By: John Jacobson and Mark Brymer
Link to Purchase: https://www.halleonard.com/product-family/PC15609/dinostars
Run Time: 20 minutes
Appropriate for:
✅Kindergarten
✅1st Gr.
✅2nd Gr.
✅3rd Gr.
___4th Gr.
___5th Gr.
___6th Gr.
Number of songs: 5 plus a Reprise of opening number (6 total)
Number of Solos: None indicated, but could adapt to add in “The Raptors Rap”
✅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 Dialog
____Non-Rhyming Dialog (easy)
____Non-Rhyming Dialog (medium difficulty)
____Non-Rhyming Dialog (hard)
You know about Dinosaurs…what about DinoSTARS!?!?! I had never, ever, ever put on a show that was centered around dinosaurs. I didn’t want to feel like I HAD to incorporate the cliched topic. BUT, I needed one more easy costume show to round out my Kindergarten rotation of musicals. Boy am I glad this was the one I chose. It was a PERFECTLY rounded show. The most unique aspect of this “Talent Show” musical was the scene with the stand-up comedians! Both performers AND audience member evaluations shared this as their favorite part of the musical! I can NOT wait to do this show again!
Scenery: None required, but you can decorate your stage like…..a stage!
Props: “Laugh” signs (opt.)
Costumes: Get creative! It’s helpful to know what type of dinosaur is speaking. Judges can have their own costume or just a top hat. I had each child wear a picture of whatever type of dinosaur they were. For the judges, they just wore a picture of a trophy!
Individual Song Information/Suggestions:
Dinostars!: Here’s your attention getter! I broke the narration that begins this tune up among seven different kiddos. They were all from the same section, so we could practice, and practice and practice some more, speaking clearly enough to be understood. The performers LOVED to “roar” with scary arms, baring their “huge” teeth!
Struggle: This vaudeville tune is VERY fast! When I do this in the future, I’m going to try to slow the tempo DOWN! It was just very hard to understand what they were singing, because it was FLYING!
The Raptors Rap: There is nothing more hilarious to watch than Kindergarteners doing “rap” moves! For this tune, I had everyone rap until measure 9 the first time where I added two slow opportunities. Everyone came back in for the repeat of this same phrase at measure 18…multiple times! Then I added another set of solos at measure 26. For the D.S. back to the beginning, I then had the whole chorus sing the rest of the song. If you wanted to add two more solos, you could incorporate that on the repeat. During the solos, the rest of the students did their “rap move.” I had students stand up and show us their idea of a rap style move, so that when it was time to actually sing it, the rest of the class could pick ONE move to do the whole song! Genius idea for those five and six year olds who have NO idea what a rapper does when they perform.
Micropachycephalosaurus: Ummm…say THAT 5 times in a row! I’m telling you, that by the time you’re done with this show, it will simply roll off your tongue and your kiddos will sound soooo smart thanks to the MUSIC teacher! This number is a driving rock song that splits into two-part independent lines. It’s simple enough that two sections can do similar actions and sing their own part with repetition! At the beginning, no choreography is indicated. I just told the kids NOT to smile and nod their head with the beat…very seriously! As they waited for the second verse, they did it again. Easy choreo, big effect!
Dinosaur Two-Step: This country shuffle’s choreography was a little hard for all the kindergarteners to remember. Luckily this calls for a T-rex with a cowboy hat and boots! Pick a dancing tyrannosaurus or two that can LEAD the rest of the performers! This tune will split into two parts at the end! One section holds the melody the singers had been singing while the other section does their own simple melody. Then they sing 3 measures of harmony.
(optional) you can omit the last stand-up joke if your T-rex doesn’t have a cowboy hat!
Dinosaur Rock: Probably the most favored tune of all the performers. This is more of a 50’s rock tune, than the driving beat of “Micropachycephalosaurus.” During the instrumental breaks, I let the kiddos “play” air guitar. Again the end has a two-part harmonic split. You can teach it as a unison ending or split it up between sections.
Dinostars (Reprise): MUCH shorter version of the opener! (slow it down if you can!)
Don’t let your choreography become a fossil!
For your production of “DinoStars!”, check out this You-Tube Channel playlist of movements that is perfectly adapted for the elementary riser. These routines focus on sharp footwork and expressive gestures that look polished and professional, even if your “herd” is packed in tight. It’s the easiest way to level up your show’s energy without needing a massive jungle to move in.
If you’ve directed this musical, PLEASE feel free to share any thoughts and adaptations you did. We’d all love to hear how you made it your own!
I’d also love to include YOUR CRITIQUE of any musical that you found to be successful or NOT successful! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScNHxH3wAo98Hu4jFsKbBM2lUYgqnVXLRUo7HcgZTQz1U7-jQ/viewform
Sounds Like Fun 