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Overview
Synopsis
As the sun rises on the Arable’s farm, Fern Arable discovers that her father is planning on killing the runt of the litter of pigs born during the night. She runs to save it and persuades her father to let her keep the pig, whom she names Wilbur. Wilbur is taken to the farm of her uncle, Homer Zuckerman, where he meets the other farmyard animals. However, Wilbur is lonely without a special friend of his own...that is, until he meets Charlotte--a spider. Charlotte decides to save Wilbur from the fate of all other pigs and she begins to spin the words “Some Pig” in her web. When her words are discovered, the Zuckermans are astounded and realize the potential for publicity and financial revenue.
When more words appear, the story soon spread around and reporters descend on the Zuckerman farm. Homer is persuaded to take Wilbur to the county fair, where he competes in the ‘Best Pig’ competition. Knowing that she is near the end of her life, Charlotte agrees to go with Wilbur as she know he needs her help to produce more words. Her final word, before releasing her sack of eggs, is ‘Humble’. Although Wilbur does not win the prized blue ribbon, the Zuckerman family is overjoyed to find out that he has been awarded a special medal and a cash prize. When it is time to leave, Charlotte reveals to Wilbur that she is dying and does not have the strength to travel. Wilbur is sad to lose his friend, but he takes her egg sack to honor her memory and hatch them back in the barn.
Show Information
- Book
- Joseph Robinette
- Music
- Charles Strouse
- Lyrics
- Charles Strouse
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- E.B. White's Charlotte Web (1952 novel)
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1989
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Maine, America
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Small
- Dancing
- Musical Staging
- Licensor
- Dramatic Publishing Co.
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Middle School, Regional Theatre, Theatre For Young Audiences (TYA), Mostly Male Cast, Includes Child, Early Teen, Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Treble/Boy Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Treble/Boy Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Treble/Boy Soprano, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Treble/Boy Soprano, Bass-Baritone |
Songs
ACT ONE
"Overture" - Orchestra
"What A Morning" - Doc, Sadie, Lurvy
"Breakfast At Arables"- Fern, Avery, Martha, John
"Wilbur" - Fern
"Eating" - Wilbur
*"Nice To Meet You" - Barnyard Animals
"Who Says We Can't Be Friends?" - Wilbur, Charlotte
"Summer" - Homer, Edith, Townspeople
"Charlotte's Spinning Song" - Charlotte, Templeton, Bat, Owl
"Freedom Now!" - Wilbur, Barnyard Animals
"Some Pig" - Homer, Lurvy, Wilbur, Charlotte, Barnyard Animals
"As The Day Went On" - Charlotte, Owl, Bat
"Mama, You Don't Understand Me" * - Martha, Fern
"County Fair" - Full Company
ACT TWO
"County Fair (Reprise)" - Ensemble
"Don't" - Fern, Avery
"You're You" - Charlotte
"Charlotte At Work" - Charlotte
"Wilbur (Reprise)" - Full Company
"Finale" - Full Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher