C. Michael Perry

A beloved children’s classic now available in a new musical treatment. Sara Crewe is a gifted and well-mannered child, and Captain Crewe, her father, is an extraordinarily wealthy man. So, Miss Minchin, mistress of Sara’s boarding school, has no choice but to treat Sara as her star pupil — a little princess. One day the message comes through that Sara’s father has died penniless in India. Miss Minchin reduces Sara to a beggar and a drudge and the other girls laugh and make fun. All except for Lottie and Ermengarde and the little scullery maid, Becky. They keep Sara going and she enthuses them. Sara is strong-willed and courageous and with the help of an Indian Gentleman, a Lascar and a large family — she survives and helps those around her to survive as well. Burnett is the same author who penned “Little Lord Fauntleroy” and “The Secret Garden;” all three stories are timeless classics with themes that inspire and uplift.

Synopsis of Scenes and Songs
ACT ONE
Scene One — a London Street. It is early morning. [Later inside the Seminary]
#1 — IS THIS THE PLACE? // SARA Sara & Captain
#2 — MISS MINCHIN’S FINISHING SCHOOL Girls
#3 — SARA (reprise) Captain

Scene Two — The Foyer
#4 — BE A CREDIT Minchin, Amelia & Girls

Scene Three — The classroom.
#5 — PARLEZ FRANCAIS DuFarge & Girls

Scene Four — the hall.
#6 — A LITTLE BIT OF CLEVER Sara & Ermengarde

Scene Five — In the Parlor or entry
#7 — MOTHER’S EYES Sara, Lottie, Amelia
#8 — BE A CREDIT (REPRISE) Amelia

Scene Six — The parlor.

Scene Seven — SARA’s room.
#9 — IS THIS THE PLACE PAPA (REPRISE) Sara
#10 — A LITTLE BIT OF CLEVER (REPRISE) Sara

Scene Eight — The Parlor.
#11 — LITTLE PRINCESS Lavinia, Minchin, Amelia, Sara

Scene Nine — Split Scene
#12 — IS THIS THE PLACE // SARA (Reprise) Captain & Sara

Scene Ten — Sara’s Room
#13 — WARM THINGS! Becky & Sara
#14 — FINALE ACT ONE Orchestra

ACT TWO

Scene One — The attic and “in one”
#15 — PRELUDE and IS THIS THE PLACE?/ SARA (reprise) Sara/Captain

Scene Two — the parlor outside the office.
#16 — A LITTLE PRINCESS (Reprise) Girls

Scene Three — the office

Scene Four — the attic
#17 — A LIFE APART / A SEPARATE LIFE Sara & Minchin

Scene Five — the attic
#18— WOULDN’T YOU RATHER BE A SPARROW? Sara
#19 — A LITTLE BIT OF CLEVER (REPRISE) Sara

Scene Six — Home of the INDIAN GENTLEMAN
#20 — THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL Carisford, Carmichael & Sara

Scene Seven —the attic
#21 — UNDERSCORE Orchestra

Scene Eight — the street

Scene Nine — the attic.
#22 — SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS Ram Dass & Secretary
#23 — UNDERSCORE Orchestra

Scene Ten — the kitchen, then attic
#24 — SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS (rep 1) Sara & Becky
#24A — UNDERSCORE Orchestra
#25 — SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS (reprise) Sara & Becky

Scene Eleven — the SCHOOLROOM / Office
#26 — CHERISH Minchin & Amelia

Scene Twelve — Office.

Scene Thirteen
#27 — SOMEONE IS MY FRIEND Sara & Becky

Scene Fourteen —the home of the Indian Gentleman.

Scene Fifteen — the front hall.
#28 — FINALE Company
#29 — CURTAIN CALL

The Shadow Dancers A Musical For the New Millennium by Coni Koepfinger and C. Michael Perry. The show takes place in the year 2112. The Shadow Dancers is the story of three artists. Jonathan, Sharon, and Carl, who each live in three different artistic worlds. Yet, they all share the same pangs of rebirth for the suffocation of their creative endeavors. Jonathan was once a very prosperous painter; the darling of society and the prodigy of the university scene. Carl is a priest, a choral composer, who feels the undying passion of the divine spirit being slowly snuffed out of every human being on the earth. Since most churches have closed, he lives in the memory of celebrating his Catholic faith. He is a gentle man with an unmistakable humility. Sharon, the third leg of this artistic triangle, has given her very heart and soul to the American stage. She gave up her chance at marriage, wealth, and security all for the theatre that has now closed its doors. The world now, is becoming a disease-ridden planet without art, music or theatre. She has, however, remained a faithful wife-to-the-stage, but has become so depressed about it’s recent demise that she is about to commit suicide as she climbs the icy rails of the Brooklyn Bridge. Here, the show opens, and these three meet; a moment brought together by the magic of the stars that not only saves their lives, but the world of art. Join them as a new theatre rises out of the ashes of a very dark time, ushering in the next golden age.

The irrepressible young Pollyanna Whittier meets her dour and formidable Aunt Polly Harrington. Neither of their lives have been easy; one by circumstances, the other by choice. Pollyanna, like most heroines of her era has a personality most do not understand at first, but the girl shares her Glad Game with all, including her Aunt. Then Pollyanna herself is challenged with an accident that will test her unique outlook to her very core. This is the classic story of believing in yourself, finding your place in life, and making the most of it.

• This Work-in-progress has been commissioned by DRAMAFY.com for airing/streaming as a MINI SERIES in multiple episodes in late 2026. It is also available currently as a musical adapted for the stage.

Book and Lyrics by Elizabeth Hansen Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry
London, 1922.
It’s a rainy, miserable, dreary day in London and LOTTY WILKINS, a dowdy woman of about 30, is miserable and dreary in it. Longing for a respite from the rain, Lotty finds refuge in her women’s club where she happens upon an ad in the “Agony Column” of the London Times that reads: "To Those who Appreciate Wisteria and Sunshine. San Salvatore, a small medieval Italian castle on the shores of the Mediterranean to be let furnished for the month of April." Lotty longs to be basking in
wisteria and sunshine and leave her drab life and tedious husband behind, if only for a month.
Lotty befriends ROSE ARBUTHNOT, a rigid, reserved and sad sort of woman also in her 30s, who yearns for a rest from her stifling duties and distant husband as much as Lotty. But they can’t possibly afford the castle by themselves, so they advertise for companions to share the expense.
They find two other ladies: MRS. FISHER a formidable and disapproving woman in her 60s, who can’t possibly be pleased by anything or anyone; and LADY CAROLINE DESTER, a stunner of a woman, lost in the complexities of a changing world and it’s equally changing morés.
The four women agree to rent the castle for a month of blissful privacy. But, instead of bliss, San Salvatore offers stifling heat, suffocating wisteria, and annoying housemates. Except for Lotty, who embraces the beauty and magic immediately, and blooms from the mousey housewife, into a radiant, confident “seer of all things.” Wanting to share this “tub of love” she writes and invites her husband, MELLERSH, an ambitious solicitor, who eventually finds himself charmed, not only by
“this place,” but by his wife.
Meanwhile, Rose is tormented by San Salvatore’s beauty, for it only reminds her of the rift between her and her husband, FREDERICK, a middle-aged writer of dirty books. She yearns for the love she used to have before she distanced herself from him after the loss of their only child. While on a book tour, Fredrick serendipitously arrives at San Salvatore to visit Lady Caroline, not even aware that Rose is at the castle.
Amid the blossoms of fragrant wisteria, the hazy heat and sensuous silence, Lotty innocently and lovingly guides each lady through and past their loveless lives to rediscover their hearts as Rose reunites with the husband she adores; Mrs. Fisher embraces the present, along with the love and kindness it affords, and lets go of her past; and Lady Caroline finds a soulmate who sees her for what she finally admits she is: a spoilt, sour, suspicious and selfish spinster, and loves her despite it.
In just a month, one short Enchanted April, the lives and hearts of four women are transfigured by wisteria...sunshine...and a small medieval castle.

www.anenchantedapril.com

Book by Coni Koepfinger and C. Michael Perry

Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry

The irrepressible young Pollyanna Whittier meets her dour and formidable Aunt Polly Harrington. Neither of their lives have been easy; one by circumstances, the other by choice. Pollyanna, like most heroines of her era has a personality most do not understand at first, but the girl shares her Glad Game with all, including her Aunt. Then Pollyanna herself is challenged with an accident that will test her unique outlook to her very core. This is the classic story of believing in yourself, finding your place in life, and making the most of it.

• This Work-in-progress has been commissioned by DRAMAFY.com for airing/streaming as a MINI SERIES in multiple episodes in late 2026. It is also available currently as a musical adapted for the stage.

Book and Lyrics by Coni Koepfinger

Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry

The Shadow Dancers A Musical For the New Millennium by Coni Koepfinger and C. Michael Perry. The show takes place in the year 2112. The Shadow Dancers is the story of three artists. Jonathan, Sharon, and Carl, who each live in three different artistic worlds. Yet, they all share the same pangs of rebirth for the suffocation of their creative endeavors. Jonathan was once a very prosperous painter; the darling of society and the prodigy of the university scene. Carl is a priest, a choral composer, who feels the undying passion of the divine spirit being slowly snuffed out of every human being on the earth. Since most churches have closed, he lives in the memory of celebrating his Catholic faith. He is a gentle man with an unmistakable humility. Sharon, the third leg of this artistic triangle, has given her very heart and soul to the American stage. She gave up her chance at marriage, wealth, and security all for the theatre that has now closed its doors. The world now, is becoming a disease-ridden planet without art, music or theatre. She has, however, remained a faithful wife-to-the-stage, but has become so depressed about it’s recent demise that she is about to commit suicide as she climbs the icy rails of the Brooklyn Bridge. Here, the show opens, and these three meet; a moment brought together by the magic of the stars that not only saves their lives, but the world of art. Join them as a new theatre rises out of the ashes of a very dark time, ushering in the next golden age.

Book and Lyrics by June-Rachelson Ospa, Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry.
A little wooden girl is made by the Puppeteer, yet she soon longs for all the things that are available to humans -- real people -- it becomes her fondest wish.
This is a work in progress with an anticipated East Coast production by 2025.

More details coming soon, along with the availability of script, score and music demos.

SOFIA! is about the biggest land fraud in United States history and the Latina young woman who is duped by an unscrupulous, albeit charming, rogue.

BOOK and LYRICS by Joanna H. Kraus, MUSIC and LYRICS by C. Michael Perry

INTRIGUE. DUPLICITY. SELFISHNESS. LOVE. STRANGE COINCIDENCES WHEN THEY COMBINE.

James Addison Reeves is always looking for an angle. When he seizes on the idea that a "old" Spanish Land Grant could make him rich, he sets things in motion to make the biggest land-grab in U.S. history -- with the aid of Sofia, a poor Latina Californian ranch cook, whom he dupes into thinking she is the long-lost daughter of Spanish nobles with huge properties in the State of Arizona. He forges, he calculates, he wins her as his Ward, then as his wife. Everything is in line to make them both wealthy. Only two things stands in their way. Her inability to read and write in Spanish or English, and a sharp attorney who is not having any of what Reavis is serving him.

