“Lucille is a horse on a small farm. One day, she sees her reflection in a puddle and laments to the pig that she is “dirty and dull” and doesn’t like the repetitive drudgery of plowing the field with the farmer. Lucille feels different.

The farmer’s wife decides to buy her a dress, hat and shoes and Lucille is invited to stay in the house and is the guest of honor at a tea party with the wife’s friends. Soon though, Lucille feels cramped and nervous. The party ends with Lucille bursting out the door, freeing herself of her clothing. Recognizing that difference is a strength, Lucille returns to the barn, still filled with dreams and aspirations, but content to be the farmer’s horse and friend.

“Lucille,” set on a farm, is the first musical that Aline Shader wrote for her students – a small group of 6th graders in the newly formed “Drama Club” at Bowen Elementary School in Newton Centre MA. Prior to writing the 11 songs and script in 1967, Aline exchanged spirited letters with author Arnold Lobel, who gave his “blessings and permission” to adapt “Lucille” (1964) into a musical. Mr. Lobel wrote: “I’d love to see what all of the characters look like,” as he was unable to attend the first production. Aline also sent him a reel-to-reel audio tape of the 20 minute show (please listen to the Archival Student Performance Demo on this page!).