JUST WHEN HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AN ORDINARY DAY,
A LITTLE SHEPHERD TAKES A JOURNEY AND GETS A SPECIAL SURPRISE.
A LITTLE SHEPHERD TAKES A JOURNEY AND GETS A SPECIAL SURPRISE.
Home > Shelby The Shepherd, The Musical - Full Synopsis
FULL SYNOPSIS
Shelby The Shepherd, The Musical
Shelby The Shepherd, The Musical
ACT I Scene 1
There's Going To Be A Journey
There's Going To Be A Journey
SHELBY is a young boy whose family members are shepherds during Biblical times. He is a shepherd-in-training who is allowed to have one sheep right now, and that sheep, Little One, is prone to wandering off. As Act I opens, Shelby’s father NATHANIEL, uncle SAMUEL, and cousins JAKE and SAM have counted their flock and discovered that it is minus one sheep because Little One has disappeared again. That means Shelby is going to wake up to the news that he will be doing some very important shepherding to bring Little One back home.
Shelby doesn’t mind at all. He knows Little One’s tendencies, and he is actually pretty excited about his adventure. In fact, he often asks for more sheep to care for, and he asks his mama, ANNA, if she thinks his papa will allow him to have more sheep soon. In response, his mama encourages him to trust his papa for the right timing, and before he starts his day’s journey, she gives Shelby a new stuffed sheep to care for that she has made for him. Anna sings Someday to Shelby while she helps him prepare for his shepherding day, and she uses the song to foretell about all the ways he will eventually take care of his own flock. Shelby finishes the song, wishing aloud that he hopes “someday” is soon.
Before Shelby leaves his home to look for Little One, he spends some time with his papa, uncle, and cousins. Shelby declares that he hopes to find Little One in Bethlehem. His cousin Jake responds that Little One would have been eaten before he made it that far, to which Shelby’s uncle and papa respond with a quick change of subject and talk about their own troublesome—but amusing-- times as shepherds. Then when the stage is left to just Shelby and his papa just before the scene ends, his papa tells him all about the census going on in Bethlehem and that the city that was also the home of one of the land’s greatest kings, David, would be very busy and a likely place to have enticed a wandering sheep. Shelby is enthralled by the stories of the young shepherd David killing a lion and a bear to protect his own sheep, and as Shelby leaves home and makes his way toward Bethlehem, he sings There’s Going To Be A Change to share his excitement and hopefulness about how things could be so different if only he had the opportunity to be so brave.
Shelby doesn’t mind at all. He knows Little One’s tendencies, and he is actually pretty excited about his adventure. In fact, he often asks for more sheep to care for, and he asks his mama, ANNA, if she thinks his papa will allow him to have more sheep soon. In response, his mama encourages him to trust his papa for the right timing, and before he starts his day’s journey, she gives Shelby a new stuffed sheep to care for that she has made for him. Anna sings Someday to Shelby while she helps him prepare for his shepherding day, and she uses the song to foretell about all the ways he will eventually take care of his own flock. Shelby finishes the song, wishing aloud that he hopes “someday” is soon.
Before Shelby leaves his home to look for Little One, he spends some time with his papa, uncle, and cousins. Shelby declares that he hopes to find Little One in Bethlehem. His cousin Jake responds that Little One would have been eaten before he made it that far, to which Shelby’s uncle and papa respond with a quick change of subject and talk about their own troublesome—but amusing-- times as shepherds. Then when the stage is left to just Shelby and his papa just before the scene ends, his papa tells him all about the census going on in Bethlehem and that the city that was also the home of one of the land’s greatest kings, David, would be very busy and a likely place to have enticed a wandering sheep. Shelby is enthralled by the stories of the young shepherd David killing a lion and a bear to protect his own sheep, and as Shelby leaves home and makes his way toward Bethlehem, he sings There’s Going To Be A Change to share his excitement and hopefulness about how things could be so different if only he had the opportunity to be so brave.
ACT I Scene 2
It Would Take A Miracle
It Would Take A Miracle
Shelby exits and the scene changes to introduce the CENSUS TAKER (riding in a Roman litter with two LITTER CARRIERS), the CENSUS TAKER HELPER in his humorous sidekick role, the ROMAN GUARDS, and some Bethlehem townswomen represented by the INNKEEPER, RUG MAKER, and CANDLE MAKER as they are all just about to enter the town of Bethlehem for their day’s work. The townswomen are marveling at the good fortune the census has brought with all the added business, but they also wonder aloud how much longer the census will be taking. Referring to his census scroll, the Census Taker responds that since Bethlehem is small, it shouldn’t be much longer. “Small” just doesn’t suit the townswomen’s opinion of their hopeful town, though, and they offer a kind, but firm, rebuttal to the Census Taker’s assessment with the singing of One Small Miracle, a testament to their hope that whether it’s a small town or a small child, big change can come from it. Act I ends with the Census Taker’s orders to be “On to Bethlehem,” and yet another expectation is planted that something big is about to happen.
