SYNOPSIS
THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR
A family musical in two acts
Based on the Brothers Grimm story, The Brave Little Tailor
Book and Lyrics by Laura Toffenetti
Music by Jan Jungden
Tim, who is THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR, designs and sews a beautiful sash which
catapults him into the clutches of a con artist, a beautiful princess, seven nasty giants and
the adventure of a lifetime.
Tim the tailor creates beautiful clothes with needles and thread. Sadly, he is a terrible
business man. He and his sister, Tess, are about to lose their shop on Heaths Head Row.
One night Tim amazes himself by killing seven flies in one blow. This extraordinary feat
inspires him to make a sash which has Seven in one blow emblazoned on the front and
seven beautifully stitched dragons on the back. A con artist named Boss admires the sash
and promises to introduce the tailor to the King as a designer fit for royalty. Boss,
however, knows that the King isn’t looking for a maker of beautiful gowns. The King is
actually looking for a giant killer because seven giants have invaded the kingdom. Boss,
hoping for a finder’s fee, presents Tim as a knight of great renown. Of course Tim falls in
love with the Princess and has to discover a way to end the giants’ reign in order to win
her hand in marriage.
This is a show that has something for everyone: two love stories, two con artists, seven
singing flies, seven rutabaga eating giants (giant giant puppets!), a princess, a king, a
family reunion, some fancy hats, 23 songs, a lot of shtick, two acts and a happy ending!
The show is designed to be done by a minimum of 18 with the capacity to expand.
LAURA TOFFENETTI
5 Ash Drive, Oakwood Hills, IL 60013
860-942-7443 (cell) 773-681-0854 (home)
toffenet@hotmail.com
PUBLISHED/PRODUCED PLAYS
GOING TO SEE THE ELEPHANT, Dramatists Playservice, 1987
LART Production, Delacey Street Theater
Winner of International PEN Award, Playwriting
Best Bets LA TIMES 1982
Nominated for Drama Critics Circle Award, Playwriting
Winner Dramalogue, Playwriting
WITHOUT A PARACHUTE, Adult dramady in two acts, unpublished
Workshopped by Pasta Fazool Players
TEENAGE NIGHTMARE, comedy one act, Heuer Publishers
Extensive HS, Middle school productions
CLIQUES AND CAFETERIA, comedy one act, Heuer Publishers
Extensive HS, Middle school productions
MYSTERIOUS ART OF ADVERTISING, comedy one act, Heuer Publishers
Extensive HS, Middle school productions
BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR, Children’s musical in two acts, workshopped Mansfield
Middle School, 2008, Produced by Jr. Woodland Players, Colorado, 2010
READY FOR WORKSHOP
EDNA THE STOMPER, Children’s Musical Comedy, one act 2011
TRANSYLVANIAN BED AND BREAKFAST, MIAMI, Adult comedy in 2 acts
BLUE HERON, 1945, Adult play in two acts
WAR WITHOUT END, Adult play in two acts
ZYX-CBA, Children’s Comedy one act
DOWN TO THE BOTTOM, Children’s Comedy one act
PUBLISHED ESSAYS (humor)/BOOK
SNAPPER, Green Prints Magazine
TOWELS, Clever Magazine (ezine)
GROUND HOG, Wild Violets Online Literary Magazine
LIFE WITH MOM, column, triblocal.com (Chicago Tribune internet paper)
A SPLENDID KING
Network Playwright, Chicago Dramatists, 2008
Certified Teacher, writing K-12, nineteen years
Dramatists Guild of America Member, 2010-present
Midwest New Musical Workshop and member 2010-present
Connecticut Writing Project, Fellow 2005, and Interim Director 2006
JAN JUNGDEN
233 Browns Road, Storrs, CT 06268
860-423-9660
jan@janjungdentrio.com
Career Focus
Composing music for children’s musical theater
Performing with Jan Jungden Trio
Professional
Performance
Experience







Musical Director, Composer and Pianist, Mansfield Middle School
2000-Present
Pianist, Eastern CT State College for WORKING, THE MUSICAL
2011Present
Jan Jungden Trio, Leader, Pianist, Flautist
2003-Present
COMEDY ON DEMAND, played live original music for comedy troupe
2007-2009
VIDEO BEAT, Host, Producer, Composer, Storer Cable TV, New Haven, CT
1983-1986
JANET PLANET SHOW, Host, Producer, Composer, Storer Cable TV
1983-198
Performed with area bands including Bob Bloom and DrumRide, Patty Tuite
Band,
Jake and the Family Jewels, The Convertibles, Bobby Bennet and the Realms,
Pocket full of Groove
Present
Education
B.S. Education, University of Connecticut
Jazz Studies, University of Bridgeport
Composition
Experience


EDNA THE STOMPER, Composer, 13 songs
2009-Present
THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR, Composer, 15 songs,
Work shopped at Mansfield Middle School 2008, Storrs, CT
Work shopped at Colorado Springs Summer Theater, CO
1975-
1972
1980-1982
2009Present
2008-2009

SMOOTH RIDE, Jan Jungden Trio, Jazz CD of original music
STREETWISE placed with Song with Vision Enterprises, Los
Angeles
LE CAFÉ By Jan Jungden and M Bloomer, InterMusic Library, LA
GIRLS NIGHT OUT, Patty Tuite Band CD, 3 songs by Jan Jungden
IT’S CHRISTMAS Jazz Christmas song received local airplay
FREEDOM 9/11 CD sales raised $600 for American Red Cross
MANSFIELD DRIVE IN COMMERCIAL, Radio, still running

MUSIC AND FUN, Preschool, Mansfield Parks and Rec Dept.

Private Music Lessons, Piano, Organ, Flute

The Children’s School, Music and General Ed






Teaching
Experience
2003
2003
2003
2002
2002
1992-1996
1974-Present
Awards and Professional Organizations
ASCAP since 2003
NEST, New England States Touring approved artist, since 2008
Seventh Annual American Songwriters Festival with R&B CRAZY ONE, Quarter Finalist,
1980
1972-1974
THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR
A FAMILY MUSICAL IN TWO ACTS
Based on the Brothers Grimm story of the same name
Book and Lyrics by Laura Toffenetti
Music by Jan Jungden
847-829-4483
toffenet@hotmail.com
5 Ash Drive
Oakwood Hills, IL 60013
SETTINGS: Traditional fairy tale setting: little town with a poor tailor’s shop, kings
throne room, forest.
CHARACTERS: roles can be shared by a minimum of eighteen actors
TAILOR: Tim, the little tailor of Heath’s Head Row
TESS: Tim’s sister who is also his bookkeeper
BOSS: Con artist whose current plans involve making money by risking the Tailor’s life
CYRIL: Boss’s side kick, not very bright, more like an eager puppy
PRINCESS PRINCESSA: Her hand in marriage is one of the rewards for killing seven
giants
KING: Father of Princessa whose kingdom is currently terrorized by seven giants
GUARD: He’s the gopher for the king
CHIEF: Brains behind the giants (and father of Boss!)
