(based on the play, “Dancing On Daddy’s Shoes” by Sheila Lynch Rinear)
Book by Coni Koepfinger
Music by C. Michael Perry
Lyrics by Coni Koepfinger, C. Michael Perry, and Sheila Rinear
A Coming of Age Musical about two schools and a hope!
When World War I disrupts the life of a young American girl, sent to boarding school so her father can fight in Europe as a U.S. soldier, she grapples with isolation and uncertainty, struggling to chart her own path forward.
Will Kate Williams break free from the suffocating grip of personal victimhood that World War I has forced upon her; will she remain shackled by the scars of a war she wants nothing to do with?
The new girl, Kate Williams is sent off to Markham’s Academy for Girls when her father is called off to lead his troops in World War I. Most of the girls are not certain what to make of Kate. Especially Maude who doesn’t approve of her one bit. Kate refuses to “fit in” until they need her to plan a dance, which happens to be her special talent. When the boys from the nearby military academy come to their dance, they bring a renewed zest for life and a chance to escape the wartime worries and woe with them. Then the reality of it all hits them in the face.
PART OF THE PREMIERE PLAY FILE — Not an active listing with LBT/PTL. You will be negotiating with the authors themselves. LBT/PTL merely provides the space for our authors who have new shows to promote.
This is a work in progress and we are looking for developmental readings, staged readings and workshop productions. The script is not in final form at the present time, but the possibilities are evident. EMAIL US.
OR If interested, fill out the APPLICATION for Licensing
PLAY DETAILS:
- CAST: 10 teen girls, 5 teen boys, 3 women, 2 men + extras if desired.
- Headmistress Markham (MARKHAM) — owner of the Markham Girl’s Academy, grand-daughter of the founder.
- Miss Caroline Williams (AUNT CAROLINE) — Kate’s Aunt (mid 30s)
- Miss Alice Reynolds (REYNOLDS) — teacher at the Markham Girl’s Academy
- The Girls: (10)(8?)
- EMILY Hess (16) — our storyteller, whose father has lost his job.
- KATE Williams (15) — the new girl, she sees the WAR as an antagonist because it’s robbing her of the life she was comfortable in and taking away her father.
- RUTH (14) — non-speaking, sings in group songs
- NELL (Nellie) — falls for Ed
- MAUDE Nesbit (17) — antagonist with a flaw to overcome, a gossip, somewhat mean-spirited
- ANNA (15)— Maude’s camp
- CORA (16) — Maude’s Camp, the ‘scout’ — falls for Pete
- MARY (14) — non-speaking, sings in group songs
- GRETCHEN (17)— German exchange student, falls for Gerald
- FAYE (17) — a student and tutor to younger students
- Extra girls, if desired for singing and dancing.
- GENERAL Thomas Jefferson WILLIAMS — Kate’s Father, off to war. (calls her “Katie”) He was called out of retirement.
- Commandant Rogers (ROGERS) — head of the U.S. Military Academy (is there a way to work him in elsewhere? as he is written into the FINALE.He could play any other character that we need him to.)
- The Boys (5 Military CADETS of the U.S Military Academy of Maryland)
- PETE (17-18) — falls for Cora
- DAN (17) — falls for Maude,
- GERALD (16-17) — falls for Gretchen
- ED (17) — falls for Kate
- DAVE (17) — non-speaking, sings with group, dances with Mary, Ruth and Faye
- Extra boys if desired for singing and dancing.
- SETTING: Glen Burnie, Maryland — Markham Girl’s Academy
- TIME: Spring, 1917
PERUSAL MATERIAL:
- AT THE DANCE — LIST OF MUSICAL NUMBERS
- Prelude —
- MUSICAL #1 — Prelude — Orchestra [SEGUE TO]
- MUSICAL #1 — THE BLUE AND GOLD— Girls
- MUSICAL #2 — MY BRAVE LITTLE GIRL — General Williams and Kate
- Scene 1 —
- MUSICAL #3 — WHO’S THIS GIRL?!— Maude, Emily (+ Girls?)
- MUSICAL #4 — DETECTIVES AT WORK — Emily and Girls
- MUSICAL #5 — SERVICE AND SUFFRAGETTES — Markham and Kate
- MUSICAL #5b — SERVICE AND SUFFRAGETTES (reprise) — Kate
- Scene 2 —
- MUSICAL #6 — PENCILS or POKER — Cora
- MUSICAL #7 — DETECTIVES AT WORK (reprise) —
- MUSICAL #7b — Scene Change — Orchestra
- MUSICAL #8 — WHO AM I? — Markham, Caroline and Girls Lyric
- MUSICAL #9 — BECOMING —
- MUSICAL #10 — USELESS LITTLE THINGS — Kate and Caroline
- MUSICAL #11 — YOUR PRIZE (THE LETTER) — General Williams
- MUSICAL #12 — DRIVE! — Girls
- MUSICAL #13a — THE KAISER’S DAUGHTER — Cadets
- MUSICAL #13b — AT THE DANCE — the Girls
- Scene 3 —
- MUSICAL #14a — Prelude to Act Two
- MUSICAL #14b — SIGN ME UP! — Cadets (about the War)
- MUSICAL #14c — Underscore — Gerald’s letter — Orchestra
- MUSICAL #14d — SIGN ME UP! (reprise)— Cadets Lyric
- Scene 4 —
- MUSICAL #15 — DRESSING UP — Girls DONE
- MUSICAL #16 — “Dearest Nellie” Underscore and Scene Change — Orchestra
- MUSICAL #17 — DANCING ON DADDY’S SHOES — Kate
- MUSICAL #17a — Scene Change — Orchestra
- Scene 5 —
- MUSICAL #18 — WHAT MAKES A HOME? — Kate
- MUSICAL #19 — Underscore and Scene Change (Dancing On Daddy’s Shoes) — Orchestra
- Scene 6 —
- MUSICAL #20 — LIKE ROYALTY
- MUSICAL #21a — Underscore (Markham Ladies) — Orchestra
- MUSICAL #21b — Underscore (Lonely Hearts) — Orchestra
- MUSICAL #21c — THE PRAYER FOR THE LONELY HEARTS — Kate & Ed
- MUSICAL #22 — FINALE: IN THE STEPS OF HEROES — Emily and Company
- MUSICAL #23 — CURTAIN CALL — Company
- MUSICAL #24 — EXIT MUSIC — Orchestra
- Prelude —
SONG DEMOS: No vocals, but played from the Finale Music Notation files using Note Performer
The show is unpublished at present and Leicester Bay Theatricals merely offers space to promote new titles like these as a part of the Premiére Play Files service under Premiére Theatrical Licensing. All negotiations for rights and royalties will be done directly with the authors after contacting LBT/PTL at this email.
