Musical. 110-125 minutes. 4-5 females, 5-6 males, 15+ any gender (10-50+ performers possible). Suitable for high school and older performers, elementary school and older audiences.
First produced at Bainbridge High School (Bainbridge Island, WA).
Note about the score: A perusal copy of the score is included with the order of a Digital Perusal Script, but printed scripts only contain the book. A score that may be copied and used in performance comes with the order of a Production Copy License.
A musical adaptation of the story from The Odyssey of Ulysses' faithful dog, Argos, reset to the Korean War of the early 1950s. It's been 10 years since Sam, then 12 years old, was orphaned and sent to live out-of-state, 10 years since he said goodbye to his beloved dog, Smokey, in a Cleveland alley. He was told that Smokey would be going to a good home on a farm; he never suspected that the dog would actually be abandoned on the streets. Now Sam is in the Army, and in love with lunch counter waitress Penelope. When he goes missing in Korea, no one believes that he'll ever be seen again no one except for Alley Dog, who, facing down danger, doubt and the relentless passage of time, stubbornly stays on in the alley where he last saw Sam, awaiting his return.
"Alley Dog celebrates the archetypal journey of a young man returning home after many years and the dog who awaits him. The audience longs for their reunion throughout the musical and are delightfully entertained by the many colorful characters who provide comic relief to the twists and turns for both Sam and his childhood dog before their final emotional reunion. A great musical for the entire family that plays on our deep connections to home and those who make us feel 'at home.'" - Barbara Hume, Bainbridge High School Theatre Director (Bainbridge Island, WA)