Composer/Arranger: Dave Perry & Jean Perry
Link to Purchase: https://www.alfred.com/rats-the-story-of-the-pied-piper/p/00-21754/
Run Time: 35 minutes
Appropriate for:
___Kindergarten
___1st Gr.
✅ 2nd Gr.
✅ 3rd Gr.
✅ 4th Gr.
✅ 5th Gr.
___6th Gr.
Number of songs: 10 total: 6 to learn, 3 are sung again with modifications. 1 is purely instrumental
Number of Solos: 3 (2 sets each)…could be adapted for 6 soloists.
___Unison
✅ 2 Part (Independent)
✅ 2 Part (Harmonizing)
___3 Part (Independent)
___3 Part (Harmonizing)
___4 Part (Independent)
___4 Part (Harmonizing)
✅ Performance Track Available
✅ Accompaniment Track Available
✅ Singer Scores Available
___Choreography Included
Script:
___Rhyming Dial
___Non-Rhyming Dialog (easy)
✅ Non-Rhyming Dialog (medium difficulty)
___Non-Rhyming Dialog (hard)
Scenery: None required.
Costumes: Rats (gray, ears, tails), Pied Piper (fancy hat and cape), Constable and Old Time Townspeople (dresses and suits).
Props:
Oversize book with the title “Three Blind Mice”
Oversize set of keys to hang off of Constable’s belt
Three large bags of money with a “$” on them
Baby Rat (stuffed animal)
Book
Ball
Bouquet of flowers
Loaf of bread
Dollar Bill
Whistle for the Constable
The musical retelling of the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. The script is a WAY more challenging than the singing. But it is SOOO worth it! The students LOVED this show and the parents did too!
Advice: Plan to devote some time to timing and sequence of lines. Casting of the Piper is crucial: this character doesn’t have to sing, but should be able to carry off sarcasm and other side comments effectively. Casting of the RATS is also important. They need to be able to easily follow acting direction! They should also be fairly good singers and able to speak quick, but clearly
Extension: historical information about this legend from Germany.
Individual Song Information/Suggestions
Hamelin: Two-part independent lines that end in harmony. Townspeople and Rats. I had each group freeze while the other group was singing, to create some visual drama.
Rats!: SOOO Fun! The townspeople sing about how they HATE the rats! Again, two-part independent lines that end in harmony.
We’ve Got a Rodent Problem: Begins with a trio between the Mayor and two of his or her Town Council Members. I had the cast and chorus sing the Chorus part. The trio splits into short solos for each character. Ends in simple two-part harmony.
Piper Tune: NO SINGING. This is the part where the Piper demonstrates his or her “magical” tune to the Mayor. I attempted to have my Pied Piper to play the Recorder part. It was WAY too challenging for beginning recorder. Word of advice: Just have them pretend!
Ain’t It Great to be a Rat?: Catchy, FUN, Rat feature. I always have the chorus sing the feature as well. The Rats performed most of the choreographed dancing. There’s also some fun “Rat” joke telling during the song. It will take a little effort to have the designated jokesters spit it all out in the allotted time.
Zombie Rat: This is the point where the Rats are lured by the Pied Piper’s “magical” tune. I had the troop follow the Piper through the audience aisles during this tune. Only a SMALL AMOUNT OF SINGING…select phrases of “Ain’t it Great to be a Rat?” Narration occurs during this song as well. Optional Flute solo.
No More Rats!: Solos and a Trio again for the Mayor and his/her Two Town Council Members. Two part ending.
Playing Song: Two-part. During this song, the Piper hypnotizes the children. Timing for speaking lines during specific allotted resting bars will need to be worked.
Playing Song (Reprise): If you’re going to spend time working this song, might as well utilize it twice!
Hamelin: Finale: Almost identical to the opening number. A great place to incorporate bows!
If you’ve directed this musical, PLEASE feel free to share any thoughts and adaptations you did!
Sounds Like Fun 