The Drummer Boy: A Musical by Jarred Corona

Full length original musical. Going to school is terrifying. It's war, even, says teenaged angst. Only... is it angst anymore? A school shooting wrecks the halls of America High and forever changes the lives of the teachers and students involved.
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The Drummer Boy: A Musical

Recommended by

  • Rachel Feeny-Williams:
    13 Feb. 2023
    “ The fact that there are so many plays about school shootings is a heartbreaking fact for our society but Jarred has taken this emotionally charged topic and explored it brilliantly. As an audience member you are privileged to a play that offers a multitude of perspectives surrounding this horrific tragedy, something which I feel is always important. You wouldn't normally think school shootings and musicals belong together but Jarred has taken a hard hitting issue and interlaced it with characters you feel for who proceed through this rollar coaster, taking the audience with them. Beautifully constructed! Thank you! ”
  • Nora Louise Syran:
    11 Dec. 2022
    “ Highly original score. Entirely and horrifyingly still topical. For me, the line: "There were screams and gunshots. I swear they started harmonizing" captures the raw, lyrical, smart and fresh, layered play that it is. Bravo Jarred Corona. ”
  • Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend:
    1 Jun. 2022
    “ Perennially topical, this musical about a school shooting should be performed everywhere. Jumping around in time, we relive the shooting and aftermath multiple times, through the eyes of students, teachers, parents, and shooters (who aren't given names, which I love). The whole thing is heartbreaking. I especially liked the play on 'false flag.' I was trying to decide which song was the biggest gut punch, but the line that hit me hardest ended up not being in a song at all: "Is someone going to save us?" Flood the theaters with this play, and maybe one day someone will. ”
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Character Information

The following doubling is recommended, though not required. Individual actors may plays the other roles, as can ensemble members.

The actor who plays Ian also plays the Preacher.
The actor who plays Javier also plays Jesus.
The actor who plays The Monster also plays the Police Officer.
The actor who plays Frankenstein also plays Jace Withers.
The actor who plays Mrs. Perkins also plays Cameron Whitehouse, Mr. Ibarra, and Damian Jones.
The actor who plays Mrs. Tisdale also plays V.L. Brzezinski and Isidora.
The actor who plays Principal Stoneman also plays the Reporter and Mrs. Ibarra.

  • Ian
    High schooler
    The titular drummer boy.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Vincent
    High schooler
    The stereotypical jock bully who's secretly a bit of a softie goody good.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Janelle
    High schooler
    A student organizer and documentarian. Marla's girlfriend.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any actor of color
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Marla
    High schooler
    Janelle's girlfriend with what may be described as a drug problem.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Javier Ibarra
    High schooler,
    Latino
    Ian's boyfriend, a Catholic soccer player with a stutter.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Mr. Ibarra
    Javier's father. A jokester.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Mrs. Ibarra
    Javier's mother. The fussy sort.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Isidora
    Javier's grandmother. The kindly matriarch.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • The Monster
    High schooler
    One of the two shooters. Entitled, delusional. Absolutely must be a white male.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Frankenstein
    One of two school shooters. The dominant partner. Manipulative. Must be a white male.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Mrs. Tisdale
    A high school teacher/drill sergeant.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Mrs. Perkins
    A high school teacher/drill sergeant. A veteran.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Principal Stoneman
    An administrator. Bit of a dick, but because she feels she must be.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Reporter
    A Rachel Maddow type.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Cameron Whitehouse
    A liberal political correspondent.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Damian Jones
    A psychiatrist and drug dealer.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • V.L. Brzezinski
    A conservative political correspondent.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Jace Withers
    An Alex Jones type
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Officer
    A police officer. Bit of a dick.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Preacher
    A preacher at a funeral.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Ensemble
    They play all other roles in the script, but mostly other students.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender