The Big One-Oh! Online Edition - Actor's Script Sample

Actor’’s Script Actor

iTheatrics

Online Edition

iTheatrics

Online Edition

table of

contents The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Plot Synopsis ................................................. i The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Characters .................................................... ii The Show .................................................................................................... 1 Happy Birthday From Scotland...................................................................... 2 Monsters And Maniacs (Part 1) .................................................................... 2 Monsters And Maniacs (Part 2) .................................................................... 5 Some Sort Of Celebration ............................................................................. 7 So Lame (Part 1) ....................................................................................... 10 So Lame (Part 2) ....................................................................................... 10 Can You Call This Person A Friend? (Part 1) ................................................ 14 Can You Call This Person A Friend? (Part 2) ................................................ 15 Can You Call This Person A Friend? (Part 3) ................................................ 16 Can You Call This Person A Friend? (Part 4) ................................................ 18 This Is Big ................................................................................................. 20 That Could Be Me ...................................................................................... 27 Finale........................................................................................................ 35 The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Actor’s Script © iTheatrics 2020 The Big One-Oh! Music by Doug Besterman and Lyrics by Dean Pitchford © 2020 Doug Besterman Music (ASCAP)/Pitchford Music (BMI) The Big One-Oh! Libretto © Timothy Allen McDonald 2020 All Rights Reserved Online Edition © 2020 MTI Enterprises, Inc., created by iTheatrics under the supervision of Timothy Allen McDonald.

Online Edition, Broadway Junior, The Broadway Junior Collection, Family Matters, and ShowKit are trademarks or registered trademarks of Music Theatre International.

All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited by law.

The Big One-Oh! Online Edition

plot synopsis CHARLEY MAPLEWOOD is turning ten – today! – but his birthday party is a complete disaster. “Why?” you might ask? Well, according to Charley, it all started about a month ago, when his nosy neighbor MRS. CLEVELAND told him there was a letter in his mailbox. It was a birthday card from Charley’s DAD (Happy Birthday From Scotland) but Charley’s birthday was still a month away. Even though his dad is absent-minded, Charley is excited to receive two issues of his favorite comic book (Monsters & Maniacs – Part 1). Charley is particularly fond of three monsters who have become his imaginary friends: SWAMPY, ZOMBIE KING, and ALIEN (Monsters & Maniacs – Part 2).

When Charley reads the birthday card, Dad turns his whole world is turned upside down when he asks if Charley has plans for his big day. Charley thinks through what he would like to do for his birthday (Some Sort Of Celebration). When Charley’s MOM gets home, she reminds him she must work on his birthday. Charley’s teenaged sister LORENA points out that Dad is terrible with dates (So Lame – Part 1). Lorena also points out that, though Charley wants to throw a birthday party, he has no friends to invite (So Lame – Part 2).

Charley thinks through the three things he needs for a party, which he learned from his mom’s ex-boyfriend, obnoxious party planner extraordinaire VINCE CHAMPAGNE: a theme, cake, and friends. Charley’s imaginary friends help him think through the party. His theme will be “Charley Maplewood’s House of Horrors Birthday Celebration.” Mom will take care of the cake. And as for the friends, Charley has enough construction paper to make six invitations to pass out at school.

At school, Charley’s Monsters try to help him decide who he can count as a friend. He The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Actor’s Script

speaks to popular girls DONNA, DINA, and DANA (Can You Call This Person A Friend? – Part 1), DARRYL, the smartest kid in fourth grade (Can You Call This Person A Friend?

– Part 2), and COUGAR and SCOTTIE, the elementary school’s resident tough guys (Can You Call This Person A Friend? – Part 3). Then there’s JENNIFER, another new kid at school who Charley finds annoying (Can You Call This Person A Friend? – Part 4). Charley realizes that he can’t call any of them friends and calls off the party, but the KIDS talk him back into it (This Is Big). By the end of the song, Charley has given out his six invitations, accidentally leaving nothing for Jennifer. Mrs. Cleveland watches the scene unfold.

Feeling guilty, Charley finds Jennifer and apologizes, again thinking about cancelling his party. Jennifer talks him out of it (That Could Be Me). Charlie invites her to his birthday party as Mrs. Cleveland watches.

