A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

The Curious Quest for the Sandman's Sand

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  11any gender (youth) plus ensemble

Book and Lyrics by Jenifer Toksvig
Music by David Perkins

In this colourful, fun-packed adventure musical, Jesse, Meggie and Teddy embark on an eventful journey into the mysterious world of silver-tongued Harry, the Sandman, to retrieve the magical sand.

The Curious Quest for the Sandman's Sand

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    11any gender (youth) plus ensemble
  • Duration
    Duration
    60 minutes (1 hour)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Fantasy, Adventure, Theatre for Young Audiences, Fable/Folktale
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences, Children (Age 6-10), Pre-Teen (Age 11-13)
The Curious Quest for the Sandman's Sand

Details

Summary

Jesse, Meggie and Teddy embark on an eventful journey into the mysterious world of silver-tongued Harry, the Sandman, to retrieve the magical sand. Along the way, they meet some extraordinary creatures (Snoodle Werps, the Trash Trump and Litter Bugs, to name a few) before their final showdown with Jewels the Witch and the awesome Gump Grump.

This is a colourful, fun-packed adventure musical for a large cast of young people with a wonderful jazz and blues score.

History
The Curious Quest for the Sandman’s Sand was first performed at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford on 19 June 1997. Directed by Julia Burgess, the production featured Simon Foster and Zoe Maddison.

Note: The show can be adapted according to how many children you wish to have in the cast. The chorus roles can be played by one group or split into year groups for different scenes, thus allowing more children to take part.

Principal Roles

HARRY THE SANDMAN – Silver-tongued, zoot-suited deliverer of dreams with a cool jive-talking style. He needs to be a strong singer. This character acts as narrator and ought to be easily distinguishable from the rest of the company, which can be achieved by using either a teacher or an older student for the role. Songs: “The Bed Bug Bop,” “The Sand Jive,” “Stealing the Sand (Gospel Prayer),” “Window Box Hill,” “The Sandman’s Lullaby.”

JEWELS THE WITCH – Beautiful and glamorous, but lacking any real skill in witchcraft, the part requires a brassy style and a powerful voice. A substantial role perhaps best played by a teacher or an older child. Songs: “Jewels,” “The Spell,” “The Itch Calypso.”

JESSE – The eldest sibling. She is a responsible and sometimes bossy girl. Songs: “The Bed Bug Bop”, “The Sand Jive,” “The Itch Calypso.”

MEGGIE – The middle child, feisty and determined. Songs: “The Bed Bug Bop”, “The Sand Jive,” “The Itch Calypso.”

TEDDY – Curious, sceptical and little. And always hungry. Songs: “The Bed Bug Bop”, “The Sand Jive,” “The Itch Calypso.”

HENCHMEN (1-4 suggested) – A comedy duo, though the Henchmen may be played by as many as four, and even as a solo. Songs: “Jewels” (They can also sing the chorus part in “The Itch Calypso” if required.)

CRUMBLITIOUS – Kind, caring, and magical, the elderly Monk-Gardener of Window Box Hill has a large speaking and singing part and could be played by a teacher or an older child. Songs: “The Pippitfly.”

PIPPITFLY – Should be cute, perhaps a younger child who is a good dancer and can flutter her eyelashes at the audience appealingly. (Non-singing)

TRASH TRUMP – An American Gl, gruff yet friendly. He needs to have a loud voice and a good sense of rhythm for his song. Songs: “Trash Trump Dump.”

GUMP GRUMP – A small character role requiring a loud speaking voice and, most importantly, height no greater than Teddy’s. (Non-singing)

Chorus Roles (by song title)

“Bed Bug Bop”
FRIENDS of Jesse, Meggie and Teddy (any number) – The opening song can be used to introduce the entire company, or to provide an ensemble number for a group of any size and age.

“Stealing the Sand (Gospel Prayer)”
GOSPEL CHOIR (any number) – As expressive as possible.

