Tell Me A Story
“Tell Me A Story” is a musical interpretation of stories from classic children’s literature.
The stories explore the challenges of growing up with songs such as “Harriet’s Tango” from “Harriet the Spy”; the magic of childhood dreams with “Alice” from “Alice in Wonderland” and action and adventure with “Sailor’s Song” from Treasure Island. “Quartet” from “Peter Pan” and “Follow Your Dream” from “Oliver Twist” are songs of hope and the need for friendship and connection. “Wilbur’s Song” from “Charlotte’s Web” is about self-confidence.
This engaging musical, with 11 scenes and 12 songs, intended to be performed by 5th – 8th graders, provides a unique perspective on these universal themes and is a wonderful way to learn about the world through musical theater.
Aline Shader wrote “Tell Me A Story” (1978) for her students at Bowen Elementary School in Newton Centre, MA.
"Tell Me A Story" Archival Student Performance Demo (3:52)
Songs Children Sing offers this and all resources on the website free-of-charge.
This (102mb) .Zip file contains:
1 x Full Script (1 PDF)
12x Lyric Sheets (1 PDF)
12x Lead Sheets (1 PDF)
12 x Full Scores (1 PDF)
12 x Full Audio Files (MP3 Format)
12 x Piano Audio Files (MP3 Format)
This (57mb) .Zip file contains:
13 x Part-forward Audio Files (MP3 Format)
Performance Suggestions:
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Ideal for groups of up to 35
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Grades 5 – 8
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“Tell Me A Story” can be performed as a fully staged production, semi-staged, select scenes, as a sing-through with narration or as individual songs.
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Minimal costumes: to distinguish witches, overalls, spider, goose, pig, sheep rat, sailors, Peter Pan, Alice, Rabbit, Tweedle Dum, Tweedle Dee, Humpty Dumpty, Mad Hatter, Pioneers, City Kids, Ducks, Detectives (trench coats, fedoras or deerstalker hats), ragamuffins.
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Minimal set and props: cauldron, book, fence, paint can, farm scene, sailor scene, bedroom, gold rush town, art museum, city park setting, city street setting.
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Most roles are for individuals within each story.
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Assignable speaking roles for group scenes, for example:
Sailor 1:
Ragamuffin 2:
Song Audio:
1. I Read A Story
2. Witches' Song
3. A Paint Brush and a Paint Can and a Good Old Fence
4. Wilbur's Song
5. Sailor's Song
6. Quartet
7. Alice
8. Stagecoach Song
9. City Song
10. Make Way For Ducklings
11. The Harriet Tango
12. Follow Your Dream
Print Materials:
Script (Preview Image):
Lead Sheet (Preview Image):
Lyrics (Preview Image):
Score (Preview Image):
Songs:
1. I Read a Story
2. Witches’ Song
3. A Paint Brush and a
Paint Can and a Good
Old Fence
4. Wilbur’s Song
5. Sailor’s Song
6. Quartet
7. Stagecoach Song
8. City Song
9. Make Way For
Ducklings
10. The Harriet Tango
11. Follow Your Dream
Credits:
“Tell Me A Story”
Music, lyrics and book by Aline Shader (1978)
Vocals:
Enya Lim
Spoken Parts:
Caitlyn Bongiovi
Piano:
Dan Nimmer
Mix Engineer:
Alex Leiva
Transcriptions:
Jonathan Kelly
Script layout:
Maegan Kelly
Graphic Design:
Charissa Rooney
Producer:
Jenny Hersch