Loch ness: A Monster of a Musical by Stacey Lane and Kathie McMahon

Synopsis In full-length musical for family audiences with a flexible cast, precocious Marnie, her little sister, and her nana run a tour of Loch Ness. Their boat and their business have seen better days. Marnie grows frustrated that tourists ignore Inverness’ natural beauty because they only have monsters on their minds. When Marnie bursts out that Nessie doesn’t exist, their few customers demand their money back. A rowdy family from the U.S. starts a rival tour on the same dock. They guarantee to track down the Loch Ness Monster in their flashy motorboat. The silly, scheming American kids trick the gullible sightseers by tossing rocks and sticks into the dark water. Satisfied tourists leave with tall tales, blurry photographs, and tacky souvenirs. The rumors of Nessie sightings bring a boastful monster hunter and a studious cryptozoologist to their dock. Marnie escapes the fanatical frenzy to calm down at a nearby pond. There she is shocked to find Nessie also hiding out from the hullabaloo. Marnie and her sister enjoy sneaking snacks to their secret supernatural pal until they accidently lead the publicity- hungry monster hunter straight to Nessie. Soon an impatient crowd is ready to drain the pond to reveal the beast. Recognizing that Nessie is real and in real danger, the crafty American kids plant a fake Loch Ness Monster egg to divert the mob to the cryptozoologist’s lab—and away from the small pond. Meanwhile, Marnie and her sister guide Nessie to the safety of colossal Loch Ness.

To preview Loch Ness: A Monster of a Musical or obtain production rights, please contact Stacey@StaceyLaneInk.com. For more information about composer and lyrist Kathie McMahon, please visit www.kathiemcmahon.com.

The cast of a workshop of Loch Ness: A Monster of a Musical at iO Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. Produced by Cold Reads, Hot Scripts. Directed by Zak Kinnaird. Photographer: Stefan Carlson.

Character Descriptions Nana Sheena Marnie and Lorna’s dedicated grandmother Izzy a take-charge tourist Yates an impatient tourist Quincy an enthusiastic tourist Gable a skeptical tourist Marnie Lorna’s smart, strong-willed older sister Xavier an excited tourist Brody Rhona’s spoiled child Camille a frustrated tourist Akito an inquisitive tourist Rhona Brody’s overindulgent mother Lorna Marnie’s loyal and hopeful younger sister Vic a pensive tourist Jermaine an insistent tourist Zane Chuck and Georgia’s smooth-talking eldest child Chuck Zane, Piper, and Ty’s sign-seeking father Georgia Zane, Piper, and Ty’s calculating mother Piper Chuck and Georgia’s plotting middle child Ty Chuck and Georgia’s bumbling youngest child Haley a trusting tourist Ashanti a gullible tourist Wen a quizzical tourist Ezra an eager tourist Frankie a thrill-seeking tourist Kris an uncertain tourist Ricci an eager tourist Spencer a confident tourist Umi a vigilant tourist Dr. Wetherell a studious cryptozoologist Duke a boastful monster hunter

Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes Set: dock on the loch (exterior) Cast: 7 F, 2 M, 29 any gender or 7 F, 2 M, 11 any gender with double casting

Nessie the gentle Loch Ness Eel Nessie’s stressed-out companion Monster Otter Nessie’s playful best Fish a no-nonsense leader friend Goose a people-loving party Townspeople Inverness residents (optional) animal Tourists visitors (optional) Reporters local and national news crews (optional)

with music and lyrics by Kathie McMahon