Puffy The Cloud That Couldn’t Rain – Musical

Puffy The Cloud That Couldn’t Rain – The Musical

By

Hal Peterson and John Tuzee

PUFFY THE CLOUD THAT COULDN’T RAIN –THE MUSICAL

Copyright Ó 2012 by Hal Peterson and John Tuzee

Adapted from the children’s book, “Puffy The Cloud That Couldn’t’t Rain,” published by Kids Life Press and copyright Ó 2004 by John Tuzee

All Rights Reserved

CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that PUFFY THE CLOUD THAT COULDN’T RAIN –THE MUSICAL is subject to a royalty.  It is fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America, the British Commonwealth, including Canada, and all other countries of the Copyright Union.  All rights, including professional, amateur, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio broadcasting, television, and the rights of translation into foreign language are strictly reserved. 

The amateur live stage performance rights to PUFFY THE CLOUD THAT COULDN’T RAIN –THE MUSICAL are controlled exclusively by Drama Source and royalty arrangements and licenses must be secured well in advance of presentation. 

PLEASE NOTE that amateur royalty fees are set upon application in accordance with your producing circumstances.  When applying for a royalty quotation and license please give us the number of performances intended, dates of production, your seating capacity and the admission fee.  Royalties are payable one week before the opening performance of the play to Drama Source, 1588 E. 361 N., St. Anthony, Idaho 83445. 

Royalty of the required amount must be paid whether the play is presented for charity or gain, and whether or not admission is charged.  For all other rights than those stipulated above, apply to Drama Source, 1588 E. 361 N. St. Anthony, Idaho 83445.

Copying from this book in whole or in part is strictly forbidden by law, and the right of performance is not transferable.

Whenever the play is produced, the following notice must appear on all programs, printing and advertising for the play, “Produced by special arrangement with Drama Source.”

Due authorship credit must be given on all programs, printing and advertising for the play.

No one shall commit or authorize any act or omission by which the copyright or the rights to copyright of this play may be impaired.

No one shall make changes in this play for the purpose of production without written permission.

Publication of this play does not imply availability for performance.    Both amateurs and professionals considering a production are strongly advised in their own interests to apply to Drama Source for written permission before starting rehearsals, advertising, or booking a theatre.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by any means, now known or yet to be invented, including mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, videotaping or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. 

Description of key characters in order of appearance:

Anchor Bob: man or boy dressed to look like man. Suit and tie, deeper TV-announcer-type voice. (Could also be a news lady anchor, woman or girl made up to look like a woman–she’d become Anchor Barb in script adjustments).

Sadie the Weather Lady: young woman or girl wearing blouse and skirt, blonde hair worn long with dark rimmed glasses and holding a pointer when on the tv set…on the location scenes wearing a baseball cap with “TV 7” printed on it. Vivacious, happy, animated…very clear voice so words can be heard but not shrill. Friendly and informative singing style with pleasant voice. Can hop and move about while singing her “theme.” (If necessary, it could be a man, “Sam the Weatherman,” with script adjustments as required.)

Anvil the Cloud: most likely a man or boy in a large, anvil-shaped red and black cloud costume (red and black to replicate the colors used on radar to indicated violent weather), with a “macho” look including possibly a motorcycle-style hat, sun glasses, leather gloves, holding red Z-shaped lightening bolts…”Fonzi”-like. Shrill, somewhat raspy voice, but loud and clear. Anvil doesn’t smile. He’s not particularly likeable. Sounds and looks semi-threatening. 

Nimbus the Cloud: most likely a woman or girl in a very large, round green, orange/yellow and gray cloud costume (to replicate medium storm colors on the radar screen). Strong but sweet voice…after all she represents “helpful” rain to grow flowers, etc. She probably is carrying a gardener’s sprinkling can, and maybe a closed umbrella in the other hand …probably wearing boots, rain hat. Very animated face with red lipstick, large eyebrows, brown or blonde hair in long pigtails,  dress with blue teardrop shaped pattern. Fun, slightly exaggerated character…but not frightening. 

Cirrus the Cloud: man, boy, woman or girl with a light gray long-horizontal cloud costume. (Cirrus clouds are the high, thin clouds you see way up in the sky.) Cirrus is made up to look old with a gray “English lawyer” type wig, round wire glasses, gray robe, black dress shoes and holding a green banner which has “Silver Lining Cloud” printed on it. His/her voice is rather thin and older sounding.

Puffy the Cloud: young man or young lady with a smaller white and gray swirl-shaped cloud costume. Either a crew cut look (boy) or hair bow (girl). Younger sounding but very clear voice that can sound emotional, sad or happy to fit various portions of the lyrics. Not too much make up…good looking character because this is the musical’s hero or heroin. Probably wears shorts (or skirt) with suspenders, high socks with red sneakers, white or plaid shirt.

OTHER CHARACTERS/PARTS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:

 Anvil’s chorus, the “Lightning Bolts,” 4 or 5  (all male or any gender mix) dressed with the “Z-shaped” lightning bolt charge design on shirts and playing guitars.

Baseball umpire in blue umpire uniform with chest protector and face mask. Male or female.

Baseball players: 4 or 5 (or more) young people in “Little League” type uniforms including one with catcher’s gear. Can be male or female.

Grandstand baseball fans: 4 or 5 (or more) people dressed  in jeans, sweatshirts or T-shirts. Any gender mix.

Nimbus chorus, the “Rain Drops,” 4 or 5  (or more) wearing teardrop costumes and possibly have musical triangles and sticks to help accompany the singing and music…very raindrop-like. Most likely girls but could be gender mix.

Sailors in sailboat: two teenage looking people with good voices…preferably one girl and one boy. Dressed in shorts, T-shirts, deck shoes and round “Australian-style” hats with “chin ties.”

School yard children: 3 or 4 (or more) children in “school day clothing,” with strong voices for “We Love Clouds” music. 

Ice-cream cart person dressed in red/white striped shirt with cone design on it, white “furlough” cap; holding bell. Can be male or female. 

Police officers: two adult looking people (man and woman or two men) in police officer uniforms with voices to sing the ice cream cone song.

Ice-cream cone chorus: 3 or 4 children in ice-cream cone costumes to sing portions of song as chorus with police officers and ice-cream stand person.

Old couple: two people made up and dressed to be older grandparent-types. Lady in long dress, man in white shirt and pants with suspenders, using a cane to help walk. Must have good voices to sing the song “Don’t Walk in the Sun.”

Old couple’s grandson: boy with polo shirt and shorts, cap. (Could be girl with a slight script/lyric adjustment.) Probably sings along with grandparents.

Tinker the dog: real dog or stuffed toy dog.

Construction workers: 4 or 5 adult-looking people (at least 3 of whom are “men”) wearing work boots, bib overalls and bright yellow or orange hard hats. Strong voices required to sing the construction workers’ song.

APPROXIMATE TOTAL NUMBER OF CHARACTERS/PARTS BASED ON 4 PEOPLE IN EACH CHORUS OR GROUP: 42 

APPROXIMATE MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN CAST IF ALL CHARACTERS EXCEPT SADIE, ANVIL, NIMBUS, CIRRUS AND PUFFY DO MULTIPLE PARTS IN CHORUSES/GROUPS: 12 TO 14

NUMBER OF MALE AND FEMALE PARTS: VIRTUALLY ANY COMBINATION BASED ON DIRECTOR’S TALENT POOL 

SCENE ONE

A television news room set with anchor desk/chair,  TV camera,  large weather map/radar screen on top of which is the header sign: Channel 7 Weather Radar. Radar screen can be a large 4’x4’ frame behind which drawings of clouds appear as Sadie gives her weather forecast: first a large anvil-shaped storm cloud in red and orange, then a large round rain cloud (Nimbus-like) in green grey and dark blue and then a small white Puffy-like cloud. News studio set takes up only a side portion of full stage. As the lights come up anchor Bob is speaking to the camera, then tosses to Sadie sitting on right who gets up and goes to the weather map carrying a pointer.)

  ANCHOR BOB

…So, that’s the important news happening today in Centerville. Now, let’s see what’s in store for us as far as our weather is concerned with meteorologist Sadie Wilson. Sadie.

(Sadie gets up from chair and walks and bounces to the beat  of music vamp waving her pointer.)

  SADIE sings “Sadie, the Weather Lady”

Hello, I’m Sadie, the weather lady, with TV’s weather news for you.

Watch my screen with the radar scene; see what the sky is going to do.

Rain or snow, cold or hot, hope you’ll have a great day too–whether 

There’s beautiful weather or not!

  (SADIE spoken over music vamp)

Hi everyone and welcome to the channel 7 weather report. Today in Centerville we’ll have a mixture of  windy and wet stormy weather followed by extremely warm, sunny conditions. 

(As she talks, the cloud drawings move from let to right on the radar screen.)  

We’ve got some large cumulus clouds moving into the area…wow, that anvil shaped cloud looks quite ferocious and right behind it is another cloud that looks like, possibly, could give us a downpour. Then there’s one more tiny cumulus cloud that won’t do much of anything.  So get ready for stormy and rainy conditions followed by hot sunshine. That’s your Channel 7 weather update.

(SADIE sings again)

Oh yes, I’m Sadie the weather lady, with TV’s  weather news for you.

Watch y screen with the radar scene, see what the sky is going to do.

Rain or snow, cold or hot, hope you’ll have a great day too… whether there’s beautiful weather or not…

there’s beautiful weather or not. 

 ANCHOR BOB 

Thanks, Sadie. Looks like we better find our umbrellas and boots and raincoats…See you on the next news update…

  (Sound effect of thunder)

Wow, I can hear the weather moving in outside our studio right now. 

 (End thunder sound effect)

SCENE TWO

            Lights off news room set.   Lights up on main area of stage. Simple scene has dark background with following props: baseball base, small portion of bleachers or bench, patch of Astrograss with white foul stripe, small park shed that can fall down and to pieces when Anvil blows it down…possibly a tree, too that can be blown away by Anvil’s wind. For more elaborate scene, projected photo of park baseball field on background screen.

Scene begins with umpire in uniform and group of  boys and girls in baseball uniforms with bats and gloves…plus 5 or 6 people in grand stand..a storage shed, trash barrel, a few trees.

Noise of kids shouting, parents clapping.

UMPIRE

(loud voice and gesturing with hands)

That pitch was ball four. Batter take first base.

(Sound effect begins.  Crack of thunder, lightning flash from strobe)

BASEBALL PLAYER 1

 (Running toward first base and pointing skyward)

Did you see that? 

UMPIRE

(Taking off face mask and looking skyward)

Looks like a storm coming in, kids. Be ready to take cover.

(Storm scene intensifies with strobe light flashes and thunder sound effect…and Anvil the storm cloud begins to enter the scene. Sound of thunder intensifies, lightning flashes, sound effect of Wind blowing.  Kids and adults run…one kid hides under bleachers.  Tree and small shed sway, ) 

 Anvil moves on stage with his chorus of 3 or 4, the Lightning Bolts. Storm sound

 effects continue to intensify.

BASEBALL PLAYER 2

 (Looking at Anvil the cloud and sticking head out from under bleachers) 

Who are you…and why are you so stormy?

ANVIL

(laughing/shouting)

I’m Anvil the storm cloud and I’m here to get you wet and blow things away!

BASEBALL PLAYER 2

Oh, Anvil, how do you make such a big frightening storm?

(Anvil is joined by his chorus, the Lightning Bolts)

  ANVIL AND THE LIGHTNING BOLTS CHORUS

 (sing his theme: Rock On, Anvil)

 (Lightning Bolts Chorus spoken wind-like)

Rock on, Anvil! Whoo. Rock on, Anvil, Whoo, whoo!

 (Anvil)

My name is Anvil Cumulus and I’m a big storm cloud.

I make thunderbolts crack so sharp and oh-so very loud.

