[email protected]
38 High Street
801-550-7741

Premiére Theatrical Licensing

Plays and Musicals for All Audiences and Theatre Groups, Amateur, Educational, Professional, and Religious

True Colors of Weedle • a short musical

True Colors of Weedle • a short musical

Book and Lyrics by June Rachelson-Ospa

Music by Allison Brewster Franzetti

The True Colors of Weedle is about a boy born without any color in a faraway land full of kaleidoscope colors.

The True Colors of Weedle is a fun musical about a boy, born colorless. As such, he has been bullied, because everyone else around him has lots of colors. Ostracized, Weedle sets out to find a companion/soul-mate, Marvello Maxumo Marmaduke (who ends up having three heads) after he receives a sympathetic letter from him. Like Weedle, Marmaduke has been forced into seclusion by the Falafarinians of Falifarinum, so together they hatch a plan for revenge on those who have hurt them. Weedle then must decide if he will take revenge on those who have wronged him, or if he will live his life in peace. After choosing to take revenge, Weedle feels so bad that he cries. Then, to everyone’s amazement, his tears are full of vibrant colors, proving that he had it within himself all the time… Bullying has become an epidemic, causing many children pain. Our story confronts this issue in a fun-filled way, without shying away from the issue at hand. Perhaps, this show is needed now more than ever! It is the hope of the authors that the producers will utilize actors of all genders, abilities/disabilities, and special needs, aiming to entertain and teach an important life lesson to kids: that anything is possible with the right outlook. Teaching children and families to accept people for who they are, no matter what they look like… is vital, especially when the outcome includes forgiveness.

PLAY DETAILS:

  • 4m, 2f, 11either m or f (some roles can be doubled & any role can be played by any gender)
    • STORYTELLER (either m or f)
    • TOWNESPERSON 1 (either m or f)
    • TOWNESPERSON 2 (either m or f)
    • WILBUR WATKINS, father to Weedle (m)
    • WADONIA WATKINS, mother to Weedle (f)
    • WEEDLE WATKINS, a youth in search of self (m) [but has been played f]
    • KID 1 (either m or f)
    • KID 2 (either m or f)
    • MARVELLO MAXUMO MARMADUKE, a young, wealthy, but lonely, triple-headed scientist (m)
    • GATE — well, a Gate (either m or f)
    • KATIE, first a caterpillar, then a butterfly (f)
    • BUTCHER (m)
    • BAKER (either m or f)
    • CANDLESTICK MAKER (either m or f)
    • DOCTOR (either m or f)
    • LAWYER (either m or f)
    • BATULA (either m or f)
  • Several fanciful locations
  • Contemporary/Fantasy Costumes
  • TYA
  • About an hour
  • ORDER #3345

REVIEW:

“The most moving theatrical experience of all came at Cooke Center Academy on Macdougal Street in a basement room.

THE TRUE COLORS OF WEEDLE, the children’s musical with book and lyrics by June Rachelson-Ospa and music by Allison Brewster-Franzetti, was staged for the benefit of dozens of students with autism, Down syndrome or other special needs. Weedle Watkins is a lad who was born without any color at all; he’s “Mr. Invisible” and “Mr. Nobody” to his peers.

He endures constant bullying – “Leave me alone! All of you!” – which makes him woefully wonder “How did this happen to me? Why was I born like this? Why is everyone so mean to me just because I’m different?” Some head-bobs of acknowledgment came from the young audience members. Others leaned closer when Weedle asked himself “How can I get even with such mean people?” Indeed, Weedle got revenge – only to find it sour solace indeed.

The studied faces in the crowd were surprised to learn that retaliation wasn’t the answer.
But THE TRUE COLORS OF WEEDLE didn’t turn out to be just a polemic. There was much fun on hand, proved by the giggles the kids gave out – especially when a character got scared by the sudden appearance of an unexpected visitor.

A makeshift caterpillar costume was greeted with enthusiasm by kids who immediately filled in the blanks that the costume didn’t bother to include. And how smart of Rachelson-Ospa to include this creature which could morph into a beautiful butterfly and deliver the message “I told you that there was something beautiful inside me.” Weedle learned that “the colors were inside you all along” and that “there’s a place for everybody where all God’s children live in peace and harmony.” Was every spectator engaged? Of course not. Some stayed in their own little worlds and barely looked at the stage. And yet, when a character sneezed, a few kids were quick to say “Bless you!” The majority of kids paid rapt attention and joyfully joined in when told to “Clap your hands!” Some even sang along with the third A-section of a song after having heard the first two. What a nice compliment to Brewster-Franzetti!

