NUTCRACKER AND MOUSE KING | Stephen Keeling

ETA Hoffmann's

Nutcracker and Mouse King

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

A Family Christmas Musical

Book by John Havu

Lyrics by Shaun McKenna

Music by Stephen Keeling and Tchaikovsky

Languages:

German

German Dialogues by Micha Huff

German lyrics by Nina Müller

English

In current development

Possible first production: Christmas 2027

Synopsis: Almost everyone knows Tchaikovsky's famous ballet, but only a few know the actual story on which it is based, written by ETA Hoffmann. The musical ETA Hoffmann's Nutcracker and Mouse King presents Hoffmann's story about Marie, the Nutcracker and the evil Mouse King in a debauched and delightful way, combining parts of Tchaikovsky's wonderful music with new songs created by West End team Shaun McKenna (The Lord of the Rings, The Return of Peter Pan, Heidi Trilogy, Maddie et al.) and Stephen Keeling (The Return of Peter Pan, Heidi - Trilogy, Maddie et al.). The book by John Havu (Fack ju Göhte, The Return of Peter Pan, Heidi – Trilogy, Ella, etc.) tells a story about growing up, the power of friendship and the fact that you should never give in to bullies. With a length of about 100 minutes, the musical is suitable for all age groups from 6 to 106. It is set in Nuremberg in the 19th century at Christmas time. The strange Uncle Drosselmeier gives his young goddaughter Marie a nutcracker - but the gift holds a secret and an adventure. What happens on stage will delight both young and old with magical scenes, fantastic music and a story full of humor and inspiration.

Target audience: families, children, teenagers, adults

Length: around 1 hour, 45 minutes plus intermission

Main public: Families, children, tennagers, adults

Length: approx. 1 hour, 45 minutes plus intermission

Cast / Cast:

5 Ladies
6 Men
1 Seven-member Mouse King
Ensemble / Choir with Roles
Dancers
Large Puppets (Optional)
Children (Optional)
Note: several roles include doubling of additional roles. These extra roles may be performed with additional performers.

Orchestra / Orchestra:
Large Orchestra
Small orchestra
Note: The orchestra can be reduced or expanded on request.

Theaters or producers who are interested in learning more, or who would like to become involved in the development of this project, please contact John Havu below.

Copyright for Nutcracker and Mouse King: Havu, Mckenna, Keeling

Representation for Nutcracker and Mouse King by Havu, McKenna, Keeling:

John Havu

office@johnhavu.de

Listen to six of Stephen's demos from Nutcracker and Mouse King sung by him in the SoundCloud Player below:

TRACKS
1. OVERTURE (Tchaikovsky) Excerpt
2. CHRISTMAS IS - opening number (McKenna/Keeling) Composer demo sung by Keeling (sung by Ensemble in the show without Drosselmeier)
3. MARCH (Tchaikovsky) Excerpt
4. TELL US A STORY (McKenna/Keeling) Composer demo sung by Keeling (sung by Luise, Fritz and Marie in the show)
5. WHO'S TAKEN MY BACON? Part 1 (McKenna/Keeling) Composer demo sung by Keeling (sung by King, Mauserink, Cook and Servants in the show)
6. I'M HERE FOR YOU (Music: Tchaikovsky/Keeling Lyrics: McKenna) Composer demo sung by Keeling (sung by Nutcracker and Marie in the show)

Below are the lyrics to CHRISTMAS IS..(the opening number) and WHO'S TAKEN MY BACON? which you can hear in the respective SoundCloud players sung by Stephen on his demo recordings. More demos are available on a private Sound Cloud channel.

CHRISTMAS IS...(by McKenna/Keeling)

CHRISTMAS IS...

FAMILY STAHLBAUM, SERVANTS

The doors open or fly away along with the wall revealing a grand room decorated for Christmas with a large Christmas tree adorned with numerous small candles. Against one wall is an enormous grandfather clock adorned with an owl at the top. The CHILDREN (Marie, Fritz, Luise) rush in, joining FRAU and HERR STAHLBAUM, their GRANDPARENTS and several SERVANTS.

ALL: OH, LOOK AT ALL THE GARLANDS

AND THE FLICKERING LIGHTS

ADULTS: EVERYONE’S WORKED VERY HARD

CHILDREN: (IT’S SO PRETTY)

ALL: THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR AND

MOST BLESSED OF NIGHTS

ADULTS: EVERYONE’S WRITTEN A CARD

CHILDREN: (IT’S SO PRETTY)

ALL: ANY MINUTE NOW THEY WILL OPEN THE DOORS

ADULTS: IT WON’T BE LONG NOW UNTIL THOSE PRESENTS ARE YOURS.

