Beth's Song." Other songs are written in middle school tessituri

• Can add as many chorus members as needed

• Takes place in a middle school classroom and in the minds of the students and teacher

• Twelve songs

• Eleven scenes

• Running time: about an hour

• Scenery - a classroom setting; chairs or benches

• Props - minimal, mostly things students and teachers would use. One "magical" machine and some hand percussion

• Projections – photos of famous people as needed

• Costumes - basic school clothes, one silly costume for the superhero and cool outfit for the rock stars

• Contact bjwmsm@gmail.com for details

 

 

Like a Girl

Script, MIDI, mp3 and Finale files available for purchase via Email request

 

    "They tell me I act like a girl. They tell me I throw like a girl. They tell me run like a girl, well, let me tell you something, buddy - I AM A GIRL!"

    Perfect for a girl’s chorus or March which is Women's History Month! These scenes of famous women are based on historical fact and take place at a pivotal point in their teens. The women include:

• Harriet Tubman

• Rosa Parks

• Sandra Day O'Connor

• Elizabeth Blackwell

• Susan B. Anthony

• Amelia Earhart

• Georgia O'Keefe

• Annie Oakley

• Rachel Carson

    Rosa sings "It don't matter if you're black or white, no, no, it don't matter. It don't matter if you can't write, no, no, it don't matter. 'Cause there's only one earth that we've had from the start, and the one thing that counts is what's inside your heart and oh, that does matter! Mmmm, that does matter."

    Harriet (her nickname was Minty as a girl) sings "Oh, Freedom" after hearing the story of a runaway slave. Rachel Carson sings a lovely song about the sounds of nature she hears as a girl. Sandra Day O'Connor left her home and parents (and pet bobcat) at about fourteen to attend a better school before she went to Stanford Law School. Her character sings "Miles never matter when love is in your heart. Distance is illusion to those of us to love."

    Each character comes to an epiphany that had some influence on what they were to do as women.

    The opening song is a defiant, rock song that the chorus sings in spite of messages girls receive from society: "...they tell me don't be as smart as the boys, like a boy could be smarter than me!"

    Let your girls know what is possible by these inspiring stories of girls in their teens.

Songs:

• Like a Girl (company)

• It Don’t Matter (Rosa  Parks)

• Amelia’s Song (Amelia Earhart)

• Georgia’s Song (Georgia O’Keefe)

• I Can’t Believe That I Did What I Did! – (Annie Oakley)

• Freedom – (Harriet Tubman)

• Susan’s Song - Heaven Help Us If We Use Our Brain! (Susan B. Anthony)

• Elizabeth’s Song – (Elizabeth Blackwell)

• Rachel’s Song - Rachel Carson

• Miles Never Matter – Sandra Day O’Connor

Production details:

• Large Cast - Nine lead characters, each with a solo. The cast can include a female adult as Sandra's mother

• Originally written for all girls but names/lines of some characters can be changed easily to accommodate boys

• Accompaniment - Piano (optional Orff ensemble)

• Singers - All songs are written in middle school tessituri

• Can add as many chorus members as needed

• Ten songs

• Ten scenes - each story takes place in a different place, but simple reference pieces can be used to suggest the various settings

• Running time is about an hour

• Scenery - a backdrop painting is helpful

• Props - (script comes with a full prop list) Includes stools, benches, 2 classroom settings, books, drawing boards, etc.

• Costumes - some period clothing, shawls, head scarves, long skirts, (wear basic black and accessorize!)

• Sound - offstage sound is required; one of the songs is a duet that is pre-recorded

• Contact bjwmsm@gmail.com for details

 

 

Modern Vaudeville

Script, MIDI, mp3 and Finale files available for purchase via Email request

​

    Modern Vaudeville takes place on one stage in Boston but incorporates two time periods. The show begins at the onset of the silent movie era and the managers of the theater are trying to keep the theater afloat (Vaudeville is King.) Professor G.H. Wells and his lovely assistant Maria Del Monico (...like the steak!) audition with an act that uses a "time machine" that actually works! However, the time machine transports a group of actors from the present back in time. The American Women's Society for Decency happens upon the theater just as the contemporary actors appear and are aghast at the immodest clothing and strange speech! One of the contemporary actors recognizes her great-grandmother among the Society for Decency and they feel a weird, out-of-time connection as they sing a duet (Family.)

    The Professor and Maria re-tune the time machine but not before we get to see an authentic vaudeville show, complete with actual (edited) skits and jokes from the vaudeville era. The present-day actors are sent back to the future and the story unfolds as it should .... uh, did, ....that is... will - oh, you get the idea!

