Last Stop on Market Street

by Cheryl L. West
Based on the book by Matt de la Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson
With music by Paris and Lamont Dozier

Six-year-old CJ is (reluctantly) staying with his (extremely over-the-top) Nana, in a world considerably different from the one he’s used to (his phone and tablet). The disagreeable (and let’s just admit it, whiny) child is dragged on a bus ride that’s loud and gritty and weird. Guided by his veritable force-of-nature Nana, CJ travels a little closer to his roots and sees that things are not always what they seem. This is one hip-hop, eclectic, heart-thumpin’, toe-tappin’ joy ride.

$12.00

Quick Details

  • Type: Musical
  • Length: 60-70 minutes
  • Availability: Available for productions in North America
  • Cast Size: 12 roles plus potential ensemble | Doubling possible for 6 actors
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Full Details

MAIN CHARACTERS:

  • NANA TEACAKE: 50'sish, Afro Cuban
  • CJ: 7 years old, Black and Latino, her grandson

ENSEMBLE:

Except for Nana and CJ, the following roles can be doubled for 4 ensemble actors (2 male, 2 female)

  • Stay at Home Dad
  • Mr. Dennis: 40ish, bus driver
  • Tatted Man: Bus passenger
  • Madam Butterfly: Bus Passenger
  • Vernon: Blind bus passenger
  • Softball Teen Girl #1: Bus passenger
  • Softball Teen Girl #2: Bus Passenger
  • Mr. Chow: Soup kitchen patron who uses a wheelchair
  • Grandma Poser: 70'ish, soup kitchen patron
  • Jojo: 8-10 years old, grandson of Grandma Posey, soup kitchen patron

The following resources are INCLUDED in each performance license:
  • Permission to photocopy the PDF script/score for your production so there is no additional cost for these assets.
  • Production audio files for backtracking, underscoring, and sound effects. Use of these files are REQUIRED to give the production it's signature hip-hop feel.
  • Demo audio files with vocals for rehearsals.
  • Limited use of up to 3 illustrations from original book.
The following resources may be added to your license at an additional fee:
  • Orchestration for conductor, bass, drums, and guitar.
  • Logo package

Cheryl L. West

Cheryl L. West's plays include: Something Happened in Our Town, Last Stop on Market Street, Akeelah & the Bee, Mwindo, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Addy: American Girl Story, and Pullman Porter Blues. Her plays have been seen in England, Off-Broadway, on Broadway (Play On!)and in numerous regional theaters around the country. She has written TV and film projects at Disney, Paramount, MTV Films, Showtime, TNT, HBO, CBS and is the Webby-nominated writer for the original web series Diary of a Single Mom. Ms. West is the recipient of several awards: American Alliance For Theatre & Education (AATE) Distinguished Play Award (2016), the 2016 Charlotte B. Chorpenning Playwright Award, the Helen Hayes/Charles McArthur award for outstanding new play, the Susan Smith Blackburn prize, an international playwriting award for distinguished new plays, the National Endowment Playwriting Award and the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Best Playwright Award.

Last Stop on Market Street was originally co-produced by Chicago Children’s Theater and the Children’s Theatre Company in 2018

Preview the show

Last Stop on Market Street at Children's Theatre Company

Reviews

“

Last Stop on Market Street is what children’s theater should be. It does not talk down to its audience. It is burgeoning with wonder. If you are a kid, you’ll giggle yourself silly. If you were once a kid, you just might remember what that felt like.

- Chicago Sun Times
“

Last Stop could be Hamilton Jr.

- Star Tribune

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