MTI musical · Full-length
She Persisted, The MusicalScript, Piano/Vocal Score & show details
- Full-length
- Small cast (up to 10)
- Roles: 6 women
- G
The printed She Persisted script comes with your MTI license. The digital version is a separate add-on for your whole cast and crew. See pricing
She Persisted synopsis
Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma · Adapted from the Book Written by Chelsea Clinton · And Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger
She Persisted, The Musical is the trailblazing, Theatre for Young Audiences new musical, based on the best-selling children's book written by Chelsea Clinton and beautifully illustrated by Alexandra Boiger.
Fourth-grader Naomi's field trip to a Women's History Museum turns into a time travel adventure where she encounters inspirational women who have overcome barriers and made waves throughout U.S. history. From activists to athletes, artists and more, the musical features the stories of female trailblazers such as Harriet Tubman, Virginia Apgar, Ruby Bridges, Sally Ride, Florence Griffith Joyner, and Sonia Sotomayor.
Full synopsis
Ms. Chan has brought her fourth grade students from Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School to the National Museum of Women in History. Naomi, one of her students, arrives late and is bothered about a mistake she made for a class assignment ("Perfect/Not"). Naomi learns that she will have to write a paper on how the women in the museum inspire her to follow her dreams. She asks why there needs to be a women's history museum when women's history should just be "history history." Ms. Chan and the Museum Tour Guide explain that women often get left out and give the class examples of historical women, explaining "They Changed the World".
Naomi is very stressed about the essay, but her classmates assure her that it's easy - especially since everyone knows that her dream is to be an astronaut. Naomi is overwhelmed and wonders how she can accomplish so much ("Perfect/Not Reprise"). She wishes aloud that she could be "anywhere but here" when Time appears. Times transports Naomi back to The Bronx in 1961, where she meets a young Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Young Sonia tells Naomi that with "persistence plus flexibility" she can solve any problem and find "Another Solution".
Time takes an amazed Naomi to the 1930s, where she meets Dr. Virginia Apgar, a very inquisitive and observant doctor. Dr. Apgar explains that nobody checks newborn babies closely for their health right after they're born. But she has come up with a test to score a baby's health ("That's The Score!"). Naomi realizes that by asking questions and being curious in nature, Dr. Apgar made a difference.
Time says goodbye to Naomi, leaving her alone and a little lost. She crosses paths with Harriet Tubman, who says she can guide Naomi north to Canada. Harriet explains to Naomi that although the northern states are technically "free", runaway slaves can still be taken back south. Naomi asks her how she finds the strength to keep going, and Harriet says that she has "Hope".
Naomi finds Time and says goodbye to Harriet. Naomi meets Sonia Sotomayor again - this time in 1974 at Princeton University, where she is a student. Sonia wants to challenge the university president about the lack of Puerto Rican and Chicano professors and the fact that there are no classes on Puerto Rican or Chicano culture. Naomi assures her that she deserves to be heard and that she just needs to be herself. When Sonia tells the president her demands, he brushes her off. Undeterred, Sonia tells Naomi that she will simply need to find "Another Solution Reprise".
Naomi believes that she can't accomplish as much as the women she's met. Time suggests that she needs to learn to love herself more and shows her Olympic medalist Florence Griffith Joyner at the 1984 Olympics, where she is running the women's 200 meter sprint. When Naomi asks Florence what helps her believe that she's good enough, she tells her that she doesn't listen to what people say about her and keeps doing her best on her terms ("Run My Race").
Naomi then meets Sally Ride, who is preparing for her first space mission - which will make her the first American woman in space. Sally tells Naomi to not worry about being perfect and that there is nothing wrong with making mistakes and learning from them. She guides Naomi through all the training that led her to her mission ("Isn't It Cool?") and how she handles sexist question from reporters.
Back with her class on the field trip, Naomi has doubts that a young girl like her can change the world. Time takes her to New Orleans in 1960, where she meets Ruby Bridges. Ruby is on her way to her new school, where she will be the first black student. An angry crowd is harassing and threatening her. Ruby is scared and almost wants to give up, but she knows she needs to keep going ("Walk On"). Ruby makes her way to school, no matter what the crowd says to her.
Naomi finally understands she doesn't have to be perfect to make a difference and that her personal best is more than enough ("Perfect/Not Reprise II"). She returns to her field trip and asks Ms. Chan for help with her essay and explains how all the women in the museum have inspired her. Ms. Chan tells Naomi that she clearly doesn't need help with the essay. Naomi takes in all that she has learned as the historical women join her onstage ("Walk On Reprise -Finale").
Synopsis courtesy of Music Theatre International (MTI).
She Persisted characters & vocal ranges
The She Persisted musical has 6 named roles, for a small cast (up to 10). Many roles can be cast across gender. ‘Written as’ reflects how MTI lists each role.
| Character | Written as | Vocal range | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actress 1 | Female | C#5–G3 | Plays Naomi, a 10 year-old student. African American. |
| Actress 4 | Female | D5–F#3 | Plays Harriet Tubman, Florence Griffith Joyner, Male Reporter 2, Astronaut Trainer (offstage). African American |
| Actress 2 | Female | C5–C4 | Plays Ms. Chan, Time. Asian American. |
| Actress 3 | Female | D5–A3 | Plays Juno, Sonia Sotomayor, Museum Guide, Male Reporter 1. Latina |
| Actress 5 | Female | D5–A3 | Plays Dr. Virginia Apgar, Sally Ride, President of Princeton, Sonia's Mother (offstage). Caucasian |
| Actress 6 | Female | A4–G3 | Plays Ruby Bridges, Bailey, Nurse, Race Announcer (offstage). African American. |
She Persisted song list
- Perfect/Not
- They Changed The World
- Perfect/Not (Reprise)
- Another Solution
- That's The Score!
- Hope
- Another Solution (Reprise)
- Run My Race
- Isn't It Cool
- Walk On
- Perfect/Not (Reprise II)
- Walk On Reprise (Finale)
How to get the She Persisted script & Piano/Vocal Score
The printed materials come with your MTI license. The digital version is an add-on that gives your whole cast and crew immediate access. See what that looks like
Who licenses your show?
It’s me
Add Digital Scripts & Piano/Vocal Scores for your whole cast and crew.
See pricing & how to add itIt’s someone else
Send them this page so they can add it when they license She Persisted.
Delivered through ProductionPro, MTI’s exclusive digital delivery partner. Looking for a free She Persisted script PDF? The script comes with your MTI license, so it isn’t available on its own.
What is a digital script?
Your She Persisted script and Piano/Vocal Score, digitally, alongside your printed copies
Immediate access for your whole cast and crew.
Works on any device. Easy for everyone.
Laptops, tablets and phones your cast and crew already have, and simple enough for every cast member to pick up.
“We check that box every time — the script’s there the moment we license.”
And when you’re ready, there’s more included
Give a note once. It’s on everyone’s script, right beside their own notes.
- Shared notesShare notes with the team. Keep private ones to yourself.
- Lines, assigned onceEvery actor finds their own lines and harmonies.
- Rehearse at homeAdd rehearsal tracks and choreography videos, linked to each scene.
Curious how it would work for your show? Hear from directors who’ve used it.
