{"id":22744,"date":"2026-03-25T05:51:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T05:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/?p=22744"},"modified":"2026-03-25T06:07:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T06:07:52","slug":"imaginary-boy-a-musical-about-dealing-with-tourette-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/?p=22744","title":{"rendered":"Imaginary Boy \u2022 A Musical About Dealing with Tourette Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"

BOOK\u00a0 <\/span>by Stephen McCall<\/strong> (based on his novel, \u201cTyrannosaurus Tic\u201d) <\/i><\/p>\n

LYRICS by June Rachelson-Ospa<\/strong><\/p>\n

MUSIC by C. Michael Perry<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are two sides to every story!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

A boy’s adventure with Tourette Syndrome: Pre-Diagnosis. Children with Tourette Syndrome (TS) or other disorders will be able to identify with Michael’s struggles and challenges with his classmates and teachers. It informs and engages the reader on facing dilemmas one step at a time.<\/p>\n

Michael and Max used to be friends; neighborhood kids who grew up together in Detroit. But now, in their sophomore year, Max\u2019s single father terrorizes him to the point that Max takes out his fury on kids at school, often bragging about his father\u2019s handgun. His easiest target is Michael, who has recently been exhibiting involuntary ticks, blinks, and barks (\u201cBLINK \/ IMAGINARY BOY<\/b>“), for which Max has nicknamed him, \u201cDog Boy\u201d and threatened to \u201cend him.\u201d
\nMichael\u2019s one friend, Curt, is a witty kid who makes Michael laugh, but changes into a complicit bystander whenever Max shows up with his posse to torment Michael (“POWERLESS<\/b>“).Max cleverly provokes Michael\u2019s barking classroom outbursts, which oblige his teachers to send Michael to the office, where Mrs. Johnson, the school secretary, tries to soothe Michael\u2019s hurt and anger (\u201cIT\u2019S NOT ABOUT YOU<\/b>\u201d), and assures Michael the school is aware of Max\u2019s bullying. Meanwhile, with Michael out of the classroom, Max successfully steals Michael\u2019s passwords and changes his Facebook profile, instantly assassinating Michael\u2019s character. In one fell swoop, Michael learns that the Principal\u2019s disciplinary committee has voted to expel him; the pediatrician has diagnosed him with Tourette Syndrome; and students throughout school have spread his altered Facebook page like wildfire. Overwhelmed with thoughts of suicide, Michael runs away to an old favorite alley hiding spot he took comfort in as a kid.Max comes home after school to learn that the school office has called to schedule a disciplinary meeting about Max\u2019s bullying, igniting a violent rage in Max\u2019s father. Max survives a beating, wrestles away the gun, and narrowly escapes, taking refuge in the same alley hiding place where he comes face-to-face with Michael, who asks if he can \u201cborrow\u201d Max\u2019s gun. Max realizes what he\u2019s done and starts to apologize. Max\u2019s father bursts into the alley, Michael comes out as a decoy, and sends him looking elsewhere. The boys talk and even laugh together, finally parting as renewed friends with plans to start fresh at lunch tomorrow. They go their separate ways, but Max returns home to a sad and tragic end.<\/p>\n

EPILOGUE AND FINALE in Present day: A grown up Michael and his young son, \u201cMax,\u201d sing in The Motor City Angels Community Choir (\u201cLEAD WITH LOVE<\/b>\u201d).<\/p>\n

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CAST OF CHARACTERS:\u00a0 <\/span>6 teen boys, 3 teen girls, 5m, 3f + ensemble, if desired<\/b><\/p>\n

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VOCAL DEMOS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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