Week 7

ASSIGNMENT: Write a solo number in which a character struggles with making a decision, but reaches some sort of conclusion by the end of the song. The character can even decide “not to decide,” but all avenues must be explored to get to this decision. Be sure your music and lyrics emerge from the character and really give the audience a clearer picture of who the character is.

Me and the Sky Written and composed by Leah Houston and Carolina Barry

He handed me a letter signed
Just waiting for my heart to bind
A solid trail
A foreseen end
Will we prevail
Once chained in jail
Why to pretend?

I saw in tunnels a sight of bliss
How could I ever come to this?
Since he gave me that first kiss
I began drowning in the abyss.

But I want to be free
Don’t I?
I want it to be me
And the sky.
I want to fly away
Don’t I?
If tied down I shall stay
I may die.

Then reason, once more, comes at dawn
What will I eat when “stars” are gone?
Who will be there to hold my hand
And walk me through this rutted land?
Just let the ring
Cut off your wing
Forget you’ve ever had a dream
And realize its time to fit the scheme

But I want to be free
Don’t I?
I want it to be me
And the sky.
I want to fly away
Don’t I?
If tied down I shall stay
I may die.

Must I listen and submit,
And eternally commit?
Four walls around me start to form
Inside my chest there brews a storm
I can’t let “love” get on my way
And paint my life in shades of grey
I feel for him and should obey
Whatever all the others say…
But there’s still so much to see
I’m not done with me it’s not time for we
I don’t care what’s right
I’ll be gone before daylight.

Cause I want to be free
I just
want it to be me
And the sky.
I want to fly away
I know
At the dusk of the day
I’m my own ally.

To Build a Den Written and composed by Alex Yuly and Sam Rosenfeld

One cold morning, you showed up at my door
I haven’t seen your grizzled face in seven months or more
You said “come with me, we’ll be like kids again
We’ll make a home inside our very own bear den”

How dare you just show up, assume that this could work
I know you’re crazy, but this time you’re just a jerk
You need help, but you won’t find it here
I know your games, and I’ll barely shed a tear
I’ll barely shed a tear

But your face brings back memories from the past
You held me tight, protected me – I thought that it would last
Living with the grizzlies – you’ve pulled out all the stops
Now you barge into my house – I should call the cops

Then again, I’ve never seen a bear
Tell me, Timothy, can you take me there?
I’ll pet the bear cubs, and their mothers too
We’d live off salmon in our own private zoo
Our own private zoo

(solo break)

Timothy, once I flee’d you
But now I know I need you
Now I see the bears have freed you
I didn’t think that they could feed you
Now I see that they can read you
With bears our love exceeds the human race

This cold morning, you show up at my door
Now I’ll see your grizzled face forevermore
So you’ll come with me, we’ll be like kids again
We’ll make a home inside our very own bear den
And we won’t leave again

Upstairs Written and composed by Lance Jabr, Sam Yambrovitch, and Phoebe Nir

Sister:

Dad has a cough and his vision is weak and his reflexes aren’t adept.
Dad’s getting old and so Dad had a fall and that’s something you have to accept.
Dad is incapable of taking council; Dad always thinks he knows best.
But he needs to realize it’s time to go someplace to rest.

Brother:

How nice to see you, it’s been quite a while, glad to know you haven’t died.
Tea’s on the table, though you might want coffee. I hope that you had a nice ride.
Who knew that you’d be so full of opinions, that you’d be so willing to serve?
Tell me, Sister, where do you get the nerve?

Sister:

I know that you think Dad is a hero, he would serve your every whim.
You always spoke of repayment. Now you must do this for him.

Brother:

Lock Dad in a house full of corpses, like he’s dead before his time?
I’d call that doing a crime.

Music stops.

Sister (spoken):

Dad’s being stubborn and you aren’t helping him. You have to tell him he’s being foolish.

Brother (spoken).
Tell him yourself. He’s upstairs.

Music resumes.

Sister:
I’ll make you a deal. I’ll stay for a while, help him get back on his feet.

Brother:
You should know he’s been asking for you. He’ll think that your coming is sweet.
I’m sure you’ll realize that everything’s fine, it isn’t much more than a scare.

Sister:
But listen to me. If there’s one little accident, one tiny mishap, one minor catastrophe, Dad’s leaving for extra care.

Vampire Song Written and composed by Devin Finzer and Matt McNamara