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Recognition - A Musical Play

by Christopher Tabor

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1.
KATHLEEN Already morning. Feels like I just got to sleep Life is a list that I made yesterday So many errands, promises I’ve got to keep Better get up, better get on my way If I were Queen I’d put more hours in the day But when you’re just Wife and Mother It’s just another morning ISAAC Already morning. Please can’t I just press the snooze And pull the covers up over my head? Radio’s warning: bad weather, bad traffic, bad news Sounds like a good day to stay in bed But I hear a little voice calling from the other room Reminding Dad that he should Rise and Shine and say “good Morning” LAURA Already morning, snatched from the arms of that dream The one I forget when I open my eyes Straight out of REM sleep, up feeding and clothing the team Does anyone notice my clever disguise? There’s really a young girl here who cannot understand Why girls don't stay young forever I was never good with mornings ALL Each day I memorize some corny New Age mantra That I hope will bring some sanity into a crazy day I pray for something that will make it seem worthwhile Then I see you smile And that just makes my morning Each day I ask myself if I’ve got what it takes To be the person that this person needs to help them make their way And when it seems like I just cannot stand the grind Somehow you always find Some way to make my morning.
2.
A Chance 04:22
CAROLYN People often say that life’s an uphill climb That doesn’t bother me, I’ve got strength, I’ve got time I’ve got all the tools, got a space to plant the seed Got plenty of room to grow, but there’s one thing more that I need I need a chance To try for something new I need a chance to spread my wings And show what I can do Give me the chance And I might prove to you That maybe sometimes dreams can still come true Friends are fond of telling me that the road is long and hard I’m never gonna let that keep me hiding here in my backyard I only wonder how I can make them understand I don’t need a handout, but I could use a friend, I could use a hand And a chance To try for something real I need a chance to make mistakes Just to find out how it feels Give me the chance And if I don’t come through At least I’ve tried, I won’t regret it But inside, I bet it will come my way If I get my chance LAURA Sleeping in her chrysalis, a butterfly has dreams Of dancing on a golden sea of rising air and slipstreams And though she knows her time is short For joining in the dance Her tiny heart still aches and beats And is thankful for the chance
3.
ISAAC Should storm clouds darkens your skies I’m the Sun Should a question ever arise, I’m the 4-1-1 You don’t even have to call, don't make a sound Just blink those great big eyes, I’ll be around Yes Ma’am I am whatever you need me to be If the bills are all coming due, just mark them all “paid” If the summer heat is getting to you, I am your shade (I’m your lemonade) People talk 'bout tough love Lord I’ve tried but when it comes to you, babe, got no pride Yes Ma’am I am whatever you need me to be Baby, I ain't lyin'. You got the world and my heart in the palm of you hand Little Lady, no denyin' That I'm your one-stop shop. I'm your one-man band (ISAAC and SECA dance) If ole’ Lex Luthor’s got you down, I am your Superman If you feel like you wanna leave town, I’m your movin’ van But please don’t rush yourself, I can wait This special offer has no expiration date Yes Ma’am I am whatever you need me to be You need a rush job, no prob I would be glad to Throw in all the extras, all the whistles and bells I never knew how good I could be ‘til I had to Be somebody special for somebody else Baby, did I tell you That I'm your Johnny-on-the-Spot, I'm your Man-on-the-Scene Little Lady, can I sell you A lifetime subscription to "ME" magazine In case I didn't make myself clear permit me to say That you ever get the munchies my dear, the world is your buffet So go ahead and help yourself Be my guest You know you don't have to ask you know the answer will be YES…Ma'am I am, whatever you need me to be
4.
Dreams 05:45
LAURA Mother was certain that I’d be the dancer The darling, the belle of the stage I gave it my all and life gave me my answer By letting me turn middle-age But sometime it seems that a little girl’s dreams Start dancing around in my head Then I start feeling feelings Of a memory I thought was dead I still recall how it felt before curtain On a long ago, recital night My calling was chosen, my future was certain My pirouettes working just right I still remember each step of my dance Each gesture I made to my Prince My costume was beautiful Heaven knows, I’ve never looked that pretty since Enter Stage Right, bow to Prince Charming Run to his arms, fall, he will catch you Exit Down Left, into the sunset Never get old… Poor, silly little girl Never really knew the difference between what’s real and dream In my heart I see there’s a part of me That will never grow old Sometimes it seem that a little girl’s dreams Will sparkle then fade like the dew But I promise dear that as long as I’m here It’ll never be that way for you
5.
The Biz 02:18
JANINE Now pretend that you’re a little bunny hopping in the bush And then you give ‘em all the shoulders and you shake your tush If you wanna make some money in the biz You take a little step and then you point your toe And then you kick ‘em up like Ruby Keeler long ago If you wanna make some money in the biz Can anybody tell me why a ballerina looks so skinny? Well ballerinas have to eat and food costs money But in ballet there just isn’t any So it’s OK to be a swan and dance on pointe But then you gotta find a way to really own the joint If you wanna make some money in the biz Now everybody knows the Sleeping Beauty Ended up as Mrs… Charming But girls you gotta realize, That in this business lots of guys Are…Well…it’s alarming So put on fishnet stockings and a sequin tux And then just go on out there looking like a million bucks If you wanna make some money I know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout So listen to me Honey If you wanna make some money in the biz Looks like my work here is done!
6.
KATHLEEN Little things, you say they don’t matter Little acts of kindness, simple smiles, a cheerful word of two But I say you are wrong, little things are treasures Diamonds are little things, babies are tiny, but they will do So when you tell me you are feeling small, that you don’t count at all Let me stop you then and there And if no one understands unless every gesture is grand And if you thinks it’s rare to find someone who cares about The little things Then let me be a mirror Let my words reflect you, let me show you how you look to me And if then when I do, still you don’t believe me Then I’ll think of something new, I’ll keep trying to break through I’ll keep saying and doing little things, ‘til I can show you…you Little things, you say that they bore you That people will ignore you if you don’t do great heroic deeds But I say think again, little can be thrilling Pouring in and filling little corners of our great big needs When the giant sun has scorched the plain Little drops of rain fall to earth so quietly Nourishing the land, that is made of small grains of sand It seems clear to me that everything we see is made of Little things, under and above you, and how I love to see What little things have mad in you And until I’m sure that you really hear me I’ll try everything and then, I will try it all again Hopefully someday I’ll help you see the beauty in Little things So when you tell me you are feeling small, that you don’t count at all Let me stop you then and there And if no one understands unless every gesture is grand And if you thinks it’s rare to find someone who cares about The little things Then let me be a mirror Let my words reflect you, let me show you how you look to me And if then when I do, still you don’t believe me Then I’ll think of something new, I’ll keep trying to break through I’ll keep saying and doing little things, ‘til I can show you…
7.
You Are... 04:00
CAROLYN Angels are singing their carols in answer to prayers of the people for beauty and peace Joyfully bringing the dance to the dancer Sing along and the blessings increase Listen, the angels are singing inside you a song of a secret, miraculous thing You’ll know at once, when your heart opens wide ALL That you are the angel, when you make the angels sing LAURA Angels are singing in sounds of the morning In whispers of wind, in the shout of the seas KATLEEN Songs of the birds as the day is still dawning Rain as it rustles the leaves on the trees ISAAC Angels are singing wherever there’s laughter Where voices of kindness and harmony ring Come add your voice to the chorus, you’ll find ALL That you the angel when you make the angels sing CAROLYN Listen, the angels are singing inside you a song of a secret, miraculous thing ISAAC You’ll know at once, when your heart opens wide ALL That you are the angel, when you make the angels sing KATHLEEN Angels are singing wherever there’s laughter Where voices of kindness and harmony ring FULL CAST Come add your voice to the chorus, you’ll find That you the angel when you make the angels sing

about

The play, RECOGNITION, is the story of the Narrator’s experience of “Recognition,” a feeling, akin to déjà vu. However, instead of feeling like he has “been here before,” he sees complete strangers and, somehow…”Recognizes” them…and they remind him of something that he can’t quite place his finger on. He has this very experience when he crosses paths with three ordinary people - on the day that he goes in to clean out his desk after having lost a job that he had done for over twenty years

credits

released February 3, 2014

Music and Lyrics - Christopher Tabor

Orchestration and Additional Music - Matt Tabor

Executive Producers - Joy Bottinelli and William J. Howe III

THE SONGS:

Already Morning
Chrissy Kelly-Pettit, Colin Wood, Lisamarie Harrison

A Chance
Laura Mathans, Lisamarie Harrison

Yes Ma’am I Am
Chris Tabor

Dreams
Lisamarie Harrison

The Biz
Cherie Price

Little Things
Chrissy Kelly-Pettit

Angels
Full Company

Piano - Matt Tabor
Bass - Craig Snazelle
Drums - Dave Averre
Brass - Ben Medler
Woodwinds - Michelle Medler
Choir - Pam Erven-Sukonik, Kari Ferguson, Maria Karlin,
Emily Kinkley, Stephanie Kramer, Catherine van der Salm

Recorded, mixed and mastered at Big Red Studio
Billy Oskay - Recording and Technical Advisor

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Recognition Portland, Oregon

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