This musical comedy by Ann Pugh and Betty Utter (authors of Heidi), can be produced as It Happened in Hamelin, or The Pied Piper, or a combination of both. It can be produced as a non-musical or with some of the music omitted if the director chooses. Notes in the playscript describe how this play can easily be converted into a play suitable for the Christmas season by making a few adjustments.

Premiered by the Casa Mañana Playhouse, Ft. Worth, Texas, this play has achieved international acclaim along with Heidi. "We all love the music and the script...The show has been designed by professionals from Tokyo Disneyland."—Hilary King, Tokyo Children's Theatre, Japan.

This full-length musical comedy of the Pied Piper legend is a "tuneful comedy treatment of what was always a grim story," said the managing director of the Dallas Junior Players Guild. The story: Rats are plaguing the once lovely little hamlet of Hamelin, but the pompous Mayor is more concerned about his Very Grand Ball than he is about the rats. The townsfolk demand action, so when the Pied Piper shows up with his magic flute and offers to rid Hamelin of its rats for 100 guilders, the Mayor agrees. When the rats are gone, however, the Mayor reneges on his promise. "You'll lose something more precious than money," the Piper warns. "What could be more precious than money?" the Mayor scoffs. He soon finds out.

Delightful characters—including Zezparellda, the dizzy wizardess; Fred, the Mayor's dopey brother; Johann, the happy little crippled boy in constant conflict with Carl the bully; and the wise old Cobbler—blend with enchanting music to form a captivating play. "The score is one of the cleverest pieces ever seen in theatre for children," commented the musical director of the Children's Theatre of Richmond, Va. For all groups. A long one-act divided into scenes with an intermission possible. A public square once upon a time uses minimal set pieces to change locations.

"Thank you for offering 'It Happened in Hamelin' for us frustrated Jr. High music teachers who have such a difficult time finding suitable musical material for our kids."—Carol S. Huffman, Pickerington, Ohio, Middle School. "Twenty 'mice' ranging in age from two to eight from our next door parish elementary school stole the show."—Sister Marie Julie, Academy of the Holy Family, Baltic, Conn. "We had 50 kids in grades 1-9 involved in this production, and they loved it!"— Judy Ness, Winnebago, Minn. Musical Players. "We really enjoyed doing 'Hamelin' as you will see from the tape. We had 73 children in the cast ages 6-13."—Rae Harrell, Hinesburg, Vt. Elementary School. "If hundreds of smiling faces held in rapt attention are any indication...'Hamelin' is a smashing success."—Priscilla Cummings, Richmond, Va., News Leader.

See also: Fairytales, Folktales, and Fables and Musical/Non-Musical