The show begins with Tom Canty, a poor city boy, running on and bumping into the palace Guard. The guard grabs Tom. Tom explains that two bullies are chasing him and he has to go. Rood and Shrewd, two streetwise bullies, run in ("Good Guys"). When the Guard questions them about Tom they say they don't know him and wouldn't bother anyone. The guard believes them and they leave vowing to get Tom later. When the guard starts pushing Tom around, Prince Edward, who is in the palace courtyard, commands him to stop. Edward tells the guard to let the boy in the gate.

Edward takes Tom to his room. Tom introduces himself and they talk about who they are and their families. Tom is impressed by Edward's rich clothes and other things. When Tom talks about the fun he has playing in the street with his friends, Edward wishes he could do that ("In Your Shoes"). They decide to switch clothes for a few minutes to see how it feels. Once they exchange clothes they look in the mirror and see that they look alike. They could easily be mistaken for each other. When Edward realizes the guard has hurt Tom, he immediately goes to see him dressed in Tom's clothes. The guard, thinking that Edward is Tom, throws him out on the street where Rood and Shrewd are waiting for him. Edward proclaims he is the Prince and must return to the palace, but everyone just laughs at the Prince in pauper's clothes. Rood and Shrewd drag Edward away to take him home to his mother.

Meanwhile, Tom is waiting for Edward to return, when Princess Elizabeth, Edward's sister, comes in. She needs him to visit their father, King Henry, who is very ill. When Tom tells her he is not Edward, she gets confused and upset. She leaves to get Lord Hertford, the King's Chancellor. Tom hopes Edward will return soon. That is not to be, however, as Edward is now at Tom's house. Edward tells Mother that he is not Tom. Mother is upset and asks Tom for his earnings from begging to help pay the rent. Edward says he never begs because it is against the King's law and he will ask his father for the money. Not knowing what to do, Mother sends Edward to bed with just a crust of bread for supper ("Who Are You Now?"). Night has come to the palace as well when Elizabeth brings Lord Hertford to see Tom. After speaking to him, he thinks "Edward" has gone mad. He tells Elizabeth to tell everyone in the palace that they are not to speak of this madness. Elizabeth leaves. He then tells Tom that he must act like a prince because the King would command him to do so. Reluctantly, Tom agrees and decides he will get ready for bed with the help of his servants.

The next morning Mother and Edward are on the street to beg for money. Edward is uncooperative so Mother decides they will split up and meet later. She leaves and Edward feels helpless. He remembers that there is a great banquet at Guildhall that night. He decides to go there and find Tom so they can switch places. He exits. At the palace Elizabeth has found Tom eating nuts and not dressed for the day. She asks if he has seen the King's Great Seal, but he says he has not. She is trying to help him remember his princely duties ("The Same Old You") when Lord Hertford enters to tell them that their father passed away. Edward is to be crowned King in two days. Tom is very worried as the first act ends.

[If done in TWO Acts, Intermission goes here]

Edward is waiting at Guildhall for Tom to arrive. When the guard tells Edward that "the Prince" is already inside, Edward gets angry. The guard is about to arrest Edward when Miles Hendon speaks up for the boy. He says he will be responsible for him and the guard hands Edward over to him. Miles persuades Edward to come with him even though he continues to claim he is the Prince of Wales, heir to the throne. Miles takes Edward back to his room at the inn where the two get to be friends. Edward learns that Miles is of noble birth, but he has been denied his rightful place. Edward and Miles share a common bond ("I'll Be Here"). Because of his kindness, Edward knights Miles and gives him the right to sit in the presence of the King whenever he pleases. Miles, unsure of Edward's story, decides to humor him and treat him like a prince until he can find out the truth ("Who Are You Now Reprise").

The next day Elizabeth is helping Tom prepare for his coronation as king. Again Elizabeth asks about the Great Seal, but Tom still knows nothing. Lord Hertford comes in and also questions Tom about the Great Seal ("Great Seal"). Tom is tired of these questions and angrily asks them to leave. He is too worried about being crowned King the next day.

It's the day of the coronation and Miles and Edward are walking down the street trying to make a plan to stop it, when Mother comes and sees Edward. Thinking she sees Tom, she confronts Miles about being with him when he was supposed to return home. Mother scolds Tom and does not get the usual reaction from him. She realizes that this is not Tom. The three of them then create a diversion to distract the guard. Edward slips past the guard. The guard realizes this and runs after him followed by Miles and Mother. As Edward enters the coronation, Lord Hertford is just about to crown Tom. Edward commands that he stop. Everyone then sees that the Prince and this pauper boy look very much alike. When Edward claims he is the Prince and Tom agrees with him, Lord Hertford decides that the real Prince would know where the Great Seal is. Edward sends the guard to go look in the royal cupboard, but the guard returns empty handed. When Edward describes the Seal, Tom realizes where Edward put it before he left his room in Tom's clothes. Tom helps Edward to remember where he put it and Edward again sends the guard to get it. This time the guard returns with it and everyone realizes that Edward is the Prince. Lord Hertford demands that Tom be arrested as an impostor. Instead of arresting him, Edward makes him the King's Ward. Mother calls to Tom and reacts to her voice. Mother and Tom are happily reunited. Edward is crowned King and he then gives Miles back his lands and riches. Both Tom and Edward learned about each others lives by switching clothes, but both are happy to return to being themselves ("There Comes A Time").

CASTING: 4-7F / 3-5M*

CHARACTERS:   

TOM - a bored and mischievous young lad

ROOD - a con-man

SHREWD - his partner in crime

MOTHER - Tom's worried mother

PRINCE - Edward of Wales

ELIZABETH - his sister

GUARD

MILES - a helpful stranger

HERTFORD - a royal servant

Special Casting consideration:

The characters of Tom and Edward should look very much alike; enough to make it plausible that their own families can't tell them apart.

SETTING:

The show takes place in 16th Century England. The two main locations are Tom's humble home and the  palace of the royal family, with some scenes  taking place outside in the village or along the road.

* All of our shows are written for small casts, but most are flexible for larger casts and could possibly include an ensemble. Some roles can switch between male and female with minor adjustments to the script. Please inquire for suggestions on alternative casting.

THE RENTAL PACKAGE for this show INCLUDES:

• 10 Copies of the Book/Libretto
• 8 Copies of the Vocal Book
• 1 Copy of the Piano/Keyboard Accompaniment Book (Currently Lead-Sheet only)*
• 1 Copy of Production Notes & Suggestions

OPTIONAL MATERIALS AVAILABLE:

• Additional Copies of the Book/Libretto available for larger casts
• Additional Copies of the Vocal Book available for larger casts
• Additional Copies of the Piano/Keyboard  Accompaniment Book (Lead Sheets)*
• Full DEMO Recording (Composer's original demos; currently this is the only available recording for this show; we are working toward making Full CAST recordings available for all of our shows.)
• Rehearsal CD of Piano Accompaniment Tracks (not intended for use in performances)
• Performance CD of Accompaniment Tracks (We are working toward    making Performance Tracks available which will include instruments other than piano; If you would like to use a  Performance CD instead of live accompaniment, please inquire.)
• *Alternative Accompaniment Books:

1. Full Piano/Keyboard-Arrangement Book (The accompaniment books are currently available in the form of "Lead Sheets" only (i.e. vocal lines on a treble-clef staff with chord names above); We are working toward providing fully-arranged versions. If your Music-Director / Accompanist  requires full arrangements, please inquire and we will make a Full Arrangement Book available to you for a small additional fee.)

2. Pit Band Accompaniment Books (We are currently working toward making accompaniment books available for  a 2-5 piece band; in addition to Piano/Keyboard, this will include parts for Keyboard 2, Guitar, Bass and/or Percussion;  If interested in  using a live pit band for performances, please inquire.)