The next morning, Mom and Lorena wish Charley a happy birthday. Mom promises him a big cake when she gets home from work, and leaves. Charley confesses to Lorena that he’s invited seven kids from school to his party without Mom’s permission. To his surprise, Lorena is thrilled and offers to make his birthday cake. Charley decorates the house and begins to feel optimistic, but Lorena’s cake is a disaster.

The guests arrive and all seems lost until the kids notice… there is a GHOST in the room! The lights go out and the kids get more and more scared, until Mom reveals herself!

Mrs. Cleveland told her everything and has brought over a cake for Charley’s birthday!

As he blows out his candles, Charley realizes he doesn’t need his imaginary friends anymore – he’s made real friends. Though everything went wrong for his big one-oh, somehow everything also went right (Finale).

i

The Big One-Oh! Online Edition

characters (in order of appearance)

Charley Mrs. Cleveland Dad Zombie King Swampy Alien Mom Lorena Vince Champagne Donna Pointer Dina Dana Darryl Egbert Cougar Scottie Jennifer Mobley Monster Ensemble Kids

The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Actor’s Script

ii

iTheatrics

Online Edition PROLOGUE: INSIDE/OUTSIDE CHARLEY’S HOUSE (#1 – OVER’LETTE begins. On screen a tableau of a birthday party gone wrong.

[This is the tableau depicted at the end of the show.] CHARLEY peeks from behind his hands, a deer caught in headlights.)

CHARLEY Hi. My name’s Charley Maplewood, and I’m ten. Ten years old. Today. It’s a monumental moment in the life of a kid! (points to tableau) But as you can see, I’ve made a big, rotten, stinking mess of everything. But I can explain! It all started one month ago.

(The ACTORS in the tableau exit, leaving CHARLEY.) I was just coming home from my new school when— (MRS. CLEVELAND, loud and nosy, enters.)

Charley Maplewood!

MRS. CLEVELAND

(MRS. CLEVELAND strikes a pose.)

CHARLEY (to audience) That’s Mrs. Cleveland. She’s Fresno’s biggest snoop.

MRS. CLEVELAND (unfreezes) Charley, you’re gonna wanna check... (a jerk of the head) ...your mailbox.

The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Actor’s Script

1

(MRS. CLEVELAND exits. CHARLEY reaches off-screen and pulls a puffy envelope into view.)

CHARLEY (examines envelope) Oh, wow! It’s a package from my dad!

(As CHARLEY removes a festively package from® the envelope... #2 – HAPPY The Big wrapped One-Oh! JR. Zoomsical BIRTHDAY FROM SCOTLAND begins.)

2 Happy Birthday From Scotland HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM SCOTLAND (DAD appears and declares:)

March

& 44

DAD:

∑

œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ

œ

œ

œ

Hap - py Hap - py Hap - py Hap - py Hap - py Birth - day, Char - ley!

(DAD points to CHARLEY proudly.)

CHARLEY (to audience) My birthday wasn’t for another four weeks, but that’s Dad. (DAD snaps his fingers, points at CHARLEY, then exits.)

Even when he and Mom were still married, he could never remember the exact day. Dad always sends me the same present... (holds up two comic books) ...two issues of Monsters & Maniacs.

(Stops! looks up to audience) Wait! What?! You’ve never heard of Monsters & Maniacs? (#3 – MONSTERS & MANIACS begins.)

The Big (PART One-Oh!1)JR. Zoomsical®

3 Monsters & Maniacs (Part 1) MONSTERS & MANIACS (PART 1)

With Excitement!

b & b b 44 ..

(CHARLEY:) They're all about... well, doesn't the title say it all?

..

∑

∑

Ó

Œ

(CHARLEY:)

œ œ

If you're

b &bb œ

œ #œ

The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Actor’s Script 4

œ

hun - gry

œ

for

a

œ

sto - ry

œ

'bout

œ a

2

bœ

œ

mad - man

œ

with

œ

œ

an

ax

œ

here

œ you

With Excitement!

b 4 & b b 4 ..

(CHARLEY:) They're all about... well, doesn't the title say it all?

..

∑

∑

Ó

Œ

(CHARLEY:)

œ œ

If you're 4

b &bb œ

œ

hun - gry

œ #œ

œ

for

a

œ

sto - ry

bœ

œ

œ

'bout

a

œ

mad - man

œ

with

œ

œ

an

ax

œ

œ

here

you

(An ENSEMBLE of MONSTERS enter.)

