STRAYS, THE MUSICAL (Original Cast Recording CD)

STRAYS, THE MUSICAL! explores furry foibles from the PETS point of view. The actors give voice to a variety of cat and dog characters in this hilarious and often moving musical review drama-dy that seeks to edu-tain audiences about normal pet behavior while honoring the bond we share with them. Purchase the SCRIPT/LIBRETTO here.

This CAST RECORDING contains all 12 songs from the two-act “dramedy” sung by 6 artists who performed the staged reading and previews. Both the script with libretto and a vocal-piano score are available, as well as pre-recorded orchestration CD for performance.

STRAYS, THE MUSICAL! is written especially with cat and dog lovers in mind. The family friendly script is appropriate for all ages audience and actors, requires minimal sets and costumes (NO dog/cat suits or pet-centric makeup!), and works well for students, community theaters or professional companies. It can be performed with as few as 8-10 but 15-20 featured actors plus a chorus is preferred. Recommended actor age range is 9-14 years to adult, all physical types.

STRAYS debuted Nov. 6-8, 2014 at the Honey McGee Playhouse in Sherman, Texas with a cast of 30, age 5 years to 70. Excerpts from the opening night can be seen on the STRAYS SCRIPT page.

The two-hour review-format offers a mix of funny to poignant scenes with and without music. Music style varies from pop-rock, boogie woogie, folk and country, to jazz, gospel and Celtic, with multiple verses offering many feature solo line opportunities. Company numbers require two- to three-part harmonies in mid-tenor/alto ranges, often written as “rounds” or combinations of previously sung solo lines for ease of learning. Purchase the PIANO-VOCAL SCORE here. 

For licensing information contact amy @ shojai.com (no spaces) with STRAYS in the subject line.

Songs include:

• Strays (Company)
• Grazing (Bass Solo, Trio backup)
• Itchy Dog (Solo)
• Dream Cat (Soprano Duet)
• Cuz I’m A Dawg (Solo-male or female)
• Normal (Solos, Company with Rap)
• Dog On The Run (Baritone Solo)
• Eight Lives in Heaven (Tenor Solo, Treble Duet Backup)
• The Muse (Solo & Company)
• Gotcha Day (Company)
• The Least of These/Perfect (Solos/Company)
• Rainbow Pets (Trio, Company)
• Strays-Bows (Company)

The playwrights want to help YOU make your STRAYS experience a great success and will promote updates about productions. Stay up to date about the STRAYS, THE MUSICAL journey by following the Strays PLAY page here. 

CAST RECORDING SAMPLES (ASCAP #88677856) Special thanks to staged reading cast for voicing the cast recording: Aaron Adair, Diana Adair, Johnny Flowers, Gil Nelson, Amy Shojai, Frank Steele. See sample lyrics, below.

• Strays–Company (ASCAP #3587524) :

“I was a stray running on my own,
Looking for a home each endless day.
Along the way someone took a glance,
Offered me a chance, a place to stay.

Now can’t you see? You belong to me.
It was meant to be! Anything I’ll do,
All I can give, I’ll live the life you live.
Anything forgive. Just to be with you.”

• Grazing–Frank Steele (ASCAP #3587577):

“Poop-she-waddy-waddy, poop-she-waddy-waddy,
Poop-she-waddy-waddy, poop-she-waddy-waddy.

Litter box grazing, dang it’s mighty good.
Shouldn’t a-done it but did it cuz I could.
Ate it all up and there it went.
Pass the mouthwash or a big breath mint,
Cuz I’m grazing.

Poop-she-waddy-waddy, poop-she-waddy-waddy,
Poop-she-waddy-waddy, poop-she-waddy-waddy.

Fussed at for grazing, but what else can I do?
See it in the box, a brand new pile of poo.
Soon it’s gone without a trace,
then I come and I lick your face,
Cuz I’m grazing…”

• Itchy Dog–Aaron Adair (ASCAP #3587569):

“Got some ladies I’ll see today,
Before this feeling, it go away.
Hide your Poodles and your Boxers, too.
Plan on pitching lots of doggy woo.
If you see me better stand way back,
I’ve got a mission and I’m right on track.
Lookin’ for anything wearing fur,
So to speak, Mon, as it were.

Flippy-dippy-dilly-billy-bop.
Mon, these feelings they never stop.
Got this feelin’ for the very first time.
Don’t know ’bout you, Mon, but I’m feelin’ fine…”

• Itchy Dog (ASCAP #3587569):

“Got some ladies I’ll see today,
Before this feeling, it go away.
Hide your Poodles and your Boxers, too.
Plan on pitching lots of doggy woo.
If you see me better stand way back,
I’ve got a mission and I’m right on track.
Lookin’ for anything wearing fur,
So to speak, Mon, as it were.

Flippy-dippy-dilly-billy-bop.
Mon, these feelings they never stop.
Got this feelin’ for the very first time.
Don’t know ’bout you, Mon, but I’m feelin’ fine…”

• Dream Cat–Amy Shojai (ASCAP #:3587576):

“Echoe’d step, quickened heart.
Inmate eyes slit in sudden bright.
Silhouette, don’t depart.
Purrs cry, BELOVED! there, in my sight.

Paws seek, paws seek, paws seek
Beloved come again.

Oh, to shoulder perch, nose bump, share secrets.
Sleep in your arms and vanquish every frown.
Whisker-kiss that dear face,
Grapple shins with paw grace,
Play the part of a clown.