CHILDREN: CHRISTMAS IS GINGERBREAD

CHRISTMAS IS GIFTS

ADULTS: CHRISTMAS IS FAMILY,

NO MATTER THE RIFTS

FRITZ : CHRISTMAS IS SKATING ON

ICE-COVERED LAKES

MARIE: THEN HOME FOR LEMONADE

STOLLEN AND CAKES.

ALL: CHRISTMAS IS TURKEY OR

MAYBE A GOOSE

SERVED WITH POTATOES YOU’VE

COOKED IN THE JUICE.

THEN COMES PLUM PUDDING

FRITZ: WITH BUTTERSCOTCH CREAM

ALL: TAKE A BIG SPOONFUL, IT

TASTES LIKE A DREAM

CHILDREN: THE SNOWFLAKES ON THE WINDOW

AND THE FIRE IN THE HEARTH

COSY AS COSY CAN BE

MARIE: (OH SO PRETTY)

G’FATHER: ALL THIS LOVE AND LAUGHTER

FEELS WARM AS A BATH

THIS FILLS MY OLD HEART WITH GLEE

ALL: (IT’S SO PRETTY)

IF YOU’RE NOT A CHILD YOU BECOME ONE AGAIN

MAGIC’S GOING TO HAPPEN – THE QUESTION IS WHEN?

ALL: CHRISTMAS IS PACKAGES

UNDER THE TREE

MARIE: DECKED OUT WITH RIBBONS

FRITZ: THE BIG ONE’S FOR ME

MARIE: I FEEL A FLUTTERING

HERE IN MY CHEST.

SO MANY PRESENTS, FRITZ.

FRITZ: MINE WILL BE BEST.

ADULTS: CHRISTMAS IS MEANINGFUL

CHILDREN: CHRISTMAS IS FUN.

ADULTS: VERY WELL ORGANISED.

FRITZ: I WANT A GUN.

MARIE: GIVE ME A DOLL WHO HAS

LONG GOLDEN HAIR.

FRITZ : GREAT! I CAN SHOOT HER.

MARIE: FRITZ! THAT ISN’T FAIR.

ALL: IT’S A MAGICAL DAY

ADULTS: WATCHING GRANDCHILDREN PLAY

ALL: WITH THE SLEIGHBELLS ALL MERRILY JINGLING

ADULTS: HAVE THE REINDEER BEEN SEEN?

CHILDREN: HAS ST NICHOLAS BEEN?

ALL: EVERY NERVE IN MY BODY IS TINGLING

ALL: CHRISTMAS IS MARZIPAN

RAISINS AND FIGS

FRITZ: EAT TILL YOUR BELLY BURSTS

MARIE: BOYS ARE SUCH PIGS.

G’FATHER: HAVE A BANANA, THEY’RE

GOOD FOR YOUR GUTS

ALL: PECANS, PISTACHIOS,

ALMONDS AND HAZELS

BRAZILS, MACADAMIAS

CHRISTMAS IS

NUTS

WHO'S TAKEN MY BACON? (by Mckenna/Keeling)

WHO'S TAKEN MY BACON?

DROSSELMEIER, CHILDREN, KING, MAUSERINK

DROßELMEIER: Beneath the royal palace lay

The Kingdom of the Mice.

The two worlds lived in harmony

And everyone was nice.

The King adored his daughter and

His plump and pretty wife

While down below Frau Mauserink

Ruled without pain or strife.

Until one day…

KINDER (children): Until one day?

DROßELMEIER: The King came down for breakfast and

His bacon dish lay there.

But Mauserink had happened by and

Look! The plate was bare.

The bacon looked so pink and sweet

The Frau could not resist.

She gobbled down the meaty treat

And it was sorely missed.

The King cried, “No!!!”

KINDER: The King cried “No???”

(The QUEEN, a CHEF, and MEMBERS OF THE COURT enter.)

KÖNIG (King): My bacon’s been taken. Who’s taken my bacon?

My soldiers, awaken!

The palace must be shaken

From top to bottom till you find

The culprit who’s been so unkind

They ate my breakfast, stole my food.

It’s not just wrong – it’s very rude!

It’s the worst of crimes

At the worst of times

Because my bacon’s been taken.

(GUARDS appear with MAUSERINK and MICE.)

DROßELMEIER: The guards searched high,

the guards searched low.

The evidence was clear

That Mauserink was guilty but

She showed no sign of fear.

She wouldn’t bow or show regret.

“Say sorry,” came his shout.

“I won’t,” she said. And then the King

Said, “Throw the Mouse Queen out.”

And so they did.

KINDER: And so they did??

KÖNIG: My bacon’s been taken.

MAUSERINK: I’ve taken your bacon.

KÖNIG: My breakfast’s been eaten

Your monsters will be beaten.

I’ll drive you out, I’ll burn your nests,

So if you’ve any last requests

Don’t even bother, you’ll be toast!

Your greedy Queen’s to blame the most.

You’ll plead in vain

And die in pain

Because my bacon was taken.