SONGS:

• There Will Always Be Vaudeville (Bessie and Olive)

• American Women's Society for Decency Theme Song (Chorus)

• The Gentle Light of Evening (Sophia LaTour)

• The Greatest Star (Wilma and chorus)

• Pals (Professor and Maria)

• Through the Years (Future Group)

  • Waitin’ ‘Til My Johnny GI Comes Home (1940’s style)

  • Here Comes My Dreamboat (1950’s)

  • Bad Boy (1960’s)

  • Beat-a Beat-A (1980’s)

  • Machine Amour (Techno)

  • Love Me, Love You: Baby No Can Do (in the style of Britney Spears)

  • Soon 2BZ (in the style of Taylor Swift)

• Family (Margaret and Peggy)

• Down By the Duck Pond (Sophia LaTour)

Production details:

• Cast - Large, five characters in the old theater, a chorus of "Women's Group for Decency" and two major roles in the modern chorus

• Originally written for all girls but names can be changed easily - there is little reference to gender in the script.

• Accompaniment - Piano

• Vaudeville acts can be adapted to suit your chorus

• Singers - Ten soloists. Songs are written in middle school tessituri

• The vaudeville performance scene includes an original song written “ala vaudeville” as well as a medley or songs snippets in the styles from the late ‘40’s through the present day-a GREAT opportunity for your blossoming singers to shine!

• Can add as many chorus members as needed

• Takes place on the stage of a Boston vaudeville theater at present and one hundred years ago

• Ten scenes

• Running time is about an hour

• Scenery - a "time machine," stage dressings, benches

• Props - handbills, office furniture, placards

• Costumes - casual, contemporary clothes for the modern characters and period clothing (long-sleeved white blouse with collar and cameo, long skirt and lace-up boots)

• Sound - offstage recording

• Contact bjwmsm@gmail.com for details

 

 

The following musicals are available via Email request

 

A Couple of Nasty Kids

 

Zbeth and Arby are two nasty kids.

Real nasty.

They are always in trouble and when their parents have to find a babysitter they have no choice to ask the old lady down the street to keep an eye on them. When the kids start to act up when the old lady starts to tell them stories. At first, the kids don’t like the story but they are hooked. So, the old lady challenges Arby and Zbeth to “…let their hearts tell the story.”

As they re-tell the story of the Beautiful Princess, actors act out the narration. So, a princess becomes a football player, a private detective and, finally, a cowgirl.

There are plenty of parts available in “A Couple of Nasty Kids” which extols the wonder and beauty of books and storytelling.

 

CHARACTERS

 

 

Father

Mother

Zbeth

Arby

Old Lady

Dream Elizabeth

Arthur Jones

Noble #1

Noble #2

Queen

Page #1

Page #2

Page #3

Page #4

Ophelia, princess

Maid

Samantha Spade, princess #2

Princess #3, quarterback

Hallie, princess #4

King

Guard #1

Guard #2

Guard #3

Guard #4

Handsome Hunter

Milkmaid

Troll King #1

Troll King #2

Actor #1

Actor #2

Actor #3

Prince Clem

 

Chorus of nobles, pages, guards, dog-men, trolls, scared children, football players, etc.

 

MUSICAL NUMBERS

 

• I Must Have Been Young Once - Mother and Father

• We Are Nasty Kids - Zbeth and Arby

• Books/Fun - Old Lady/Zbeth/Arby

• Boogerhead Jones –Arthur and Company

• Being a Princess - Ophelia

• Reprise #1 - Being a Princess - Samantha Spade

• Reprise #2 - Hallie - Hallie

• We Are the Queen’s Guard - Guards and Chorus

• I’m a Troll - Troll King

• Being a Queen - Queen

• Finale - Let Your Heart Tell Your Story – company

 

Contact bjwmsm@gmail.com for details

 

 

Twisted Tales, Too

This musical is available via Email request

 

Elizabeth Buford, top 7th grade student in her school is horrified to find that her dog, Floppy, has eaten her language arts term paper. She hastily assembles the paper which is about the Freudian view of fairy tales. However, as she reads it aloud the stories become mixed up. For example, The Wolf happens upon The Three Bears instead of the The Three Little Pigs and the bears beat up the wolf. The Seven Dwarves meet the Flying Monkeys and Rapunzel in search of a good hairdresser. The teacher turns into The Witch. Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella have a chat.

Yes, it’s silly. But, the lesson for Elizabeth is “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.”

 

CHARACTERS:

Mrs. Klingdorf, the teacher and witch

Kimberly Aaronsen, a student

Alex Berryhill, a student

Elizabeth Buford, the storyteller

 

Fairy Tale Characters:

Little Red Riding Hood

Queen

The Wolf

The Wolf Chorus

The Three Bears (played by the “Stooges”)

The Three Pigs (played by the “Stooges”)

Frog

The Seven Dwarves

Hansel

Gretl

Flying Monkeys (played by the “Stooges”)

Rumplestiltskin (needs 2 actors, first one is also Hansel)

The Young Maiden

Goldilocks

Referee

The Fool

Prince Charming

Cinderella

Floppy, the dog

Rapunzel

Snow White

 

MUSICAL NUMBERS

 

• S’Cool - Company

• The Roles We Play – Company

• Oh, No! - Elizabeth

• Listen to the Owl - Company

• Which Witch? – Hansel, Gretl and Goldilocks

• Ready or Not – The Three Stooges

• Wolves Have Feelings – Wolf and Wolf Chorus

• Rapunzel’s Rap - Rapunzel

• Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – Kimberly and Company

 

Contact bjwmsm@gmail.com for details

 

 

 

The Perils of Prudence Meriwether; or, A Modern Melodrama

This musical is available via Email request

 

Muffy – a rich, snobby girl who lives to shop

Tina – Muffy’s friend

Angela – a homeless person to panhandles on the street. She is part of a group of friends who are all a little bit “off” and are all homeless.

