Chaos at the Cannery
Also called "Miss Faye Sees All and Tells All"
CAST: 7 Female and 7 Male plus piano player
Welcome to the small western town of San Juan Capistrano. Back before the turn of the century … no not this one ... the one before that one. That's right ... the year is 1881 and California is still one of the last great frontiers. The president is James Garfield, the flag has only 38 stars on it and the one big employer in San Juan is the Belford and Company Cannery. This is the story of a new sheriff, a loyal family, and a rowdy town. Mix in an ample amount of mayhem and mystery with a dash of heroes, villains, two generations of heroines, a stolen badge and a whole slew of toe tapping authentic old-time music
and live sound effects and you get one great Melodrama.
Dirty Deeds at the Depot
Also caled "Professor Mack's Miracle Elixir of Life"
CAST: 4 Female and 6 Male plus piano player
The prologue begins with the Depot's Station Master reminiscing about the glory days of the train and we are all transported back to the year 1895 and the now young Station Master enters the ticket office announcing the arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad
while our heroine Lacie Camisole is awaiting the arrival of her future husband on the train until she finds out that the new station master is her childhood sweetheart Justin Tyme. Other memorable characters include Dusty Trails, Helen Highwater, Claire Voyant, and
even Wyatt Earp makes a cameo apperance! Cheer for
the Hero and Boo the Villain who is behind all the
Dirty Deeds going on at the Depot.
The Broken Badge
Also called "Oils Well That Ends Well"
CAST: 7 Female and 7 Male plus piano player
This "Play within a Play" Melodrama welcomes the audience back to the small western town of San Juan Capistrano for the story of a lost love, a "rehabilitated" villain, a jilted woman, and a framed sheriff. At the same time, it is also the story of one actor at the end of a radio career and another just at the beginning of a whole new life. The story moves between 1939 and through the magic of radio, you are transported to that much simpler year of 1896 ... in a time of Heroes and Villains. Now gather around your radio and turn back your clocks as a story of love across the centuries unfolds. Prepare yourself for the twists and the turns of "The Broken Badge".
Trouble Bubbles at the Hot Springs
Also called "Professor Mack Comes Back"
CAST: 8 Female and 6 Male plus piano player
This story is one that takes you back to the haunted happenings of old San Juan Capistrano's Hot Springs Hotel in 1898. How can our hapless young heroine Jenna Rossity ever hope to keep her mortgage to the Hot Springs Hotel from being foreclosed? Can the plucky reporter Avery Braveman uncover the truth in time to save the day and win his true love? What turn of events brings both the Actress Carmen Geditt and the on-the-run outlaw Dee Zaster to the Hot Springs? And is the return of that scoundrel Professor Mack merely a coincidence or does he have yet another nefarious scheme planned? All of this trouble is bubbling down at the old Hot Springs Hotel.
San Juan's Dirty Laundry
Also called "Will Her Knickers Ever Get Clean?"
CAST: 7 Female and 5 Male plus piano player
Our Narrator sets the stage on the porch of the Meddlesome Inn hotel inviting you back to a fascinating story left out of many of the history books. It is a Melodrama with a "heart" and will just as easily make you sigh as laugh. Welcome to the mostly true retelling of a story about lost love, a villainous railroad tycoon, a heroic woman and the seldom told story of how Orange County became Orange County back in 1889. Based on real California history. If you've never heard the story of
San Juan's Dirty Laundry ... we are talking about the story of the lady that tried to stop the train from coming through San Juan Capistrano - with her clothesline.
Professor Mack's Last Train
Also called "Villainous Loco-Motives"
CAST: 7 Female and 4 Male plus piano player
From the small town of San Juan Capistrano all the way to Paris France. This musical melodrama fondly retells the story of lost loves, lost youth, found love, and the last days of the Wild West Shows. With trick shots, old-west ballyhoo, and a train to who know where … you will love your stay.
Meet Sharpshooter Cantankerous Kate in her own Wild West show, her apprentice Montana Ana, and Professor Mack who is now running The Mack Brother's Travelling Wild West Show
We promise authentic old-time melodramatic music and a last-minute plot-twist gunfight on a train returning the Wild West Company from Paris France … that will change everything.
Villainy in the Vineyard
Also called "Everything Happens for a Riesling"
CAST: 8 Female and 7 Male plus piano player
Welcome to Villainy in the Vineyard ... the ultimate audience participation old west melodrama. This is the story of Kaye Syrah trying so hard to keep the family vineyard alive after her family went missing. It is the story of a ruthless land speculator willing to do anything to build his empire. Along the journey discover the vineyards of old San Juan Capistrano. Learn the fate of the once great Southern California Vineyards in this long-forgotten seldom-told mostly-true tale about one man that kept wine alive for the whole planet. All served up with a generous supply of family-friendly old-time music. Of course, it is the story of heroes and villains, but mostly about family.
3 Bandits and a Baby
"Liars, and Scoundrels and Villains - Oh My!"
CAST: 7 Female and 8 Male plus piano player
From the small old western town of San Juan Capistrano just after the California Gold Rush ... this musical melodrama fondly retells the story of gamblers, rainmakers, fortune-tellers, entertainers, and bandits of the old west. Also, thrown in is a good measure of lost love, lost youth, re-found love, and one "orphaned girl" in need of a father. Get ready for a generous supply of family-friendly fun old-time music and humor from Misty Meaner, Crystal Ball, Robin Banks, Kitty and Ally Katz, Jack Potts, and the less than honest banker named Bill Foldes. This may become your new favorite play ... for its music and melodramatic message. There are three villains so it is three times the fun.
Dastardly Deeds at Harmony House
"What's Mine is Mine and What's Yours is Mine"
CAST: 5 Female and 6 Male plus piano player
This is the retelling of the almost true story of a villain trying to hoodwink investors with a bogus tin mine up in the canyons above Orange County California. It is also the story of the Irish Judge who made the town his home and our very own world-famous actress. This is the story of dreamers and schemers, heroes and villains, but mostly about those that came from all over the world to make San Juan Capistrano and California their new home. Enjoy its music and timeless message. Welcome to the ultimate family friendly audience participation old west melodrama with authentic old-time music based on actual stories pulled from the history books.
The Cueless Sheriff
“A Justin Credible Musical Melodramaâ€
CAST: 3 Female and 4 Male plus piano player
The Small-cast version of “The Broken Badgeâ€.
Cantankerous Kate Returns
Come back next season for 2 more old-west musical melodramas and small-cast versions of all of our crowd pleasing full-length Melodramas.
San Juan's SpeakEasy
Come back next season for 2 more old-west musical melodramas and small-cast versions of all of our crowd pleasing full-length Melodramas.