It’s enough to shake a house and scare a ballgame crowd.

And when I’m shown on Sadie’s screen, it make me very proud.

 (Lightning Bolts Chorus spoken wind-like)

Rock on, Anvil! Whoo! Rock on, Anvil! Whoo, Whoo!

(Anvil)

Yes, I’m Anvil, the stormy cloud. I’ve put it all together

to make myself the strongest force you’ll find in all the weather.

(Lighning Bolts Chorus spoken wind-like)

Rock on, Anvil! Whoo! Rock on Anvil! Whoo, whoo!

(Anvil)

I can make the brightest lightning streak across the skies.

Better run for cover, turn your head and shut your eyes.

It’s awesome just to watch my bolts of giant, dazzling size.

When you see them in the skies, it makes your pulse-rate rise.

(Lightning Bolts Chorus spoken wind-like)

Rock on, Anvil! Whoo! Rock on Anvil! Whoo, whoo!

(Anvil)

Yes, I’m Anvil, the stormy cloud. I’ve put it all together

to make myself the strongest force you’ll find in all the weather.

(Lightning Bolts Chorus spoken wind-like)

Rock on, Anvil! Whoo! Rock on, Anvil! Whoo, whoo!

(Anvil)

When my wind starts howling and blowing strong, it’s time to stop your play.

I can blow down trees with  ease and knock a fence away.

Small sheds and farmers’ wagons fail to stay upright.

I blow them all away with my stormy might.

(Lightning Bolts Chorus spoken wind-like)

Rock on, Anvil! Whoo! Rock on Anvil, Whoo, whoo!

 (Anvil)

Yes, I’m Anvil, the stormy cloud. I’ve put it all together

to make myself the strongest  force you’ll find in all the weather.

 (Lightning Bolts Chorus spoken wind-like)

Rock on, Anvil! Whoo! Rock on, Anvil! Whoo, whoo!

 (Anvil)

 I can rain  and pourso hard that your roof will leak

and turn Main Street into a big creek.

So show a little caution when I come storming through.

Hide inside the house or in the car. That’s what you should do.

(Lightning Bolts Chorus spoken wind-like)

Rock on, Anvil! Whoo! Rock on, Anvil! Whoo, whoo!

(Anvil)

Yes, I’m Anvil, the stormy cloud. I’ve put it all together

to make myself the strongest force you’ll find in all the weather.

(Lightning Bolts Chorus spoken wind-like)

Rock on, Anvil! Whoo! Rock on, Anvil, Whoo, whoo!

(Anvil and Lightning Bolts chorus move off stage,  storm effects disappear and the hiding ballplayer comes out from under the bleacher bench.)

BASEBALL PLAYER 2

I never want to be in one of Anvil’s storms again. Everything is soaked. The shed and fence are down. Trees, too. 

(looks up toward Nimbus coming into scene)

Oh, no, here comes another one.

 (goes back under the bleacher bench)

(Lights go out to end scene, then up for scene three. Sound effect of rain falling   begins.)

SCENE THREE–

Props: corn stalks,  flowers in planter. (Note: “flowers” and “corn stalks” could be actors in Flower/vegetable costumes.  Small pond. Watering cans for Nimbus and his chorus. Baseball  players are there holding umbrellas.  Sound effect of rain but without thunder and lightning. Nimbus appears with its chorus, the Rain Drops.

NIMBUS

(Pouring water from can into pond, on flowers, and talking to baseball player.)

Don’t worry, little boy. My name is Nimbus Cumulus and I’m Anvil’s cousin. But I just bring gentle rain that makes the corn and the flowers grow. And I keep the ponds full of water.

 BASEBALL PLAYER 3

We shouldn’t worry, Nimbus? Do you really mean that?

(When Nimbus sings, flowers and trees get taller, corn grows and all the plants and flowers sway to the music. Kids jump in puddle/pond wearing boots and raincoats and holding umbrellas–following song lyrics.)

 NIMBUS AND THE RAINDROPS

 (sing Nimbus’ theme, “Rain, Rain, Rain”)

 (Nimbus)

I’m Nimbus Cumulus, the mid-size cloud…much kinder than my stormy friend.

If you had a choice, you’d rather see me coming than get blasted by a storm that doesn’t end..

Even though I’m big and round and  fat, I’m kinder than that howling storm.

Trust me I won’t blow down your fences and do nasty thing like that. I’m not a 

naughty cloud who wants to do you harm.

(Nimbus and the Raindrops chorus)

Rain, rain, rain, How much will you get? Rain, rain, rain, enough to get you soaking wet!

(Nimbus)

When I rain on the lawns and gardens in your happy neighborhood,

The grass and flowers will grow tall and strong  with bright blooms 

to make them look so good.

Farmers like the water that I bring to help the crops grow.

The vegetables like my drops that flow.

Cows like to drink from my ponds, clear and cooling.…

Helps them make milk each day, you know.

(Nimbus and the Raindrops chorus)

Rain, rain, rain. How much will you get? Rain, rain, rain. Enough to get you soaking wet.

(Nimbus)

I must admit it’s a special thrill when Sadie shows clouds on TV.

When she says you can count on steady rain, I know that she means me.

It’s fun for me to watch children laughing hard and hear their loud and happy hoots, as they jump and splash in puddles wearing fancy raincoats, hats and boots.

(Nimbus and the Raindrops chorus)

Rain, rain, rain. How much will you get? Rain, rain, rain. Enough to get you soaking wet.  

(Rain sound effect ends.  Lights down. Then lights up for scene four)

SCENE FOUR: 

Ball park with Sadie and cameraman doing a live report…drenched ballplayers, umpire and grandstand people move back into the scene and when she sings, they slide and slip as described in the lyrics to “Can’t Play in the Rain.”

SADIE

(Talking to camera over her “theme” music vamp)

Hi. I’m Sadie the Weather Lady with a live report from Centerville Park where the clouds Anvil and Nimbus Cumulus have just moved through, leaving a path of destruction and water. They have made playing outdoors almost impossible, because you can’t do much outdoors when it rains and pours. 

(Ballplayers, umpire and bleacher fans gather around Sadie and they sing and the song with her.)

SADIE, UMPIRE, BALLPLAYERS AND FANS 

  (sing “Can’t Play in the Rain”)

Oh, you can’t play much baseball in the wet, driving rain.

Can’t catch, can’t hit can’t run the base, ‘cause nothing is the same.

And you can’t play tennis or go out to jump and run.

Basketball when the court is drenched really isn’t fun.

What can you do when it rains and pours?

Play some games and do your chores while you hang around indoors.

Oh, you can’t throw a football when the rain is coming down,

and the field is soft and muddy when you try to run around.

Hard to get a soccer score or  volley ball past the net

when your pants and shoes and socks are all so dripping wet.

What can you do when it rains and pours?

Play some games and do your chores while you hang around indoors.

SADIE

(On camera doing a TV report and pointed up to the sky)

Wow, the big clouds Anvil and Nimbus have moved through town. Just the small cloud, Puffy, still floating around. Hmmm, looks like Puffy is going up to see Cirrus, the high, thin and gentle old cloud. I bet Puffy wants some advice from Cirrus about how a very small cloud can have fun.

(Lights down. Then lights up for scene five.)

SCENE FIVE: 

Just blue sky background. If projection screen is used in background, a few birds and a hot air Balloon or airplane are shown. Cirrus is on a riser so Puffy is looking up at Cirrus, whose long, thin shape stretches horizontally…Cirrus is wearing glasses and holding in his cloud-arm the “Silver Lining” banner.

 PUFFY

 (Looking at Cirrus)

Oh, kind and gentle Cirrus, you are a wise old cloud. I’m very sad because it seems like I  can’t have any fun.  Will you please tell me what I should do?

 (PUFFY sings “Puffy’s Lament”)

I’m a small, friendly cumulus cloud and Puffy is my name.

Unlike my cousins, Anvil and Nimbus, I can’t play weather games.

