MTI musical · Broadway Junior

Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide To School JR. musical logo

Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide To School JR.Script, Piano/Vocal Score & show details

  • Broadway Junior
  • Large cast (21+), flexible
  • Roles: 1 women · 15 any-gender + ensemble
  • G

The printed Essential Survival Guide To School JR. script comes with your MTI license. The digital version is a separate add-on for your whole cast and crew. See pricing

Essential Survival Guide To School JR. synopsis

Book & Lyrics by Marcy Heisler · Music by Zina Goldrich

Junie B. Jones is back! Based on the bestselling books, the saga of the wisecracking first-grader continues in Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide to School JR., a goofy and heartwarming follow-up to Junie B. Jones, The Musical JR. 

A self-appointed expert on all things first grade, Junie B. is determined to write the ultimate guide - Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide to School JR. As she deals with writer's block and constantly getting into trouble, Junie B. quickly realizes that she still has a lot to learn.

Featuring new, upbeat songs and an expanded cast, Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide to School JR. is a hilarious, whole-hearted show about owning up to your mistakes and how nobody is ever done learning.

Full synopsis

Junie B.'s Essential Guide to School JR. begins with a brilliant idea by Junie B. Jones: with one-and-a-half years of school under her belt, she's going to create a guide for surviving school! Her classmates are enthusiastic about the idea ("Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide To School"). At class that day, Junie B.'s classmates try to get her to discuss her ideas for the book, but Junie B. secretly doesn't have any ideas ("Like What?"). During this exchange, Junie B. gets a little too excited and calls students bad names in class. Her teacher, mr. Scary, sends her home with a note ("Shoo Bee Doo Bee"). Junie B. gives the note to her Mother.

The next day at school, Junie B.'s classmate Sheldon approaches her with an idea for the book: backpacks ("Backpacks On Parade"). Many of the students support the idea, complimenting Sheldon, but Junie B. is jealous and worried that he is getting credit for her idea ("A Great Idea - Parts 1 and 2"). Junie B. throws a tantrum and is sent home with another note. When she is discussing her tantrum with her mother that evening, she explains that her anger comes from a bull that lives inside her stomach ("El Toro Fabuloso").

During lunch the next day, the school's fashionista, Lucille, interviews Junie B. about school clothes ("Some Stuff About Clothes"). Junie B. tells her that her favorite clothes include giant pockets, telling a story about a potato she once found that fit perfectly in her pocket (Potato On The Sidewalk!). However, during Junie B.'s interview, her classmate May steals the attention. Junie B. responds by intentionally spilling spaghetti on May ("El Toro Fabuloso - Reprise"). At home that evening, Junie B.'s family encourages her to make up with May.

The next day, the students perform a play at school all about school supplies ("School Supplies - Parts 1 and 2"). The play, written and organized by May, gets derailed when Junie B. angrily goes offscript and charges at May ("El Toro Shoo Bees"). With her mother's encouragement, Junie B. writes an apology letter to May that night. In the morning, Junie B. chases after the bus with all of her classmates onboard ("Gotta Get There"). After Junie B. boards the bus, Herb wants to discuss his chapter of the book with her: the rules of the school bus ("Bus Rules"). However, Junie B. takes over, insisting that one of the best things to do on the bus is to make funny faces. She does this out the window, prompting a horrified passing driver to take a picture with her cell phone.

After the driver emails the rude pictures of Junie B. to the Principal, Junie B. is forced to face the consequences of her actions ("Principal's Office"). The principal, along with a few of Junie B.'s school role models, urge Junie B. to respect the school's rules. While the adults are discussing this with Junie B., they form a plan. The principal tells Junie B. to spread the word that there are no rules for her classroom the rest of the day. Junie B. happily tells her classmates, but the students soon realize that without rules, many of the good parts of the day are ruined. They all agree that rules are important and should be followed ("Rules - Parts 1, 2, and 3").

In the schoolyard later that day, students are enthusiastically toting around their report cards ("Report Card Day"). Junie B., however, resorts to burying her report card in a neighbor's yard. Her mother quickly stops her and shows Junie B. her own report from many years ago. As it turns out, her mother wasn't a perfect student either ("Mother Was A Bad Kid Too"). This comforts Junie B., who returns her attention to her survival guide. Just as she wonders who will help her with this daunting task, May appears at her door. The two girls make up. ("The Things You Learn Along The Way"). The students complete their survival guide ("Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide Bows").

Synopsis courtesy of Music Theatre International (MTI).

Essential Survival Guide To School JR. characters & vocal ranges

The Essential Survival Guide To School JR. musical has 15 named roles plus an ensemble, for a large cast (21+), and the cast size is flexible. Many roles can be cast across gender. ‘Written as’ reflects how MTI lists each role.

CharacterWritten asVocal rangeDescription
Junie B. JonesFemaleEb5–A3A spunky, intelligent girl in the first grade. Determined and a bit impulsive, Junie B. finds herself at the center of many classroom antics.
DaddyNot listedNot listedJunie B.’s mostly silent father.
MotherNot listedG4–C#4Junie B.’s no-nonsense mom. She can be tough on Junie B., but it is all out of love.
LucilleNot listedB4–Bb3Poised, put together, and probably a bit spoiled. She controls and plans everything she does – quite the opposite of Junie B.’s bold impulsiveness.
HerbNot listedC#5–C4Junie B.’s best friend. An endlessly kind and charming little boy, Herb easily balances out Junie B.’s more demanding side.
MayNot listedC5–Ab3The teacher’s pet. Eager to prove her brilliance, May does not prioritize making friends with any of her classmates, and they do not mind.
Mr. ScaryNot listedG4–C4The Kids’ Room One teacher. Unlike his name suggests, Mr. Scary is a supportive and encouraging teacher. This is a perfect role to showcase a mature and energetic actor.
SheldonNot listedDb5–Db4Definitely not the most popular kid in class. Plagued by a myriad of allergies and clumsiness, Sheldon’s good intentions often end in disaster.
Mrs. GutzmanNot listedBb4–E4The sweet old lunch lady, revered by all of the school kids
El Toro FabulosoNot listedB4–E4Not listed
The MatadorsNot listedBb4–Ab3Includes Matador 1 and Matador 2
PrincipalNot listedBb4–Ab3Patient, smart, and teaches Junie B. that sometimes rules are important.
GlueNot listedB4–E4Not listed
Gus VallonyNot listedC5–C4The school janitor. He is friendly with Junie B. and helps her understand the rules, along with the other adults.
Mrs. WellerNot listedAb4–C4The school nurse. She helps go over the school rules with the other adults to help Junie B. understand.
EnsembleNot listedNot listedThe Ensemble includes the following roles: Students (including Student, A Student, and Another Student), Student 1, Student 2, Student 3, Grampa Miller, Easel, Eraser, Glue, Pencil, Chalk, Ruler, Paper Clip, Cameraman, Mother's Teachers, "Some Stuff About Clothes" Soloists, "Like What?" Soloists, "Backpacks on Parade" Soloists, and Student Sitting in the Middle Soloist

Essential Survival Guide To School JR. song list

  1. Junie B's Essential Survival Guide To School
  2. Like What
  3. Backpacks on Parade
  4. El Toro Fabuloso
  5. Some Stuff About Clothes
  6. El Toro Fabuloso (Reprise)
  7. School Supplies (Part 1)
  8. School Supplies (Part 2)
  9. Dear May
  10. Gotta Get There
  11. Bus Rules
  12. Principal's Office
  13. Rules (Part 1)
  14. Rules (Part 2)
  15. Rules (Part 3)
  16. Report Card Day
  17. The Things You Learn Along The Way

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