Shameless, shameless, shameless
For laughter’s sweet reward.

Marking sign in a cat design.
Marking time, each paw-step mine.
Three steps, five back,
Three by five I roam.
Three steps, five back.
Please, take me home….”

• Normal–Company (ASCAP #88677867)

Gonna match that scratch
Make my mark, mark, mark,
While they snatch to catch
Me in the dark, dark, dark.
Can’t stop my paws
From making claws
Bad bad kitty,
That’s meeee-ow.

Gonna start my diggin’
Cuz i been figgerin’
How to dig a hole
Cuz i been toll
Ya need to do it
So the bone’ll fit it
Yeah, diggin…

She’s nor-mal, he’s nor-mal
Meant to be,
Oh, can’t you see,
Holy gee,
Just hear my plea,
Perfectly nor-mal,
To me.

• Dog On The Run–Gil Nelson (ASCAP #886778567)
  

Born at night in quite a fix,
Five little pups, and i made six.
Scrappin’ and fightin’ from night til sun.
Such is life for a dog on the run.

Growed up fast, and growed up tough.
Not much food, never had enough.
Hidin’ and scared from night til sun.
Such is life for a dog on the run.

For a runnin’ dog, life ain’t fun.
Ain’t no fun for a dog on the run.
Prayin’ for a better day,
Make the bad things go away…

• Eight Lives in Heaven–Frank Steele (ASCAP #88677867)

I was given nine lives,
But i frittered away about eight.
Been binged, bonged, banged and tossed around,
Next stops that ol’ pearly gate.

First life done went away,
I’m lucky to be alive.
Thought it was an easy six foot jump,
Who knew i could only jump five?

Second life, I was stoopid.
I was countin’ on a little luck.
Thought I’d impress miss kitty le purr,
By dodgin’ a cement truck.

Third life…not my fault.
I was sleepin’ on a second floor ledge.
What schmuck doesn’t know,
To put rails on the balcony edge?…

• Cuz I’m A Dawg–Johnny Flowers (ASCAP #3587560):

“I’ll be sniffin’ you, I’ll be sniffin’ you.
Tell ya how it goes, wish I had Barbra Streisand’s nose,
Yes I’ll be sniffin’ you.

I’m gonna kill your grass. Yes, I’m gonna kill your grass.
It sends my tail a-whirl, call me the incontinent girl,
I’m gonna kill your grass.

Cuz I’m a dawg, a jip-jumpin’ ground thumpin’ dawg.
I’ll make a mess outta your lawn sure as the day you were born,
Cuz I’m a dawg…”

• The Muse–Diana Adair and Company (ASCAP #3587578):

“Purrs inspire, claws spark a fire,
Icy nose and warm wet kiss.
Lonely howl that’s on the prowl,
Silk soft fur and angry hiss.

I didn’t choose this easy task.
I won’t refuse, no need to ask.
Nothing to lose, my gift will last,
Forevermore I am your Muse.

Painting pictures, singing rhymes.
Writing mixtures, talking time.
Inspiration, yours and mine,
It was meant to be!

Paws that dance a catnip trance,
Running buddies, pillow share.
Whisker tickles, playtime giggles,
Wiggle bums and doorway dare.

I didn’t choose this easy task,
I won’t refuse, no need to ask.
Nothing to lose, this gift will last
Forevermore. I am your Muse…”

• Gotcha Day!–Amy Shojai (ASCAP #886778790)

Gotta practice my cute,
Gonna make my play.
It’s absolute that
I don’t wanna stay.
Yes, I’m resolute,
Listen what i say.
Bark it proud and strong,
Purr it loud and long,
It’s gonna be my
My gotcha day.

Cat tails up, fur slicked down,
Use your feline purrsonality.
Dog paws up, howl the sound.
Give them a doggy guarantee!
Bark it proud and strong,
Purr it loud and long,
They’re gonna love me,
Wait and see.

• The Least of These/Perfect–Company (ASCAP #886778789)

I was cold, yet you warmed my heart.
I was hurt, and you healed my pain.
I was afraid and lost,
You can’t know the cost
To gamble that this chance
Won’t be in vain.

The least of these,
The least of these,
I want to be the least of these.
When you look at me,
Wonder what you see
Oh please choose me,
The least of these.

Just looking, to pass the time
Not ready. I hide my pain.
Missing him. But i do fine.
Can’t risk my heart in vain,
It’s safer to abstain,
Won’t ever, won’t ever
Find such love again.
He was per-fect,
Can’t you see,
Perfect in every way.

Per-fect, per-fect
Come what may,
He was okay everyday
In every way
Normally perfect
I say…

• Rainbow Pets ASCAP #3375826
  

“Love me now, love me then,
Love me when we meet again.
At the bridge the rainbow shines,
By some mystic Master’s design!
In its light, every bright,
You will always be mine!

Black or white, brindle or tabby,
Merle or brown, sable, Abby,
Persian, Collie, whole or fixed,
Rainbow pets a perfect mix.

Whoops or planned, shown or banned,
Shelter, rescue, foster, pound.
Bottle babies, feral ladies,
Perfect, damaged, all are found.

Blond or blue, calico, curly,
Pointed, smooth, wirehair, surly,
Sweetheart, bold or shy thereof,
Rainbow pets, we’re yours to love.”