The Shows: THEATER FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
These plays are available for production. Please contact New Music Arts: 612.353.6592, or email performances@newmusicarts.org
THE STINKY CHEESE MAN
The acclaimed original SteppingStone production of The Stinky Cheese Man (adapted by Kent Stephens) with lyrics by Kent Stephens and music by Gary Rue
TRUE STORIES
TRUE STORIES combines two of award-winning children’s author Jon Scieszka’s beloved classics into one laugh-filled, hour-long musical for family audiences.
TIGER TALES
Commissioned by SteppingStone Theatre of St Paul in association with Theater MU. Book and Lyrics by Rick Shiomi and Cha Yang, Music and Additional Lyrics by Gary Rue
THE GREAT FAMILY TREE
Book and Lyrics by Rick Shiomi, Music and Additional Lyrics by Gary Rue. When their computer grows larger than life, two boys, Josh and Lou Tou, enter it to meet a Magical Tree that takes them on a journey through Asian family stories (more).
THE MAGIC BUS TO ASIAN FOLK TALES
By R.A. Shiomi, Cha Yang and Jaz Canlas, music by Gary Rue, lyrics by Rue and Shiomi
RIDING THE RAILS
Book and Lyrics by Ann Schulman, Music by Gary Rue An exciting story of depression era children 'catching out' cross country.
THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT
Peter Rabbit & Company is a bright and snappy musical based on three Beatrix Potter short stories: PETER RABBIT, BENJAMIN BUNNY and THE FLOPSY BUNNIES. Book and Lyrics by Ann Schulman, Music by Gary Rue
THE STORY OF HOPE
Celebrate Black History Month with the inspirational story of Hope. Based on the book, Hope, by actress and storyteller Isabell Monk, this play asks the question “what is it like to be of mixed race?” and explores the issue of being biracial in a polarized world.
YOUNG PEACEMAKERS
Young Peacemakers: Instead of trying to “stop violence”, this play attempts to create a paradigm shift: Peace is what cannot be stopped. Book and Lyrics by Matthew Vaky, Music and Additional Lyrics by Gary Rue
MOTHER GOOSE ROCKS!
Book and Lyrics by Randy Sue Latimer, Music by Gary Rue A wall-to-wall musical version of the nursery rhyme, Elvis-meets Randy Newman rock and roll...
PUSS IN BOOTS
- A musical adaptation for children of the classic fairy tale featuring such songs as "Eating the Cat," "Boots!" and "I Wouldn't Say I'm Mean Exactly." Book and Lyrics by Randy Sue Latimer Music by Gary Rue
GOATS!
GOATS! - A musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale, "The Three Billy Goats Gruff." A family of goats uses a bridge to cross over from their spring to winter pasture. When a family of trolls takes up permanent residence under the bridge, a feud breaks out. The two youngest members of the families strike up a friendship, and a late-night bridge crossing brings about a surprising truce. Tolerance is the theme of this play for children featuring a cast of 22 (adjustable) children and/or adults, including the goats' Aunt Genevieve (she's French), and such songs as "Look, I'm Dancin' On The Bridge" and "The Grass Pie Song."
NUTCRACKER!
Book and Lyrics by Randy Sue Latimer, Music by Gary Rue. NUTCRACKER! - A holiday show about a holiday show!
THE RELUCTANT DRAGON
THE RELUCTANT DRAGON, by Randy Sue Latimer Lyrics by Randy Sue Latimer Music by Gary Rue Original commissioning theater: Stages Theatre of Hopkins, MN
THE NIGHTINGALE
The production, written by local playwright Randy Sue Latimer, and with music by well-known musician and composer Gary Rue, is based on the beloved fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen.
TASTY BABY BELLY BUTTONS
Here come the Oni (giants) marching through the village taking all of the children for their favorite treat: baby belly buttons! But one brave little girl, Uriko-hime, was born in a watermelon and has no belly button! Uriko-hime enlists the help of her friends Dog, Pheasant, and Monkey to seek out the Oni and return the children of the village to their families. Based on a whimsical Japanese folktale, this musical is an adventure fantasy for all ages.
ANANSI'S CARNIVAL ADVENTURES
By Alberto Justiniano, Music by Gary Rue, Lyrics by Alberto Justiniano and Gary Rue. An Afro-Latina spider, Anansi, helps Felipe and his friends save the forest when the mayor of the Caribbean Island town of San Pedro sells the surrounding forest to developers.
LENTO THE COYOTE
Set in the southwest during the Spanish conquest, a lost Navajo boy, Anahu, finds an unsmilingly friend in a coyote name Lento. The pair embarks on an adventure to find Anahu’s home, but they must first seek the help of the old wise man who lives on top of the mountain. These colorful and unusual characters come to life in this comic story of friendship, hope and the strength that lies with in us all.
CASSIE THE CRAB AND ROSITA THE ISLAND GIRL
Two misfits, Cassy, the crab, and Rosita, an island girl, find comfort in each other’s friendship as they endure the ridicule of others in pursue of their dreams. Their friendship and character are put to the test when they are trusted into the middle of an eminent environmental disaster cause by an oil tanker spill. Cassy and Rosita join forces with mystical creatures of the sea in an attempt to save their homes and in the process become unwilling heroes.
YOUNG LINDY
Charles Lindbergh is struggling over a difficult decision. The twenty-five year old pilot, sitting in his single engine plane on a rainy, muddy runway, tries to decide if he should fly across the Atlantic to Paris. He questions his younger, twelve-year-old self if he really can make it. Book and Lyrics by Mark Jensen, Music by Gary Rue
MY GRANDMOTHER'S TSOTCHKES (availability pending)
A new play written by Stuart Pimsler with music by Gary Rue, was commissioned and presented by SteppingStone Theater, St. Paul, Minnesota, March 12-28, 2010. Inspired by Canadian author Dayal Kaur Khalsa’s book.
HANUMAN AND THE GIRL PRINCE (availability pending)
Book and Lyrics by Aditi Kapil, Music by Gary Rue Royal palace intrigue! A play for youth in iambic verse. Loosely adapted from a brief incident in the Mahabharata, and the dance drama "Chitrangada" by Rabindranath Tagore. Musical hints of Gilbert & Sullivan light opera.
CHILE POD (availability pending)
BY Rhiana Yazzie,music by Gary Rue, Lyrics by Rhiana Yazzie and Gary Rue.
THE RAINBOW CROW (availability pending)
Book by Rhiana Yazzie, Music by Gary Rue, Lyrics by Rhiana Yazzie and Gary Rue. Musical, 1 hour – Based on a Lenape Native American story, the crow, once known for her beautiful voice and colorful feathers embarks on a journey to save her world from a new thing called “snow!” Along the way, she discovers that inner beauty and loyalty are more important than appearance. 2008 Produced and commissioned by Stepping Stone Theatre in Saint Paul, MN. Available for production
A LION'S TALE (availability pending)
Cultures collide as two young Somali immigrants attend their first American birthday party. What their friends see as generous and fun, Ali and Aasha take as materialistic and greedy. This fantasy-musical incorporates exciting Somali stories and traditional music in a play that celebrates generosity, friendship, and cultural understanding.
MILL CITY GANG (availability pending)
Book and Lyrics by Graham Gremore Music and additional lyrics by Gary Rue.