Prudence – our heroine. Orphaned at birth and raised by employees, she is totally innocent of the world. She has been very rich, until now.

Nabby – A friend of Prudence.

Officer Huldecki – a police officer

Randy Steele - the evildoer, an accountant

Gloria Trustworthy - Randy’s secretary, a young woman with a heart of gold.

Marianne - Pru's maid

Penelope – a homeless young woman, leader of the Corps de Poor, she’s VERY volatile and VERY melodramatic.

Echo – a young woman who echoes words that begin with the letter W. It’s denoted in the script with an asterisk. She repeats every word other say that begins with W as the other characters speak.

Alex Nightingale – a young woman who sings everything she says. She improvises tunes to the lines.

Lana Linguist – a young woman who speaks in her own language. Her lines are denoted by the number of second in parentheses (4) means she should speak gibberish for four seconds. She should react emotionally as the scene warrants.

Chorus in opening, auction, airport

 

AUTHOR’S NOTE

This is a melodrama and can easily be played with leitmotifs for each of the characters. The audience could be encouraged to hiss when the villain appears and cheer when the police officer comes on stage. It should be performed broadly and with great fun.

 

CHARACTER GENDER

The musical was originally written for a girl’s chorus. However, character gender can be switched easily. Randy Steele can easily be Randi Steele the Police Officer could either be a girl or boy. Angela could be Angel and instead of impersonating Jennifer Lopez (or any future star du jour) could impersonate Brad Pitt. The pronouns would have to be re-written as well. Minor parts could be a butler instead of maid, etc.

 

MUSICAL NUMBERS

 

• It's So Wonderful Being Me – Prudence

• Greedy, Ain’t I? – Randy Steele

• Just The Facts, Ma'am – Police Officer Huldecki

• Reprise #1  - Greedy, Ain’t I? - Randy Steele

• What To Do Now? – Prudence

• About Working – Gloria and Chorus

• Reprise #2 – Greedy, Ain’t I? – Randy and Gloria

• So What? – Corps de Poor

• Airport Ramble – Chorus and soloists

• Good Friends Are Everything – Corps de Poor, Prudence, Chorus

Contact bjwmsm@gmail.com for details

 

 

 

 

Summer Camp, or; Some’er Better’n’Others!

This musical is available via Email request

 

Characters:

Kinsey – very friendly, strong, stands up to bully

Tiffany - comes from city, tough but really scared

Iris - used to be short, shy, maybe outdoors wilderness type, really smart about stuff, shows up as a Goth, becomes a leader

Sarah – smart but kind of sad, great imagination, tells the best scary stories

Olive Oyl (real name is Lindsay) – silly, light-hearted, looking for fun, doesn’t know how to be angry

G.T. (George Thomas) picked on by other boys because he thinks he’s an abuse magnet

Polly – girl from other cabin, a spy

 

Musical Numbers:

• Six Weeks

• Make Something

• It’s Just Too Scary to Tell!

• Nobody’ll Miss Me

• Trust Me

• What Is That?

• I Am Nature

• Finale - Reprise – Six Weeks

 

Contact bjwmsm@gmail.com for details

 

 

 

You Said It, Sister!, or, Penelope to the Rescue, A Sequel to A Modern Melodrama, or; The Perils of Prudence Meriwether

 

This musical is available via Email request

 

Argument

Edmund VilGuy (E.VilGuy) wishes to buy/scheme land that Prudence Meriwether (our heroine) owns in Los Angeles. However, her sister, Penelope Meriwether, and her friends, the Corps de Poor, live in boxes on the site.  The evil guy tries to romance Pru (who is oblivious to his advances) and then tries to bilk her of the property through evil and nefarious plots. The Corps de Poor and Town Clerk Mary Goodheart thwart the plan and Echo and Big Louie end up married.

 

Cast:

Corps de Poor:

Echo

Angela

Penelope

Lana Linguist

Alex Nightingale

Prudence Meriwether

Edmund vilGuy

Henchman, Big Louie

Town Clerk, Mary Goodheart

Harriet, the Housekeeper

Bruce, the Butler

Chorus

 

Musical Numbers:

It’s a Beautiful Day in LA – Chorus and soloists

Because I Can – E.vilGuy

Home Sweet Box –Corps de Poor

Clueless – Prudence, Bruce, Harriet and Chorus

Wonderful World – Echo and Big Louie

Lana’s Song – Lana and the Corps de Poor

The Marriage Dance – Penelope and the Corps de Poor

Song of Separation - Penelope and the Corps de Poor

Why Not? - Penelope and the Corps de Poor

This Is What Democracy Looks Like - Mary Goodheart and Chorus

You Said It, Sister! – Company

 

Contact bjwmsm@gmail.com for details

​