Composing for musical theatre
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SUMMARY
Scar, an admired fighter of the Free Cats, is forced to live as a Human by day and a Cat by night. She wanders a magic-ravaged land where Cats, Rats, and Humans are on the verge of war. Full-Length Musical, Large Cast (Adult/Youth or All-Youth).
ABOUT THE STORY
SCAR is set in a fantasy land where three species share the same country in uneasy tension: The Free Cats, the Rat Gang and the Humans of Avenwood. A young fighter of the Free Cats is convicted of violating Cat Law and is not only exiled, but is sentenced to live half her life as the lowliest of Humans by day and as a Cat by night, never sleeping, and wandering with nowhere to go. The scars she received in a battle where she won her name were a badge of honor as a Free Cat but set her apart as someone to be looked down upon among Humans.
Prince Frederick of Montaigne is also an exile. After he and Scar meet up back-to-back fighting off some Rats, they travel to Avenwood Castle where he obtains a position as Captain of the Guard and Scar gets a job as a scrub maid. Avenwood is on alert as the Rats are becoming bolder, the Royal Astrologer is making confusing predictions and the King and Queen are looking for a Prince for their lovely but headstrong daughter.
ABOUT THE MUSICAL
SCAR is a full-length, two-act play with a large cast (divided up between the three species). The show is intended to be produced in either of two ways: a mixed cast of adults and youth with live music or an all-youth version with recorded accompaniment. The show is powerful, dramatic, and romantic (and spiced with humor, as well).
Copyright Info
© 2018, 2020 Brian Watkins, Suzannah Doyle, & Suzannah Doyle Music. All rights reserved.
CONTACT US to learn more about SCAR.
ABOUT THE WRITERS
Brian Watkins, Book & Lyrics
Brian has been involved in multiples aspects of theater for over 46 years, including: Acting, directing, stage-managing, and writing plays. He is the author (with composer Dean Kennedy) of the British Panto-style musicals “Aladdin!” and “Cinderella!” and has also written the play “The Snowmaiden: A Tale of Old Russia”. A retired U.S. Navy Cryptologic Technician and a former employee of the Majestic Theatre in Corvallis, Brian still volunteers there and with the Arc Benton “Drama Squad!”, a theatre group for I/DD teens and adults.
Suzannah Doyle, Composer
Suzannah Doyle is a composer, performer, and on-the-spot songwriter whose work (over 400 songs) has been licensed commercially worldwide. She played by invitation at the White House in Washington, D.C., appears on over 23 albums, and performs with musicians from a diverse array of genres. Doyle composed music for “Piano Dreams: The Movie,” and for “Jane Eyre, The Musical Classic” with playwright Kristina Harris, which premiered in 2003 and was called ” a truly grand, Broadway-worthy show” by the Sentinel. Doyle has been music director of numerous theatrical shows, and has taught music improv/ practical theory at Theatre Camps and Uke Festivals for years.
Richard Emmet, Orchestrator
Richard Emmet has been working in the music industry as a composer and arranger for many years and his music can be heard on dozens of TV shows and films. He has also composed music for theater, modern dance and ballet, radio shows, podcasts, and more than 40 audio books. As a performer, Richard has played in classical orchestras, big bands, fusion bands, and Indonesian Gamelan orchestras. In addition, Richard spent 5 years as an assistant to Frank Zappa, preparing his orchestral scores and transcribing several of his guitar solos.
Jane Eyre, The Musical Classic
Music by Suzannah Doyle. Book and lyrics by Kristina Harris.
A full musical based on the Victorian novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Produced in 2003 at Cottage Theatre in Oregon.
“Diverse music and clever lyrics! “
” …a truly grand Broadway-worthy show, complete with beautiful tunes and exceptionally clever lyrics… Watching this beautiful story unfold with mystery, passion and tenderness was a delight from the first strains of music…one day you’ll be able to say ‘I saw it when’…” The Sentinel
A new spin on the classic victorian tale of forbidden love.
Photos from the 2003 World Premiere of Jane Eyre, The Musical Classic at Cottage Theatre (Cottage Grove, Oregon)
Click on song titles to watch video clips
Watch video clips of the Cottage Theatre open rehearsal performance of Jane Eyre,
The Musical Classic by clicking on the title of each song below. Not all songs are available as video clips. For more information, visit the official web site of Jane Eyre, The Musical Classic.
Names of characters who sing the songs are in parentheses.
- 1. Things That Go Bump in the Night (Mrs. Reid, Young Jane)
- 2. Jane’s Lullaby (Bessie)
- 3. Golden Rule (Young Jane, Lowood girls)
- 4. A Place That’s Better (Helen, Young Jane, Older Jane)
- 5. Blanche’s Art Song (instrumental)
- 6. Love Lies Waiting (Jane)
- 7. Feel My Heart (Jane/ Rochester)
- 8. The Important Things in Life (Rochester & Socialites)
- 9. Pretty Pretty Light (Bertha)
- 10. Nearly Mine (Blanche, Jane)
- 11. Fortunes! (Rochester as Gypsy, Blanche, Jane, Socialites)
- 12. Jane’s Lullaby Reprise (Rochester, Jane)
- 13. You Were With Me Then (Rochester, Jane)
- 14. All the World’s Gold (Rochester, Jane, Adele, Mrs. Fairfax, servants)
- 15. She’s Who I am (Rochester)
- 16. Tangled Road Prelude — (Jane, assorted merchants/ street people)
- 17. Tangled Road — (Jane, coal seller)
- 18. New Horizons — (John, Jane, Rochester)
- 19. You Were with Me Then Reprise — (Jane, Rochester)
Copyright Info
Jane Eyre, The Musical Classic. Music by Suzannah Doyle. Book and lyrics by Kristina Harris. Based on the Victorian novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Copyright: © 2003 Suzannah Doyle Music. All Rights Reserved. Song # 5 by Suzannah Doyle. All other songs by Kristina Harris & Suzannah Doyle. All songs copyright © Suzannah Doyle Music (ASCAP). For more information, visit the official web site for Jane Eyre, The Musical Classic.