I can’t blow down fences, sound any thunder or get stormy TV fame.

And that, wise cloud Cirrus, is because I’m so small that I can’t rain.

I can shake and twist and make a fist and jump and twirl and stop,

But the more I try I’m so very dry I can’t wring out a drop.

So I’ve come up to see you for counsel about what a small cloud can do

To have lots of fun and become famous while floating in skies of blue.

(Cirrus puts its arm around Puffy and sings to Puffy.)

CIRRUS SINGS “Go For a Silver Lining”

Puffy, how can I truly express my fondness and affection

For a cloud like you,  too small to rain, yes too small to storm, seeking my wise direction.

Do not despair as you float through the air, that you can’t storm like a cousin cloud.

There are some things you can do — more than just a few — that are fun and will make you proud. 

La la la la la la

You can change your shapes that an eye can see to anything you want to be,  and that’s very entertaining.

You’ll be loved for the smile you bring to a child  looking up without the threat of 

raining.

You can give shade and a cooling breeze  to those below who have a need

And you’ll get pleasure you can measure each time you can do a good deed.

Go for a Silver Lining. Don’t be a cloud that’s whining. Puffy the Cloud, there’s

lots you can do.

And on those days when the sun’s hot rays make people fwant some real nice shade and 

You find some ways to cool them,

So Puffy come along with me.

You’ll see what  a small cloud can do to make people smile. 

It’s a fabulous game for you to make hot people very cool and they all will love you too.

Go for a Silver Lining. Don’t be a cloud that’s whining. 

Puffy the Cloud, there’s lots you can do.

 PUFFY: (sings “Puffy’s Thank You”)

Thanks wise cloud Cirrus for showing me the way 

I can do good things and have more fun by helping each day.

I don’t have to be like Angus with those frightening sounds,

And I don’t have to pour like Nimbus on those rainy weather rounds.

Some day Sadie will show me on her radar screen.

More fun, by far, than my cousins are in their scary scene.

Oh, Cirrus, I want to earn a Silver Lining  to wear.

To show folks below that  my heart is is good…that I really care.

Come along with me and we will see how many people I can find

To help with my shapes, shade and breezes. I will be soft and kind.

Yes, I want to be the friendly cloud who’s everyone’s  dear.

I will help when I can all over the land when it’s hot and clear. 

(Lights down, then back up for scene six.)

SCENE SIX 

Together, Puffy and Cirrus move upon a lake scene–patch of blue plastic with piece of dock on far side…full lake scene in background if projection screen background is used…

A boy and girl in a sailboat are sitting still in the water with a limp sail. It can be a small wooden sailboat on wheels so it can move…or a card board boat and mast without a bottom–powered by actors legs–and sail can be “inflated” from pull on cord off-stage when Puffy blows a puff of wind by  rigging a few strings to the sail material.

CIRRUS 

(to Puffy):

Look, down  there, Puffy, that sail boat can use a helping wind to push it back to show.

SAILORS AND OFF-STAGE CHORUS

SING “No wind for the sail”

(Sailors)

If we had some wind we could move to shore in our tiny sailing boat.

But without a breeze when you’re out on the seas, all you can do is sit and float.

(Off-stage chorus)

No wind for the sail 

(Sailors)

How nice it would be if that cloud we can see could put a puff of wind in our sail.

Please blow, little cloud, make yourself proud…but please don’t make rain or hail!  

(Puffy moves in toward boat,  makes a blowing wind – sound affect–and the boat moves across the stage to a dock at shore with sail billowed from Puffy’s wind.)

(Off-stage chorus)

No wind for the sail. No wind for the sail.

No wind for the sail. No wind for the sail. No wind for the sail.

 (Sailors give Puffy a “thank you” wave.)

 (Wind sound effect ends)

SAILORS 

Thanks for your help, Puffy.

(Lights down, then up again for scene seven) 

To read more, please purchase the script. 

Puffy The Cloud That Couldn’t Rain – Musical

No videos show for this product.

No images show for this product.