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ACT II Scene 1
Lost And Found
Lost And Found
The first scene of Act II opens about mid-day in the center of the bustling Bethlehem town. The merchants are busy, especially since the Census Taker and the Census Taker Helper have both done some shopping during their break. The townspeople are going about their work while singing a One Small Miracle reprise, and the Census Taker’s Roman Guard humorously shows off his singing skills when he can’t help but to use his spear as a microphone and sing along. As the song comes to an end, the Census Taker Helper announces to the town that everyone should make their way to the census table to register if they haven’t done so already, and the day continues.
Shelby gets into town and winds his way through the hustle and bustle of the Bethlehem people at the opening of the scene also, and he gets in the census registration line behind CENSUS COUPLE 1. Shelby wants to meet the Census Taker because, as he shares with the Census Taker when it is his turn in line, they have a lot in common. This declaration confuses the Census Taker, but Shelby clears things up when he says they both have the important job of counting things. At first, the Census Taker is annoyed by Shelby’s interruption and stories of lost sheep and having fun, but he can’t help but be softened a bit—albeit temporarily—by Shelby’s contagious optimism. Throughout the interaction between the Census Taker and the people who register for the census during the scene, it also becomes increasingly apparent that the Census Taker Helper is quite the typical, amusing, “Yes, sir” sidekick. He provides a comical balance to the Census Taker being, according to Shelby's innocent assessment, "grumpy."
When Shelby leaves the census table to continue his search for Little One, another unnamed couple enters the scene. They go straight to the census table to register for the census, just as the Census Taker and Census Taker Helper are deciding that they can just about prepare to return to Rome. This couple, with a child on the way, apologizes for the delay that was caused by their difficult and slow journey. They take care of their census responsibilities and make their way to the inn as CENSUS COUPLE 2 steps up to the census table. Shelby is caught up in his own little world during this time, and he doesn’t notice the couple (who is about to have a baby) or that LITTLE ONE’S HELPER has entered the scene carrying the found Little One. When he rejoins the scene, Shelby mentions to himself that if Little One is where he was in the dream Shelby was having when his mama woke him up, he should be...right there! The connection is made! Shelby sees everyone, just after the man whose wife was with child has been turned away from a full inn—but they’ve been told the stable, with a manger, is available to get them out of the cool night air—and Little One’s Helper has just asked the expectant woman if Little One is theirs.
Shelby excitedly, yet hesitantly, approaches the couple at the inn who have just volunteered to help Little One’s Helper and return Little One to the stable since they have been pointed in that direction. The man asks Shelby if the little sheep is his, and Shelby answers that he is. The man asks for Shelby’s help in finding the stable, and, feeling so very special for such a request, Shelby quickly agrees. The man and woman, who reveal that they are JOSEPH and MARY, share that they have both had unusual encounters to tell them about the baby to be born and that they have been instructed to name him Jesus. They all exit the stage to go to the still unrevealed stable, and the scene concludes as the Innkeeper, Rug Seller, and Candle Maker also exit the stage with their own plans of going to the stable to throw the first baby "shower," complete with gifts they plan to give in the spirit of Bethlehem kindness.
Shelby gets into town and winds his way through the hustle and bustle of the Bethlehem people at the opening of the scene also, and he gets in the census registration line behind CENSUS COUPLE 1. Shelby wants to meet the Census Taker because, as he shares with the Census Taker when it is his turn in line, they have a lot in common. This declaration confuses the Census Taker, but Shelby clears things up when he says they both have the important job of counting things. At first, the Census Taker is annoyed by Shelby’s interruption and stories of lost sheep and having fun, but he can’t help but be softened a bit—albeit temporarily—by Shelby’s contagious optimism. Throughout the interaction between the Census Taker and the people who register for the census during the scene, it also becomes increasingly apparent that the Census Taker Helper is quite the typical, amusing, “Yes, sir” sidekick. He provides a comical balance to the Census Taker being, according to Shelby's innocent assessment, "grumpy."
When Shelby leaves the census table to continue his search for Little One, another unnamed couple enters the scene. They go straight to the census table to register for the census, just as the Census Taker and Census Taker Helper are deciding that they can just about prepare to return to Rome. This couple, with a child on the way, apologizes for the delay that was caused by their difficult and slow journey. They take care of their census responsibilities and make their way to the inn as CENSUS COUPLE 2 steps up to the census table. Shelby is caught up in his own little world during this time, and he doesn’t notice the couple (who is about to have a baby) or that LITTLE ONE’S HELPER has entered the scene carrying the found Little One. When he rejoins the scene, Shelby mentions to himself that if Little One is where he was in the dream Shelby was having when his mama woke him up, he should be...right there! The connection is made! Shelby sees everyone, just after the man whose wife was with child has been turned away from a full inn—but they’ve been told the stable, with a manger, is available to get them out of the cool night air—and Little One’s Helper has just asked the expectant woman if Little One is theirs.
