ACT 1

           The "Mute Songbird" begins with a songwriter, Oscar Hoffman, moving to a small town in Iowa, after inheriting his mother’s estate. He decides to form a chorus for the Saxville community, (“Expectations”), and schedules an open audition. A wide variety of people try out, (“I Hate Auditions), singing Oscar’s original song, (“Saxville in my Heart”). Two teenage boys burst into the audition, Ethan Harris, who performs a sarcastic rendition of Oscar’s song, and his best friend, Carson Weber, who chooses to remain silent. All the candidates are enthusiastically accepted into the chorus.

            Ethan, who recently lost his father to a car accident, lives with his grief-stricken mother Millie Harris, who demands he quit school and run the family farm, which he laments with Carson, (“Don’t be a Shadow”) (“A Boy Adult”). Kenny Caudwell, the chorus’ keyboardist, and Doc, find out Oscar came to their town after leaving a school in disgrace, (“Innocent Storm”) On the other side of town, Penny Pruett, and son, Tanner grumble about their lives in witness protection, cause by observing their husband/father’s murder, (“Hush Hush”). New neighbor and chorus member, Axel Morgan has a conflict with Sheriff Marilyn Stack over firing his unregistered gun for target practice.

            Rehearsals proceed, with the chorus preparing for the Saxville Town Fair, (“The Flight of the Wasp”, “Autumn Rains”). The boys and Chloe Caudwell conspire about their dreams to get out of Saxville, (“A New Sphere”), At the local beauty salon, Diana Caudwell, questions Penny about her recent relocation to Saxville, (“Gotta Love Teenagers”). Ethan approaches his uncle, Doc, urging him to help him pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. Doc is too drunk to be any help. Axel and Marilyn begin a romantic relationship, (“Rifles, Guns and Ammo”).

            Chloe continues her lust triangle with the boys, (“A Girl’s Skill”), as Carson clandestinely. witnesses her ploys. At the next rehearsal, (“Love Those Golden Oldies”), Chloe’s tactics are revealed causing chaos in the chorus, (“Discombobulated”). Makalah, a hitwoman hired by the NYC mob, enters pretending to be a Stage Manager and is hired by Oscar. She’s been sent to track down Penny and Tanner to silence them from testifying in court. She rigs the staircase on the set to cause Tanner to have an accident during his solo. But he sprains his ankle in a football game, so Ethan volunteers to sub for him. The concert goes on, (“Montage”) (“The Reach”). Ethan falls off the rigged staircase and is seriously injured.

ACT 2

            Tanner realizes it should’ve been him, (“Could’ve Been Me”). In the hospital, Ethan is recovering from a tracheotomy and is angry he cannot talk, nor sing. While Ethan sleeps, Carson declares his love for Ethan, (“Why Does He Affect Me?”). Oscar is worried that his best singer is now mute. The ladies visit Millie at home to snap her out of her depression, (“It’s What Neighbors Do”). Makalah gets heat from NYC, and plans another accident, (“Shut Their Traps”). Her plan to electrocute Penny fails, resulting in Doc getting zapped.

Oscar comforts Ethan using the power of music, (“The Mute Songbird”). Carson teaches Ethan sign language, and at the Christmas rehearsal Ethan signs, while Carson sings, stunning the group, (“Christmas Lights”). The teenagers go to Sheriff Stack with their theory that someone is sabotaging the chorus, and Tanner reveals he is in witness protection. Axel confesses he is an FBI agent charged with protecting them, and he assembles the chorus to trap Makalah. (“What a Great Night for a Sting”). Makalah is caught, the Christmas concert is a rousing success, (“A Country New Year”). Ethan tells Carson he is unable to return his affections, but has arranged a date for him at the after-party. They dance.

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THE MUTE SONGBIRD

CAST LIST

 

OSCAR HOFFMAN: Age 38. Choir conductor/Song writer. He forms a new amateur choir in Saxville, Iowa.

 

KENNY CALDWELL: Age 42. The Choir’s accompanist. Owner of Caldwell General Store.

 

DIANA CALDWELL: Age 41. Typical small-town gossipy lady. Married to Kenny Caldwell.

 

CHLOE CALDWELL: Age 18. Daughter of the Caldwells. Rebellious personality, aspiring to be a fashion designer.

 

PENNY PRUETT: Age 39. Affluent, upper-class society woman, newly relocated to Saxville from New York City, because she and her son are in witness protection.

 

TANNER PRUETT: Age 17. Son of Penny. An egotistical, elitist rich kid who is struggling to fit into rural middle America.

 

ETHAN HARRIS: Age 16. Charismatic, but flippant teenager dealing with the recent loss of his father. Plays piano and has an extraordinary voice, hence the “Songbird”.

 

MILLIE HARRIS: Age 39. Ethan’s mother. She is struggling with her grief of losing her husband tragically, while demanding her teenage boy to run the farm business.

 

CARSON WEBER: Age 15. Ethan’s shy best friend and neighbor. He is fluent in sign language because both his parents are deaf.

 

DR. EARL JOHNSON: Age 66. Retired doctor of Saxville. Fond of the booze. He is Millie Harris’ brother, and Ethan Harris’ uncle.

 

AXEL MORGAN: Age 32. Newly arrived in town to care for his ailing aunt. Ex-military type.

 

MARILYN STACK: Age 33. Saxville’s Sheriff. Annie Oakley personality.

 

MAKALAH: Age 29. A mysterious newcomer to the town. Becomes the choir’s stage manager.