Shiver me timbers! Jeremy Jacobs is a pirate. Joining the crew of Braid Beard’s ship, Jeremy lives the high life at sea: rolling in treasure, singing sea chanteys, and practicing his pirate talk with all his pirate friends. It’s a grand experience, indeed, that is until Jeremy remembers all the things he’s left behind like bedtime stories and tuck-ins. Surely, there must be a way to convince the pirates to take him home!
Musical Theater • Best for ages 4 to adult • 60 minutes
Book, music, and lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman
Based on the book How I Became a Pirate written by Melinda Long and illustrated by David Shannon.
Artistic Credits
Director: Rob Urbinati
Music Director: Leah Arington
Choreographer: Sue Gillespie Booton
Scenic & Lighting Designer: Steven L. Williams
Costume Designer: Callyann Casteel
Props Master: Ronald L. Wells, Jr.
Stage Manager: Dani Taylor
Cast
Jeremy Jacobs: Austin Learned
Braid Beard: Michael Wilhellm
Swill the Pirate: Sue Gillespie Booton
Sharktooth the Pirate: Brian Guehring
Pirate Pierre: Kevin Ehrhart
Max the Pirate: Walter Shatley
How I Became a Pirate is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW), 1359 Broadway, Suite 914, New York, NY, 10018. (886) 378-9758, www.theatricalright.com.
From the Director
I love directing at The Rose. It’s one of the most beautiful theatres in the country. It’s a magical place, and contributes immeasurably to the audiences’ experience when they attend. Recently, I directed Disney’s “High School Musical” and “High School Musical 2” at The Rose, but “How I Became a Pirate” is my first full-fledged “children’s show.” Artistic Director James Larson was insistent with me on one point: “Direct the show exactly as you would for an adult audience.” That policy results in high quality theatre for all audiences, and I am proud of my continuing association with this world-class theatre.
“How I Became a Pirate” is a beautifully written musical – it’s jam-packed with catchy songs, the characters are vivid and alive, and it’s genuinely funny. What is it about pirates that has captured the public imagination? For children, pirates represent a life of abandon - a fantasy world where you can do whatever you want without worrying about parents or teachers. That’s the giddy adventure Jeremy embarks upon in “Pirate.” The cast, the designers, the wildly inventive choreographer Sue Gillespie Booton and I have tried to capture that spirit. But it’s significant that the pirates in the show long for some of the order that Jeremy has at home. Our life, as children or adults, is a pull between responsibility and freedom, and we each find our own balance. That’s the deeper message buried like a treasure in the show. But as performed by a cast of brilliant clowns, “How I Became a Pirate” is pure escapism. Escapism has always been my favorite “ism.” Have fun!
Rob Urbinati
“How I Became a Pirate” Show Director
Rambunctiousness drive this musical, Omaha World-Herald (10/14/11)
“Pirate” musical has look and feel of a Disney movie, Omaha World-Herald (10/15/11)
Going to The Rose Guide
It’s almost time for our next production, How I Became a Pirate. We’ve assembled some special information “just for grown-ups” to help you and your family get ready. Before you go to the show, you might want to take a few moments to review it, so everyone will know what to expect from the performance!
The Characters You Will Meet
• Jeremy Jacobs–a boy of about 10 years who likes soccer and has grown a little bored with his normal routine at home.
• A Whole Bunch of Pirates!–With names like Sharktooth and Braid Beard, you can expect to meet some rather gruff and even scary sailors! But while some younger audience members might find pirates a bit frightening, these pirates also have a funny and even gentle side.
The Story You Will See
Jeremy Jacobs and his family are visiting North Beach when a fussy baby forces Mom and Dad to return to the beach house. Then a ship full of pirates lands on the beach where Jeremy has been digging. They note Jeremy’s excellent shovel skills and recruit him to become a pirate. He soon learns all of their pirate ways and he teaches them about soccer. But the pirate life isn’t all it is cracked-up to be: bedtimes and brushed teeth are frowned upon and the stormy seas offer quite a rough ride! When the pirates need to bury their treasure, Jeremy decides to lead the way–with a map of his own making–to a perfect (and familiar) spot!
Be Aware
Here are few things families might like to know before they go:
• The pirates in the show do discuss pouring ale at a pub.
• Pirates are not known for their “good manners.” In this show, they brag and sing about their bad behavior and discuss unpleasant subjects like bodily functions. You may wish to mention to your children that what’s acceptable for pirates is not necessarily acceptable at home.
• There is a storm that takes place during the story that could frighten some children.
About This Adaptation
This play, like many of the titles we offer in our main stage season, is based on a popular illustrated children’s book–one you and your family may even have in your library at your home. The experience of reading an illustrated book might only take a short while. However, our plays for young audiences typically last from 45 minutes to an hour. As a result, some parts of the story may seem familiar and there may be new additional characters or story elements to help the story be a more engaging & entertaining experience on the stage. It might even be fun to discuss what parts of the play were “just like the book” and what parts were different!
From Story to Stage
• Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman have been working as partners to make musicals for a long time. They work together on all of the music and lyrics and the “book” or story of the musical.
• Their extremely popular musical adaptation How I Became a Pirate, was commissioned by First Stage Theatre in Milwaukee in 2008. It has been rollicking its way across the country on many stages, including Cape Rep, the Des Moines Playhouse, Riverside Theatre, Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, and many more.
• This musical is based on the best-selling book of the same title by Melinda Long, with illustrations by David Shannon. You might want to read the book or even check out other books they’ve written and illustrated.
• This production was directed by Rob Urbinati, who also directed Disney’s High School Musical and High School Musical 2 here at The Rose Theater.
Pre-and Post-Show At The Rose
• Join Our Post-Performance Q&A Session—As always, our actors will follow the performance with a Question & Answer session conducted from the stage. Each Q&A session only lasts about 5-10 minutes and offers a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the scenery, costumes, special effects, and how our actors and artists work together to produce the show. We encourage you to and your family to join us for the fun.
• Meet The Cast & Get an Autograph—Some actors will be available after the show to say hello, answer more questions, and sign their autographs for you. You can meet them on the mezzanine level right outside the entrance to our balcony level seats.
• Take Home a Souvenir—The Rose Guild presents a souvenir stand before and after each performance offering a variety of fun and inexpensive show-related mementos. It’s a great way for your family to remember the fun and excitement of the theatergoing experience.
Before the Show
Below are some things to talk about with your family before the show.
• Why do we have rules? What might happen if we didn’t follow the rules? Are there times when it’s okay not to follow the rules?
• This play is about a boy who gets to become a pirate! What would you do if you got to be a pirate for a day? Where would you go? Who would you meet?
• Jeremy Jacob, the main character of our tale, is just an ordinary boy. But throughout the play, he learns he has special talents. What are you good at? How can you share what you’re good at with others? What do you want to be when you grow up?
After the Show
Below are some things to talk about with your family after the show.
• The boy in the story learned that being a pirate was not as fun as he expected. Have you ever been really excited about something and had it be a letdown?
• Jeremy Jacob taught the pirates how to play soccer by the rules, even though they were used to doing things their own way. Why do we play soccer and other games by the rules? What would happen if we didn’t? Do rules make games more fun?
• The pirates in the play have terrible manners. What would happen if you acted like a pirate all the time? Would anyone want to eat with you if you had no table manners? Why do we say words like please and thank you? Why should we be polite?
• Jeremy Jacob learned the pirate way in the musical, but in the end, he missed his home. What do you like best about your home? How can you show your family how much they mean to you?