The following parts can be shared by three actors:
MASTER OF CEREMONIES:
EGBERT: king’s advisor
MABLE: woman of village who sees the famous sash
HOUSEWIFE: Woman of village who sees the famous sash
ROYAL RUTABAGA SOCIETY PRESIDENT: Concerned about the loss of the
rutabaga crops due to the hungry giants
RRS VICE PRESIDENT
RRS SECRETARY
KNIGHT ONE
KNIGHT TWO
KNIGHT THREE
MAN: unhappy customer
WOMAN: unhappy customer
FARMER: soon to be unhappy customer
RUTABAGA COSTUMER ONE
RUTABAGA COSTUMER TWO
RUTABAGA COSTUMER THREE
TRIO (back up singers)
The following parts can be shared by seven actors:
SEVEN FLIES
GIANT ONE
GIANT TWO
GIANT THREE
GIANT FOUR
GIANT FIVE
GIANT SIX
GIANT SEVEN
KING’S ANNOUNCERS/TOWNSPEOPLE
LIST OF SONGS, ACT I
1. THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR
TRIO/CAST
PAGE 1
2. HEATH’S HEAD ROW
TIM/TESS/TRIO
PAGE 7
3. BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ
SEVEN FLIES
PAGE 10
4. SEVEN IN ONE BLOW
TRIO/TOWNSPEOPLE
PAGE 15
5. CON ARTIST
BOSS/CYRIL
PAGE 18
6. TO THE PALACE
BOSS/TESS/TIM/CYRIL/TRIO
PAGE 22
7. BIRD SONG
CYRIL/TESS
PAGE 25
8. ROYAL ROOTABAGA SOCIETY
RRS PRESIDENT/VP/SECT/TREAS
PAGE 28
9. YES, YOUR MAJESTY
KING/EGBERT
PAGE 31
10. AH ME
PRINCESSA
PAGE 37
11. SHADES OF BLUE
TIM/PRINCESSA
PAGE 40
12. PRINCESS PRINCESSA
TIM/PRINCESSA
PAGE 43
13. I FELL IN LOVE
TIM/TESS/TRIO
PAGE 50
14. BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR (REPRISE)
TRIO/CAST
PAGE 54
INTERMISSION
PAGE 55
ACT II
15. WE ARE THE GIANTS
SEVEN GIANTS
PAGE 59
16. YOU STEW
SEVEN GIANTS
PAGE 63
17. OH DANNY BOY
CYRIL/BOSS
PAGE 66
18. BIRD SONG
CYRIL/TESS
PAGE 71
19. HATS!
TIM/CYRIL/BOSS/SEVEN GIANTS
PAGE 78
20. HATS! (REPRISE)
TIM/CYRIL/BOSS
PAGE 84
21. SEVEN GIANT IN ONE BLOW (REPRISE)
TRIO/TOWNSPEOPLE
PAGE 87
22. ROYAL RUTABAGA SOCIETY (REPRISE)
RRS PRESIDENT/VP/SECT/TREAS
PAGE 91
23. HA HA! HEE HEE!
TRIO/CAST
PAGE 96
ACT 1, SCENE 1
(Curtain opens and the entire CAST , in costume, does a ridiculous song and
dance with clashing cymbals or pots and pans at the end of the phase “a rather
puny tailor”)
CAST
THIS IS THE STORY OF THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR,
NOT A BIG TAILOR,
A RATHER PUNY TAILOR. (CRASH!)
THIS IS THE STORY OF THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR
WHO DOES AN EXTRAORDINARY THING!
WE CAN’T TELL YOU WHAT HE DID, THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR,
NOT A BIG TAILOR,
A RATHER PUNY TAILOR. (CRASH!)
WE CAN’T TELL YOU WHAT HE DID, THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR,
BUT HE DOES DO AN EXTRAORDINARY THING!
TRIO
IF WE TOLD YOU, YOU WOULD KNOW
AND THAT’S NOT THE WAY THINGS GO
SO DON’T ASK CAUSE WE WON’T TELL
CAST
(SPOKEN) TELL US! TELL US!
TRIO
NO.
CAST
DANG!
THIS IS THE STORY OF THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR
NOT A BIG TAILOR
A RATHER PUNY TAILOR (CRASH!)
THIS IS THE STORY OF THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR
WHO DOES AN EXTRAORDINARY THING.
TRIO 1
So who is this brave little tailor?
(During this speech every time the Tailor is mentioned or even eluded to the chorus will
interrupt with “not a big tailor, a rather puny tailor” to the complete aggravation of the
TRIO not to mention the startling experience of each CRASH!)
CAST
(SINGS) NOT A BIG TAILOR, A RATHER PUNY TAILOR. (CRASH!)
TRIO 1
Yes, well, as I was saying, this brave little tailor…
CAST
(SINGS) NOT A BIG TAILOR, A RATHER PUNY TAILOR. (CRASH!)
TRIO 1
The brave little tailor…
CAST
(SINGS) NOT A BIG TAILOR, A RATHER PUNY TAILOR. (CRASH!)
TRIO 2
(Trying to get through a sentence, TRIO 1,2,3 will use other ways to describe the tailor
but none of them will work.) Let me try…This Play is based on the Brothers Grimm
story: The Brave Little Tailor…
CAST
(SINGS) NOT A BIG TAILOR, A RATHER PUNY TAILOR (CRASH!)
TRIO 3
The tai…the main character has a unique talent for creating …wonderful …garments.
Unfortunately this tailor
CAST
(SINGS) NOT A BIG TAILOR, A RATHER PUNY TAILOR. (CRASH)
TRIO 3
He…he…isn’t…happy…with…the simple tasks…like fixing tears… and sewing on
buttons. ..He dreams of designing beautiful clothes for Kings and Queens. His little shop
on Heath’s Head Row is failing and his sister, Tess, is at her wits end. She knows what
an extraordinary tailor…
CAST
(SINGS) NOT A BIG TAILOR, A RATHER PUNY TAILOR. (CRASH)
TRIO 1
I think we’ll just let the story speak for itself. We proudly present THE BRAVE LITTLE
TAILOR!
CAST
THIS IS THE STORY OF THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR,
NOT A BIG TAILOR,
A RATHER PUNY TAILOR. (CRASH!)
THIS IS THE STORY OF THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR
WHO DOES AN EXTRAORDINARY THING!
TRIO 1,2,3
Thank you. Now, go away!
ACT I, SCENE 2
HEATH’S HEAD ROW TAILOR SHOP
One side of the stage is the shop suggested with beautiful gowns hanging on
“walls”. There is a desk where Tess sits counting very little money in the money
box, trying to balance the books. There is a mannequin with a beautiful blue
gown, which Tim is working on. The other side of the stage is the street where the
shop and others are. Maybe townspeople milling buying and selling flowers, etc.
to other townspeople. TRIO 1,2,3 should be part of this group.
Enraged MAN enters Heath’s Head Row Tailor shop. There is the sound
of a store bell ringing as he enters. He is wearing a suit that looks fine except for
the fact that one of his pants legs is at his knee and one is the normal length.
(ding)
TIM
May I help you?
MAN
May you help me? May you help me??!!! Look what you did to my pants!!! You are a
terrible tailor! How could you do such a miserable job?
TESS
(glaring) Tim…?
TIM
I protest sir! I am a wonderful tailor! Just look at this dress!
MAN
(to TESS) I just wanted a simple suit with normal pants! And just look at what I got!
TESS
We’re so sorry, aren’t we, Tim. Obviously it was some mistake…
TIM
I…I…must have been distracted. I was working on this gown, trying to decide if it
should have long sleeves or short sleeves…and…
MAN
I demand my money back!
TESS
Oh no! Tim will make you a new pair of pants. (To TIM) A pair of NORMAL pants.
(glares at TIM) Won’t you Tim.
TIM
Or perhaps turn these into Bermuda shorts! Perfect for those hot summer days! You’d be
a trend setter! What a fine idea! Suits with shorts!
MAN
(grabbing money from TESS) Shorts??? Shorts??? I can’t wear a suit with shorts! (storms
out of the shop)
TESS
Tim! How could you?! You couldn’t hem up a simple pair of pants?
TIM
I…I…
RRS SECT
(Bell tinkles as the three ROYAL RUTABAGA SOCIETY officers enters. They are
wearing fancy military style clothes with gold braid and brass buttons, maybe medals. )
Well he was certainly in a hurry!
