They Chose Me!

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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.