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Overview

Synopsis

They Chose Me! is a family musical about adoption as seen through the eyes of children. It was originally commissioned by TADA! Youth Theater, NYC, under the direction of artistic director, Janine Nina Trevens. Shortly after, TADA! received a special Drama Desk Award.

Led by Sarah Cook, a group of teens and preteens share funny and poignant stories exploring the many aspects of adoption today. It is written with optional extra characters to accommodate small to larger casts. The kids enact situations that are based on real-life counterparts (as researched by the authors):

  • multicultural families (“Nothing Seems to Match”)
  • foster care (“The Foster Care Square Dance")
  • gay parents (“Two Moms”)
  • silly and insensitive comments overheard by adoptees (“Not the Right Thing to Say”)
  • accidentally learning one is adopted (“The Day I Was Told”)
  • the tale of Me-ling Moscowitz, a girl proud of her varied heritage
  • the mix of emotions—from gratitude to discomfort to camaraderie—of adopted children
  • the realization that being adopted is just a factor—not a problem—of one’s life, like being left-handed or being redheaded (“They Chose Me”)

Rather than a plot-driven musical, this is a concept show: a mosaic of recollections and experiences--in the tradition of A Chorus Line and The Me Nobody Knows. The authors pored through books and interviews on the subject, all covering the adopted child’s point of view. The show has received many regional productions—both in 60-minute and 100-minute versions. In some cases, it was presented to commemorate “National Adoption Month.” Many of the productions encouraged the young cast to study up on the subject, then discuss it with each other. They Chose Me! exemplifies how a musical (using song, dance, and humor) can both entertain and illuminate a theme.

Show Information

Book
Michael Colby , Ned Paul Ginsburg
Music
Ned Paul Ginsburg
Lyrics
Michael Colby
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2006
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Settings
Contemporary, Simple/No Set
Time & Place
Present Day
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Small
Dancing
Musical Staging
Licensor
Theatrical Rights Worldwide
Ideal For
Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Middle School, Theatre For Young Audiences (TYA), Mostly Female Cast, Includes Late Teen, Early Teen, Child Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Brett Walker

Lead

Male

Baritone, Tenor, Bass

Ivan Zale

Lead

Male

Bass, Baritone, Tenor

Jamal DuPre

Lead

Male

Bass, Baritone, Tenor

Manuela Rodriguez

Lead

Male

Bass, Baritone, Tenor

Jimmy Magee

Lead

Male

Treble/Boy Soprano

Carl O'Reilly Grossbaum

Lead

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Mei-Ling Moskowitz

Lead

Female

Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano

Amy Jasper

Lead

Female

Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano

Debra Martino

Lead

Female

Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano

Eve Eden

Lead

Female

Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano

Jane Smythe

Lead

Female

Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano

Laura Jamison

Lead

Female

Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano

Nancy Tatum

Lead

Female

Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano

Sarah Cook

Lead

Female

Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano

Sharla Franco

Lead

Female

Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano

Optional Characters

Ensemble

Either Gender

Songs

Act One

  • Have Our Say - Ensemble
  • Nothing Seems to Match - Eve, Brett, Marcus, Patty
  • No Chance* - Gail, Brett, Marcus, Nancy
  • Foster Care Square Dance - Debra and Ensemble
  • A Home - Jimmy and Ensemble
  • Carl’s Song (Two Moms) - Carl, Sharla, Kay
  • Not the Right Thing to Say - Jane, Lily, Sarah, Kay, Brett, Jamal, Gail, Sue, Penny
  • What’s the Use*! - Jamal
  • Family I’ve Got - Sharla, Sue, Sammy and Ensemble
  • The Day I Was Told* - Patty
  • What’s a Parent? - Ensemble

Act Two

  • Everyday Treasures* - Ensemble
  • Mei-Ling - Mei-Ling
  • I Yi Yi Yi - Laura, Manuela, and Ensemble
  • Descended From - Amy, Jamal, Sammy, Marcus, Patty, Lily
  • Dear Cel-e-be-re-ty* - Penny, Carol, Amy, Ivan, Gail and Ensemble
  • How Can I Know? - Nancy
  • They Chose Me - Ivan and Ensemble
  • To Belong - Sarah and Ensemble

  • They Chose Me (Reprise) - Ensemble

  • Songs added when the show was lengthened from one to two acts.

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.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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Videos

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher