MTI musical · Broadway Junior
Doctor Dolittle JR.Script, Piano/Vocal Score & show details
- Broadway Junior
- Medium–Large cast (11+), flexible
- Roles: 8 women · 4 men · 1 any-gender + ensemble
- G
The printed Doctor Dolittle JR. script comes with your MTI license. The digital version is a separate add-on for your whole cast and crew. See pricing
Doctor Dolittle JR. synopsis
Book by Leslie Bricusse · Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
The classic tale of kindness to animals trots, crawls and flies onto the stage in Doctor Dolittle JR. All of the characters we've come to love through the stories of Hugh Lofting and the magical movie musical are given new life in the stage version.
The musical tells the classic tale of a wacky, but kind, doctor who can talk to animals, taking the audience on a journey from the small English village of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh to the far corners of the world. When Doctor Dolittle attempts to help a seal named Sophie, he’s wrongly accused of murder and stands trial before General Bellowes. Once pronounced innocent, Dolittle is free to continue with his search for the Great Pink Sea Snail — the oldest and wisest of the creatures on earth.
Doctor Dolittle JR. provides directors the wonderful flexibility of casting performers of all ages and types, including a large ensemble that calls for actors to portray talking animals.
Full synopsis
We are introduced to the world of Doctor Dolittle and the animals who inhabit it ("Doctor Dolittle"). Madeline and Tommy reveal that the Doctor is loved by everyone in the village of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh ("My Friend, the Doctor").
After a particularly unsuccessful appointment with General Bellowes, Doctor Dolittle decides to become an animal doctor and vows to have Polynesia, the parrot, teach him all of the animal languages she knows ("Talk to the Animals – Part 1"). He quickly learns to say, "Good Morning," to his dog, Jip, in Dog and celebrates his achievement ("Talk to the Animals – Part 2").
Five years later, Doctor Dolittle has learned almost 500 animal languages, has a thriving practice and is planning a big adventure to seek out the Great Pink Sea Snail ("The Time of Our Lives"). A visit from Emma Fairfax, the niece of General Bellowes, ends on a sour note, but the mood soon brightens with the arrival of the Pushmi-Pullyu, a two-headed llama. This gift has been sent by a friend to help Doctor Dolittle raise funds for his quest. He takes the Pushmi-Pullyu to Albert Blossom of Blossom's Mammoth Circus ("I've Never Seen Anything Like It – Part 1") and makes a deal to present the unique animal for a limited four-week engagement ("I've Never Seen Anything Like It – Part 2"), with an even split of the profits.
Doctor Dolittle earns enough money from the circus to go on his journey, but makes good on a promise to help Sophie the seal escape the circus and reunite with her husband. This act of friendship lands Doctor Dolittle in court. Though he proves that he was only helping the seal, and that he can indeed talk to animals, the doctor is committed to an asylum by the magistrate, General Bellowes. Doctor Dolittle protests ("Like Animals"), but is sent away, leaving Polynesia and Madeline to plan a rescue.
Having escaped from the authorities, Doctor Dolittle "borrows" a boat owned by General Bellowes to set off on his quest to find the Great Pink Sea Snail. Emma is discovered on board, and she questions the doctor's navigational strategy ("Fabulous Places").
They set off for Sea Star Island and, after encountering a storm at sea, end up shipwrecked in the very place they were looking for. There, the travelers discover Straight Arrow, the friend who sent the Pushmi-Pullyu to Doctor Dolittle. Straight Arrow explains that Sea Star Island is an animal sanctuary ("Save the Animals").
Doctor Dolittle's dream finally comes true with the arrival of the Great Pink Sea Snail to the island. They converse in Escargot, and the Snail agrees to take the doctor's friends back home. Doctor Dolittle explains that he will not be returning to Puddleby, and the friends share a tearful goodbye before departing in the Snail.
Back home, Emma tries to talk some sense into her uncle with the help of the animals ("The Voice of Protest"). It works, and Bellowes declares Doctor Dolittle innocent of any wrongdoing. The cheers of the crowd are interrupted by the triumphant return of Doctor Dolittle to Puddleby-on-the-Marsh ("Finale").
Synopsis courtesy of Music Theatre International (MTI).
Doctor Dolittle JR. characters & vocal ranges
The Doctor Dolittle JR. musical has 26 named roles plus an ensemble, for a medium to large cast (11+), and the cast size is flexible. Many roles can be cast across gender. ‘Written as’ reflects how MTI lists each role.
| Character | Written as | Vocal range | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor John Dolittle | Not listed | Not listed | An eccentric country doctor who loves animals more than people. He is smart, passionate, driven and the consummate optimist, always looking for the best in every situation. Cast your very best singer and actor in this role. |
| Madeline Mugg | Female | E5–Bb3 | Dolittle's sassy friend who thoroughly enjoys the adventures she goes on with Dolittle. Madeline is Dolittle's compatriot, sharing his love and views of animals. This is a perfect role for a good singer who can act and has comic timing. |
| Tommy Stubbins | Male | D#5–C4 | A happy-go-lucky kid who idolizes Doctor Dolittle and enjoys playing with the animals. Cast one of your high-spirited younger students who can act and sing. |
| Emma Fairfax | Female | Db5–Ab3 | A strong, tough woman who is willing to speak her mind. She learns to appreciate Dolittle's love of animals and grows to have feelings for him. Find a great singer and actor who can command the stage. |
| General Bellowes | Male | Not listed | Emma's uncle and the magistrate of Puddleby-On-The-Marsh. An ill-tempered man with limited people skills, this non-singing role is perfect for a student with good stage presence and a powerful speaking voice. |
| Albert Blossom | Male | Eb5–C4 | A shrewd business man who owns a dilapidated touring circus. This curmudgeonly old guy is a nice character role for a solid singer and actor. |
| Gertie Blossom | Female | A4–E4 | One tough cookie. She is Albert's wife and makes sure the circus runs the way she wants it to. Cast an actress who is very grounded and is able to speak with a heavy European accent. |
| Berta | Female | A4–C4 | A worker in Blossom's circus. Each of these smaller roles have to show lots of personality with only a few solo singing lines, so cast quirky character actors who can hold a tune. |
| Vladimir | Male | A4–C4 | A worker in Blossom's circus. Each of these smaller roles have to show lots of personality with only a few solo singing lines, so cast quirky character actors who can hold a tune. |
| Mavis | Female | C#5–C4 | A worker in Blossom's circus. Each of these smaller roles have to show lots of personality with only a few solo singing lines, so cast quirky character actors who can hold a tune. |
| Straight Arrow | Any | E5–C4 | A well-educated and passionate man living the life of a warrior chief on Popsipetel Island. He's warm and embracing to both humans and animals. Cast a strong singer, male or female, who can convey Straight Arrow's power and passion. |
| Bailiff | Any | Not listed | A small non-singing role perfect for a young student who is new to the the stage. |
| Villagers | Any | Not listed | All acquaintances of Doctor Dolittle. This group doubles as your chorus. |
| Cirucs Folk | Any | Not listed | These can be your Villagers or they could be a completely different group of students. Try to cast students who have special skills, such as tumbling or juggling, to give the scene a circus-like authenticity. |
| Warriors | Any | Not listed | Inhabitants of Popsipetel Island. Cast strong singers and dancers for these roles. Feel free to use the Villagers and Circus Folk kids here too. |
| Polynesia | Female | E5–C4 | Doctor Dolittle's intelligent, spunky assistant: his right-hand parrot. She speaks in English with the Humans, and she is often the one with the answers. Cast an actor with a big personality and one of your strongest singers in this role. And if your actor is shorter than Dolittle, it is even better. |
| Jip | Any | Not listed | Dolittle's ever-faithful dog. Cast a performer who has a lot of energy and is able to move quickly around the whole stage. |
| Herbert | Any | Not listed | A quiet hedgehog who likes to sit in Doctor Dolittle's chair. This is a perfect role for a shy student who is new to the stage. |
| Dab-dab | Any | Not listed | A pet duck. Cast a student who is a good mover and is willing to act a little goofy. |
| Toggle | Any | Not listed | A nearsighted plough-horse who comes to Doctor Dolittle for glasses. Toggle is one of the calmer animals, so keep that in mind when casting this role. |
| Sheila | Female | Not listed | A fox who has been hurt by a hunter's trap. This is another quieter role, perfect for a new kid in your program. |
| Pushmi-pullyu | Any | Not listed | A two-headed llama. This is a great featured-dancing role for two solid dancers who can work together to appear as one animal. |
| Rufus | Any | Not listed | Bellowes' big, energetic dog. He should be portrayed by someone who is larger-than- life and enjoys playing to a crowd. |
| Chee-chee | Any | Not listed | A monkey who is capable of steering a ship. Cast a student with a good sense of humor. The actor playing Chee-Chee needs to be willing to jump around the stage. |
| Sophie | Female | Not listed | A seal and non-speaking role. She has just a short moment onstage, so this is a great place to spotlight one of your ensemble members. |
| Additional Animals | Any | Not listed | In the opening number, Doctor Dolittle's clinic and in the "The Voice of Protest." Feel free to add whatever type of animals you and your cast want. This is a great opportunity to cast anyone who wants to be in the show! |
| Ensemble | Any | Not listed | Bailiff, Villagers, Circus Folk, Warriors, Additional Animals |
Doctor Dolittle JR. song list
- Doctor Dolittle
- My Friend the Doctor Transition
- My Friend the Doctor
- Talk to the Animals (Part 1)
- Talk to the Animals (Part 2)
- Puddleby-On-The-Marsh
- The Time of Our Lives
- Entrance of the Pushmi-Pullyu
- Blossom Sees Double
- I've Never Seen Anything Like It (Part 1)
- I've Never Seen Anything Like It (Part 2)
- The Circus Playout
- Beautiful Things
- Bellowes' Judgement
- Like Animals
- End of Scene 6
- Fabulous Places
- The Storm
- Arrival of the Popsipetelans
- Save the Animals
- The Entrance of Jean-Claude
- The Goodbyes
- Exit of Jean-Claude
- The Voice of Protest
- Finale
- Bows
How to get the Doctor Dolittle JR. script & Piano/Vocal Score
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