A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

The Magic Pebble

Short Musical, Comedy  /  4w, 11m

Nancy Kierspe Carlson, Betsy Chapman

Four bored youths discover a magic pebble and hang on for dear life as it takes them to a pirate ship crewed by the irascible Captain Crimson and his sidekick Seaweed. They inadvertently bring Crimson and Seaweed back to the present.

The Magic Pebble

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 11m
  • Duration
    Duration
    60 minutes (1 hour)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Theatre for Young Audiences
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences, Children (Age 6 - 10), Pre-Teen (Age 11 - 13), Teen (Age 14 - 18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! Best Play of the Year, Bonfils Theatre, Denver, Colorado  

Details

Summary

Four bored youths discover a magic pebble and hang on for dear life as it takes them to a pirate ship crewed by the irascible Captain Crimson and his sidekick Seaweed. They inadvertently bring Crimson and Seaweed back to the present where they have amusing confrontations with the miraculous creatures vacuum sweeper and radio and with the concept of a round world. From the opening song to the closing duet, there is plenty of adventure and exciting fun for children and adults. Very easy music....comedy which appeals to the adults who bring their children.

History

The Magic Pebble premiered in 1981 at the Children's Theatre of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and has enjoyed productions throughout the United States ever since.

Keywords
Performing Groups

BECKY, HATTIE, JONESY, DENNIS - four students who comprise "the magic pebble gang," the youths who discover a magic pebble and visit King Tut's Court and then a pirate ship.
MISS FIGARO - Called "old Lady Figaro" by the children, she is an ill-natured neighbor and is a wonderful comedy role.  Her transformation is fun.
CAPTAIN CRIMSON - A loveable bumbler who prides himself in his nastiness and meanness.  He is astounded when he is transported to present time in America.
SHANGHAI SAM, STORMY, SAD JIM, LUCKY, JAKE - Crew members of the pirate ship.
KING TUT - Good role for younger actor.
AY - King Tut's Visier.  Good role for an older actor.

The cast of characters is very flexible, allowing for a cast of all ages or a cast of students. It also allows for many characters to be added if desired ...to play pirates or people in King Tut's court. (Before the magic pebble whisks them to a pirate ship, they also have a brief visit to King Tut. One production even included break dancers from a local dance troupe!) There is much room for the director's disgresson.The central group of four can be played as students of any age but were written with approximate ages between 10 and 13 in mind.

  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes, Period Costumes
  • Additional Features No intermission, Physical Comedy, Special Effects
  • Duration 60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

"In the audience, the children shrieked and clapped, teetering on the edges of their seats. Even parents chuckled and applauded...The playwright milked time and space conflicts for great gags, especially the pirate Crimson's duel with a vacuum cleaner." - Denver, Colorado

"Pebble Gang a witty treat for all ages!  Nancy Kierspe Carlson has the rare capacity to appeal to both adults and youth.  Decidedly, the show is for kids, but there are plenty of lines thrown in for the adults too. And they don't go saling over the heads of the kids." - Lincoln, Nebraska

"If your couth is couthless and your ruth is ruthless, hop right over to the Arts Center and you'll recoup fast.   Nancy Carlson has created a play adults and children of all ages will want to have around much longer than a breif 60 minutes...which seemed like 60 seconds." - Fort Wayne, Indianas

Music

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Vocal DemandsEasy
  • Orchestra Size Piano Only
  • Chorus Size No Chorus

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

Music Rentals

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16 Piano-Vocal

This title is orchestrated for Piano Only.
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Authors

Nancy Kierspe Carlson

Nancy Kierspe Carlson
Nancy Kierspe Carlson is a graduate of Indiana University and has been active in community theatre since then, having received numerous acting awards in both Colorado and Indiana. Samuel French has published her children's musical The Magic Pebble, and she has written three ...
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Author

Betsy Chapman

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