BRANDON FINDS HIS STAR A Musical in 1 Act. Book by: Sidney Berger; Lyrics by: Jerry Bock; Music by: Jerry Bock SYNOPSIS Many kids dream of being an astronaut and Brandon Fitzgerald Atwater the Third is no different. Unfortunately, Brandon feels that his name is too absurd to be such an important person, so he sets about to change it. During the course of Brandon Finds His Star, he comes to realise that your name IS you - we create the definitions of ourselves and of our destinies. Brandon Finds His Star is light years beyond most children’s theatre writing. Brandon’s fantastic journey to the Blue Planet, beyond the planet Pluto, is a story of imagination, daring and self-discovery. Aided by his friend, a shy young girl from Guatemala named Estrella, Brandon helps the Blue Planetarians get their names back from the Wizard of Ahhhs. Along the way, Estrella gains self-confidence and Brandon learns that he can be whatever he wants to be as long as he continues to apply himself. STORY The full company enters through the house singing the question that will be asked throughout the whole show (What's In a Name?). The audience is prompted to consider the significance of their own names and if changing therir names would effectively change who they are. Brandon is singled out. An aspiring astronaut, he’s convinced that he must change his “dumb” name to realise his dream. Lights reveal a portion of the Space Center at NASA, where Brandon is among a class being toured through the exhibit. Estrella, a youngster newly arrived from Guatemala, is also compelled by the space module but her limited English capability keeps her quiet, until she admits to Brandon how awkward she feels (Spanglish). Brandon and Estrella rejoin the group. Brandon seems to know more than the tour guide but when the Guide gives him the chance to lead the tour, he flounders. The tour ends. Everyone starts moving off and we hear a door close. Brandon emerges from the other side of the space capsule to find everyone gone. Mesmerized by the display, he fantasizes about flying on a real spaceship someday (To Be an Astronaut). A mission control voice calls to him and he’s awakened from his trance. He tries a door. It’s locked. Estrella is heard off in the distance. She joins him on stage and the pair, who have forged a connection, try to figure out how to escape. Unfazed by the urgency of the situation, Brandon complains about his name again but Estrella explains that changing his name won’t change his fate (When You Find Your Star). The two friends decide to wait for someone to find them. Brandon hits a switch on the wall. Immediately, a field of stars comes up on a projection screen. Overwhelmed and excited, Brandon coaxes a reluctant Estrella into exploring, since they are bound to be stuck there for a while. Brandon opens the capsule revealing its interior. An effigy of an astronaut sits at the pilot’s position. They are in awe. Brandon sits in the adjacent seat and pretends to take command. Suddenly, the wax figure beside him begins to move and come alive. Estrella is somewhat freaked, but Brandon is game, willing to go along for the ride. The Astronaut informs Brandon of their all important mission to the Blue Planet – there are major problems there that only he can solve. The Astronaut then tests Brandon’s knowledge about space (Sing a Song of Planets). Estrella eventually joins in. Without thinking, Brandon punches several buttons. To his great surprise, lights suddenly pop up on the control panel and the clear sounds of power are heard. The Astronaut calls for a countdown (Beyond Pluto), as Brandon and Estrella have completely submitted to the fantasy. All is totally silent and they seem to be floating among a blanket of brilliant stars. As the three travelers discuss their imminent mission, the ship shakes violently. The Astronaut assures them that they’ve just entered the Blue Planet’s gravitational field. Brandon pushes a series of buttons at random and suddenly the ship
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