RRS VP
What a silly doofus! Did you see his pants?!
RSS PRES
Tailor! Tailor! We are the officers of The Royal Rutabaga Society and we have decided
to bestow a great honor upon you!
TIM
The Royal Rutabaga Society! I have always dreamed of designing clothes for royalty!
What is it you desire? Fancy vests? Velvet coats? Capes?
TESS
(an aside to TIM) Tim, take it easy! Listen to what they have to say before you design
yourself into another mess!
RRS PRES
Behold our new look! (RRS SECT unrolls a life size picture of a man in overalls with
patches on the knees and two small purple ribbons on the straps. White T shirt) Elegant,
eh?
TIM
But.. But…Those are just…just…farmer pants!
RRS VP
Exactly! Brilliant, don’t you think? It will really show solidarity with our members!
We’re especially proud of the patches on the knees!
TESS
Tim…(warning. Holds money box upside down to remind him that it’s empty)
TIM
(trying hard to please) yes…well…(brightens) How about VELVET patches! With a
lovely purple rutabaga embroidered in the middle! And fancy stitches around the edges!
Wouldn’t that just perk up this outfit!
RRS (ALL)
NO!!!!
TIM
No?
RRS PRES.
We don’t want anything fancy. We officers of the Royal Rutabaga Society want to blend
in with the noble farmers, who grow the radiant rutabaga!
TIM
How about gold buckles?
RRS SECT
Tin.
TIM
Extra pockets?
RRS. PRES
What do you think, fellas? Extra pockets? (THEY huddle and TIM brightens. They decide
no and TIM despairs) No. No. we don’t want any special privileges.
TIM
Sashes? Silk lining? Perhaps in a paisley print?
RRS (ALL)
NO! Absolutely not! We want it exactly like in our drawing.
TIM
(exasperated) Exactly like in the drawing? Exactly the same? What is the point? You
can buy pants like those at any cheap shop!
RRS PRES
Yes, but ours would be special! Ours would be hand sewn!
TIM
Well they won’t be sewn by these hands!
TESS
Tim!
TIM
It’s an insult to me! You expect me to create dungarees that look exactly like any of the
thousands of dungarees that grace the backside of the farmers! There’s no style, no
challenge, no fun! I won’t do it! I can’t!
TESS
Tim!
TIM
I’m sorry, Tess, but I might as well hang up my needles and become a farmer myself if
this is the kind of work expected of me. Gentlemen, you will have to take your business
elsewhere.
RRS (ALL)
Well, I never! Wait until our members hear about this! I’ve never been so insulted in all
my life!
TESS
(as RRS exit) Oh Tim! What have you done?
TIM
I WANT TO MAKE GOWNS OUT OF SATINS,
DRIPPING WITH RIBBONS AND GEMS,
SEQUINS LIKE STARS SHINE FROM AFAR,
PERFECT FROM SHOULDERS TO HEMS.
PICTURE THIS DRESS ON THE DANCE FLOOR
FLATTERING FIGURES AND WAISTS
OF WOMEN WHOSE NEEDS ARE LACES AND BEADS
TO SATISFY THEIR FLAWLESS TASTES.
TRIO
HOW FAR CAN HE GO?
NOBODY KNOWS.
HE’S JUST A LITTLE TAILOR FROM HEATH’S HEAD ROW
TIM
I HATE TO DO HEMMING AND STITCHING.
THESE PEOPLE WON’T LET ME CREATE.
THEIR FASHIONS ARE A CRIME,
NOT SWEET AND SUBLIME.
IT’S WORK THAT I JUST PLAIN HATE.
TESS
I KNOW OF YOUR HOPES AND AMBITIONS
BUT WHAT IF THEY NEVER COME TRUE?
WE CAN’T LIVE ON DREAMS.
LIFE’S HARD, IT SEEMS.
IF YOU DON’T WORK, THEN THIS SHOP IS THROUGH.
