Critique by one of my music teacher friends, Mary Little, Nebraska
Composer/Arranger: John Jacobson/John Higgins
Link to Purchase: https://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.action?itemid=9970447
Run Time: 20-25 minutes
Appropriate for:
✅ Kindergarten
✅ 1st Gr.
___2nd Gr.
___3rd Gr.
___4th Gr.
___5th Gr.
___6th Gr.
Number of Songs: 5
Number of Solos: 1 (optional)
___Unison
___2 Part (Independent)
✅ 2 Part (Harmonizing) — only happens 3 times
✅ 3 Part (Independent) — spoken rhythmic ‘poem’ can be layered or stand alone
___3 Part (Harmonizing)
___4 Part (Independent)
___4 Part (Harmonizing)
✅ Performance Track Available
✅ Accompaniment Track Available
✅ Singer Scores Available
✅ Choreography Included
Script:
✅ Rhyming Dialog
____Non-Rhyming Dialog (easy)
____Non-Rhyming Dialog (medium difficulty)
____Non-Rhyming Dialog (hard)
Scenery: SIMPLE!! No set is necessary, however simple Lemonade stands may be used to decorate the stage area. Props for characters may also be used, however they are NOT necessary.
Costumes: Optional. Fairy tale characters make up the cast of this musical. Students may dress up OR use signs around their necks to identify who they are.
What I love about this musical:
Simple! No costumes necessary. No set necessary. No props necessary.
I did have the students wear signs around their neck so that the audience knew the characters.
The rhyming dialog makes the speaking parts simple to learn. The dialog can be used as written, or split up so that multiple students can play the same characters. I preferred to split up the parts so that more students had an opportunity to ‘shine.’
Choreography suggestions are provided. I used some of these suggestions, but made up a majority of it myself as many of the suggestions were VERY repetitive and trite. However, if choreography is a struggle, the suggestions will suffice.
Overall, this musical is ADORABLE and has a great message about making the best of every situation!
Individual Song Information/Suggestions/Impressions
Get Your Lemonade – VERY CUTE. There is a rhythmic spoken section in the middle of this song which can be layered (for partwork) or stand alone.
The Worst Day All Day Long – Very easy/quick learn
Recipe for Joy – optional solo by “Mother Goose” (or can be sung by full cast)
A Change of Heart – Ballad
Make Lemonade – Great closer about making the best of every situation
Possible extensions This is a great musical to touch on fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters. Many books and nursery rhymes can be used to supplement or enhance this program on-stage or in the classroom.
From Jennifer Otten: Thank you Mary for being this week’s “Guest Critiquer!”
By Jennifer Otten:
- I enjoyed directing this musical as well! I added a few “extra” lines to the script:
- Pg. 11-After The Old Woman’s Line I had four students who were cast as her “children” say “Mom! Mom! Mom!”, “Mommy!”, “Mother!”, etc. in the annoying way children sometimes get their mother’s attention.
- Pg. 17-After Jack’s mother speaks, I had Jack say “Ow! Ow! Ow!” as his mother pulls him along by the ear off stage.
- Pg. 24-After the Spider speaks, I had Little Miss Muffet and the Spider hug!
- On “Change of Heart” I had the children sign select words from the song as their choreography. It really made an impact on the parents to see their children signing the poignant words! See the following post about using Sign Language as choreography: https://soundslikefun.home.blog/2019/12/31/from-the-inside-out/
- Extension: I asked for the help of my local community college computer teacher in creating a promotional flyer which doubled as the program cover. Each college student submitted their own version of what they thought the program cover should look like. I was their “pretend” client and picked the best one to use for the show! You could easily do this same thing with the media teacher and older elementary students.
Have you performed this musical? Please share your thoughts, impressions and adaptations with us!
Sounds Like Fun 