6

bb

j & b bœ ‰ œ nœ. go–

9

&

bbb

j œ œ œœ Œ

ALL:

Mon - sters

bb

œ œ

œ œ œ œ œ

& b

œ

3

œ

œ

bb

& b œ

15

nœ

3

whoa, so

b & b b nœ

18

what?

œ

œ

de - mons and

œ

much more!

œ nœ #œ

Why don't

I

The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Actor’s Script

know

Mon - sters

œ œ œ 3

gob - lins ga - lore

œ œ

(make scary sounds)

They got...

œ œ

œ #œ œ œ œ

j œ œ œœ Œ

œ.

œ ‰ œ J

œ

œ

œ

If you're hop - ing for sur - vi - val when a

ALL:

get to

3

œ

vam - pires and

œ œ

and Man - i - acs!

zom - bie mob at - tacks

12

Œ

CHARLEY:

n¿

Œ

Hmmm...

œ

ú

just

show

3

œ œ

and Man - i - acs!

œ

œ

3

psy - chos and

œ

(make more scary sounds)

They got...

nú you?

They got

œ nœ

œ #œ

They got

Œ

Œ

n¿

Œ

œ

œ

3

œ

ser - pents and,

CHARLEY: (exasperated)

Œ

œ

Ahhhhh!

œ

Y' know

3

(CHARLEY) (produces three comic books) Okay, check these out! My three favorites. Aha! (holds one up to audience) Issue #113.

(ZOMBIE KING enters.)

(CHARLEY) (reads the cover) “The King of the Zombies is dead...”

“...AND LIVING UNDER MY BED!!”

ZOMBIE KING

CHARLEY (shows another comic) Or how about Issue #85: “On My Planet...”

(ALIEN enters.)

“...I WOULD EAT YOU FOR LUNCH!”

ALIEN

CHARLEY (regards the third comic) And Issue #136: “It Came From The Swamp...”

(SWAMPY enters.)

SWAMPY “...AND IT LEFT WITH MY CHILDREN!”

Meet my monsters!

CHARLEY

ZOMBIE KING (waves into camera) Hello!

SWAMPY (waves into camera) Salutations.

The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Actor’s Script

4

ALIEN (waves into camera) Greetings earthlings.

CHARLEY

I can see them, but nobody else can.

(#4 – MONSTERS & MANIACS (PART 2) begins.)

The Big One-Oh! JR. Zoomsical®

MONSTERS (PART Monsters&&MANIACS Maniacs (Part 2) 2) 4 Quasi Rubato (CHARLEY:) Cuz–

b & b b 44 Ó

Œ

(CHARLEY:)

œ

œ

œ

When you

3

b & b b bœ

œ

œ œ œ

you don't have a friend

6

b &bb œ

œ

œ œ #œ

move

œ

œ

œ œ œ

b &bb œ œ œŒ Ma - ni - acs.

3

The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Actor’s Script

rea - dy to play

to

a

œ

j bœ ‰ œ nœ. œ n œ.

read

œ

Mon - sters

œ

new school you at - tend

3

3

nœ

œ

œ

œ

and know - ing they're there,

œ

I

know

œ

œ

When your

then you

They're

need Mon - sters

and

#œ œ nœ œ œ œ 3

3

hap - py to see me and

Poco accel.

42 œ n œ œ 44 w 3

I'll be o

j œ

œ ‰ b œœ n œœ ..

J

Rit.

3

where

CHARLEY, CHARLEY'S MONSTERS, ENSEMBLE:

3

5œ œ

Œ

and Ma - ni - acs

œ œ œ

œ

CHARLEY:

j œ œ œœ Œ

Poco accel.

3

œ

neigh - bor - hood

But when I get home at the end of the day

b & b b œ n œ œ œ ‰ œJ œ

13

-

#œ

‰ œj ‰ j œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

CHARLEY:

Œ

in

œ

œ

CHARLEY, CHARLEY'S MONSTERS, ENSEMBLE:

then you

class - mates all a - void you in the

9

œ

-

kay

9

b &bb œ œ œŒ

Poco accel.

j ‰ ‰ j œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

CHARLEY:

Œ

Ma - ni - acs.

