MUSIC TRACKS

Please practice all of your music at home to the instrumental tracks at least 3x each week/weekend.

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MONKEYS MUSIC

• Songs for Monkeys: TO BE ANNOUNCED

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• 🐒 MONKEYS PLAYLIST - COMING SOON

● Accent = How you say the words. (Example: an American accent vs. a British accent.)

● Dialect = The words and grammar you use, as well as how you say them. (Example: “soda” in one place, “pop” in another — same thing, different dialect.)

 ➡️ Accent is about sound. Dialect is about sound and words.

RESOURCES

Oliver, The Orphans, Mr. Bumble, Mrs. Corney, Mr. Brownlow, Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry, Charlotte Sowerberry, Mrs. Bedwin (“proper” but not overly posh. Clear and careful speech)

• British/Estuary [Example-Received Pronunciation-vs-estuary]

All other characters (Rougher, working-class version of British speech, less polished, more gritty)

• Cockney - [Example-Cockney] 

BBC - Learning British English Workshops

Oliver! JR. is rated PG.

We chose this production because it offers slightly more sophisticated material for our young artists striving to grow through challenging material, as well as opportunities for beginning students to express their creativity.

Although Music Theater International does not provide a formal explanation, we assume the rating is for thematic material. Victorian poverty are part of the world of the show. Parental guidance is recommended as the story contains dramatic Dickensian material, involving child neglect, poverty, crime, kidnapping, and moments of threat, and peril. The show also includes a tavern setting. The Junior adaptation does not to include the conclusion of the full-length musical.

OYES intends to approach these sensitive themes with care and appropriate context throughout the rehearsal process. While many family musicals, such as Beauty and the Beast, also contain dramatic themes, threatening characters, and tavern scenes, we feel it is important to specifically acknowledge the content in Oliver! JR. because of its PG rating.

At its heart, Oliver! JR. is ultimately a story about a young person searching for belonging, kindness, safety, and family, and those are the themes we will emphasize with our cast members.

Full Synopsis

Lionel Bart's Oliver! JR. opens in a glum workhouse in 19th century England, where the poor, hungry, hardworking children are waiting for dinner ("Food Glorious Food"). The children scarf down their food, but one plucky orphan isn't satisfied; Oliver wants more ("Oliver")! Shocked and perturbed by his boldness, the individuals in charge of the workhouse, Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney, agree to sell Oliver to anyone willing to take him off their hands ("Boy For Sale"). The undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry, pays for the boy, and as Oliver takes in his grim new surroundings, he wonders if anyone will ever love him ("Where Is Love?").

The next morning, the Sowerberrys' apprentice, Noah, comes into the undertaker's parlor and begins bullying Oliver. When Noah says cruel things about Oliver's dead mother, Oliver lunges at him, starting a fight. Mr. Sowerberry tries to send Oliver back to the workhouse, but Oliver flees to the outskirts of London. Oliver happens upon clever pickpocket Dodger, who offers the boy a place to stay with Fagin's Gang of thieves. Oliver accepts and is welcomed by the gang ("Consider Yourself"). Oliver doesn't fully understand what he's gotten himself into, as Fagin explains their "business" ("Pick A Pocket Or Two").

Nancy and her friend Bet pay a visit to Fagin and his thieves the next morning, and though the young women lead dangerous lives of crime, they insist they enjoy it ("It's A Fine Life"). Oliver politely bows when he is introduced to the girls, and the gang makes fun of him for it. Nancy, however, comes to his defense, admiring his manners ("I'd Do Anything"). Fagin then puts the gang to work, sending them out to pickpocket ("Be Back Soon"). Oliver's first day of thievery does not go well when Mr. Brownlow catches the boy stealing his handkerchief. Oliver is apprehended by a Policeman.

That evening, Nancy is present at a boxing match where she sings "the old school song" for a rough crowd (Oom- Pah-Pah). However, the fun quickly ends when brutal burglar Bill Sikes enters ("My Name"). Dodger suddenly rushes in, reporting to Fagin that Oliver has been taken in by Mr. Brownlow. Sikes overhears the conversation and orders Nancy to go steal him back. Nancy doesn't want to take Oliver away from his new home, but her love for Sikes compels her to do as she has been told ("As Long As He Needs Me").

In Mr. Brownlow's home, the housekeeper Mrs. Bedwin affectionately sings Oliver a lullaby ("Where Is Love? - Reprise") while the Market Sellers sell their wares outside ("Who Will Buy? - Part 1"). Dr. Grimwig arrives to check on Oliver's health, but he is suspicious that the boy may be taking advantage of Mr. Brownlow. He suggests Oliver complete an errand for Mr. Brownlow, and Mr. Brownlow agrees. Oliver leaves on his errand, wandering into the market ("Who Will Buy? - Part 2"). Nancy, Bet, and Sikes enter the scene, stealing a struggling Oliver away from his new life.

Once Oliver is back among the thieves, Nancy expresses her regret in helping abduct him ("It's A Fine Life - Reprise"). Fagin privately seems conflicted about his involvement as well ("Reviewing The Situation"). Meanwhile, at the workhouse, Old Sally reveals a secret. She stole a locket from Oliver's mother, who gave birth to the boy and passed away in the workhouse. The locket seems to indicate that Oliver's mother came from a wealthy family. Widow Corney and Mr. Bumble set out to find the boy, intent on making a profit from this information ("Oliver - Reprise").

Widow Corney and Mr. Bumble take the locket to Mr. Brownlow, who realizes the locket belonged to his daughter, making Oliver his grandson. Suddenly, Nancy rushes in, revealing to Mr. Brownlow and Mrs. Bedwin why Oliver has gone missing. She tells them she will return Oliver to them that night. Nancy leaves, but she fails to see that Sikes is following her ("As Long As He Needs Me - Reprise"). Later that night, Sikes confronts Nancy and Bet as they are delivering Oliver to Mr. Brownlow. A struggle ensues, and Oliver breaks free, but Sikes strikes Nancy, ultimately killing her. An angry crowd chases Sikes down, but Sikes jumps off a bridge to his death before they can reach him. After a night of terror, Oliver is reunited with Mr. Brownlow and Mrs. Bedwin. Fagin and his gang, meanwhile, flee from the police, and Fagin considers turning over a new leaf.

OLIVER! Jr. - Character Breakdown

Mr. Bumble runs the workhouse with Widow Corney and holds considerable authority over Oliver and the other children. He is cold, self-important, and more concerned with rules, money, and maintaining his position than with the children in his care. His relationship with Widow Corney is both a partnership and a comic pairing, and together they later try to profit from discovering the truth about Oliver’s family.

Musical Features:

“Oliver!” — Principal

“Boy for Sale” — Principal/Solo

“Oliver! (Reprise)” — Principal with Widow Corney

Gender: Male

Vocal Range: Bb2–F4

Widow Corney runs the workhouse alongside Mr. Bumble. She is calculating, practical, and motivated largely by what benefits her. Her relationship with Bumble provides comic interplay, but the two also become partners in trying to profit from the information they uncover about Oliver’s past.

Musical Features:

“Oliver!” — Principal with Mr. Bumble

“Oliver! (Reprise)” — Principal with Mr. Bumble

Gender: Female

Vocal Range: B3–Eb5

Oliver Twist is an 11-year-old orphan and the center of the story. He is intelligent, kind, hopeful, and more courageous than people initially expect. He longs for love and a family, but repeatedly finds himself at the mercy of adults who see him as something to control or profit from. His relationships drive the story: Dodger offers him his first sense of friendship and belonging, Fagin draws him into a dangerous new world, Nancy becomes his protector, and Mr. Brownlow offers him the loving home he has been searching for.

Musical Features:

“Where Is Love?” — Principal/Solo

“Consider Yourself” — Principal with Dodger

“I’d Do Anything” — Principal/Featured

“Be Back Soon” — Principal/Featured with Fagin, Dodger & Gang

“Who Will Buy?” — Principal with featured Market Sellers and ensemble

Gender: Male

Vocal Range: A3–E5

Mr. Sowerberry is the undertaker who purchases Oliver from Mr. Bumble. He views Oliver primarily as inexpensive labor and does little to protect him from the cruelty within his household. His relationship with Mrs. Sowerberry establishes the household Oliver is trying to survive, while his treatment of Oliver helps push the boy toward his decision to escape.

Musical Features: Chorus; acting role.

Gender: Male

Mrs. Sowerberry is the undertaker’s wife and shares her husband’s lack of concern for Oliver. She gives him scraps meant for the dog and expects him to work without offering much kindness in return. Her relationships with her husband, Noah, Charlotte, and Oliver create the unpleasant household that ultimately drives Oliver away.

Musical Features: Chorus; acting role.

Gender: Female

Charlotte works for the Sowerberrys. She is somewhat kinder to Oliver than the others, but she remains part of a household in which he is treated as an outsider. Her interactions with Noah, the Sowerberrys, and Oliver help establish the social hierarchy of the household and Oliver’s isolation within it.

Musical Features: Chorus; acting role.

Gender: Female

Noah Claypole works for the Sowerberrys and uses his position to bully Oliver. He deliberately attacks the subject Oliver cares about most, his mother, provoking Oliver into finally fighting back. Noah’s relationship with Oliver is important because it reveals that Oliver is not simply passive or helpless: when pushed far enough, he will defend himself and the people he loves.

Musical Features: Chorus; acting role.

Gender: Male

The Artful Dodger, also known as Jack Dawkins, is charming, confident, clever, and streetwise. Although he is a thief working for Fagin, he is also the first person Oliver meets in London who offers him friendship, food, and a place to belong. His relationship with Oliver begins with genuine kindness, even though he leads Oliver into Fagin’s criminal world. Dodger is also an established and admired member of Fagin’s gang.

Musical Features:

“Consider Yourself” — Principal/Lead

“I’d Do Anything” — Principal

“Be Back Soon” — Principal/Featured

“It’s a Fine Life (Reprise)” — Supporting/Featured

Gender: Male

Vocal Range: A3–E5

Fagin recruits, trains, and manages a gang of young thieves. He presents himself as their caretaker, but his livelihood depends upon what they steal for him. He is mentor and employer to Dodger and the gang, draws the innocent Oliver into his operation, and is connected to Nancy and Sikes through London's criminal world. As the story progresses, Fagin begins questioning the life he has built.

Musical Features:

“Pick a Pocket or Two” — Principal/Lead

“I’d Do Anything” — Supporting/Featured

“Be Back Soon” — Principal/Lead

“It’s a Fine Life (Reprise)” — Principal/Featured

“Reviewing the Situation” — Principal/Solo

Gender: Male

Vocal Range: C3–G4

Charlie Bates is one of Fagin’s young thieves and a great admirer of the Artful Dodger. He is already comfortable in the world that Oliver is just discovering and helps establish the camaraderie and hierarchy within Fagin’s gang.

Musical Features:

“Pick a Pocket or Two” — Supporting/Featured as part of Fagin’s Gang

“I’d Do Anything” — Ensemble/Featured Gang

“Be Back Soon” — Ensemble/Featured Gang

Gender: Male

Vocal Range: G4–B4

Nipper is the smallest member of Fagin’s gang. Though the role has no spoken lines, Nipper is part of the close-knit group that welcomes Oliver into its world. The actor can develop Nipper’s personality through physical storytelling, reactions, and relationships with the other gang members.

Musical Features:

Featured solo within Fagin’s Gang, plus ensemble participation in the gang numbers.

Gender: Any

Vocal Range: A3–E4

Captain is one of the young people in Fagin’s gang. The role offers an opportunity to create an individual personality within the larger group through singing, movement, reactions, and relationships with the other gang members.

Musical Features:

Featured solo within Fagin’s Gang material, plus ensemble participation in the gang numbers.

Gender: Any

Vocal Range: B3–A4

Handwalker is another member of Fagin’s gang. Like Captain and Nipper, Handwalker is part of the community that initially makes Oliver feel welcome and can build a distinctive character within the group.

Musical Features:

Featured solo within Fagin’s Gang material, plus ensemble participation in the gang numbers.

Gender: Any

Vocal Range: D4–B4

Nancy is spirited, warm, adventurous, and deeply compassionate despite living in a dangerous world. She immediately recognizes Oliver’s innocence and becomes protective of him. Bet is her friend and companion, Fagin and the gang are part of the life she knows, Oliver awakens her protective instincts, and her complicated love for Bill Sikes puts her in conflict with what she knows is right. Ultimately, Nancy must choose between protecting Oliver and obeying Sikes.

Musical Features:

“It’s a Fine Life” — Principal/Lead

“I’d Do Anything” — Principal

“Oom-Pah-Pah” — Principal/Lead

“As Long As He Needs Me” — Principal/Solo

“It’s a Fine Life (Reprise)” — Principal

“As Long As He Needs Me (Reprise)” — Principal/Solo

Gender: Female

Vocal Range: G3–E5

Bet is Nancy’s friend and shares her spirited nature and sense of adventure. She understands the dangers of Nancy’s world and shares Nancy’s affection and concern for Oliver.  Her relationship with Nancy is especially important: she is friend, companion, and witness to Nancy’s increasingly difficult situation with Sikes.

Musical Features:

“It’s a Fine Life” — Supporting/Featured

“I’d Do Anything” — Supporting/Featured

Gender: Female

Vocal Range: A3–D5

Mr. Brownlow is a kind and compassionate man who takes Oliver into his home. Their relationship develops into one of trust and genuine care, providing Oliver with his first experience of a safe and loving home. The eventual discovery that Oliver is his grandson transforms that connection into the family relationship Oliver has been searching for.

Musical Features: chorus; substantial acting role.

Gender: Male

Bill Sikes is ruthless, intimidating, suspicious, and accustomed to controlling the people around him through fear. His most important relationship is with Nancy. Nancy loves him despite his cruelty.

Musical Features:

“My Name” — Principal/Solo

“It’s a Fine Life (Reprise)” — Principal/Featured

Gender: Male

Vocal Range: B2–D4

The Chairman appears at the Three Cripples Public House and helps establish the lively, rough-and-tumble environment surrounding Nancy and the people in her world.

Musical Features: Primarily an acting feature within the musical sequence; not a principal singer.

Gender: Male

Mrs. Bedwin is Mr. Brownlow’s kindhearted housekeeper and becomes one of Oliver’s caregivers. Her gentle treatment of Oliver is a sharp contrast to the adults he encountered earlier, and she helps establish Brownlow’s home as a place of genuine care.

Musical Features:

“Where Is Love? (Reprise)” — Principal/Solo

Gender: Female

Vocal Range: C4–B4

The Milkmaid is one of the featured Market Sellers who brings the streets of London to life. This is a relatively small character role but carries genuine individual musical responsibility

Musical Features:

“Who Will Buy?” — Featured Soloist

Gender: Female

Vocal Range: Eb4–C5

The Strawberry Seller is one of the featured Market Sellers whose voice helps create the lively London community Oliver observes from Mr. Brownlow’s home.

Musical Features:

“Who Will Buy?” — Featured Soloist

Gender: Female

Vocal Range: Eb4–Eb5

The Knife Grinder is a featured Market Seller with an individual musical identity within the larger marketplace.

Musical Features:

“Who Will Buy?” — Featured Soloist

Gender: Male

Vocal Range: Bb2–G3

The Rose Seller is another featured Market Seller whose individual vocal material contributes to the overlapping sounds of London.

Musical Features:

“Who Will Buy?” — Featured Soloist

Gender: Female

Vocal Range: Bb3–Ab4.

Dr. Grimwig is intelligent, skeptical, and considerably more pessimistic than Mr. Brownlow. His relationship with Brownlow creates an important disagreement: Brownlow wants to believe in Oliver, while Grimwig believes that trust should be tested.

Musical Features: chorus; featured acting role.

Gender: Male

Old Sally possesses crucial information about Oliver’s past. Her revelation about Oliver’s mother provides the missing connection between Oliver and Mr. Brownlow and changes Oliver’s future.

Musical Features: Chorus; featured acting role.

Gender: Female

The Matron is connected to the workhouse and helps confirm the truth surrounding Oliver’s birth and his mother, Agnes. Although the role is brief, the information she helps establish is essential to revealing Oliver’s identity.

Musical Features: Chorus; featured acting role.

Gender: Female

Ensemble

The ensemble creates the different communities Oliver encounters throughout his journey: Workhouse Children, Fagin’s Gang, people of London, customers at the Three Cripples, Market Sellers, townspeople, the crowd and police.

Musical Features include:

“Food Glorious Food” — Principal Ensemble

“Consider Yourself” — Supporting Ensemble

“Pick a Pocket or Two” — Supporting Ensemble/Fagin’s Gang

“It’s a Fine Life” — Supporting Ensemble/Fagin’s Gang

“I’d Do Anything” — Supporting Ensemble/Fagin’s Gang

“Be Back Soon” — Supporting Ensemble/Fagin’s Gang

“Oom-Pah-Pah” — Supporting Ensemble

“Who Will Buy?” — Supporting Ensemble with featured soloists

“London Bridge” / final sequence — Ensemble

ACTORS SCRIPT 

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🐒 MONKEYS SCRIPT

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BONUS SCENES & INSERTS

ALL SCENES

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• Quick Fixes (Mr. and Mrs. Darling, John, Wendy, Peter, Tiger Lily, Hook)

NURSERY SCENES

• DARLINGS, CHILDREN, LIZA, NANA, PETER 

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NEVERLAND

• LOST BOYS, BRAVE GIRLS, DARLINGS, PETER, PIRATES 

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JUST PIRATES

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