Not a Lion

previously known as Popsicle Palace

^{we’re the picture above Dirty Dancing}

Once upon a time, when we were 16, Jodi Rogaway and I wrote a musical based on a famous children’s book. When that was performed, the estate of the author was perfectly happy to allow royalty-free stage adaptations. A dozen years later, California’s oldest family-run theatre, Glendale Center, expressed interest in producing it. But, at this point in time, the estate was no longer allowing royalty-free stage adaptations. What to do? Create A New Fairy Tale…

^{James Cude, Brett Martin, Stephanie Plumley and Popsicle Palace cast}

The completely new book was by Lee Rooklin. I cut several songs, and added new ones, which you can hear here on this page.

^{James Cude, Brett Martin, Stephanie Plumley}

The show was then called Popsicle Palace. Eventually, we heard from lawyers representing the owners of the Popsicle trademark. We skittishly changed the title to Not a Lion, wanting to avoid a fight.

^{Cynthia Payo, Stefanie Plumley, Brett Martin, Jim Cude}

Are you getting tired of looking at that cat? I am. Not a Lion is about a land where an ordinary housecat is frequently mistaken for a lion. Sort of an identity crisis musical comedy.

^{Paul Shelby, B.J. Heft}

We were scheduled to run just a few weeks in downtown Glendale, but sold so many seats, we were several times extended. The mayor of Glendale handed us a proclamation. The Los Angeles Times reviewed us, positively. We ended up running many months.

Ooh! Finally found a track without that cat.

^{Lisa Erickson}