3

b & b b œ n œ œ œ ‰ Jœ œ rea - dy to play

nœ

3

œ

#œ œ nœ œ œ œ

They're

hap - py to see me and

Rit.

œ

and know - ing they're there,

3

œ

œ

I

know

3

3

3

But when I get home at the end of the day

3

13

3

Poco accel.

2 4 4 œ nœ œ 4 w 3

I'll be o

-

kay

A Tempo (as before) ALL:

b &bb ú

bœ

17

œ

With my

b œ & b b œœ

20

úú .. ú.

Œ œœ œœ ‰ œœ œœ œœ œœ

Mon - sters

œœ œ

Mon - sters

and Man-i - acs

Œ œœ œœ ‰ œœ œœ œœ b œœ

Mon - sters

œœ œœ œ Œ œ œ œ

Œ n úúú and

and Man-i - acs

Ó

Ma - ni - acs!

CHARLEY (lifts a card into frame) Oh look! And Dad sent a card. (to audience) That’s when I read the ten words that started this whole mess: (DAD enters. As CHARLEY reads the card, he and DAD tick off the words on their fingers.)

DAD What are you going to do for your big day? (#5 – SOME SORT OF CELEBRATION begins.)

The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Actor’s Script

6

∑

The Big One-Oh! JR. Zoomsical®

5

Some SortOF Of CELEBRATION Celebration SOME SORT Resolute, In 4

&C

2

CHARLEY: So... what am I going to do for my big day? Hmm. I never gave it a thought. 'Til now.

(DAD exits.)

2

..

(CHARLEY:)

7

& œ . œj œ I

œ

œ

ú

œ œ

don't need con - fet - ti

œ.

&w

12

some

sort

& œ . # œj œ

18

par - ty might

& œ . œj # œ # œ

23

That - 'll

& œ.

28

ne - ver

j œ œ

œ

be

#ú

nice

& w hard.

j œ œ

œ

of cel - e

-

œ œ

cuz you

j œ œ. œ œ

beat - ing of

ú.

so

j œ œ. œ œ

œ œ

all

I

real - ly need is

œ.

j œ #œ #œ

Ó

œ #œ

bra - tion

Sure, a

nev - er turn ten

Œ Nœ

bœ.

j œ œ œ

keep - ing peo - ple

∑

w

The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Actor’s Script

drum

Œ

2

See,

œ

a

ú.

hap - pen

œ

œ

œ

Ó

#œ ú.

in - t'rest - ing back - yard

33

or the

2

..

7

ú.

œ

twice

but

j œ. œ œ œ I

don't have a

œ. who'm

œ œ J

I kid - ding?

j œ œ œ œ

œ.

swim - ming pool or an

œ . b œj ú

Ó

bœ œ

en - ter - tained

(CHARLEY:) Still...

(CHARLEY:)

Ó

Œ œ I

œ

would be

A Tempo

œ.

j œ œ

start - ed out

œ

in

& œ.

28

j œ œ

œ

ú.

in - t'rest - ing back - yard

& w

j œ œ œ

bœ.

œ

so

keep - ing peo - ple

(CHARLEY:) Still...

(CHARLEY:)

Ó

&œ

œ

dia - pers

j & œ. œ œ œ

j œ. œ œ

3

œ œ

but now

look how far

Rit.

œ ú.

43

œ I've

& œ œ bœ

48

44 ‰ œ J

may - be that's ok - ay

(CHARLEY stomps his foot.)

œ œ œ œ

œ

bœ

œœ )

(

All

bú

ú

All

I

want

is

& w

w

60

The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Actor’s Script

bra

I

œ

A Tempo

-

-

-

bw tion!

w

ú

ú

& ¿

56

(stomp)

Hey

w

œ

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

more than a cup - cake less than a pa - rade I'd just

œ œ œ

C bú

œ

( )

in

Quasi Rubato in 4 (Not too slow!)

Driving Ahead, In 2

& œ b œ œ œ œœ

œ

is - n't that worth some

like to make some mem - 'ries be - fore I leave fourth grade. And

51

j œ œ

start - ed out

j œ. œ œ

œ

and

I'd like

j j œ œ œ

œ

Œ

come

œ Œ œ œ

sort of cel - e - bra - tion?

Œ

œ

would be

œ.

I

Œ

bœ œ

A Tempo

Œ œ

hard.

