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A
Musical Theatre Summer Camp in Palo Alto, California
Broadway
for Kids

Schoolhouse
Rock Live! Junior opens at 6 a.m. as Tom Mizer, a young teacher,
wakes up on his first day of work. As his alarm goes off, Tom
enters and begins to rehearse his teaching technique. Soon,
Tom’s thoughts begin to take life around him. In an attempt
to calm himself, Tom turns on the T.V. What’s on this
morning? Why, it’s Schoolhouse Rock! As Tom gets drawn
into the show the first song begins. Tom thinks he may be losing
his marbles and attempts to turn off the T.V. His various alter
egos convince him that he is O.K. Each one of them is a part
of Tom’s mind. They’re every person, place and thing
he has ever seen. Tom is still quite unconvinced that he is
has not lost his mind. Undaunted, the ensemble sings, “A
Noun is a Person, Place, or Thing”.
Tom
tries to move into his day by looking over his lesson plan,
which he feels will be a tough job. George and the rest of the
company assure him that with their help, it will be as easy
as one, two, “Three Is a Magic Number”. The song
tells the tale of the magic number three and it’s almost
magical qualities. After the number about the number Tom remarks
that it was, “…the coolest song.” Which leads
right into, “Unpack Your Adjectives”. Shulie and
company describe the descriptive qualities of adjectives.
After
“Unpack Your Adjectives”, Tom begins to accept the
fact that his thoughts have taken on human form and loosens
up a little. He pleads that he has to teach other subjects like
Social Studies and his new-found helpers are right there for
him with, “Just a Bill”. George, dressed as a “bill”
tells the story of a bill and it’s journey towards becoming
a law. The song reminds Tom just how much he remembered of,
“Schoolhouse Rock”, and Shulie reminds Tom that,
“The Preamble” was another shining example of the
series educational value. Each character remembers sitting taking
a test and singing the tune that made the Preamble to the Constitution
unforgettable.
Tom’s
having fun now, keeping things upbeat, the company moves into
a rousing, “Circulation” detailing the circulatory
system through a dance craze. Hot on the heels of medical science,
it’s back to grammar with one of the favorites of the
show, “Conjunction Junction” delivered with the
help of word signs with conjunctions on them making living sentences
on stage. Leaving “Conjunction Junction”, Tom is
reminded of trains which reminds Dina of planes, boats and,
finally, spaceships. Shulie’s interest is sparked as she
sings the up tempo pop song, “Interplanet Janet”.
The company forms with costumes and props the solar system as
Shulie assumes the role of Janet.
The
company feels that they have done their duty and that Tom is ready
to teach. Tom’s ready to teach, but not quite ready to leave
his new friends, so he requests his personal favorite, “Interjections”,
which ends the show.
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