Trolls, Humans, True Love, Slavery, Quests, Magic, all the little things that matter.
BOOK and LYRICS by George and Gayanne King, MUSIC AND LYRICS by C. Michael Perry
The secrets we keep can often lead us into exciting but dangerous paths. Kristen has dreams---of a Prince. One day she meets him, he's not perfect, but not that bad. His little brother disappears. The Prince comes to Kristen in her dreams and she agrees to help him rescue his lost brother. There also appear to be many children missing. We come to find that Prince Anders is suffering under an evil Love Spell from the Troll Queen's daughter: She wants to marry him, but she's a troll; Anders wants to marry Kristen - he thinks, he hopes. It will be a difficult quest. Courage, magic, mystery, trust and an indomitable spirit will be tested along the way. And who knows, the girl just might get the guy after all.

Book by Stephen Tomek

Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry

A twist of the story of Joseph and Mary and the Innkeeper

Jamis, the Innkeeper’s son and his friend, Benjamin, are bored with the sameness of life and fascinated by the local Roman Guard. They are firmly convinced that their future lies with Rome and all it can offer. Strangers appear on their doorstep at taxing time. Joseph and his espoused wife, Mary — heavily pregnant — arrive looking for a room. The inn has none, but they are offered room in the stable. They accept. As miracles occur, the household and others find that there is the most special guest as a baby is born — The Messiah — which not only changes the lives of the adults, but begins to hit home with James and Benjamin, who now see a future they had never imagined.

APOCALYPSO! A Revelation of a Musical • Book and Lyrics by Thom Duncan, Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry
Sounds like NO Bible story you've ever heard before!
23 characters, can be doubled. 20 brand new songs. A group of theatre-folk gather to enact The Book of Revelation as a musical. What they come up with is shocking, sultry, funny, warm, and quite unique. For them it is the chance of a lifetime. They could be discovered! The writer/director/producer is a legend and everyone wants to work with him. As they tell the story of REVELATIONS, they learn more than they want to about this enigmatic man. And they don’t like what they are learning.

Book and Lyrics by Coni Koepfinger

Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry

TINKERTOWN is a place of ideas... For in this imaginary land we meet three very creative characters, Travis Tee – inventor, tinkerer, thinker, and toymaker extraordinaire; and his two assistants, Gadget, the engineering mastermind and Sprocket, the mechanical genius. It seems that Travis has forgotten how to think! How will anything get done? Everything has stopped! Nothing can being made anymore if Travis can’t think! For everyone knows you must be “a thinker if you want to tinker!” Help arrives via a rocket fueled by children’s creative energies and once they arrive... the sheer excitement ignites Travis into “super-thinking!” It rekindles the creative spark that gives him ideas to start tinkering once again. Six 2-3 minute songs will carry the audience beyond the threshold of adventure and into the journey. Visual needs can be kept minimal, focus will be on the organic creative stimuli to encourage audience to think about the process of creation while they are yet emerged in it.

Book Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry
In this adaptation of the sequel to "LITTLE WOMEN," Jo and Professor Baher are set up at Plumfield, with a home and school for boys (and a girl or two). This musical is the story of the arrival of Nat and Dan from Boston. What they add to and how they affect and incite the others of the school becomes the center of the story. This tale of uplifting each other, of second chances, of true human love and compassion will stir the hearts of those watching it and is a tonic for these times of doubt and division.

BOOK and LYRICS by George G. King, MUSIC and LYRICS by C. Michael Perry
On the night of the great blizzard of 1953 a young couple find their way to the Herstoller Hotel, a mountain inn. She is pregnant. Their car has broken down just outside. They are looking for a room. The innkeeper’s wife is leaving; she has had it. As her husband enters they begin to air their personal laundry in front of these young strangers. But a busload of entertainers is on their way, and though the inn is all booked up––the beds aren’t made, yet! The wife leaves. The young couple is turned away. The daughter of the innkeeper, and her boyfriend, arrive. The innkeeper’s wife re-enters with the young couple in tow, and she needs a doctor–– right away. What no one in the play seems to realize is that they are all in the process of coming home.

Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry Book and Lyrics by Elizabeth Hansen Christmas Eve, 1943. The war still rages in Europe and the Pacific, as, outside of Cleveland, Ohio, WCCR, a small radio station, struggles to survive not only the worst blizzard in 100 years, but with the fact that it’s pretty near broke. WCCR, a member of the “Blue Network”, (which has struggled since its separation from NBC) has lost nearly all of its advertising to stations still affiliated with the larger networks.

On top of all of this, station owner DORIS IRVING’S husband has been MIA since July of 1943. All her prayers have gone unanswered and she’s just about given up hope. Then, from out of the blizzard, a handsome stranger, NICK ANGELO, appears, who seems to be an “answer to their prayers.” He can sing, act, dance…there doesn’t seem to be anything he can’t do. But there’s something about this guy. Something Doris can’t put her finger on, something familiar, something…wonderful. And everyone can feel it.
In a last-ditch effort, Doris has arranged for the last possible client that is big enough to dig them out of debt, to listen to the show that night. If he doesn’t come through with a sponsorship, they’re finished.

Book, Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry
This is Dickens’ other Christmas carol. The magic of life is evident in the Peerybingle household with a happy marriage and a newborn son. Two houses are blessed by the lucky Crickets: The Peerybingles, the Plummers with Mr. Tackleton’s awaiting the blessing of life and love.. Everyone’s paths are soon to cross with Tackleton, a disgruntled toymaker, who hates all humanity except May Fielding. He lives to make people miserable -- especially children -- as his toys are gruesome and scary. His employees, Caleb and Bertha, (who is blind) are simple, poor people who slave to make quality toys that the children will play with.
Tackleton berates them, but their toys are purchased over his and that makes him even more bitter. Tackleton’s marriage plans are interrupted by the return of The Strange Gentleman -- a man with a secret. After the work of the Crickets and the household Spirits, Tackleton gives up May to The Strange Gentleman, who is really Caleb’s long lost son (Bertha’s brother) and marries May’s mother -- a woman more suitable to his age. But not before accusations are made and trust is broken all around and everyone is afraid that nothing will turn out on Christmas Eve morning. SONGS include: Gruff and Tackleton, Peerybingle and Son, Cricket on the Hearth, Just To Be Alive, Lots of Toys, You Are My Eyes, Steel Yourself.

Book, Music and Lyrics by Neil K. Newell and C. Michael Perry.
On a wet and dreary day in 1858, Charles Dickens finds shelter from a storm in the home of one Phillip Pirrip. Intrigued by the unusual artifacts that decorate his home he entreats Phillip to tell him the story behind them. The 65 year-old Phillip begins telling the story of his childhood, when he was known as Pip, in what is soon to become Dickens’ newest novel, “GREAT EXPECTATIONS.” Considered one of Dickens’ finest works, “GREAT EXPECTATIONS” is the coming of age story of the orphan Pip who falls in love with the unreachable Estella. In order to win her he desires to raise himself from a blacksmith’s apprentice to a gentleman. When the means to do so miraculously appear, he travels to London, with expectations to become a gentleman. In spite of his new-found wealth and position Estella remains unreachable. When Pip learns that his mysterious benefactor is none other than a common criminal, whom he had aided when he was a child, he realizes that he can no longer accept his support. This signals the end of his financial expectations and a final realization that Estella will forever remain unreachable. Years later, Pip and Estella meet once again. The years of hard experience have softened Estella and brought her to the realization that Pip is her first and only love. The unique construction of the script allows for a fluid staging with Dickens and Phillip wandering through the story — experiencing and living it. The haunting and unforgettable musical score adds rich texture to this classic story of love and loss.

