Overview
HOW I BECAME A PIRATE Younger@Part® is the authorized 30 minute edition of the TYA musical for elementary schools and youth theatres (grades 2 – 5). Through a series of workshops with industry professionals and actual kids, the Younger@Part® musicals are tailor-made for younger actors. Song keys are changed where needed, songs and scenes are edited for time and content, while keeping the spirit of the original show intact. There are great parts for girls, boys and can feature any size ensemble/chorus, who are featured throughout the show.
Sail off on a fantastic musical excursion when a band of comical pirates lands at North Beach looking for an expert digger to join their crew. Braid Beard and his mates enlist young Jeremy Jacob as they look for the perfect spot to bury their treasure. Jeremy learns that adventuring can be lots of fun, but love and home are treasures you can’t find on any map. Your elementary school-age cast will love flaunting their pirate swagger in this delightful and swashbuckling musical adventure!
Each Younger@Part® title comes complete with Performance Tracks, Guide Vocal Tracks, Director’s Guide, 30 Student Scripts and more with an affordable Performance License package.
Casting & Production
Casting
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
2 lead roles, 12 featured roles, and an expandable pirate ensemble
NOTE: All casting is gender-flexible
JEREMY JACOB (or JESSICA JACOB) – a kid
BRAID BEARD – the Pirate Captain, with a “braided beard” on his chin
SWILL THE PIRATE – wears wire-rim eyeglasses – philosophical – intellectual – gets blamed for everything that goes wrong
SHARKTOOTH THE PIRATE – foreboding – scowling grin – wears a patch on eye – but yet – a “sensitive guy”
PIRATE PIERRE – talks with a French accent – the ship’s cook – enjoys fine French cuisine
MAX THE PIRATE – wears a stuffed parrot on his shoulder; the others don’t have the heart to tell him that it’s not real
PIRATE SEYMOUR BRAUNSCHWAGGER – a Pirate First Mate
PIRATE SCURVY DOG – a Pirate Second Mate – with a tendency to “bark”
MOM – Jeremy’s mother; can double as a Pirate
DAD – Jeremy’s father; can double as a Pirate
BLUNDER BESS – member of Braid Beard’s Pirate crew, MAD-EYE MATEY – member of Braid Beard’s Pirate crew, AYE AYE EILEEN – member of Braid Beard’s Pirate crew, WALKER DEE PLANK – member of Braid Beard’s Pirate crew. If your cast exceeds 14 actors, add as many additional pirates as you like. Divide the existing lines of the play and pick from the names below.
Music & Materials
Accompaniment CD
Piano-Vocal Score
Credits
HOW I BECAME A PIRATE Younger@Part®
Book, Music and Lyrics by JANET YATES VOGT AND MARK FRIEDMAN
Based upon the book “How I Became a Pirate” Written by Melinda Long and Illustrations by David Shannon
Performed by arrangement with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and The Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. HOW I BECAME A PIRATE received its world premiere at First Stage Children’s Theatre, Milwaukee, WI.
Media
Authors
Upcoming Productions
Westpark Elementary
Rosamond, CA
North Shore Music Theatre
Beverly, MA
National Youth Musical Theatre of Ireland
Dublin, Dublin, IE
Resources