“Tapestry Fayre”
The Fayre is a magical setting where the entire company can perform. It is also, however, the ideal opportunity to provide smaller speaking and singing roles for more confident members of the ensemble. For example, the Clowns could be an acrobatic feature and the Daisytattle solo a ballet.
CROWD
CLOWNS
DAISYTATTLE(S
) – sell Cotton Pear (similar to Candy Floss)
FLY ’N’ GO ROUND RIDERS – The Fly ’n’ Go Round is a carousel with “real” animals called SNOODLE WERPS who fly around the central pole. The Snoodle Werps are ridden by the children, so they could be props similar to hobby horses, or played by bigger children in costume who can give piggy-back rides to Jessie, Meggie and Teddy. There is a SNOODLE BARKER, who attracts people to the ride, and it may be necessary to have children playing SNOODLE GROOMS, to hold the Snoodle Werps until the ride begins.
THE GROOGLY HOG – train driver
CROWD As the land is populated by creatures, the “crowd” chorus can be made up either of children without special costume, or Scrumble Bees. These creatures have no particular purpose other than to add a splash of bright colour to the crowd, and to distinguish the three main children from the rest of the creatures.

“The Spell,” “The Itch Calypso”
HAGGLETS and HABITUALS (any number) – These creatures are the perfect role for younger children who will enjoy the chance to make ugly faces. The group can be as large as required.

“Window Box Hill,” “The Pippitfly”
MONKS (any number) – They help Crumblitious to tend Window Box Hill and should be able to hold a simple line of harmony.
VILLAGERS (any number) – An optional role in Window Box Hill for non-singing members of the ensemble.

“Trash Trump Dump”
LITTER BUGS (any number) – A role for children who can sing and march in time.

Flexible casting: The show can be adapted according to how many children you wish to have in the cast. The chorus roles can be played by one group or split into year groups for different scenes, thus allowing more children to take part.

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Features Fantasy Costumes
  • Additional Features No Intermission, Puppetry
  • Duration 60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Music

1. “The Bed Bug Bop” – Harry, Jesse, Meggie, Teddy, Chorus
2. “The Sand Jive” – Harry, Jesse, Meggie, Teddy
3. “Stealing the Sand (Gospel Prayer)” – Harry, Jesse, Meggie, Teddy, Chorus
4. “Tapestry Fayre” – Ensemble
5. “Jewels” – Jewels, Henchmen
6. “The Spell” – Jewels Chorus
7. “The Itch Calypso” – Jesse, Meggie, Teddy, Jewels, Chorus
8. “Window Box Hill” – Harry, Monks
9. “The Pippitfly” – Crumblitious, Monks
10. “The Trash Trump Dump” – Trash Trump, Litterbugs
11. “The Final Conflict” – Instrumental
12. “The Sandman's Lullaby” – Harry
13. “Finale (Reprise: Gospel Prayer)” – Ensemble
13a. Bows – Instrumental
13b. “Encore (Reprise: The Beg Bug Bop)” – Ensemble
13c. Exit Music – Instrumental

  • Musical Style Pop/Rock, Jazz
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo
  • Chorus Size Large

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
12 Piano-Vocal

1 Double Bass

1 Drums

1 Tenor Sax-Clarinet

12 Piano -Vocal

Add-Ons

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Authors

David Perkins

David Perkins works as a composer, pianist, MD and music arranger. His specialization is writing and collaborating on musicals for the youth/schools market and shows aimed at young/family-orientated audiences. Published works include Shake Ripple & Roll, Pandemonium! (a Greek ...
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Jenifer Toksvig

Jenifer Toksvig writes musical theatre for storytellers of all ages. With composer David Perkins, she has written several shows for young people to perform, including The Curious Quest for the Sandman's Sand, Skool & Crossbones, Shake, Ripple & Roll, Pandemonium (a Greek Myth ...
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