TRIO
HOW FAR CAN HE GO?
NOBODY KNOWS.
HE’S JUST A LITTLE TAILOR FROM HEATH’S HEAD ROW.
TESS
SO PICK UP YOUR NEEDLES AND PINS
AND TRY HARD TO MEND AND TO SEW
THE QUITE BORING TASKS
THAT THE VILLAGERS ASK
OR WE’LL LOSE OUR SHOP ON HEATH’S HEAD ROW.
TRIO
HOW FAR CAN HE GO?
NOBODY KNOWS.
HE’S JUST A LITTLE TAILOR FROM HEATH’S HEAD ROW HOW
FAR CAN HE GO?
NOBODY KNOWS.
HE’S JUST A LITTLE TAILOR
HE’S JUST A LITTLE TAILOR
HE’S JUST A LITTLE TAILOR FROM HEATH’S HEAD ROW.
TIM
(spoken, defeated) Oh Tess. I’m sorry. You’re right. I’ll try harder. I promise.
TESS
I wish things were different but they’re not. I’m going home to fix dinner. Rutabaga soup.
After tonight we’ll have rutabaga soup…without the rutabagas. (Exits weeping)
TIM
She’s right. What could I have been thinking? (looking at fancy gown). I’ll never have a
client that would buy something as beautiful as this… and where would she wear such a
dress? To the Rutabaga Ball? I might as well pack them all away. (TIM starts to box up
gowns as seven flies start to buzz around him)
FLIES
Buzzzzz
TIM
Go away!
FLIES
Buzzzz
TIM
Leave me alone!
(seven flies appear, complete with wings and antennae. Song/dance might be done with
bunji cords?))
FLIES
BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ!
BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ!
THAT’S WHAT WE DOES!
WE BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ!
BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ!
BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ!
TIM
I’m warning you! I’ll get my fly swatter!
FLIES
WE FLY SO HIGH!
WE FLY SO LOW!
AND WHERE WE’LL STOP
WE DO NOT KNOW.
BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ
THAT’S HOW WE GO.
TIM
I may be a disaster with mending but I’m deadly with flies!
FLIES
WE FLY FROM HERE
TO OVER THERE
WE’RE IN YOUR SOUP
WE’RE IN YOUR HAIR
AND WHERE WE STOP
WE DO NOT CARE
TIM
Ah! Shoo fly! Shoo!
FLIES
BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ!
BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ!
THAT’S WHAT WE DOES
JUST BECAUSE, CAUSE, CAUSE.
THAT’S WHAT WE DOES!
WE BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ.!
TIM
OK, that’s it! This is war! En garde!
FLIES:
WE HAVE NO FEAR.
WE FILL THE AIR.
WE ZIP AROUND
FROM HERE TO THERE.
BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ!
WE DO NOT SCARE!
TIM
(giant swat with giant fly swatter) Ha ha! Gotcha!
(FLIES collapse to the floor with their feet sticking up. They are helped/dragged
to the exit by TRIO as the TRIO hum the Death March on kuzoos. Da da dada, da,
dada, dada, dada, tossing seven little flies on to the floor (raisin?) )
TIM
Ha! That will teach you to mess with the Brave Little Tailor of Heaths Head Row! (Gets
brooms and starts to sweep them up) Sheesh! I got a lot of you! One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven? Seven! Why that must be some kind of record! Seven in one blow!
Unbelievable! Seven in one blow! I ought to tell someone about this! Seven in one blow!
Why I should tell the whole town! Seven in one blow! Why I should tell the whole
kingdom!
I’ve got to make a sash! (digs through box of fabric in a creative frenzy) I’ll embroider
“seven in one blow” on the front…Ah this purple satin is just the thing! And on the back
I’ll make seven flies…no, that’s too…I know! Dragons! I’ll put seven dragons! Flying
dragons! With ruby glass jewels for eyes! (Lights go down as he feverishly starts to
work.)