In alphabetical order
THE ANOINTED
Book and Lyrics by Thomas F. Rogers
Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry
An epic musical spanning and contrasting the years from Saul’s Kingship, when David slew Goliath, through to Solomon’s building of the temple in Jerusalem. A gripping musical drama. The song demoed below is the opening song, NOW IS THE DAY! (piano only with vocal line played by an instrument)
GET DETAILS FROM ZT: HERE
Song 1 segues directly into song 2 — (1 is orchestrated and 2 is not)
THE BALLAD OF PARLEY P! A Musical
The Life and Times of Parley P. Pratt
Book and Lyrics by Thom Duncan
Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry
Additional Lyrics based on the poetry of Parley P. Pratt
A traveling company of actors in the late 1800s has been traveling the state of Utah from Ogden to St. George. Along the way they heard the story of an amazing man who traveled the world as a Missionary, wrote over 50 hymns, and wrote the very first missionary tract. After conversion, all his adventures, missions, imprisonments, escapes, 12 wives and being a witness to the Guards at Richmond Jail suffering the rebuke by the Prophet Joseph, Parley P. Pratt dies as a martyr to the cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, bearing his testimony, as he lay dying, to the man who killed him. This company of actors tells the audience this story, and learn a little in the process about themselves and their craft. This is a funny, sobering, powerful tribute to a great Saint and an undying testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is now ready for its first production!
The song demoed below is WHY CAN’T WE CALL IT LOVE? (a synth demo of the song with the melody being played)
© 2017 by Thom Duncan & C. Michael Perry
More Information on Licensing at ZT: HERE
IMPRESSIONS ON PLATES OF GOLD: A Book of Mormon Musical Experience
Book and Lyrics by Eric Samuelsen
Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry
The power and purpose of the Book of Mormon come to the forefront in this unique celebration of its message, interpreted by “likening the Scriptures” for modern audiences. We become part of some of the greatest stories and moments in the Book of Mormon. We come to understand both our Earthly Purpose and our Divine Nature and how they work together, through our personal involvement. Mormon, Moroni, Nephi, Captain Moroni, Amulek, Lamoni’s Wife, The Stripling Warriors and their Mothers and many more provide us with examples of Faith — it is not perfect, not without momentary doubt — but that Faith is perfect-ing and able to empower each Human soul, impelling them towards their God and Creator.
SAMPLE SONG — made from the FINALE file without vocals, but the melody line is played. I SING A SONG OF PEACE
LYRICS — I SING A SONG OF PEACE (© 2020 by C Michael Perry & Eric Samuelsen)
LAMANITE WOMAN:
I grind the flour, I bake my bread, The jar of maize is overflowing!
My children play; they’re laughing, fed. They kick up dust clouds, never knowing
Tomorrow they will play again.
No need to wonder when
Or if they will eat. will this be the day
They see the soldiers… and run away?
I sing a song of peace.
Of how it feels when hate is gone
A song about the sweet release
From enmity, from fear. A song
… of peace.
(MUSIC Underscores dialog, FLUTE plays melody)
LAMANITE WOMAN:
I beat the blankets — scraping off the mud, no longer caked with blood!
While packing up the battle kit I’ve prayed the end of it be sudden!
The warrior who owns my heart May not be seen again.
I hope for a world Where war’s not an art,
And never visit’s my sweet, young men.
(MUSIC Underscores dialog, STRINGS play melody.)
LAMANITE WOMAN:
I sing a song of peace.
Of how it feels when hate is gone
A song about the sweet release
From enmity, from fear. A song
… of peace.
GET DETAILS FROM ZT: HERE
JEDEDIAH!
Book, Music and Lyrics by James G. Lambert and C. Michael Perry
A musical drama, biographical in nature, yet full of life, romance, beautiful music, energetic dances, with problems and solutions unique to Latter-day-Saint culture of the period between 1830 and 1848. It is the story of Jedediah Grant as told by his namesake, Jedediah Smith. This story is basically true and generally historically accurate, certain events have been telescoped in the interest of dramatic license. The characters of Salina Wells, the Westbridges, William Blodgett and the Weems’ are composites of several people of the era. All the other characters herein were real people and the events portrayed actually happened. Some license was taken with ages and characterizations in the interest of contrast and humor, however, the authors intend no disrespect to the individuals or their posterity and regard them and their lives with great awe and respect. Their accomplishments, their strength of character and their perseverance in the face of uncommon trials, depredations and hardships has few equals in the history of man. Thus, to their memory, this play is respectfully dedicated by the authors. This show is a sure winner. Audiences laughed and cried to distraction when it premiered in it’s hour-long version in Provo, Utah at Jedediah’s Chuckwagon and Show during the summer of 1982. The Opening song of JEDEDIAH! is demoed in part below (this is an early AUTHOR demo from a backer’s audition)
AVAILABLE IN 1 hour and 2 hour versions
GET DETAILS FROM LBT: HERE
LET THERE BE LOVE —
Book and Lyrics by Thom Duncan
Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry
This musical chronicles the love story of Joseph Smith and his wife, Emma Hale Smith. Set against the backdrop of hatred and persecution, in an America that was supposed to have freedom of choice as far as religion was concerned, Joseph and Emma struggle, along with the other Saints, to establish a foothold, both personally and publicly, in love and in Faith. The face opposition from without, but the worst of their oppressors are within the Church. The song demoed below is KINGDOM OF THE SUN.
More Information on Licensing at ZT: HERE
© 2017 by Thom Duncan & C. Michael Perry
LIBERTY JAIL
Book and Lyrics by Orson Scott Card
Music by C. Michael Perry
At the end of the persecutions of the Mormons in Missouri, Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon and three others were imprisoned in a jail at Liberty, Missouri. The conflicts that arose there and the friendships that were formed shaped the future history of the Mormon Church — and also brought to Latter-day Saint Scripture the beautiful and poetic Section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants. This musical drama will have your audience totally involved with beautiful music, a deeply moving story and a variety of characters.
The song demoed below is the Act One Finale: GOD IS NEAR and SEXTET (where the solos from each major character in actors one are sung together in a six-melody song)
More Information on Licensing at ZT: HERE
A TEENAGE WITNESS TO THE MARTYRDOM
A play with music by C. Michael Perry
Jason Chamberlin is a 14 year old boy who is struggling to forget the recent death of his father by mob action against the Saints of Missouri. He and his Mother, sisters and brother now live in Nauvoo where the hatred of the Mormons is again beginning to rear it’s ugly head. He is also struggling with his testimony and his basic belief in God. Through the help of his family and Joseph Smith he sees that he isn’t the only one who is suffering. He has always worshiped Joseph almost like he worshiped his father. His father and Joseph were friends. Soon, he finds himself present as the mob massacres Joseph and Hyrum Smith at Carthage Jail. And out of this great tragedy, Jason again finds and strengthens his testimony.
I WAS THERE is the song demoed below. It is sung by Joshua at the end of the show.
More Information on Licensing at ZT: HERE
WHERE FREEDOM STANDS
Book by James G. Lambert
Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry & James G. Lambert
This is the epic story of the people of Utah and the Heritage they share. Two families serve to represent the families of the State. The Clarke family members are Mormon converts who brought civilization West with them as they were driven from place to place. The Lee Family, who are non-Mormons, brought with them in their move West the industrial revolution — and in the process — prosperity as well. Though both families settled in Utah County, each family plays an important part in everyone’s heritage. Originally conceived for “America’s Freedom Festival at Provo” the theme is universal and the characters can be empathized with by all people everywhere.
THE LONG WARS is the song demoed below. It has a lyric by Robert G. Peck Jr, one of my first collaborators.
More Information on Licensing at ZT: HERE
WISDOM TREE
A musical by Max C. Golightly & Yutonna Kerbs
With new songs by C. Michael Perry
A beautiful pioneer show with a cast of Native Americans and Caucasian Americans
A gentle and at the same time dynamic story of White Settlers contracted by the US Government to settle near a Ute Indian Reservation in Southern Utah in 1852. As the two groups learn to work and live together there are trials and almost even disaster. But the young people of the two cultures find a way to bring about peace in what could have been a troubled world. The wisdom in the story comes from the Native American tradition of the wise old tree, and supplication to the spirit of that tree, as well as to the Great Spirit, to solve problems.
The PERUSAL PAGES file is in PDF format and contains the first half of this musical: WisdomTreePERUSAL No performance rights are granted to anyone with the possession of a Perusal Pages Document, nor are you obligated to a performance run by the possession of the document.
There are no song demos for this show, but the title song WISDOM TREE, is a hauntingly beautiful ballad, written by Yutonna Kerbs and Max C. Golightly, and sung by a Native American Princess.
More Information on Licensing at ZT: HERE