38

Ó

en - ter - tained

∑

w

33

œ . b œj ú

want...

Ó

8

( )

may - be that sounds dumb and

ú

ú

All

I

w want...

Rall. molto

ú

œ bœ

some

w

œ œ ‰ œœJ

œ bœ œ

sort

w

of

œ

œ

cel - e

œŒ Ó

-

ú

œ

bú

ú

All

I

want

is

stomps his foot.)

& ¿

56

(stomp)

A Tempo

& w

w

60

bra

-

-

ú

Ó

œ bœ

some

bw -

Rall. molto

w

sort

of

œ

œ

cel - e

w

-

œŒ Ó

tion!

(CHARLEY) Oh! Mom will be home soon. I’d better start my homework. (#6 – SOME SORT OF... PLAYOFF begins. MOM enters.)

SCENE 1: Charley’s House Hi, honey.

MOM

CHARLEY Hey, Mom? What have you got planned for my big day?

MOM Your ‘big day?’ (realizes what Charley means) Oh, honey, your birthday’s not for another month. We’ve got plenty of time. Just remember, I have to work that Saturday— CHARLEY But Dad sent me a birthday card, and he wants to know what I’m doing for my big day, and I don’t know what to tell him.

(LORENA enters.)

LORENA Why’s Dad sending you a birthday card this early?

(LORENA freezes.)

CHARLEY (to audience) My sister Lorena is sixteen. She’s at that age where everything either ‘sucks’...

LORENA (reanimates) Man, Dad totally sucks with dates.

The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Actor’s Script

9

CHARLEY (still to audience) ...or it’s ‘so lame.’

The Big One-Oh! JR. Zoomsical® (#7 – SO LAME (PART 1) begins.)

So Lame (Part 1) SO LAME (PART 1)

Tempo di Trainor

### 4 Ó & 4

¿

¿

He

is–

LORENA:

j n œœ ‰ œ Œ

ß

So

-

œ-

ß

So - Soooo

7

ù ù

Œ nœ œ

Œ

lame

œ

Œ

Ó

So lame!

MOM Lorena, your father’s not lame. He’s just... calendar-challenged. (sighs) And now, apparently, your brother wants a birthday party.

LORENA

Ha! Who would he invite?

MOM

Well, that’s up to him.

LORENA Charley doesn’t have any friends. And you know why? (#8 – SO LAME (PART 2) begins.)

The Big One-Oh! JR. Zoomsical®

8

SoLAME Lame (PART (Part 2) 2) SO

Tempo di Trainor

## & # 44 Œ

(LORENA:)

¿

Be

-

¿

¿

cause

he's

œ

ùœ ### œ ‰ Œ n ¿ &Big One-Oh! J Online Edition Actor’s Script œ The 4

( )

(muh)

Ugh!

‰ œj Œ

So

ß

So

ùœ

œ

( )

lame!

-

œ

œ

( )

ß

So

Œ

10

-

Ó

n œ-

w-

Soooo

lame...

Œ

¿ ¿ Ó So long!

Tempo di Trainor

### 4 Π& 4

(LORENA:)

¿

Be

4

### œ & J

‰

-

¿

¿

cause

he's

(muh)

œ

ù

¿

n œœ

Ugh!

So

Œ

‰ œj Œ

( )

ß

So

ùœ

-

œ

œ

œ

( )

( )

ß

So

Œ

lame!

-

Ó

n œ-

w-

Soooo

lame...

Œ

¿ ¿ Ó So long!

(LORENA exits.)

MOM (concerned) Charley, you’ve got friends, right?

Doesn’t everyone?

CHARLEY

(#9 – TRANSITION 1 begins.)

SCENE 2: Charley’s Bedroom (Relieved, MOM exits.)

(CHARLEY) (to audience) Mom thinks I want a party, but I don’t. Cuz, in order to have a party you need... stuff.

I know this because Mom used to date this guy— (VINCE CHAMPAGNE enters.)

Check it out! My card—

VINCE

(VINCE hands the card off screen. CHARLEY reaches off and retrieves it.)

CHARLEY (reads card) “Vince Champagne. Party Planner. Every perfect party starts with... Champagne!” (looks up; doubtful) I don’t think you can serve champagne to fourth-graders.

The Big One-Oh! Online Edition Actor’s Script

11