Teach-Primary-Issue-19.2

How do you like your eggs? Sunny side up? Scrambled? Poached, boiled, coddled, pickled? Or best of all, covered in chocolate? Yes, Easter is just around the corner and that means it is time to start thinking about your spring or leavers production. Eggs-pectations will be high but there is no need to run around like a headless chicken, because we’ve got award-winning Out of the Ark Music to save the day with a tailor-made Easter special. ‘Spring Chicken the Musical’ is all-round hentertainment bursting with crackin’ tunes awash with creative skill, jocularity and musical eggs-cellence for ages 7–11. The action centres on the latest singing sensation Chickalita, her rise to fame and why her plans to start a choir weren’t welcomed by some of her farmyard peers. Singing is banned because a report says it has an adverse effect on egg quality! But Chickilta hatches a plan to escape to the city with the help of a cat so she can carry on doing what she loves most. Her road to stardom isn’t smooth but after a few scrapes on the streets, she gets spotted by a talent agent who books the acts at Caesar’s Palace. If there is one thing those good eggs at Out of the Ark Music do so well then it is to make singing as accessible as possible for primary school children, and this resource is no exception. It contains a wonderful collection of a dozen songs with uber-imaginative lyrics including a 24-carrot Bunn E. Bugs’ ‘Beatbox Rap’, ‘Chickalita’, and ‘What Came First?’. One or two even have a bit of a panto vibe to them! There’s also the Spring Chicken song, a real Easter earworm, along with a Spring Chicken dance and a BSL signing video that you can have a go at signing along to! All the songs on this resource are sung by children with crystal clear voices supported by top quality musical production, which is diamond-like in its clarity and precision. Choreography ideas for dances are also suggested. Out of the Ark’s exceptional song player Words on Screen™ software means you are able to display lyrics on any whiteboard, computer screen or interactive touchscreen. This brilliant feature takes the hassle out of learning songs; just press play and the words synchronise with the music. Words on Screen™ comes with every purchase of an online pack and is supplied in an eSongbook format. If you sign up for their subscription platform called Sparkyard, then you are able to send songs home to your children so they can rehearse and practise at their leisure. But the songs need a script and Spring Chicken has one that will certainly ruffle audience feathers – in a good way! There are a whopping 42 speaking parts and at least 11 essential non- speaking parts with some VIPs (Very Important Poultry). However, the cast size can be reduced, and suggestions are provided as to how you can best manage this along with an editable script so you can make minor changes accordingly. Locations for the action take place in Caesar’s Palace, a barn, a farmyard, the city, Scallywag Alley and the backstreets. This musical is an all-round blast of fun full of comedy moments, so be sure to let your audience know they might need their hen-kerchiefs to wipe away their tears! The witty script will certainly be a crowd- pleaser, but it is the songs and the singing that will steal the show and bring the whole school community together in a spirit of music-making. Don’t chicken out, and try an all-singing, all-dancing show that will really ruffle feathers this Eastertime... AT A GLANCE MUS I C A fun-filled spring musical 11 scenes with speaking and non-speaking parts 10 songs with lyrics, music and musical score Words on Screen song player eSongbook bursting with resources including score PDFs, audio MP3s, lyric sheets, character lists, costume suggestions, and more! Please see outoftheark.co.uk for pricing options. Im-peck-able! Peck-tacular! Egg-ceptional! Wing-derful! Hen-credible! Egg-squisite! Cluck-tastic! Poultry in motion! …you are looking for a special spring production with high production values that is full of fun and great singing. VERD I CT UPGRADE I F . . . REVIEWED BY: JOHN DABELL Spring Chicken theMusical 96 | www.teachwire.net RE V I EWS