The Best Little Theater in Town Cover Image

The Best Little Theater in Town: Choral SoundTrax CD

$59.99 USD
$59.99 USD
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The Best Little Theater in Town Cover Image
The Best Little Theater in Town: Choral SoundTrax CD

The Best Little Theater in Town: Choral SoundTrax CD

A Broadway-Bound Musical for Unison and 2-Part Voices

By Sally K. Albrecht and Jay Althouse

Grade: 4 & up

Item: 00-23064
$59.99
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Description
Due to a lack of funds, James P. Pennypacker (a shady accountant) announces that he'll have to shut down "The Best Little Theater in Town." That's when the theater's owner Mrs. Goodman, popular director Cecille Deville, and the tightly-knit cast go into action! Two Narrators pave the way as they discuss the elements of a classic musical theater production in this fun-filled play within a play. Watch the story unfold as this small town theater company struggles to make ends meet. There's plenty of drama, and more than enough comedy in this fabulous theatrical score and entertaining book. Why not make your stage "The Best Little Theater in Town" this year? Recommended for grades four and up. Also appropriate for adult performance, excellent for educational "children's theater" productions. Performance Time: Approximately 35 minutes. Staging Suggestions included.

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Additional Details
Publisher: Alfred Music
UPC: 038081222462
SKU: 00-23064

More about this title

About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht

Sally K. Albrecht

Sally K. Albrecht has built a distinguished career spanning choral composition, conducting, and education. Since 1987, she has received annual ASCAP Special Music Awards and maintains over 600 choral publications in print, along with 75 larger works including musicals and songbooks. She has conducted honor choirs at major venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, and spent more than thirty years directing school choral and vocal publications for leading educational music publishers, most recently as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at Alfred Music.

Albrecht holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976), the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977, and M.M. in Accompanying, 1979), and has taught at Oakland University in Michigan, Jersey City State College in New Jersey, and Meredith College in North Carolina. She served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society and received their "Pillar of Leadership" award. In 2021, she was honored with Distinguished Alumna Awards from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College, where she serves on the Board of Trustees.

Why we love this

Albrecht crafts a theatrical experience that teaches production fundamentals while keeping students laughing and engaged. The play-within-a-play structure gives you built-in opportunities to discuss stagecraft, character development, and how musicals work, turning rehearsal into a mini drama class. The comedy and accessible musical writing make this one that students actually want to perform, and 35 minutes fits perfectly into spring concert programming without demanding months of rehearsal.

What to expect

Charming and spirited, with the warmth of a small-town ensemble rallying together for something they love. The score captures both the heart of theater folk and the humor in a slightly chaotic production, creating moments that are genuinely funny alongside scenes that let young performers explore dramatic emotion.

Who it's for

Elementary and middle school choirs looking for an engaging theatrical experience that works for grades 4 and up, plus adult community theater groups seeking family-friendly programming. This piece shines when you have a cast willing to commit to character work and a director ready to develop both the singing and the storytelling.

How to get the most out of it

  • Encourage the two Narrators to treat their dialogue with real comedic timing; their commentary on the musical theater elements should feel like a guided tour, not exposition
  • Use the staging suggestions in the score to block the action early; clarity about who's where helps cast members find their motivation and keeps the action moving
  • Balance the dramatic moments (the theater's financial crisis) with the comedy so the stakes feel real without overwhelming younger performers
  • Have the cast listen to the recorded accompaniment multiple times before sectionals so they internalize the style and energy of the score

How to use it

Program this as a spring concert highlight or a standalone children's theater production during the school year. The 35-minute runtime also makes it suitable as an assembly performance or an addition to a larger concert of choral and theatrical selections, where it provides both entertainment and an educational window into how musicals are constructed.

Skills your students will build

  • Character development and dramatic interpretation
  • Ensemble coordination between singing and staged action
  • Narrative clarity and comedic timing in sung dialogue
  • Understanding of musical theater conventions and production elements
  • Sustaining focus during longer staged works

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