Shelby excitedly, yet hesitantly, approaches the couple at the inn who have just volunteered to help Little One’s Helper and return Little One to the stable since they have been pointed in that direction. The man asks Shelby if the little sheep is his, and Shelby answers that he is. The man asks for Shelby’s help in finding the stable, and, feeling so very special for such a request, Shelby quickly agrees. The man and woman, who reveal that they are JOSEPH and MARY, share that they have both had unusual encounters to tell them about the baby to be born and that they have been instructed to name him Jesus. They all exit the stage to go to the still unrevealed stable, and the scene concludes as the Innkeeper, Rug Seller, and Candle Maker also exit the stage with their own plans of going to the stable to throw the first baby "shower," complete with gifts they plan to give in the spirit of Bethlehem kindness.
ACT II Scene 2
Special Enough
Special Enough
The scene moves the timing forward to later in the evening, back at Shelby’s home. Shelby’s uncle and cousins are preparing to turn in for the night while Shelby’s papa will be taking care of the night watch. Shelby and Anna join the scene once Shelby finishes his evening meal. And then the most exciting and angelic announcement occurs to let all the shepherds know that a very special baby has been born in the city of David! They are given an unusual and unexpected sign to look for, but Shelby isn’t surprised. The shepherds are told they will find a baby in the manger wrapped in cloths, and Shelby immediately realizes that is must be the couple he had helped earlier in the day. After all, she was going to have a baby at any time, and that baby was going to be special. From there, it doesn’t take Shelby long to convince the rest of his family that they just have to return to Bethlehem.
ACT II Scene 3
There's Been A Change
There's Been A Change
The next scene finally reveals the much anticipated stable in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary recognize their helpful young friend and invite Shelby and his fellow travelers in to meet the new baby Jesus. Everyone is overcome with joy, and Shelby, so enamored and blessed by all the events of his day, asks to sing a song to the baby. He sings a reprise of his mama’s song, Someday. Unbeknownst to Shelby, it turns out to be a prophetic announcement of the kind of life the baby Jesus will grow up to lead.
Shelby and his family ask for permission to share the news, but before Shelby joins his papa and uncle and cousins in telling about all that has happened during this night of nights, he returns and gives his very special staff to Mary as another gift to baby Jesus. It is “in case he wants to be a shepherd, too,” as Shelby tells Mary. When Shelby rejoins his papa, he asks for a little more time before he receives a flock of his own, now that he will have to carve a new staff. He just isn’t in quite as big of a hurry anymore, either. His papa agrees in the wisdom Shelby has shown—which Shelby gained in the most unexpected ways throughout his day—and they join in the news-telling with Shelby’s uncle and cousins as they sing Come and See to anyone who will listen. This includes the Bethlehem townspeople and even the surprised, but curious, “Why are you telling us?” Census Taker Helper and Roman Guard. After all, who can resist the explanation that becomes the production's tagline—"Because this baby is special enough for everyone"? As the final scene and act close, Shelby and the rest of the cast realize something special has taken place—"like a whole bunch of love got here all at once"—and they all sing There’s Been A Change. The BEGGAR would agree, as a SURPRISE VISITOR (the adult Jesus) enters the stage just before the curtain falls. This Surprise Visitor helps the Beggar to his feet and removes his blindfold, alluding to it being just the beginning of something unknown yet marvelous.
Shelby and his family ask for permission to share the news, but before Shelby joins his papa and uncle and cousins in telling about all that has happened during this night of nights, he returns and gives his very special staff to Mary as another gift to baby Jesus. It is “in case he wants to be a shepherd, too,” as Shelby tells Mary. When Shelby rejoins his papa, he asks for a little more time before he receives a flock of his own, now that he will have to carve a new staff. He just isn’t in quite as big of a hurry anymore, either. His papa agrees in the wisdom Shelby has shown—which Shelby gained in the most unexpected ways throughout his day—and they join in the news-telling with Shelby’s uncle and cousins as they sing Come and See to anyone who will listen. This includes the Bethlehem townspeople and even the surprised, but curious, “Why are you telling us?” Census Taker Helper and Roman Guard. After all, who can resist the explanation that becomes the production's tagline—"Because this baby is special enough for everyone"? As the final scene and act close, Shelby and the rest of the cast realize something special has taken place—"like a whole bunch of love got here all at once"—and they all sing There’s Been A Change. The BEGGAR would agree, as a SURPRISE VISITOR (the adult Jesus) enters the stage just before the curtain falls. This Surprise Visitor helps the Beggar to his feet and removes his blindfold, alluding to it being just the beginning of something unknown yet marvelous.
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- MEET SHELBY'S TEAM -
Get to know the characters and creators who have made Shelby The Shepherd, The Musical possible! - AS SHE TELLS IT - Author and playwright, Wendi Miller, takes a moment to describe Shelby's journey, from his social start to his musical makeover. - ENJOY THE BOOK - Do you have a few minutes? You can even read the sweet book that started it all, available in a FREE PDF format! Or listen to the audio version read by the author! If it hasn't already, it could easily become one of your favorite holiday traditions! |
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