Uncle Pirate
by Drew Fornarola, Ben H. Winters
Full Length Musical, Comedy / 3m, 3f
With help from Uncle Pirate and his faithful talking penguin, maybe, just maybe, Wilson can survive the fourth grade.
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Cast Size
3m, 3fDuration
60 minutes (1 hour)Subgenre
Adventure, Theatre for Young AudiencesAccolades
From Off-BroadwayTarget Audience
- Appropriate for all audiences
- Young Children (Age 2 - 5)
- Children (Age 6 - 10)
Additional Info
Wilson is just your average kid. Then one day he finds out his uncle is a pirate... like, a REAL pirate! With help from Uncle Pirate and his faithful talking penguin, maybe, just maybe, Wilson can survive the fourth grade. Grab yer eye patches and pirate hats, mateys! The adventure begins now!
Reviews
REVIEWS:
"At heart Uncle Pirate proves more of a Boy Scout than a buccaneer, but that won't distress theatergoers under 12, this diverting and often funny musical's ideal audience... Theatergoers at a recent performance particularly enjoyed a classroom duel in which Uncle Pirate bravely wields first a pointer, then a ruler and finally a book. Education, it seems, really is the way to win life's battles." –The New York Times
"There's a talking penguin and plenty of 'arrrs!' for the young'uns, while elementary schoolers and their parents will appreciate the sarcastic dialogue and clever songs... a whimsical adaptation of the eponymous kids book is Jolly Roger fun." –Time Out New York
RELATED ARTICLES ON BREAKING CHARACTER
Focus on a Playwright: Ben H. Winters
June 1, 2010
Considerations
Performing Groups
- Jr High/Primary
- High School/Secondary
- College Theatre / Student
- Community Theatre
- Dinner Theatre
- Professional Theatre
- Shoestring Budget
- Outdoor
- Large Stage
- Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups
Cautions
- No Special Cautions
License details
- Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
Production
Details
- Time Period: Contemporary, Present Day
- Duration: 60 minutes (1 hour)
- Setting: Inside Wilson's home; inside and outside of Wilson's Elementary School
- Additional Features: No intermission, Stage Combat
- Features / Contains: Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes, Fantasy Costumes
Music
- Musical Style: Classic Broadway, Pop/Rock
- Vocal Demands: Moderate
- Orchestra Size: Piano Only
- Chorus Size: Small
Song Samples
Casting
3m, 3fUNCLE PIRATE - a tough-talking, barrel-chested, sword-rattlin', sea-garglin' old salt; eye patch optional, heart of gold required
CAPTAIN JACK - a wise-cracking penguin; played by an actor in a penguin suit
WOMAN 1 (Mom, Carla, various pirates and kids) - Mom is the sensible long-suffering mother of Wilson; Carla is a bullying eight year-old with pigtails and a perpetual scowl
WOMAN 2 (Miss Quern, various pirates and kids) - Miss Quern is a secretary who looks and acts like a librarian; prim and proper, hair in a bun, etc.
MAN (Dad, Principal Purvis, Mr. Twissel, various pirates and kids) - Dad is the sensible long-suffering father of Wilson; Principal Purvis is a shifty-eyed middle-aged man whose great love is making life hard for children; later Purvis is revealed to be a pirate; Mr. Twissel is terrified of everything, especially fourth graders
Cast Attributes
- Ensemble cast
- Non-Traditional casting
- Expandable casting
- Flexible casting
- Room for Extras
Resources
Rehearsal Resources
Music Material Rental Packages
Full Package
1 Piano Conductor Score
6 Vocal Chorus Books
Scripts
Want the full script?
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Authors
Uncle Pirate was first presented by Vital Theater Company at Vital Children's Theater in New York City. The original production opened January 16, 2010 and was directed by Jeremy Dobrish.
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