MTI musical · Broadway KIDS
Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs before Dark KIDSScript, Piano/Vocal Score & show details
- Broadway KIDS
- Medium–Large cast (11+), flexible
- Roles: 5 women · 4 men + ensemble
- G
The printed Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs before Dark KIDS script comes with your MTI license. The digital version is a separate add-on for your whole cast and crew. See pricing
Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs before Dark KIDS synopsis
Book by Jenny Laird · Music and Lyrics by Randy Courts · Additional Lyrics by Will Osborne
Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs before Dark KIDS is an adaptation of the first of Mary Pope Osborne's award-winning fantasy adventure books from the Magic Tree House book series, which has sold more than 100 million copies and is available in more than 100 countries around the world. Jack and Annie’s tree house transports them back in time to the age of the dinosaurs, where the siblings courageously learn that things are not always what they seem.
Siblings, Jack and Annie, discover a tree house full of books while exploring one afternoon. Jack looks through a book about dinosaurs and wishes he could see a real one. Suddenly, the wind begins to blow and the tree house starts to spin wildly. When it finally stops, Jack and Annie open their eyes to find they have been transported back to the time of the dinosaurs. Jack and Annie have a harrowing adventure, befriending some dinosaurs along the way as they try to make their way back home.
Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs before Dark KIDS is a great first pick for new directors or if you have students new to the performing arts. There are dinosaur roles of all shapes and sizes and great opportunities to involve your students in the creation of their costumes.
Full synopsis
It's story time in the forest, and all the young Saplings — along with Stump, a grumpy old tree stump — have gathered to hear Otto the oak tell his latest tale. Today, Otto's story begins in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, where a brother and sister named Jack and Annie find a mysterious tree house and discover that it is filled with a magnificent collection of books ("How Far Can You See?") As Jack is looking at a picture in a book about dinosaurs, he idly wishes they could go there — and, magically, the wind begins to blow and the tree house begins to spin ("Taking the Tree House for a Spin"). Terrified, Jack and Annie cover their heads and cling to each other.
The spinning stops. Jack and Annie look out the tree house window to discover that they have arrived in a land that looks exactly like the picture Jack was looking at in the dinosaur book. Annie spots Henry, a Pteranodon. Before Jack can stop her, Annie scrambles down the tree house rope ladder to meet the strange creature. Jack warns her about the dangers of making friends too hastily ("Friend or Foe"). Terri, Larry and Gary, three Triceratopses, enter the clearing. As curious about the two strange human creatures as Jack and Annie are about them, the Triceratopses join in the song, with everyone finally agreeing that they can be friends.
As Jack is making notes about his experience, he spots a gold medallion with the letter "M" on the ground. Before he can consider the mystery of how the medallion came to be in dinosaur times, Annie calls out that she's found something wonderful — a nest full of dinosaur eggs! Annie takes a flower from the nest and suddenly, with a huge roar, Natty the Anatosaurus rushes in to protect her nest! Annie freezes as Natty is joined by two more Anatosauruses, Susan and Joan. While Jack tries to figure out what to do, the three Anatosaurus mothers commiserate about the challenges of dinosaur motherhood ("A Mother's Work Is Never Done"). During the song, Annie slowly crawls back to Jack and they watch from a safe distance... until Annie decides to make friends with Natty. To Jack's surprise, Natty is receptive to Annie's friendly approach, and Jack and Annie are amazed that they are having an adventure with real live dinosaurs ("When We Woke").
The eggs begin to hatch and, as the Baby Dinosaurs emerge, they marvel at the wonders of the world into which they are being born ("Wonder"). Annie and Jack go to find food for the babies and discover a watering hole — the only place where plant eaters and meat eaters gather together. They watch as a variety of dinosaurs gather at the watering hole ("March of the Dinosaurs").
The peaceful scene at the watering hole is interrupted by the terrifying arrival of a Tyrannosaurus Rex ("Roar"). The Triceratopses distract the T-Rex while Jack and Annie run back to the tree house, but when they get there, Jack realizes he has forgotten his backpack and has to go back to get it. Jack races back and retrieves his backpack, but before he can return to the tree house, the T-Rex spots him! Jack hides in some ferns and distracts the T-Rex by throwing a rock into another part of the clearing.
Jack is about to make a run for the tree house when Henry arrives with Annie on his back. Henry rescues Jack, and Jack and Annie are thrilled to find themselves flying on the back of a Pteranodon ("When We Woke – Reprise").
Henry delivers Jack and Annie to the tree house, and they share a sad goodbye. Jack tells Annie the reason he had to go back for his backpack: he's figured out that the tree house magic works by pointing to a picture in a book and wishing to go there — and he needed a picture of Frog Creek from his backpack to wish them home. He makes the wish, and they return to the woods where the story began. The Saplings, Stump, Jack and Annie are all excited to see where the tree house will travel next ("How Far Can You See? – Epilogue").
Synopsis courtesy of Music Theatre International (MTI).
Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs before Dark KIDS characters
The Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs before Dark KIDS musical has 21 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 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Jack | Male | Jack is a young boy. He is bookish, careful and thoughtful, but he is NOT a nerd! Jack has tremendous curiosity about the world around him and loves to take notes about his observations. Jack tends to be very cautious in new situations, and his adventures in the tree house help him develop his confidence. He has a good (and protective) relationship with his younger sister, Annie, though her more impetuous nature often gets on his nerves. This is a big role and requires a strong singer and actor. |
| Annie | Female | Jack's younger sister and, in many ways, his opposite in terms of personality. She is a risk-taker who often follows her heart instead of her head. She sometimes teases Jack about his careful attitude toward life and often encourages him to be more adventurous. She loves animals of any kind and has a very loving heart. |
| Otto | Any | Otto is the oldest oak tree in the forest, a mild-mannered grandfatherly or grandmotherly type and a natural storyteller. This role doesn't require the strongest actor in the group, but he (or she) should have a strong speaking voice and the confidence to take center stage when necessary. |
| Stump | Any | Stump is a grumpy tree stump, who, in direct contrast to Otto, is impatient and ill-tempered. Look for an actor who has good comedic instincts and a strong speaking voice. If you are able to cast a small child who has a "big" voice, even better. |
| Saplings | Any | The Saplings are young, spirited and curious Trees, eager to hear about the mysterious tree house that appears in their Woods. These roles have very little dialogue, so they might be better suited for younger children. If you have a small cast, they can double as Baby Dinosaurs. |
| Red Pines / Hemlocks | Any | The Red Pines and Hemlocks should be strong singers to help carry the opening and closing song in the show, but because their dialogue is mostly overlapping or spoken in unison with the rest of the Trees, these roles don't need to be filled by the strongest actors. |
| Henry | Male | Henry should be cast with an actor who has a strong stage presence. Although he has no "real" dialogue, his squeaks and giggles are just as important to the action as spoken words. This actor should be able to communicate through his facial expressions, should feel comfortable using his body to "fly" onstage and should enjoy making fun animal sounds. |
| Gary | Male | Gary is the boldest, hippest and friendliest of the Triceratops. He is the first to step out of the ferns to get a better look at Annie and Jack. He is as impulsive, curious and guileless as Annie. Cast one of your stronger actors who has good comedic timing and who is skilled at memorizing lines and learning more complicated blocking. |
| Terri | Female | Terri is the most domineering of the Triceratops, but her bossy comments toward Larry should serve as comic relief and not be perceived as bullying. Try casting contrasting physical types for Terri and Larry (a small Terri and a large Larry might have a nice humorous effect). Cast a strong actor with good comedic instincts who is skilled at memorizing lines and learning more complicated blocking. |
| Larry | Male | Larry is the nerdiest of the Triceratops and is a little henpecked by Terri, but he isn't afraid to speak his mind. He and Terri should have a good rapport. Cast a strong actor with good comedic instincts and one who is skilled at memorizing lines and learning more complicated blocking. |
| Natty | Female | Natty is the ultimate mother hen and takes great pride in protecting the baby Anatosaurus eggs. Cast a girl who is a little more mature then her peers and who will provide a nice contrast to the babies in stature, voice and demeanor. She should be a strong actor and singer. Natty, Joan and Susan should work well as a trio. |
| Susan | Female | Susan is a sassy Anatosaurus Mom who is more intrigued by Jack and Annie's presence than afraid of them. Cast a girl who is a little more mature than her peers, and who will provide a nice contrast to the Babies in stature, voice and demeanor. She should be a strong actor and singer. Natty, Joan and Susan should work well as a trio. |
| Joan | Female | Joan is the most stressed out of all the Anatosaurus Mothers. She should be a little more no-nonsense compared to Susan's sassiness. Cast a girl who is a little more mature than her peers, and who will provide a nice contrast to the Babies in stature, voice and demeanor. She is a strong actor and singer. Natty, Joan and Susan should work well as a trio. |
| Toto | Any | Toto is Susan's pestering child. She (or he) is as sassy as her mother and a bit of an imp. This is not a large acting or singing role, but look for a smaller child who has a good stage presence. |
| Baby Dinosaurs | Any | The baby dinosaurs are freshly hatched Anatosaurus dinosaurs who are filled with wonder upon encountering the world for the first time. These are singing roles only, so they are ideal parts for younger actors who are good singers but not as adept at memorizing lines. |
| Ankylosaurus | Any | Ankylosaurus are four-ton dinosaurs with spikes on their backs. Look for actors with strong speaking voices who aren't afraid to directly address the audience and who can pronounce more difficult words. |
| Protoceratops | Any | Prooceratops are the "runts" of the dinosaur litter, so look for smaller actors with good speaking voices who aren't afraid to directly address the audience. |
| Iguanodons | Any | Iguanodons are the cool kids of the dinosaur lot. They have spikes for thumbs and are not afraid to brag about it. Look for actors with good speaking voices who aren't afraid to directly address the audience. |
| Panoplosaurus | Any | Panoplosaurus are tank-like dinosaurs who take a lot of pride in all of their unique characteristics. Look for actors with strong speaking voices who aren't afraid to directly address the audience and who have the ability to pronounce more difficult words. |
| Troodon | Any | Troodon dinosaurs are the "brains" of the dinosaur lot but are not braggarts. Look for actors with strong speaking voices who aren't afraid to directly address the audience. |
| T-Rex | Any | T-Rex is a fierce, meat-eating dinosaur. Look for an actor who has a strong stage presence and is comfortable moving onstage and adept at learning more complicated blocking. |
Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs before Dark KIDS song list
- Prologue
- How Far Can You See?
- Taking the Tree House for a Spin
- Friend or Foe (Part 1)
- Friend or Foe (Part 2)
- Friend or Foe (Playoff)
- Henry's Magic
- Natty's Tuba (Part One)
- Natty's Tuba (Part Two)
- A Mother's Work is Never Done
- A Mother's Work is Never Done (Playoff)
- When We Woke
- Wonder
- March of the Dinosaurs (Part One)
- March of the Dinosaurs (Part Two)
- Roar
- What?
- The Backpack
- Think, Jack, Think
- When We Woke (Reprise)
- Spinning Again
- How Far Can You See? (Epilogue)
- Bows
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