One boy was so moved by what was happening that he just had to jump on stage and be part of it. And while a teacher rightfully but gently guided him back to his seat, here’s hoping this won’t be the lad’s last on-stage appearance — Peter Filichia

PERUSAL MATERIALS:

VIDEO PROMO

  • SYNOPSIS OF SCENES AND SONGS
  • SCENE 1 — Falafarinum
    • MUSICAL #1 — I’M HAPPY TO BE A FALAFARINIAN — Storyteller and Company
    • MUSICAL #2 — HE’S OUR LITTLE WEEDLE — Wilbur and Wadonia
  • SCENE 2 — Falafarinum
    • MUSICAL #3 — MR. NOBODY IS MY NAME — Weedle
  • SCENE 3 — Watkins House
    • MUSICAL #4 — THROUGH MY EYES — Wadonia
  • SCENE 4 — Watkins Home and Meronicus Road
    • MUSICAL #5 — THE LETTER — Marvello and Weedle
  • SCENE 5 — Forest
    • MUSICAL #6 — THE KEY — Gate
    • MUSICAL #7 — ALL OF THE COLORS OF THE WORLD — Katie
  • SCENE 6 — Mendoras
  • SCENE 7 — Mendoras / Falafarinum
    • MUSICAL #8 — HE’S OUR LITTLE WEEDLE (reprise) —  Wilbur, Wadonia, Mr. M
    • MUSICAL #9 — TO BE LOVED —  Mr. M and Weedle
  • SCENE 8 — Kitchen at Mendoras
    • MUSICAL #10 — MAKE IT ALL DISAPPEAR — Mr. M, Batula, Weedle
  • SCENE 9 — the Forest
    • MUSICAL #11 – MR. NOBODY (reprise) —  Weedle
    • MUSICAL #12 — SWISH, SWISH, SWISH —  Weedle, Mr. M, Batula
    • MUSICAL #12b — UNDERSCORE
    • MUSICAL # 13 — YOU WON’T BE COMIN’ BACK THIS WAY AGAIN —  Gate
  • SCENE 10 — Falafarinum
    • MUSICAL # 14 — ALL THE COLORS OF THE WORLD — Weedle, Katie, Gate, All
    • MUSICAL #14a –  HOME SWEET HOME – Company

SONG SAMPLES:

VOCAL SELECTIONS MUSIC BOOK:

        • Trim Size: 8.5 x 11 in
        • Page Count: 85
        • Nonfiction > Music > Printed Music > Musicals, Film & TV
        • Nonfiction > Music > Printed Music > Piano-Vocal-Guitar
        • ISBN: 979-8367727579
        • List Price: $19.95 (for the PRINT VERSION)
        • OUR PRICE: $17.95 (for the PRINT VERSION)
        • Order #3345vs1–PRINT VERSION : $23.00 (includes shipping and Maine Sales Tax)
        • Order #3345vs2–DIGITAL VERSION : $21.45 (includes Maine Sales Tax — you print one copy of your own from our digital master emailed to you. Please do not share copies with friends.)

      Versions



       

VOCAL SOLO SHEET MUSIC:

  • All the Colors of the World #3345sm1 : $4.50 (+ Maine Sales Tax — you print one copy of your own from our digital master emailed to you. Please do not share copies with friends.)



    Home Sweet Home #3345sm2 : $4.50 (+ Maine Sales Tax — you print one copy of your own from our digital master emailed to you, Please do not share copies with friends.)




    The True Colors of Weedle Illustrated Story Book by June Ospa and Devina DeLaughterThe Illustrated Children’s Storybook of “The True Colors Of Weedle”

    is available in KINDLE and PRINT form at Amazon.com

    (this link will take you off our site)

    This would be an ideal fundraiser or merchandise sales item — or even a raffle item — for

    producers of the show to make available to their audiences. Contact Leicester Bay/Premiére for details)

    REHEARSAL-PRODUCTION MATERIALS:

        • Production Script PDF Rental — ORDER #3345a : $20.00



        • Production Vocal Book PDF Rental — ORDER #3345b : $20.00



        • Production Piano-Vocal Score PDF Rental — ORDER #3345c : $25.00



        • 1st Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty (or Only Performance Royalty) — ORDER #3345d : $65.00



        • 2nd Performance Amateur/EducationalRoyalty — ORDER #3345e : $55.00



        • Performance-Trak Digital Orchestra Files Rental (16 tracks) — ORDER #3345j : $90



     

    BILLING CREDITS:

    TRUE COLORS OF WEEDLE

    Book and Lyrics by June Rachelson-Ospa 

    Music by Allison Brewster Franzetti

    NOTE: The names of the Playwright(s), Composer, Lyricist, and Bookwriter shall be equal in size, type, coloring, boldness, and prominence. No billing shall appear in type larger or more prominent than the billing to the Authors except for the title of the play. (In a press release all type, will of course, be the same size.)

    ALSO:

    THIS NOTICE MUST APPEAR IN ALL PROGRAMS, ON ALL POSTERS AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS AND INTERNET ADVERTISING/WEBPAGES FOR THE PLAY:
    “True Colors of Weedle is presented through special arrangement with Leicester Bay Theatricals.  All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”

    PRODUCTION HISTORY:

        • Red Hook Library, Standing Tall NYC. October 2013
        • Central Library Brooklyn – October 2013
        • Joria Productions – Identity Theatre Company — NYC — 2013

    PRODUCTION PHOTOS: (Identity Theatre)

    This slideshow requires JavaScript.

        • Texas Nonprofit Theatres, TX 2010
        • Midtown Children’s Theatre Festival, NYC,  2008
        • PREMIERE: Players Theatre, 2007