After several readings and one workshop, Don and I revised our very first musical ‘The Caitlin County Hemp Wars’ to make it easier to perform. That was more than 10 years ago. Since that time, Hemp was made legal in several states but many of the themes seemed more important than ever. By deleting some scenes and reconfiguring others, we decided to make the musical less about Hemp and more about the family dynamic and community. The revised musical is called ‘Caitlin County’ and the revised final song a call for unity in our time.
With this in mind, we offer this musical free to anyone interested in performing as a living room reading or stage performance. Get in touch, and we will email the full script and give permission for use of musical or songs. See below for songs and charts:
ACT I
1. Introduction:
Charts – 01 Caitlin County Introduction
2. Family
Charts – 02 Family
3. Hear the Children
Charts – 03 Kids Know Best
Scene 1b from first reading of Caitlin County – Tom and his two cousins Chris and Toby eat breakfast and share their woes (Video).
4. Want to be
Charts – 04 Want to Be
Shelly shares angst with Miguel and launches into song.
5. Take a Stand
Charts – 05 Take a Stand
Miguel confesses his love to Shelly and proposes marriage.
6. Peace Now
Charts – 06 Peace_Now
Hendricks family vote to grow an Industrial Hemp crop.
7. Compromised Individuals
Charts – 07 Goodbye_Sunshine
After Ray rats on his family to the big farm corporation, executives plot to take their land.
See video for partial scene with Bowler hats (from reading @ Boston Playwright’s Theater).
8. Planting the Seeds
Charts – 08 Planting the Seeds
Last song in first act – The Hendricks family plants a Hemp crop with the help of Shelly’s friends.
First MP3 (below) is ‘roots’ version of part of song. Second MP3 includes a rough version of complete song from our first reading at Boston Playwrights Theater.
ACT II
9. On the Block
Charts – 09 On the Block
Neighboring farmers attend a farm auction.
See video for scene (Workshop @ Zero Arrow Theater, Cambridge).
Listen to MP3 below for complete song –
10. Hangin’ Together
Charts – 10 Hangin’ Together
Hendricks family ask neighboring farmers for help.
Neighboring farmers respond with following song:
11. Diversionary Tactics
Charts – 11 Diversionary_Tactics
Neighboring farmers create a crop circle diversion.
See video from workshop @ Zero Arrow Theater.
12. Men in Black
Charts – 12 Men in Black (The Chase)
See partial video from workshop @ Zero Arrow Theater, Cambridge.
For complete song, listen to MP3 below:
13. Courtroom Cowboy
Charts – 13 Courtroom_Cowboy_C_Major
The Hendricks family have their day in court where lawyers present their respective cases to the judge. Evy, Cora, and Helen sing:
14. One People
Charts –
Shelly and Miguel get married.
With final song, family and community realize the importance of being there for each other. See video for partial scene (and song).
Charts – One People – Revised
The Caitlin County Hemp Wars 