Book by Max Golightly. Lyrics by Max Golightly, Neil Newell and C. Michael Perry. Music by Neil Newell and C. Michael Perry.
A challenging musical that dramatizes the life of Rose O’Neill, one of America’s most beautiful and eccentric artists and the creator of, among other things, the Kewpie Doll. Her strong family support in the midst of almost overwhelming odds is a testament to the worth and viability of the family unit. Through divorce, death and financial disaster Rose and the O’Neill family weathered the storms of life — together. It wasn’t all bad. There was joy and harmony as well as the despair, among their tribulations. Though enormously wealthy during most of their lives, the O’Neills started with nothing but each other. And they ended with nothing but each other. This is a story for all ages and times.

Book, Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry

(Based on the novel by Frances Hodgeson Burnett)

A beloved children’s classic now available in a new musical treatment. Sara Crewe is a gifted and well-mannered child, and Captain Crewe, her father, is an extraordinarily wealthy man. So, Miss Minchin, mistress of Sara’s boarding school, has no choice but to treat Sara as her star pupil — a little princess. One day the message comes through that Sara’s father has died penniless in India. Miss Minchin reduces Sara to a beggar and a drudge and the other girls laugh and make fun. All except for Lottie and Ermengarde and the little scullery maid, Becky. They keep Sara going and she enthuses them. Sara is strong-willed and courageous and with the help of an Indian Gentleman, a Lascar and a large family — she survives and helps those around her to survive as well. Burnett is the same author who penned “Little Lord Fauntleroy” and “The Secret Garden;” all three stories are timeless classics with themes that inspire and uplift.

Book by Gayanne Ramsden Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry
A faithful telling of the classic story of the little girl and her Grandfather on the Alm. The focus of the musical is on how Heidi’s life and ebullient spirit touches and changes each life she comes in contact with as she grows up and learns about God. Peter, Alm Uncle, The Grandmother, Klara Sesseman, Herr Sesseman, Grandmother Sesseman, the Servants — all are changed by their contact with Heidi. Even Miss Rottenmeier and the Professor are touched by her magic, but choose not to change. Heidi does not remain unchanged by her contact with those around her; she soaks up life and learns painful and joyful lessons and goes on. Structured in three acts the show features 15 original songs.

Book by Neil K. Newell.

Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry and Neil K. Newell.

You thought you knew “The Tempest”? Well, get ready for this version. We start before Shakespeare begins. We see Propsero and Miranda arrive. We see Ariel deposit Sycorax and Caliban on the isle. We see Ariel impaled in the ‘oak’ and we see Propsero defeat Sycorax. We then see Sycorax come to life again through the intervention of Caliban and the strangers deposited on the island by Prospero’s tempest. As in the original, goodness prevails but only after valuable lessons have been learned by all. This story now involves the conflict between Sycorax/Caliban and Prospero. It is no longer an epic but a taught, musical drama with a lively and modern score.

Book, Music and Lyrics by C. Michael Perry.
A short adaptation of the popular Bible story where God speaks to Jonah, Jonah speaks back to him but decides not to listen and proceeds to try to hide from God. In a similitude of the Savior, he spends three days in the belly of the whale (or great fish) , likened unto the three days in the tomb. He follows the will of the Lord and is not happy about it until he is allowed to realize that all people, no matter their state of righteousness, have the right to salvation.

Book by Thomas F. Rogers. Lyrics by Thomas F. Rogers and C. Michael Perry. Music by C. Michael Perry.
A 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.

Book Music and Lyrics by James G. Lambert and C. Michael Perry.

A love story, like all operettas, in the style of “New Moon”, “Desert Song” and “Naughty Marietta”. But this one is set in the romantic atmosphere of the California Gold Rush. It spins the tale of the dashing Mexican-American Robin Hood figure of Joaquin Murietta. The Hermanos de Murietta, a band of Vaqueros, have been recovering gold from the corrupt bankers and profiteers and returning it to the rightful owners, the miners. However, as all heroes do, Joaquin falls in love with the lovely Jennifer Wells, the banker villain’s daughter, and the plots interweave as the story winds its way to a happy conclusion, like all operettas.