FIRST LISTEN: Press Start Opening Number

Click below to listen to and read-through an early release of the opening number of PRESS START, a new 45-minute musical for young actors!

PRESS START will be available for ePerusal and pre-order on November 2nd, 2015. The Production Kit will be available on December 15th, 2015.

DISCLAIMER: It is again Federal copyright law to print, photocopy, or perform this material without a valid license from Beat by Beat Press.

SCENE 1: Opening Number

(We are inside the world of video games. The set is decorated in a bright, pixelated style that is reminiscent of 1990’s video game worlds including Super Mario Bros, Zelda, Sonic the Hedgehog, etc. The background features a few warp pipes, green hills, puffy clouds, rows of floating bricks. To stage left is the “Ringometer”, a tall skinny column that resembles the flagpole at the end of Super Mario Bros. At the top of the pole is the number 5000. There is a flag that can be adjusted up and down the pole. Everything looks pixelated, made up of tiny colored squares.)

(The music begins and the HEROES take the stage.)

HEROES
Press start
And we begin our journey
Press start
It’s time to save the day
Press start
Can’t let the villains get in our way

Press start
That synthy soundtrack guides us
Press start
We gotta grab those rings
Press start
Can’t wait to see what the next level brings

Cause when we’re in play
Everything is alright
All of our worries are gone
So here we are asking you
Help us tonight
C’mon and help us play on

(The two hosts for the evening, YOUNG ADVENTURER and PRINCESS POMEGRANATE, step downstage and address the audience.)

YOUNG ADVENTURER
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to “Press Start”, a musical fundraiser where YOU can help your favorite video game characters gain more lives and play on. I’m your host, Young Adventurer With A Green Hat and Boomerang.

PRINCESS POMEGRANATE
And I’m Princess Pomegranate!

YOUNG ADVENTURER
(apologizing to the audience)
Sorry folks, Princess Peach was tied up this evening.

PRINCESS POMEGRANATE
Ahem! All these heroes are out of rings and out of lives. But with your help tonight we can raise enough gold rings to allow us all to play on!

YOUNG ADVENTURER
You met the heroes, now let’s meet their helpers…

YOUNG ADVENTURER & PRINCESS POMEGRANATE
Ladies and Gentlemen, the sidekicks!

(The HEROES fade to the back as the SIDEKICKS take the stage.)

SIDEKICKS
Press start
It’s time to help the heroes
Press start
We give our best advice
Press start
‘Cause no one likes to repeat levels twice

HEROES & SIDEKICKS
Press start
That ticking time-clock drives us
Press start
The power-up kicks in
Press start
There’s only one objective, to win!

Cause when we’re in play
Everything is alright
All of our worries are gone
So here we are asking you
Help us tonight
C’mon and help us play on

(The music suddenly shifts as the VILLAINS enter.)

PRINCESS POMEGRANATE
Oh no…the villains!

(There’s tension for a moment, a standoff between the HEROES and VILLAINS. And then…)

SPIKEY TURTLE
Great to see you!

(SPIKEY TURTLE and MARCO THE PLUMBER embrace in a big hug.)

MARCO THE PLUMBER
(speaks in an Italian accent)
Long time-a no see Spikey T! How’re the kids-a?

SPIKEY TURTLE
Growing up so fast. Mrs. T has another litter on the way!

MARCO
No-a kidding!

(All the HEROES and VILLAINS shake hands or hug as it becomes clear they’re all friendly with each other.)

HEROES, SIDEKICKS & VILLAINS
And now we’re all together
To help this noble cause
The only thing we ask you
Is please don’t press pause

(They all freeze in place for a moment…then break out of it laughing and smiling.)
PRINCESS POMEGRANATE
Time to introduce these iconic characters you see on stage tonight, starting with…the heroes!

(Throughout the following section, as each name is called that character takes center stage and strikes a pose.)

ALL
Marco the Plumber!
Speedy the Hedgehog!
Karate Guy!
MegaKid!
[JOHN ELWAY!] (Local famous athlete)
and Young Adventurer!

YOUNG ADVENTURER
(soaking in the attention a little too much)
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

PRINCESS POMEGRANATE
(interrupting his moment)
Ahem!

YOUNG ADVENTURER
(snapping out of it)
And now, the villains!

ALL
Spikey Turtle!
Mad Scientist!
Evil Robot!
Slimy Alien!
Generic Ghost
And Zombie!

LORENZO THE BROTHER
(speaks in an Italian accent)
What-a about the sidekicks?!

PRINCESS POMEGRANATE
(ignoring Lorenzo)
Plus, tonight we have a special lifetime achievement award for Pac Anne!

(PAC ANNE enters. She has a cane and grey hair, clearly older than the others.)

PAC ANNE
It’s LADY Pac Anne!

YOUNG ADVENTURER
And now for the most important part. According to the ancient, sacred Konami Code, if we don’t earn enough gold rings by the end of this show – all the characters you see here will be stuck out-of-play – forever!

(ALL CHARACTERS gasp!)

PRINCESS POMEGRANATE
So sit back, relax, and remember – our fate lies in your hands.

ALL
Press start
And we begin our journey
Press start
It’s time to save the day
Press start
We need your help to continue to play

Cause when we’re in play
Everything is alright
All of our worries are gone
So here we are asking you
Help us tonight
C’mon and help us
You’ve gotta help us
C’mon and help us
Play on!

—-

Leave a comment below and let us know what you think!

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PRESS START is a new 45-minute musical for young actors that takes place entirely in the world of video games. It’s the story of what happens when the iconic video game characters we know and love run out of lives. Desperate, they plan a musical fundraiser that will help them raise enough gold rings to be able to play on! As the fundraiser progresses, the characters open up about all the silly and challenging aspects of living a pixelated life, while the quiet sidekick Little Mushroom discovers the “hero” inside of her.

Book by Denver Casado & Brian Dawson
Music and Lyrics by Denver Casado

VOCALISTS:
Jennifer Apple
Sarah Armstrong
Katie Motter
Alaina Smith
Ricky Watters

3 thoughts on “FIRST LISTEN: Press Start Opening Number

  1. Darellee Naccarato says:

    Love this opening song! Can’t wait to hear the other songs. Our kids loved The Grunch. Maybe this could be our presentation for the upcoming year!

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