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Maverick Musicals and Plays

Author: maveditor

  • Welcoming Kevin Nemeth and One Starry Night!

    Welcoming Kevin Nemeth and One Starry Night!

    Kevin Nemeth is an award-winning scriptwriter with over 30 years’ experience in the industry. He has been awarded five Australian Writers’ Guild Awards and has received another nine nominations. He graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts with a Diploma in Dramatic Arts and has received an Australia Council Literature Board Fellowship.

    His play “One Starry Night” was awarded Best Play at the 2020 Edyth Brooke-Cooper Short Play Festival.   It was at this festival that Maverick Director Rachel saw One Starry Night and knew immediately what a hit it would be for any theatre group to perform.

    It’s ideal for a small cast who wish to tour the play around to multiple festivals or regions and it’s two characters offer a rich range of emotions and topics for actors to deeply explore. Set at the end of World War II in Australia, One Starry Night is an almost-love-story that leaves the audience wanting more!

    Kevin has also written for TV series including: Bananas in Pyjamas, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, Crocadoo 2, Ginger Meggs, Chuck Finn, Crash Zone, Newlyweds, Acropolis Now, Flying Doctors, The Comedy Company, Col’n Carpenter and Larger Than Life, and many, many more.

    Kevin has had ten radio plays produced and broadcast in four countries. His audio-visual shows, Spinning Out and Tycho to the Moon, written for the Melbourne Planetarium, have been on-sold to other Australian and international Planetariums in the United States, New Zealand and South Africa. His “Bottle Top Bill” picture books; Moon Mayhem, The Junkosaur, The Great Wild Woolly, and Naughty Ned have been published by Pan Macmillan Australia.

    Maverick Musicals and Plays welcomes Kevin, a multi-talented writer indeed, in to our curated collection of theatrical works.

    To delve in to the story of One Starry Night for yourself, click here.

  • So Much More Than a Little Black Dress

    So Much More Than a Little Black Dress

    A lovely review from Brian Twomey of Blackheath Theatre Company about their recent season of Jo Denver’s More Than a Little Black Dress.
    Congratulations to everyone in the cast and crew for such a successful show!
    ?Fashion, fusion and friction – all combine in Jo Denver’s powerful examination of the life of Coco Chanel?
    It was a stylish start to the Blackheath Theatre Company’s sell-out production of Australian author Jo Denver’s powerful play, More than a Little Black Dress. The play shines an illuminating light on the complex and controversial life of fashion icon Coco Chanel.
    Opening night patrons were encouraged to capture the mood of the French je ne sais quoi vibe. This they did splendidly, transforming the pre-performance foyer into a kaleidoscope of joie de vivre.
    They were rewarded with a compelling insight into the transitory, triumphant, and ultimately tangled times of the girl who shook off her humble orphanage beginnings to transform and ascend to the peak of the world of haute couture.
    Theatre lovers across the Blue Mountains community responded with equal enthusiasm over the next five performances. They appreciated the challenge of the theatrical staging, whereby strategic lighting separated the storytelling of the salon success of Coco’s reputation juxtaposed against the lesser-known darker side of Coco’s interrogation by the post-World War II Free French Tribunal.
    The Tribunal’s intent was to unearth the true extent of Coco’s collaboration with high-ranking Nazi officers during their occupation of Paris.
    Fiery, combative acting in the interrogation scenes played out against the gentler and seductive salon scenes of Coco’s subtle pursuit of high-powered lovers who were underwriting her rise to stardom.
    Audience reaction ranged from “please extend the season” to “spell-binding production”; from “a fine ensemble cast carried a powerful play through to a successful conclusion” to “imaginative portrayal of a marvellous storyline.”
    Some brief quotes from author Jo Denver:
    “Congratulations on a tight, intelligent, professional show. I doubt if you could have found two more suitable or talented Chanels, they were magnificent; polished performers who attacked their roles with relish and added a reality in capturing the many sides of his mercurial woman….The cast were completely believable, with each character enthusiastically self-righteous in keeping up the pressure and pace. These difficult scenes were beautifully handled.”
  • Your Biggest Challenge

    Your Biggest Challenge

    The Making of Inconceivable by Hugh O’Brien

    Choosing which play to stage is the biggest challenge community theatre faces. Well, apart from finding enough men to fill roles, maintaining a performance space, signing up sponsors, selling tickets, keeping the peace between people with different levels of commitment and passion…okay, community theatre faces lots of challenges!

    So why add to the angst by mounting a very challenging play?  Because the bigger the challenge, the bigger the satisfaction in pulling it off.

    INCONCEIVABLE is certainly a challenging play.  Its subject matter makes any decent human being feel very uncomfortable.  The radical solution its main character proposes to prevent child abuse is confronting and disquieting.

    The play was conceived over a 30-year period. The first seed was planted in 1988 from a chance remark made by a psychiatrist acquaintance of mine.  Frustrated at dealing with teenagers who had been poorly parented, she lamented that the best solution was to put a contraceptive in the water supply so no one could have children!

    Ten years later, when working as a media advisor for the government minister responsible for public housing, I was confronted by a journalist demanding answers as to why a young couple with two children had not been accommodated in a housing commission home.

    This young couple were living in a caravan and the de facto boyfriend had inflicted terrible injuries on a two-year-old boy.  Only the intervention of a good Samaritan in the next caravan exposed the terrible abuse.

    In 2008, I put the two ideas together and created a shaky first draft.  Many drafts and another nine-years later, I finally had a play ready to enter in a competition.

    INCONCEIVABLE duly won the 2018 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers Hour Plays National Playwriting Competition where the script was further improved by workshopping and input from professional dramaturg Ian Lawson and talented director Lynn Hodgson.

    Slated for production by Ipswich Little Theatre just before covid hit, the play was reduced from 60-minutes to its current length of 50-minutes and received more excellent input from award-winning director Jim Orr.

    INCONCEIVABLE has had a long conception with many hands contributing to its script.  Now all it needs is your brave hands to bring it to life.

    Inconceivable

  • In the Limelight FIRST EDITION

    In the Limelight FIRST EDITION

    Getting a closer look in to the brilliant minds behind the works of Maverick Musicals and Plays

    In the Limelight – meet Simon Denver, who has the ultimate beginner’s luck story.

    The first musical he ever penned in the 1970’s, Man of Steel, with his friend Ian Dorricott, turned out to be the most performed school musical in Australia and New Zealand, and STILL IS. If that’s not enough success for one person, literally every theatre festival he’s entered has awarded his works multiple prizes. He’s got the golden pen, that’s for sure.

    That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Simon’s incredible life. Growing up in an eccentric, creative family and in various countries (England, Malta and Australia to name just a few) and working all over the place as an actor, musician and MC for successful Theatre Restaurants that he wrote, Simon remains one of Australia’s most valued playwriters is still generating plays as diverse in genre as they in content.

    With a passion for all things funny, he’s created some absolute rip-snorter, side-splitting comedies over the years. Then, just to be balanced, Simon’s also a real history buff and has written some truly intense dramas based of historical events.

    To top it all off, Simon is an acclaimed Director who has a natural penchant for casting actors who are not only naturally suited to their roles, but who create an unconscious yet undeniable chemistry with the rest of their cast. It’s on many an actors’ bucket-list to work with him.

    In short, Simon knows how to create theatrical magic from the pen to the stage. And the Arts Queensland Culture Champion award Simon earnt in 2013 is testament to that.

    Head to maverickmusicals.com today to check out Simon’s catalogue of work. And remember, you can download 6 complimentary samples every day so get downloading!

    Thanks to @travismacfarlane for this photo of Simon Denver

  • Pram with a past – the making of The Pram by Hugh O’Brien

    Pram with a past – the making of The Pram by Hugh O’Brien

    We asked Hugh O’Brien, multi-award winning play writer to give us a little insight in to his brand new one act play, The Pram.

    “My new one-act mystery play The Pram has six characters – five females and one male. But there are really seven characters because a large pram appears in every scene and dominates the stage from start to finish.

    It was a real thrill that the actual pram used in the first production of the play by the lovely Hills Players at Mitchelton in Brisbane has such special significance to me. The big cane pram has been in my wife’s family for almost 90 years. I restored it to original glory when my son was born in the late 1970s but being impossible to collapse to put in the car, the pram soon ended up forgotten and hidden under other junk under the house. Unearthing it after so many years actually gave me the idea for the play. What if someone suddenly discovered an old pram and began investigating its history?

    What also helped me devise the plot was that a few years ago, I used a DNA test to determine the identity of my great-grandfather. In 1903, my mother’s father was literally given away as a four-year-old boy because his single-mother could not care for him. My grandfather never met his father and had only a vague idea of who he might be. Tracking down the identity of this ancestor through DNA testing was a real-life detective game which helped inform the plot of The Pram.

    In the play, which is a work of fiction, the date mentioned for the death of a character is actually the date of death of my great-grandfather. We discovered he died of the Spanish flu in Longreach Hospital on July 1st 1919. I’m sure he never imagined that the date of his death would be memorialised in a one-act play over a century later!

    I hope whoever produces this play has as much fun with it as we did and that the pram you use has a rich history.”

    Thank you so much Hugh, it’s wonderful to hear how much meaning The Pram has for you and whoever performs it will value knowing your back-story.
    Have a great weekend everyone and remember, our 25% off scripts continues until 28th February and includes this brand new play, The Pram!

  • Brand new plays from Hugh O’Brien

    Brand new plays from Hugh O’Brien

    Australia’s popular & award-winning play writer Hugh O’Brien has two brand new one act plays!
    Hello theatre friends,
    We’re thrilled to be sharing these new plays with you.
    Hugh O’Brien’s work is so dynamic and impressive and these brand new plays, The Pram and Inconceivable showcase Hugh’s talent perfectly.

    The Pram
    Can a determined woman and a DNA test solve the 100-year-old mystery of a missing baby? The Pram is a modern mystery interwoven with events from the past such as Gallipoli, the great Spanish flu epidemic of 1919 and the Vietnam War.

    Inconceivable
    When the birth rate mysteriously plummets in a low socio-economic area, a curious journalist suspects the engineer at the local water treatment plant is somehow involved. Inspired by an actual case of horrific child abuse, this play is not for the faint hearted.

    Don’t forget our 25% off all scripts sale is continuing until 28th February and includes these two new plays. So get yourself a bargain today!
    Warm regards,
    Rachel Fentiman
    Director

  • A Writer’s Tale From Isolation

    A Writer’s Tale From Isolation

    A Writer’s Tale From Isolation

    By Simon Denver

    I presume that a couple of months ago my fellow creative writers embraced the idea of some form of isolation/ lock-down as a godsend. I also presume that most of my fellow creative writers realised that this was it; this was the time to create their opus, their masterpiece, their finest work.

    (Of course, this does not apply to the composers for musicals. They already live a solitary life, shunned by most of society. They probably don’t even realise there are lock-downs happening and are wondering about this new fashion trend of wearing face masks).

    I also presume that most of my fellow creative writers have since procrastinated for the past few months and although their masterpiece hasn’t even been started, they have caught up on all correspondence and paperwork dating back to the early 2000’s. They have cleaned everything in their writer’s garrets that could possibly be cleaned. Some of them might even have mastered the use of a vacuum cleaner. All those little “Get round to it one day” jobs have been done.

    So, what now?

    With every possible task completed we have no other excuses. It is time to create our masterpieces. But can we? Please spare a thought for many writers world-wide who will struggle with the new dominant paradigms.

    For it is indeed a brave new world for us writers. Some will discover that they can write without an Arts Grant. Unfortunately, some won’t.

    Some will discover that they can write without a deadline. Some won’t.

    And some will discover they can write without any input from arts workers. Not many, but some.

    These could prove to be painful lessons. There will be casualties. There are rumours (perhaps started by moi) of a second-hand Arts Grant trade on Gumtree. Social media is full of horrific tales of bogus deadlines being circulated. Most sinister of all are the reports of a new telephone scam. People cold-calling and posing as arts workers who, for a “small fee”, will guide you with your creative process (luckily most writers don’t actually have any money so now the telephone scam people have their eyes set on theatre curtain technicians. Good luck there…).

    But to those of us who survive this culling, we will eventually write. And I do believe that we will produce an outpouring of brilliant scripts. This pandemic is by far the most important, far reaching incident of modern times. It has fundamentally changed how we live and govern ourselves. We are witnessing history. Major history. Stop cleaning and answering emails from 2013 – start writing!

    So, my prediction: In 12 months’ time there will be a spike in births … and a spike in Masterpieces.

    To browse Simon’s catalogue of works, head to https://vfr1knldxys.c.updraftclone.com/shop/?filter_written-by=simon-denver

  • Ten Festival Winners – One Act Plays

    Ten Festival Winners – One Act Plays

    One?act plays are a celebration of theatre at its most potent: bold ideas, sharp storytelling, and unforgettable moments distilled into a single, under-50-minutes experience.
    Free from excess and rich in imagination, they demand precision from playwrights and performers alike, proving that greatness is measured not in length but in impact.
    From intimate character studies to daring experimental works, one?act plays have long been a proving ground for new voices and a showcase for theatrical craft at its finest.
    The following list honours ten award?winning one?act plays that demonstrate just how thrilling, moving, and memorable a short play can be.
    Two Women & A Chair by Michael Olsen

    Two actors, Jessie and Martine, arrive at an audition to discover only a bare room with a mysterious black chair. The only instructions on what they should do are contained on the flyer advertising the play, and it soon becomes clear that this is no ordinary audition—or is it an audition at all?

    Will they obey the cryptic instructions? What of Damian, the director? Is this all a plot to get back at Martine, or is there something more? The answers, as always, lie in the choices Jessie and Martine are about to make.

    Read More

    Odd Chemistry by Aaron Evans

    Inside Jacinta’s mind, Depression, Anxiety and Borderline Personality Disorder argue over who helps her the most—until Serotonin and Dopamine arrive, determined to change the balance. As each force defends its purpose, they uncover how Jacinta created them to survive, and realise that none of them are as helpful, or harmful, as they believed. By confronting their roles, they discover that healing comes not from elimination, but from understanding.

    Odd Chemistry is a warm, humorous exploration of mental health, offering a hopeful reminder that we are not defined by what we live with, but by how we learn to work with it.

    Read More

    Embers by Natalie Burns

    For days, smoke hangs on the horizon, staining the sky orange — a distant warning of what’s to come. Like so many regional towns, Pine Ridge clings to hope that the fires will pass them by. But when an abrupt wind change turns a Watch and Act warning into a full evacuation, that hope is rapidly consumed.

    Journalist Nowra Cobargo returns to Pine Ridge after years away, assigned to cover the approaching bushfires. What she finds is more than a story: unresolved family tensions, familiar faces from a past she thought she’d left behind, and a firestorm no one could have anticipated. As the town braces for impact, Nowra is forced to confront both the disaster unfolding around her and the one waiting within.

    Winner of the 2021 Noosa One Act Playwriting Competition, the Nancy Cato Audience Choice Award, and three Adjudicators’ Awards.

    Read More

    One Starry Night by Kevin Nemeth

    As World War II draws to a close, Sarah is stunned by an unexpected visitor: Robert, the American soldier she once met in a quiet coastal town in Queensland. Believing their brief connection was destined to remain a memory, she never imagined their paths would cross again—yet here he is, asking questions she isn’t sure she’s ready to answer.

    His sudden return rekindles a bond forged under the shadow of war, raising hopes that once seemed impossible. But with conflict still lingering and the future uncertain, Sarah and Robert must confront whether what they share can survive the world they are returning to. Tender, restrained, and deeply moving, this one?act play explores love, longing, and the echoes of choices made during wartime.

    Winner of the 2020 Edythe Brook Cooper Playwriting Competition.

    Read More

    God Goes to a Shrink by Hugh O’Brien

    God has a problem — and turns up disguised as a Coles delicatessen worker to seek counselling from an atheist psychologist and a dim?witted but endearing receptionist. What follows is a fast?paced, irreverent comedy that gleefully pokes fun at religious doctrine, cultural sacred cows, and even delivers a surprising revelation involving Ken and Barbie.

    Quirky, sharp, and unapologetically cheeky, this award?winning play comes from the writer of Farmer Will Swap Combine Harvester For Wife and made a strong impression on the Queensland festival circuit in 2011, collecting multiple accolades along the way.

    Read More

    The Rock in the Water by Simon Denver
    In the aftermath of a brutal civil war, King Creon decrees that one fallen brother be honoured while the other is left unburied. His niece Antigone, bound by family and conscience, defies the State to do what she believes is right. This clash between moral duty and law becomes an unyielding battle of wills, forcing audiences to confront an enduring question: when faced with an impossible choice, would they follow their heads—or their hearts?
    Avatar by Mark Lucas

    When petty thief Virgil breaks into Anastasia’s house, things don’t go to plan — especially when he starts looking less like a burglar and more like an angel. Add an open window, a brolly?wielding nemesis, and a contested inheritance, and the night spirals into a chaotic battle of half?wits. Sharp, fast, and delightfully absurd, this award?winning comedy proves that stupidity really does fly on broken wings.

    Winner of over 20 festival awards.

    Read More

    Circus by Mark Langham

    Old performers, they say, never retire.  The phone just stops ringing…

    Geoffrey is the newest recruit to the Lion Tamers, Magician’s Assistants and Human Cannonball Lighters Retirement Village – the LTMAHCLRV, for short.  As one half of “Geoffrey and Eustace, Lion Tamers Extraordinaire”, he has earned his rest.  No sign of Eustace anywhere though…

    He joins Hortensia and Estella; both assistants to magicians, both with a tale to tell – try stopping ‘em – and with an abiding hatred of each other.  And Lionel.  No one quite knows what to make of Lionel.  And his little friend.  Thrown together with nothing more than a lifetime of showbiz to bind them, they soon find that they have more in common than, perhaps, they imagined.  And Lionel.  What’s his role here?  He’s cleaned up after elephants, tried, in vain, to keep clowns off the sauce but this may be his moment to shine – finally.

    Winner (Best Play) of the Toowoomba Play Writing Competition.

    Read More

    The Truth About Camping by Gavin Critchley

    This is the story of a typical family on a typical holiday camping trip – in other words, no-one can remember whose idea it was to do this. Well out of WiFi range and under the gaze of nocturnal creatures, they all do their best to avoid boredom, limited food choices and Mum, who is determined that everyone is going to have FUN!

    The Truth About Camping won 2nd place in the 2021 Noosa Playwriting Competition.

    Read More

    Tudo Ou Nada (All or Nothing) by Frank Wilkie

    When two lovers from vastly different cultural backgrounds bring their parents together to explain why they still aren’t married, long?held prejudices, buried secrets and awkward indiscretions quickly rise to the surface. As loyalties are tested and clashing worldviews collide, what begins as an uncomfortable family meeting becomes a surprisingly heartfelt reckoning for all involved.

    Written by Frank Wilkie — now the Mayor of Noosa Shire Council, Tudo Ou Nada (All or Nothing) is a warm, sharply observed comedy about love, identity and the families we inherit. Winner of the 2010 Noosa Playwriting Competition Audience Choice Award, it remains a popular and accessible work for festival audiences, senior teens and drama groups alike.

    Read More

  • The Classics – Maverick School Musicals

    gail2It’s an exciting time in school drama halls at this time of year. The pile of scripts, CD’s, and weird and wonderful costumes grows as musical packages are put through their paces in the search for The Next Big Show.This month we are featuring Maverick’s classics – hugely entertaining school musicals that are loved by students, teachers and audiences around the world. Incredible plots, great leads, chorus groupings and unforgettable scores are their hallmarks. If you don’t have a school band, why not take the Performance Backing CD’s available? Here are some tried and true favourites – and all available for browsing first at the samples menu. If you’d like a recommendation, just contact me about what you’re looking for. Meantime, happy reading! Gail Denver

    Alice in Wonderland

    Alice in Wonderland is probably regarded as the greatest children’s book ever written. Its extraordinary blend of humour and mystery combines to make compulsive reading for children of all ages. Read More

    Bats

    Have a monster time with this loveable, large cast of creepies and fun characters! This laugh a minute musical is accompanied by vibrant, foot-tapping music and your students will love playing it. Read More

    Gladiators!

    Set in Ancient Rome, this relevant musical cleverly takes the audience back and forth from Rome to present day. It is full of surprises and highly entertaining. Oh, and did we say, it is a very funny show? Read More 

    How the West Was Warped

    All the glamour, pace and sense of adventure that you’d expect from the Wild West is packed like a six shooter into this fabulous show. The great characterization that typifies Simon Denver’s action packed scripts is at its best in this cowboy comedy. Read More

    Just Desserts

    The all-girl musical! This innovative, sparkling comedy-musical shows that things can happen to anyone? and often do in a supermarket, with hilarious results. Behind the “Have a nice day!” façade, the battlelines are drawn as two groups give service with a smile and a few under the counter dealings. Read More

    Man of Steel

    Man of Steel is Australia’s all time most popular school musical – an action-packed musical spoof, a parody of the most famous comic book super hero and a spectacular show of heroically super proportions! Read More

    Oh Rats

    Oh Rats! is a musical adaptation of Robert Browning?s much loved poem, ?The Pied Piper of Hamelin?. Read More

    Sheik, Rattle ‘n’ Roll

    Welcome to a timeless, musical adventure on desert sands, beneath the desert moon and all its charms?. Set in the mystic land of colour and romance, The Prince of Araby leads an exotic cast of princesses, harem girls, legionnaires, bandits and many, many more! Read More

    The Jungle Book

    Rudyard Kipling?s classic The Jungle Book has been a children?s favourite for several generations, indeed, the Disney film version is one of their most loved films.Read More 

    The Three Musketeers

    This swashbuckling hilarious musical is based on Dumas’ classic tale of intrigue and adventure but you’ve never seen Porthos, Athos, Aramis and D’Artagnan quite like this?. Black Adder meets Monty Python! Read More

    The Wind in the Willows

    A recent survey conducted by the British National Foundation for Educational Research revealed that The Wind in The Willows was one of the most popular books read by children today. Read More

    Willow Blues

    This show-within-a-show is set in two romantic and evocative locales. There?’s parts galore for all ages and abilities, with both challenging lead roles (great female characters!) and substantial chorus work. Read More 

    Wolfstock

    Get out the leather jackets, bobby sox and swingy skirts; brush up the pony tails and the D.A’s, you’re ready for the exciting world of milk bars, juke boxes and real motor bikes. Read More

    Wonder in Aliceland

    Since 1865, when it was first published, Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland has enchanted young and old, in books, on films and cartoons and in many kids’ stage musical adaptations. Read More

    Zombied

    As the night drums beat out the rhythm of this evocative song, follow the zombie-trail in this intriguing comedy-action-mystery-musical where not anything but everything happens! Read More

     

  • Febuary School Musicals

    Febuary School Musicals

    Welcome back to another great year of School Musicals. We can’t wait to tempt you with two exciting new releases. Or if you’re not sure exactly what you need, and would like some recommendations, send us an email and we’ll do our best to match your students with the right musical for your school.

    Happy browsing!

    unnamed“Something’s going down – down in CREEPYTOWN….”

    Here’s a new-release school musical for junior high to intermediate students just crawling with great leads, plenty of chorus vampires, witches, zombies and werewolves – and a score to die for! Your auditions will be packed, as this large cast whole of school show means everyone can get in on the act. Find the sample pack to download here.

    Read more about Creepytown.

     

     

    Doing the Boneyard Boogie!
    Doing the Boneyard Boogie!
    Briteway Dental Care!
    Briteway Dental Care!

    We’re also delighted to offer you Tim Tuck’s great new musical

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    Compass Rose & the Birdnesters by Timothy Tuck is a thrilling musical adventure set on Easter Island. This exciting, colourful and large cast escapade of exploration has been produced especially for junior to intermediate students to perform!

    Additionally to your normal musicals package (available to order online) everything –  the script, music and graphics resources are also available as a USB “Musical on a Stick” option – meaning you get so many more tremendous production resources to make your production really sparkle.

    The script (and songs) include a fascinating peek into the the language spoken by some of Easter Island’s population, with some authentic easy to learn Rapa Nui language.

    The Story

    An ocean away in the far Pacific, the HMS Shearwater, with famous explorer Captain McAlister at the helm, is nearing the mysterious ‘Island at the End of World’. Locked in her cabin for disobedience (and not doing her homework) is his wanna-be explorer daughter, Constance Rose. But she escapes the ship to Easter Island – to fulfil her dream of becoming a famous explorer. Already on the supposedly deserted island is ex-pirate Captain Jack Daw and his crew, illegally birdnesting – collecting rare eggs for a rich baron back in England. Left behind when her father sails away, the feisty Constance Rose has great fun chasing local wildlife, chatting with magic statues and of course, sinking pirate ships – much to the consternation of her friend Poki, the Island Chief’s son …Read More

    Click here for your sample package of script, musical and graphics resources!

    What’s on the Compass Rose “Musical on a Stick” USB?

    school plays

    You’ll have full flexibility and control of all these great resources for your rehearsals and production:
    • Script with all Slides Cued
    • Background, linguistic and historical information about Easter Island to share with your students
    • Comprehensive Power Point presentation (including a user guide) consists of 122 beautifully done slides. In the original production theses were used to enhance the background scenery but they can also be used as a replacement for all your background scenery.
    • Scaled Backdrop and Stage Plans
    • Scene, Costume Gallery and Song Guides
    • All songs as rehearsal tracks with vocals and additionally as backing tracks for performance
    • Poster template

    We’re Here to Help

    With many plays and musicals to choose from in our range, we hope you enjoy browsing our samples packages to find that perfect script for your students. Please contact me for a chat or send us an email about what you really need – and we’ll try our hardest to find you the right play.

  • Three Plays with Style

    Three Plays with Style

    When did you last perform a sparkling, glamorous show that lit up the stage with theatrical magic? We are pleased to offer three stylish new plays from playwright Jo Denver. Each features real-life icons – strong, classy women who have bravely defied the restrictions of convention.  These scripts are perceptive, at times biting – and always entertaining.  Theatricality, witty dialogue and casts of great character mean they are audience pleasers for any community group’s season. Each is available as a sample script here.

    That Woman

    The new play about the make-up wars between industry giants Rubinstein and Arden is a wonderfully stylish night out. And not just for the girls. The comedy makes the history lesson a fun one. It boasts fabulous, fully drawn characters and a fascinating story of what it takes to make a single life a success. I wouldn’t have missed this one. And nor should you.”  (opening night at The Lind Theatre Qld, by reviewer, Xanthe Coward)

    The Making of the Great Lover

    In 1919, a pig farmer’s wife from a little English village released her novel, ‘The Sheik’. Edith Winstanley Hull’s novel shocked the world with its frank exploration of female sexuality. Made into a movie, the actor playing the title role, Rudolph Valentino, scorched across the screen and into the hearts of millions of females. Both novel and movie shot to the top of the best-seller list. This script entwines two stories – those of the middle class writer and the gauche young Italian actor. It offers two strong leads and wonderful secondary roles, including Edith’s precocious daughter who smuggles ‘the book’ into school to the delight of her impressionable friends; Edith’s conventional and confused husband, and Al, the film agent, who thought he’d seen everything.Throw into the mix a nosy postman, an unconventional housekeeper and a frustrated schoolteacher who gets her hands on ‘the book’. Before “The Sheik” – sex was a word whispered only in the dark.

    More Than a Little Black Dress

    Sex, style, and secrets. Coco Channel sizzles, manipulates and charms her way through this stylised play. Coco was a ruthless opportunist – with a known penchant for wealthy lovers and dangerous company. She was revered and lionised, not only by the French but worldwide. From humble beginnings she became one of the richest and most influential designers of her time. The script explores the many sides of Chanel’s nature and calls to account her extreme views. An intriguing story about the woman who fascinated and shocked. A woman who really did do it her way.Larger than life, the script portrays two important stages in her life. The Free French Collaboration Tribunal examines her many dubious war-time relationships and actions. Ensuring that the action flows impeccably from Coco’s glamorous life style to the Tribunal, the writer uses the theatrical device of employing two actresses. One charts her life through several years, the other one remains in 1946 for her interrogation. It is an intriguing concept for the audience, which has an effective impact as the scenes alternate.Coco, as a heroine, is not particularly likeable – but her character commands respect, even a grudging admiration, for the ability to make life work for her under extraordinary circumstances. Her many lovers are represented in Act One by her one true love, the English playboy whose position in his rigid upper class society would never see her married to him, and in Act Two the charming German intelligence officer – whose relationship with her could cost her life.

  • Creepytown the Musical!

    Creepytown the Musical!

    “Something’s going down – down in CREEPYTOWN….”

    Here’s a new-release school musical for junior high to intermediate students just crawling with great leads, plenty of chorus vampires, witches, zombies and werewolves – and a score to die for! Your auditions will be packed, as this large cast whole of school show means everyone can get in on the act. Find the sample pack to download here.

    Creepytown the Musical!

    If you want to get organised for your 2016 school musical hit, why not pre-order Creepytown now – but pay in the first term of 2016? Pre-book your order for the package here if this best suits your school budget. Read more about  Creepytown.

    Briteways is the right ways

     

  • Looking for a Laugh Out Loud Season?

    Looking for a Laugh Out Loud Season?

    Theatre Restaurant. We’ve all been to at least one in our lives, enjoyed a meal and a good belly laugh with a table load of friends. For Community Theatre groups, these scripts (and performance rights) are not expensive, less complicated to produce, and popular with audiences. All of which equals dollars in the coffers towards much bigger productions. Many groups love staging an hilarious Theatre Restaurant as an alternative to a Christmas Musical – all you need to do is add the songs of your choice to our scripts and you have a show! I’ve always known that if you put a man in tights and thrust him out onto a stage, the laughs flow before he utters a line.  Happy browsing. Here are our most popular (and you can view free samples here) including of course plenty of parts for actors in tights!

    A Knight to Remember

    A madcap medieval tale of magic and mirth set in a time when men were men and women were women and a knight couldn’t get his armour off! Read more

    Desperadoes

    Reckon you’d have to be plum loco to miss this wise-cracking Western. From the moment Dolores, gutsy saloon-owner, rings the bell to declare “Bar’s Open!”, the audience is ambushed by a posse of wild characters for a night of Western wackiness.  Read more.

    Jungle Fever

    Jungle Fever, a raunchy romp in the African jungle, is not for the innocent or faint hearted. The production features a dashing hero, plenty of corny one liners and humorous innuendos.  Read More.

    Ma Baker’s Tonic

    Set in Ritzy’s, a sophisticated nightclub of the roaring twenties, this script offers scope for a stylish production. The glamorous nightclub people (including the worldly Nick and the unworldly Irma) join forces with Ma Baker against the dedicated ladies of the Purity League and the even more dedicated Rafia Gang! Read more.

    Murder at the Music Hall

    An old time Music Hall, with all its verve and sparkle, is in full swing, under the genial eye of the garrulous Chairman. Suddenly, at one of the tables, an audience member drops dead! Then – surprise – an amazing number of witnesses, detectives and suspects just happen to be sitting at various tables, disguised as ordinary dinner guests! Read more.

    Mystery on the Orient Express

    Book your seat now. Take your audiences for a ride on the famous Orient Express. This very fast paced show will transport you all on a theatrical journey following the same route as the famous train through France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria. Audience participation pieces included. Read more

    Robin the Hood

    This enormously popular script follows the zany exploits of Robin the Hood and his band of motley men as they bumble through Sherwood Forest. A side-splitting show that’s a proven audience pleaser. Move over, Kevin Costner!  Read more.

    The Umpire Strikes Back

    Where on earth could you meet the Thunderbirds, The Jedi Master and Grasshopper, Blowey and Bluey Blowfly and the crew of The Starship Compromise? Join Luke Streetwalker on his journey into an unlikely Galaxy where outrageous characters lie in wait. Read more

  • Spectacular School Shows for Your Year’s End

     

    As we head towards the end of another year, a huge variety of school productions are in full swing all over the place.Some directors are still thinking about squeezing in their last school musical for 2015 – or perhaps you prefer to finish off a successful performance calendar with a lively school play? We’ve come up with suggestions for both, so grab a coffee, take a seat and get comfy as you take a look at the possibilities we’ve selected for your consideration. You can view free samples here!

    For those wanting a big and bright musical school end, try the following:

    A Christmas Carol

    This musical is faithful to the spirit and detail of the original story by Charles Dickens and retains all the charm and vitality. The show has plenty of big street scenes and chorus numbers and with about 30 individual speaking parts it provides excellent engagement possibilities for schools. Read more.

    Bollywood Crazy

    Indian doctor, Bandhu Tanwar takes his Australian-born wife and two teenagers to India for a trip of a life-time. The family is in for many surprises as they experience a traditional culture and family that challenges the life to which they are now accustomed. Ideal for large school casts. Read More.

    Creepytown

    With an 11-track original musical soundtrack, and a chorus of vampires, werewolves, zombies and witches, Creepytown is a fun and action-packed show which is sure to bring the house down! Not to mention sending your make-up department into a frenzy of creepy creativity. Read more.

    Go Noah!

    Maverick Musicals answer to Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, this fun-filled contemporary musical follows the Noah story…but with a few unexpected twists !  Go Noah! is sure to be a hit with performers and parents alike. Read more.

    Nativity

    A new, fresh and non-‘precious’ look at the  Bible story, Nativity could be described as a chamber musical. With two 40 minute acts, this is an easy to stage show that’s just a perfect way to end your theatrical year, requiring no elaborate sets or costumes.  Read more

    Noel

    Noel is a bright new retelling of the age-old Christmas Story. All the usual Christmas characters are present. There’s lots of music – some old some new – lots of fun and lots of scope to involve an entire school in presenting the Christmas Story. Read more.

    Fun School Plays

    If you’re looking for some real fun in a school play, for scripts with medium to large casts, these are our most popular.

    Fairytale High

    Here is a loads of fun, light-hearted play sending up a range of well known fairytales and characters but in a modern day high school setting, many of the laughs coming from the characters use of colloquial language and sayings! A perfect script for use in schools due to the large cast and production level. Read more.

    Finding Jamie Ryan

    This is a play about the pitfalls, predicaments and perils of a place we call High School. So, naturally, it?s an ideal play for secondary school students, whether it?s in the classroom or on the stage! With its large, flexible cast of typical high school characters, Finding Jamie Ryan comically captures the mishaps and absurdities of school life. Read more.

    Four Funerals and a Wedding

    Are you a drama teacher struggling to find scripts suitable for the whole class – a class full of students with a range of abilities? Then this is just the play for you! With characters like the redoubtable Detectives Mouldy and Sculler, the tale is given a different twist as it combines a whodunit with a love story to produce a lively and entertaining script.  Read more.

    Kill Jill

    Big Brother meets Kill Bill meets Jack (of Beanstalk fame) … Mix these together to create Kill Jill. A clever script exploring the hot topical issues of homeowners defending themselves.  This is a very suitable as a senior drama student piece. Read more.

    Reality Dreams

    This winner of the 2004 STAR Awards for best new full length play is a satirical look at the material desires for fame, money and prestige, as presented through the latest phenomenon ? reality TV. Quirky, with plenty of laughs and the side that is rarely seen on these shows – ? the effects of failure.  Read more.

    Running Battle

    The central theme of this play is the gap between parents and children. It is explored humorously through the decision taken by a pair of middle-aged parents to run a marathon to raise money for charity. Drama extensions and viewpoints for discussion included. Read more.

    Sequinned Suits and Platform Boots

    A glam-rock tribute play, Sequinned Suits and Platform Boots affectionately recalls the glittering fun, flamboyant music and fashion of the 70?s through one teenage boy?s simultaneous ambitions to be a star and to woo local girl of his dreams, Lorraine Izoff. Read more.

    Seven Deadly Sins

    We all have transgressed at least one of the Seven Deadly Sins, and that?s what this show?s about! Set as a ?Welcome-to-Hell? orientation lecture, this play recaps all seven sins and sets each of them in a different hilarious scene and in a different  style. Read more.

    The Blame Game

    It is a typical Saturday night and a group of young friends are preparing to go out. The play follows the friends, and also their parents, as both groups plan to enjoy an evening with friends, highlighting the role drinking plays in the lives of all ages – and how it can affect us. Read more.

    The Dilemma of Deidre Dearheart

    Deidre, a sickly sweet young woman and her ancient, care-worn mother are about to be evicted from their home for non payment of the rent. Desperate Despard Dunnybox, the wicked squire, appears and offers a wicked solution. He suggests that Deirdre should become his wife but she bravely resists him. Read more.

    The Scottish Play

    Treat your audiences to a laughter-filled production with this almost Pythonesque script – an hilarious ensemble piece. Take a fresh faced director straight out of university, introduce him to a regional Little Theatre group via a Regional Development Grant… and see what happens! Read more.

  • Never Too Late for School Plays and Musicals!

    Never Too Late for School Plays and Musicals!

    gail2

    We are asked frequently about suitable school plays for senior students. You’ll find some quality School Plays here. From sheer fun to the more challenging, with small and large casts, some are suitable for examination too. The filters on the page can help you find the right cast size and duration – or send me an email and we’ll help you find a play that suits your requirements.

    Now there is just enough time left to squeeze in the end of year school musical if you get started now! There are so many to choose from, so here is our recommended selection this month – all have great rehearsal CD’s with vocals, and if you don’t have a band, fantastic performance CD’s with that big band sound.

     

     

    creepytown

    Creepytown

    With an 11-track original musical soundtrack, and a chorus of vampires, werewolves, zombies and witches, Creepytown is a fun and action packed show which is sure to bring the house down! Read more.


    bats
    Bats

    Have a monster time with this loveable,large cast of creepies and fun characters! This hilarious musical is accompanied by vibrant, foot-tapping tunes and your students will love playing it.
    Read more.
    bollywood

    Bollywood Crazy

    Transported to India, castand audience will be caught up in a cultural whirlwind where tradition still challenges the new, a new India with its alluring hi tech world and the most exotic place of all … Bollywood! Read More.

    mos2

    Man of Steel

    Written especially for young people, it’s full of fun, with fast-moving action, larger than life characters and really spectacular chorus numbers.High school musical scripts don’t come any better than this!  Read more.

    radio

    Radio Active

    Radio Active is nostalgia as we’d like to remember it. Oportunities for a multi-media approach. This musical heads back to the ’40s with jitterbug and jive, with your choice of band-parts or performance CD. Read more.
    pigs4

    Grunt! A Pig of a Musical

    The characters from Orwell’s satire are given melodic voice in this innovative new work which begs to be lifted off the pages and given life on a stage. This musical will touch hearts and minds.  Read more.
    spoof

    High School Spoof-ical

    A gut-bustingly funny parody of all those Hollywood teen movies you love and hate, High School Spoof-ical will have your audience in hysterics. The show features dozens of hilarious roles for males and females, is easy to costume, and simple to stage. Read more.
    rats

    Oh Rats!

    Oh Rats! is a musical adaptation of The Pied Piper of Hamelin?. Although essentially a light-hearted show, it contains reflective and poignant moments, and its message of morality and hope is clear. Read more.

    snap

    Snap!

    Snap is a contemporary musical story about starry-eyed, ambitious young photographer, Ricki Bailey. Snap! is a vibrant look at the world of celebrity photography from both sides – will fame and fortune really make you happy? Read more.
    ireland

    The Pirate Queen

    Set in Ireland and based on  the exploits of Grace O?Malley, the original Pirate Queen, this sparkling new musical is a rollicking show. Loads of colourful characters give this musical variety and appeal. Read more.

  • School Plays and Musicals!

    School Plays and Musicals!

    We are asked frequently about suitable school plays for senior students. You’ll find some quality School Plays here. From sheer fun to the more challenging, with small and large casts, some are suitable for examination too. The filters on the page can help you find the right cast size and duration – or send me an email and we’ll help you find a play that suits your requirements.

    Now there is just enough time left to squeeze in the end of year school musical if you get started now! There are so many to choose from, so here is our recommended selection this month – all have great rehearsal CD’s with vocals, and if you don’t have a band, fantastic performance CD’s with that big band sound.

    Creepytown

    With an 11-track original musical soundtrack, and a chorus of vampires, werewolves, zombies and witches, Creepytown is a fun and action packed show which is sure to bring the house down! Read more.

    Bats

    Have a monster time with this loveable,large cast of creepies and fun characters! This hilarious musical is accompanied by vibrant, foot-tapping tunes and your students will love playing it. Read more.

    Bollywood Crazy

    Transported to India, castand audience will be caught up in a cultural whirlwind where tradition still challenges the new, a new India with its alluring hi tech world and the most exotic place of all … Bollywood! Read More.

    Man of Steel

    Written especially for young people, it’s full of fun, with fast-moving action, larger than life characters and really spectacular chorus numbers.High school musical scripts don’t come any better than this!  Read more.

    Radio Active

    Radio Active is nostalgia as we’d like to remember it. Oportunities for a multi-media approach. This musical heads back to the ’40s with jitterbug and jive, with your choice of band-parts or performance CD. Read more.

    Grunt! A Pig of a Musical

    The characters from Orwell’s satire are given melodic voice in this innovative new work which begs to be lifted off the pages and given life on a stage. This musical will touch hearts and minds.  Read more.

    High School Spoof-ical

    A gut-bustingly funny parody of all those Hollywood teen movies you love and hate, High School Spoof-ical will have your audience in hysterics. The show features dozens of hilarious roles for males and females, is easy to costume, and simple to stage. Read more.

    Oh Rats!

    Oh Rats! is a musical adaptation of The Pied Piper of Hamelin?. Although essentially a light-hearted show, it contains reflective and poignant moments, and its message of morality and hope is clear. Read more.

    Snap!

    Snap is a contemporary musical story about starry-eyed, ambitious young photographer, Ricki Bailey. Snap! is a vibrant look at the world of celebrity photography from both sides – will fame and fortune really make you happy? Read more.

    The Pirate Queen

    Set in Ireland and based on  the exploits of Grace O?Malley, the original Pirate Queen, this sparkling new musical is a rollicking show. Loads of colourful characters give this musical variety and appeal. Read more.

    We’re Here to Help

    With many more musicals to choose from in our range, we hope you enjoy browsing our samples packages and find the right show for your school or group. Please contact me for a chat or send us an email about what you really need – and we’ll try our hardest to fit you with the right school musical!

    Review Us Online

    If you have enjoyed the services of Maverick Musicals, we’d love to hear about it. Read what others have said about Maverick Musicals service and titles, or leave your own comment at  www.maverickmusicals.com/reviews/

  • Festivals and Festivities!

    gail2

    Still contemplating something different for the One Act Play Festivals? Or need a themed selection for an evening of plays for your community? You’ll find some gems in our Drama Groups Plays – from Australian writers who are masters in this genre. Mark Lucas, Hugh O’Brien, Simon Denver, Debra Chalmers to name a few. Their one-act plays are popular with audiences and adjudicators alike. Local drama group performances are renowned fun(d)-raisers! Looking ahead, as usual Christmas will be here faster than we ever believe – so why not take a look now at some great end of year possibilities? Here also are some suggestions about good-looking productions that will get everyone in the festive mood.

    Irish at Heart

    Irish at Heart is set in Ireland; a whimsical, affectionate look at the ‘doings’ surrounding an Irish funeral. A hilariously funny, full length play with moments of genuine tenderness, guaranteed to touch the most cynical play-goer. Read more.

    That Woman

    The 1920s, the elite of New York’s beauty business, a sure formula for style and glitz. However, beneath the veneer of glamour and manners, a feud was brewing. A feud which was to last for over forty years, with two champions competing for the title. The Queen of Beauty. The contenders could not have been more different; an eccentric and over-the-top Rubinstein, versus the sophisticated and ladylike (sometimes) Elizabeth Arden. Read more.

    Sequinned Suits and Platform Boots

    Sequinned Suits and Platform Boots affectionately recalls the glittering fun, flamboyant music and fashion of the 70s through one teenage boy’s simultaneous ambitions to be a star (The Starman) and to woo local girl of his dreams, Lorraine Izoff. The music of David Bowie, T-Rex, Suzi Quatro, Roxy Music, Slade, Mott the Hoople, The Sweet, Alice Cooper and Mud provides the upbeat nostalgic soundtrack. Featured on David Bowie?’s own website news page. Read More.

    The Making of the Great Lover

    In 1918, little-known author Edith Winstanley Hull, a pig breeder’s wife from a little English village, pens a sensational novel – The Sheik – that eventually will rocket a struggling actor on the other side of the world to international stardom. The equivalent to Fifty Shades of Grey for the era, it was a racy and sumptuous tale about female sexuality, and dared to be bold in a time when women still wore ankle-long tunics. Playwright Jo Denver rediscovers the author, and captures the time with a lavish sense of fun. Read more.

    The Potion

    Set in the trendy flat of a young representative of the Bellringer Pharmaceutical Company, here is a fast-moving farce that will entertain your audiences. Alan shares his flat with Greg and the action starts when he finds a concoction hidden away in the research lab that claims to be a love potion. Things get complicated when a young lady is invited over, the boss decides to move in for a while, the young lady’s mother arrives, a policewoman arrives and the landlord’s niece turns up! One set, easy to stage. Read more

    Turn Around, Dick

    If your group is looking for a crackerjack Christmas show then you just can’t go past this! This pacey panto is jam-packed with irresistible characters who meet up with Dick Whittington and his faithful cat, Cecil, on their way to the big city to find fame and fortune. Guaranteed sheer entertainment at both child and adult level, the unbelievable can happen in a panto and this one upholds that tradition. Read more

    A Christmas Carol

    A Christmas Carol is probably Charles Dickens’ most accessible novel and appeals to all audiences. This musical is faithful to the spirit and detail of the original story and retains all the charm and vitality. The production has been staged by a professional company of 14 adults and 6 children, but the show has plenty of big street scenes and chorus numbers and should appeal to companies wishing to involve a much larger cast. Read more

  • The High School Musical Shake ‘n’ Bake

    The High School Musical Shake ‘n’ Bake

    Seven delicious writing ingredients to make your high school musical a sizzling success.

    Research

    Leap up outta that writing chair and begin the writing process far away from the desk. Ease into the armchair and read as many high school musicals as you can get your mitts on. Watch show DVDs. Devour books on your subject. Go to the theatre. The movies. The gallery. Declare it all as a tax deduction! All this wonderful research will simmer away in the subconscious, and when it comes time to write, bubble up into a beautiful newborn baby: your high school musical spectacular.

    IMG_0762Plot

    Zero in on a unique world, focus on a central hero with a big goal or problem, and surround them with a colourful supporting cast. What gets into the way of their goal? Who’s your villain? Love interest? Comic sidekick? How does your hero resolve their goal or problem in a surprising way?

    Write for the Talent

    As you write, cast the characters based on the talents and strengths of your teenage stars. Their unique personalities will breathe life into the characters… and when it’s show time, they’ll light up the stage with the parts they were born to play.

    Add a surprise cameo from a well-known member of the staffroom — from PE teachers to lunch ladies — and they’re guaranteed to bring the house down.

    Fun & Character Parts

    top school musicalsHigh schoolers will relish the chance to play wacky larger-than-life characters. Unleash your inner Ed Wood with a crazy cast of misfits – zombies, Vikings, pirates, cavemen, knights, damsels, superheroes, robots, gladiators, nerds, valley girls, jocks, redheads, hillbillies, rappers, vampires, werewolves, were-vamps, disco-dancers, kung fu fighters and Bollywood booty-shakers… and that’s just your opening number. You might like to read High School Spoofical and You’re History as examples…..

    Comedy Comedy Comedy

    Every scene should be chockfull of the funny. One-liners… eccentric characters… exaggeration… juxtaposition… visual comedy… silly wigs, make-up, costumes… and a healthy dose of parody. Pick on world leaders, pop stars, Hollywood retroactiveactors, retro celebs, TV shows and reality formats, YouTube videos, video games, topical news, and above all, include local in-jokes that make fun of your school, town and country (or even better, rival school, town and country!).

    High school musicals are unique because they’re performed by teenagers, but watched and enjoyed by a broad demographic of audience members – from toddlers to adults. The best way to keep em entertained is with humour that works on a number of levels — visual comedy and slapstick for the younger kids, and sharper comedy and retro flair for the grown-ups.

    Here’s a sketch from my theatre restaurant script RetroActive which worked for kids, teens and adults – an episode of Play School starring a morbid bunch of emos…

    Audience Participation

    Picking on the front row never fails to be a laugh riot. Grab the nearest student/parent/teacher/headmistress/nun from the audience and involve them in a scene. Dish out the embarrassment factor. Force them to dance. Act like a chicken. Sing an opera… as a chicken.

    ThingaYoure-history-pic-1ble Thongs

    Singable Songs! Forget Lloyd Webber – write simple punchy numbers with short and sharp catchphrases, uncomplicated lyrics and catchy choruses — perfect for a choir of kids.

    Open with a showstopper that introduces us to the world of your story — a medieval forest, outer space, a teenager’s mind. Finish Act One with another showstopper to send your audience to the drinks stand on a high. End the whole shebang with either the theme song, or a medley… so toe-tapping that the audience can’t help clapping along and dancing all the way home.

  • Maverick’s Top Selling School Musicals

    Maverick’s Top Selling School Musicals

    Everyone’s talking end of June “Specials” – and we can’t think of anything more special than sharing our most popular school musicals for 2015 so far! These great titles have rehearsal CD’s with vocals, comprehensive band-parts and fantastic backing CD’s for performance. With secure and streamlined online ordering, your script and license are in your account immediately – and your music resources will be on their way to you same day you order, no matter where you are.

    Why not take a look at these titles that are being produced so often?  Sample packages are available online for all musicals to assess with your production team first. With so many titles to choose from, please feel free to contact me for advice or recommendations. Meantime – Happy EOFY!

    creepytown

    Creepytown

    With an 11-track original musical soundtrack, and a chorus of vampires, werewolves, zombies and witches, Creepytown is a fun and action packed show which is sure to bring the house down! Read more.

    bats

    Bats

    Have a monster time with this loveable,large cast of creepies and fun characters! This hilarious musical is accompanied by vibrant, foot-tapping tunes and your students will love playing it. Read more.

    battle of bands musical 031

    Battle of the Bands

    Battle of the Bands is everything your school wants in a musical – a self-contained story with original songs – and it’s easy to stage. Give your cast the chance to live out their own dreams of stardom! Read More.

    Winmalle High School production of Man of Steel in 1999

    Man of Steel

    Written especially for young people, it’s full of fun, with fast-moving action, larger than life characters and really spectacular chorus numbers.High school musical scripts don’t come any better than this!  Read more.

    radioRadio Active

    Radio Active is nostalgia as we’d like to remember it. Oportunities for a multi-media approach. This musical heads back to the ’40s with jitterbug and jive, with your choice of band-parts or performance CD. Read more.

