To Save the Planet
an environmental musical
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To Save the Planet is a musical fable about the global environment and what we can do to help. An uplifting story combined with inspiring music. Performed by the touring CenterStage Players Youth Troupe (inducted into UNEP Global 500 Award Hall of Fame in 1994). "We Are the Ones" (the finale track) was the theme song for C.A.R.E., first performed at the 1992 World Earth Day celebration in Washington D.C.
As the story unfolds, more and more of Earth's creatures are lost to extinction. But it isn't until the children disappear that the people really take notice. The children have been spirited away by the scientist's daughter, driving home her point that ecological neglect will forfeit all their futures. The scientist searches far and wide, but finding the children is only part of his problem. Once found, he must convince them to return. In a moving speech, he explains how their generation will be the one making the most important environmental decisions. They must come back and be part of the solution. Together, they return To Save the Planet!
"You never know how well something will stand the test time,” Mueller remarked when remastering this 1989 musical drama, "especially if it depends on dated information. Some of the animals we listed as endangered have indeed gone extinct. Yet many more have flourished. The Amazon Forest continues to dwindle. (To help save the Amazon, go to JungleKeepers.org , the best charity saving the Rainforest). However, the environment of most industrial countries has improved, especially regarding expanded forests, cleaner waterways, and the handling of toxic wastes. More and more people continue to inhabit big cities making them even larger heat sinks, yet many cities have embraced environmentally conscious ways to improve power consumption and recycling. Amphibian die-offs continue (highlighted in the song Where Are the Frogs) and are now joined by bees and bats. The good news is that these die-offs are receiving attention and answers are being identified. More must be done, but we need to applaud the progress made so far. Optimism is an important element of motivation.
"As an example of how the passage of time has changed the meaningfulness of the play, the song There’s a Hole in the Sky has become a powerful message of hope, as opposed to the cautionary tale it was meant to be. The Ozone Hole has completely healed due to the world banning the offending aerosol chemicals. Even as China has skirted those bans (as was recently revealed in the news), the Ozone Layer remains in tact. (Note: This official stance may be incorrect, however. According to scientists associated with GeoEngineering.org, there is a coverup regarding ozone depletion. The Dimming and other studies show degredation of the ozone layer, as governments around the globe are intentionally warming the earth in order to melt ice caps that cover large mineral and rare earth deposits.)
"The script was written as the Iron Curtain was coming down. The extreme environmental degradation discovered in the Soviet-controlled area of Eastern Europe was not fully understood. Things were actually worse than we imagined. In addition, China and India had not yet become the economic (and polluting) powerhouses they are today. In many ways, the challenge we faced was larger than we anticipated. If I were to rewrite the story today, I would add scenes in Gurugram (India), Beijing (China) and, perhaps, Arkhangelsk (Russia). I would include the failure of especially authoritarian governments to protect the environment. I would dramatize the need for uncensored and honest scientific debate. I would confront the reality of governments pouring nano-particle aluminum and other toxins into the atmosphere to manipulate weather and filter out or reflect sunlight, damaging every aspect of the environment in the process, and weakening not just our immune systems, but the immune systems of every living creature, as well as the planet's ability to heal itself. I would highlight the environmental success stories that do not get the air time they deserve. I would discuss the need to never loose sight of real-life feasibility regarding economic and political choices, because useful answers must also be realistic. I might even discuss the limits of renewable energy as an answer (they currently account for merely 1% of gloabl energy production, can never completely replace more reliable forms and require huge amounts of currently natural land be converted into solar or wind farms). I would suggest nuclear power, especially thorium reactors, as important and necessary alternatives. I would definitely discuss the best way to fight desertification and how to reverse climate change in one genius stroke (see Allan Savory’s TED talk.)
"Poverty, hunger, disease, famines and life expectancy have all improved dramatically across the globe. Almost all “measurable” aspects of personal well-being have improved. Planet well-being must be a part of this equation. On balance, the worst case scenarios presented three decades ago have not come true. I am more hopeful than I was 30 years ago. But the work has only just begun (and will never end). The play’s message - that children deserve a better future and must be empowered to help make it happen - is as vital today as ever."
"Yet, new issues, like widespread aluminum pollution, agricultural land loss, endless wars, government corruption resulting in the mismanagement of funding and ecological mandates, plus other disasters-in-the-making continue to plague our world. The task of protecting our Home is neverending."
"This play helped me be inducted into the United Nations’ Global 500 Roll of Honor," Mueller continued. "It was performed on the floor of the United Nations. This led directly to several other shows of mine appearing in Manhattan. It changed my career. I am indebted to its success, to the dozens of youths who gave their all on and off stage during the show’s 10 year run, to their moms and dads how supported them (and me), and especially to Kim Vanderhyden, the show's producer and my dear friend. May this re-issue bring you as much joy as it still gives to me."
To Save the Planet is a musical for everyone interested in the future of our only home...the Earth. This one-hour musical has been performed over 600 times on 5 continents by school children of every background. The story follows an environmental scientist and his dedicated daughter as they journey to the world's worst ecological hot spots. At every stop, the upbeat music reflects the cultural heritage of the country. They visit Pakistan, Brazil, Mexico, the Pacific Islands…and tackle issues of deforestation, pollution, over-fishing, population and energy consumption with intelligence, humor and even-handedness. An unforgettable show!
If you are interested in full scripts, background accompaniment CDs or more information, contact Tobin Mueller on his Official Website or learn more at CenterStage-Musicals. Appropriate for grades 2-12; target grades for stage performance: 5-12.
This recording was made in 1991 and has been remastered - originally produced by CenterStage Productions, Kim Vanderhyden and Tobin Mueller; engineered by Jeff Maroszek at Bonzai Studios. Several of the CenterStage Players Youth Troupe went on to achieve recording/performing careers of their own. This recording features several: Emily Rohm, Jessica Flood, Brianna Davis, Holly Thomas, Kate Brehm and Anton (Twon) Mueller. The character Dr. Murdock is played by Chris Vanderlinden; Melanie is played by Lindsey Teetaert.
Click the Play buttons below to listen (website may take a moment to start streaming) and click on the Lyrics/Illustration buttons to see lyrics and artwork (they will pop up in a new page). See CenterStage-Musicals for more information.
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1 | Prologue |
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2 | Save the Planet [Lyrics/Illustrations] |
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3 | News |
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4 | The News Circus [Lyrics/Illustrations] |
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5 | Hope and Heroes |
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6 | Where Are the Frogs? [Lyrics/Illustrations] |
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7 | Bad News |
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8 | Deep In The Forest/Forest Cutters [Lyrics/Illustrations] |
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9 | Forest Interlude |
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10 | The Story Continues |
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11 | There's a Hole in the Sky [Lyrics/Illustrations] |
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12 | Discover |
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13 | City Heat (Garbaga Gala) [Lyrics/Illustrations] |
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14 | Disappearance |
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15 | Where Have You Gone [Lyrics/Illustrations] |
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16 | The Island |
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17 | Save the Planet (reprise) |
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18 | We Are the Ones (bonus track) |
All music and lyrics by Tobin Mueller, ©1988/2019.
