Murray Musicals
Musicals with Book, Music, and Lyrics by Stephen Murray
A group of students enrolled in a technology-free wilderness camp find themselves lost in the middle of the woods. As darkness falls, a mysterious counselor that wasn’t introduced at orientation finds the students and sets up camp with them (“Backwoods Ranger”). Around the campfire, the students and counselor share ghost stories and tales of the mysterious creatures of the forest (“Sasquatch’s Lament” and “Chupacabra”). But not all creatures are big and scary. Gnomes also appear and sing that they are guardians of the woods. Will they ever get out of the woods? (“I Miss My Home”). When the real counselors finally locate the kids and everyone leaves, the creatures can celebrate (“Party in the Forest”).
The Awesome family has been so successful at fighting Champion City crime that they have decided to release all the villains. Yes, General Mayhem, Corporal Punishment, and the others in the Army of Evil are free.
The Awesome family now travels to where crime fighters are needed. Meanwhile the youngest, Annie Awesome, is at odds with being in a superhero family as she’s often stuck doing not so heroic tasks. She meets normal citizen Fiona who dreams of making a real difference in the world. They sing “Only Me” and decide to trade places for the day.
What are the villains up to after ten years in prison? Well, pickleball of course! Oh! And they decide to rule the world by making everyone crazy with “Little Tiny Annoying Things.” They are successful and the citizens of Champion City are overwhelmed so are the heroes who go on strike.
Annie inspires the citizens to realize they don’t need powers to be super in the song, “We Can Be Super.” Together in an epic slow-motion battle they defeat the Army of Evil, Evil, thus saving the mayor’s job, protecting the tree frogs, and most important, rescuing the Awesomes!
Welcome to the Mount Olympus Diner where Zeus is the chef and Hera is your waitress. The food is great, but what the customers really love about the diner are the stories told there, the stories of Greek mythology. Diner Network star, Sparky Guy, arrives to do research on the restaurant and is treated to a variety of tales. This musical features contemporary and family-friendly retellings of the myths in the scenes Hades and Persephone, Echo and Narcissus, and Arachne and Athena. A Greek Chorus of diner staff takes on multiple roles and keeps the action moving in each story. You’ll meet delivery Amazons, a track star named Nike, and a singing three-headed dog Cerberus. Add a catchy score and flexible casting options, and you’ve got a show that’s sure to be a hit with your audience and actors.
There’s something strange going on at Sondheim High School. New transfer student, Norma LaBelle, is having trouble getting accustomed to the school’s unusual traditions. At any given moment, students and teachers burst into song for no apparent reason. Each time they sing, it sounds almost like a famous Broadway musical. The math teacher sings a lesson on the Pythagorean theorem. The history teacher delivers a rap-filled class on Alexander Graham Bell. Mrs. Lovett, the Lunch Lady, delivers a menu filled with Broadway-themed meals. The students sing a celebration of Mondays and even the ‘bad’ kids perform the “Detention Tango.” Principal Lloyd Webber is hiding a secret and enforces strict rules to keep the truth hidden from the students. This show is full of fun surprises and is a delight for fans of Broadway musicals as well as for those new to the genre.
Listen to Clips of the show here. Visit Eldridge Publishing to order
This is the most popular of the Murray Musicals. A spoof of the 1960's beach party movies and B-monster movies combined. Lots of great parodies of 1960's hits. Zombies, beatniks, jocks, nerds, and a crazy pirate woman. Lots of fun.
Listen to clips from this show here Visit Eldridge Publishing to order
The stage at Hilltop High has gone unused for 20 years. Suddenly the principal decides that music teacher Peggy Donahue will direct a new musical version of Romeo and Juliet. Enter the jealous understudy, the mother of all stage mothers, a stage crew obsessed with duct tape, and other madness.
Listen to clips from this show here Visit Eldridge Publishing to order
2000 1st Place Winner - Jackie White Memorial Playwriting Competition
This is a musical for young audiences that can be cast with as few as 4 actors. It is loosely based on the famous story, Stone Soup. Winter brings gloom and despair to a village until a mysterious stranger arrives to build a snowman in the center of town.
Visit Big Dog Plays to order and listen to song selections.
A wild and wacky Summer Camp musical. Counselors and campers, practical jokes, madness and mayhem.
Listen to clips from this show here Visit Eldridge Publishing to order
Katastrophe Kate
Yee Hah! Here's a Wild Western musical with outlaws, secret identities, and a spicy chili recipe.
Listen to clips from this show here
Visit Eldridge Publishing to order.
Fabulously Fractured Fairy Tales! Mother Goose and the Brothers Grimm are presented as rival fairy tale companies.
Listen to clips from this show here
3rd Place Winner - Jackie White Memorial Playwriting Competition
Visit Eldridge Publishing to order
A revue about life from birth to age 18. Lots of upbeat tunes about the events of childhood. It includes a zany parody of Mary Poppins. Great for large or small casts.
Listen to clips from this show here
Visit Eldridge Publishing to order.
The first Murray Musical. Based on the fable by Aesop. The Hare is the leader of a gang called the "Hare's Angels". The Tortoise gets health and nutrition advice from an odd cast of animal characters.
Visit Freelance Press to order.
1993-1994 Winner - Anna Zornio Memorial Playwriting Award
This show is subtitled, Brief and Inaccurate History of Everything. The show opens with a collage of creation myths from all over the world then bursts into The Big Bang. Topics then travel from the solar system to dinosaurs to primitive humans and beyond.
HEY, TEACHERS! This show is a terrific way to incorporate Science and Social Studies into your Music and Drama programs. True Murray-heads will recognize this show as the final resting place of 2 songs from the early Murray Musical, The Legend of Columbus.
Listen to clips from this show here
Honorable Mention: Jackie White Memorial Playwriting Competition
Visit Eldridge Publishing to order.
This is a fun, revue style show on the subject of travel. Very flexible for large or small casts.
Listen to clips from this show here
Visit Eldridge Publishing to order.
Politicians are rather silly people and so is this show. This is a comedic modern retelling of The Emperor's New Clothes.
Listen to clips from this show here
Visit Eldridge Publishing to order.