     

    little-stars

    Little Stars

    A great new rock’n’roll musical – perfect for senior primary to lower and middle high school students. Follow the behind the scenes story of five finalists (and their neurotic parents) as they compete in the national singing competition seeking the next … Little Star!  Read more.

    top school musicals

    You’re History

    When a nerdy teenager turns a portable classroom into a time machine, a mischievous detention class is sent hurtling back through history! You?re History! will be a smash hit with the young, the old and the ancient! Read more.

    gladiators

    Gladiators

    Set in Ancient Rome, this relevant musical cleverly takes the audience back and forth from Rome to present day. It is full of surprises and highly entertaining. Oh, and did we say, it is a very funny show? Read more.

    school musicals and plays

    The Pirate Queen

    Set in Ireland and based on  the exploits of Grace O?Malley, the original Pirate Queen, this sparkling new musical is a rollicking show. Loads of colourful characters give this musical variety and appeal. Read more.

  • Still looking for a great school musical for 2015?

    Still looking for a great school musical for 2015?

     

    gail2

    Still looking for a great school musical for 2015? Why not let us take out the guesswork with this great selection of 2 act musicals, all with wonderful leads, plenty of chorus groupings and terrific musical scores.

    Loved the world over, here are some of our most colourful school musicals, vibrant costume comedies packed with great opportunities for your wardrobe and set departments to shine!  Sample packages available online too for you to assess with your production team before you make your decision. Or email Gail for advice.

     Bollywood Crazy

    Bollywood Crazy

    A colourful high school musical where East meets West in a rich fusion of contemporary and Bollywood, offering wonderful performance opportunities for your costume teams.
    Read more.

     henry

    Henry

    Bet you always thought that Henry VIII was a monster with a king-sized appetite for matrimony who held major shares in StaySharp ? ? Wrong! This outrageously hilarious  script sets the record books straight. ?Read more.

     his-majestys-pleasure

    His Majesty’s Pleasure

    In the late 1780s, a rag, tag assortment of rogues jettisoned from a life of petty crime, arrive in Sydney Cove. Within a very short time, this group presents an astonishing play -the first recorded play performed on Australian soil. Read More.

     

     pimpernel

    Pimpernel

    In the Pimpernel we meet many great characters, imbibed with the spirit of France and England during the French Revolution. Naming them all would give away too much of the drama. . .
    So you need to read the script! Read more.

     

     radio-active

    Radio Active

    Radio Active is nostalgia as we’d like to remember it. Oportunities for a multi-media approach. This musical heads back to the ’40s with jitterbug and jive, with your choice of band-parts or performance CD. Read more.

     

     sheerluck-holmes

    Sheerluck Holmes

    Set within the framework of late Victorian England, this musical is an hilariously extravagant send-up on the great detective and the ever-bumbling Watson!  Read more.

     

     sheik-rattle-n-roll

    Sheik Rattle ‘n’ Roll

    Welcome to a timeless, musical adventure on desert sands, beneath the desert moon and all its charms?. Overflowing with lavish characters, costumes and glamour, keep your date with destiny!  Read more.

     

     the-hunchback-of-nostradamus

    The Hunchback of Nostradamus

    The Hunchback of Nostradamus is a colourful, entertaining musical which provides a vehicle for the exploration of pupperty, video taping, comic buffoonery, circus skills and swordplay. A good variety of Chorus numbers! Read more.

     

     the-pirate-queen

    The Pirate Queen

    Set in Ireland and based on  the exploits of Grace O?Malley, the original Pirate Queen, our sparkling new musical is a rollicking blending of script and music. Loads of colourful characters give this show variety and appeal. Read more.

     

     the-three-musketeers

    The Three Musketeers

    This easy to stage show (one set) is high on energy and colour – a Baroque’n’Roll spectacular. The addition of the choir (involving even more students, who can rehearse separately) may just steal the show.  Read more.

     

     willow-blues

    Willow  Blues

    Willow Blues is a dream show for designers and costuming. Throw in a Chinese dragon, shadow puppets, a psychic tea-lady and a cast of thousands (almost) and this is the musical to capture students? hearts. Read more.

     

     wreckers

    Wreckers

    In the tiny Cornish town of Crebewathen Cove, great things are happening … long time resident Ruby O’Hazy has just had a new-fangled telephone installed, Jelbert Gribble the Mayor has an inside loo…  Read more.

     

    We’re Here to Help

    With many more musicals to choose from in our range, we hope you enjoy browsing our samples packages and find that special show for your school or group. Please contact me for a chat or send us an email about what you really need – and we’ll try our hardest to match you with the right school musical!

     

    Review Us Online

    If you have enjoyed the services of Maverick Musicals, we’d love to hear about it. Read what others have said about Maverick Musicals service and titles, or leave your own comment at  www.maverickmusicals.com/reviews/.

     

  • Mark Langham and Bloody Squirrels (the creation of Nothing)

     

    For someone so tall and attractive – I am approximately 17 metres and made entirely of puppies – I have always been unsure and fearful.  I worry.  I won’t bore you by listing the things I have worried about, been fearful or unsure of but, as you can imagine, growing up, it did make me like honey to the ladies…

    By the time I was eight I was sure of only three things:  I knew how to string together words, I was funny and salt and vinegar crisps were man’s crowning achievement.  We’ll fast forward forty years or so to around 2010. I had had a few false starts, it’s fair to say.  I’d written some funny sketches that were performed at the Edinburgh Festival in the mid-1980’s, some short stories that were quite well regarded but, ultimately, just sat around the house, drinking all my wine and causing problems with the neighbours.  I had to throw them out.  Last I heard they were living on a canal boat in Amsterdam, knitting their own mung beans…  You see, this was part of the problem!  Concentration.  I was easily distracted and lead astray.  I’d write a killer first line and then I’d catch sight of a squirrel and four months would go by.  The other major problem was the people I was reading.  They were all great and I wanted to write just like them.  Regrettably, I wrote as bit too much like them and there wasn’t much of a market for a 4th or 5th rate Woody Allen/Flann O”Brien/Steinbeck, etc.  Almost everyone on my reading list looked at life from somewhere other than level ground and was, if not an out and out comic writer, at least aware of life’s stupidities.  Except Steinbeck who was a bit of a gloomy old Eeyore and needed to cheer the heck up!

    I promised a fast forward and then skipped off into the undergrowth again.  In 2010 I was really bored one day.  So bored, in fact, that I decided to write a play.  I sat down and, without thinking at all, just wrote about fifteen minutes of dialogue.  I sent this to a playwright friend and he thought it was alright and suggested I turn it into a one-act play.  I did that the next day.  I called the play “Nothing” and it won the 2011 One Act Play competition at Noosa Arts Theatre and is published by the good people who own this blog.  I’d discovered the trick, at least the trick for me.  Write like me.  Have the confidence to write with your own voice and about the things that interest or are important to you.  “Nothing” is, essentially, based on my father’s death from cancer but that’s no reason to exclude jokes!  Once I’d found this voice of mine, I couldn’t shut the damn thing up.  At the time of writing I have written six one-act plays, six full length plays, a screenplay and much else besides.  My work has been performed all around Australia and bits of New Zealand and I’ve managed to pick up a couple more awards including one for “The Bench” also published by Maverick.  As you can imagine, there is no bloody living with me…

    I’m aware that it is really easy to say “write like you” but who else are you going to write like?  Maybe some people discover that knack earlier than me – I really hope they do – but, for me, that’s the only way I can do it.  Figure out your story, listen to yourself and make sure your writing space is squirrel-proof.  How hard can it be??

    Search Mark Langham’s plays here.