Behind The Curtain

Scheherazade and Her 1,001 Night Stands

Words and Music by Janet McMahan and David Huntsinger
Status: Written, 3 full productions

Once upon a time, a sultan of a large and powerful empire left his castle to embark on a hunting trip. Returning unexpectedly early, he caught his beloved wife in the embrace of  one of the servants. Enraged, he beheaded them on the spot and headed for the estate of his brother, who was away at the time. He decided to stay in one of the outhouse guestrooms. Here lay his next staggering revelation: past midnight, he started to hear music from the gardens and open windows. Exploring, he was shocked beyond belief to find his brother’s wife among a small crowd of figures, also in the arms of another man.

Stunned by the turn of events, he returned to court blinded with a desire for revenge. Engrossed in feelings of betrayal and rage, he vowed to take revenge on all womankind by beginning a monstrous tradition: he would take a new virgin wife every night, only to behead her the following morning, so as to not allow her the opportunity to be unfaithful to him.

In the sultan’s madness, the kingdom slowly became a hostile place for all young women. Families fled elsewhere with their daughters as the sultan continued with his rage-filled murder. Sick with worry, the sultan’s vizier urged his daughters to leave. He had to stay in the capital and fulfill his duties, but his two daughters, Scheherazade and Dunyazad, could flee. However, Scheherazade refuses to leave – and instead insists on becoming the sultan’s next bride.

After many attempts to try and make her see her folly, and much to the vizier’s dismay, Scheherazade and the sultan were married. On Scheherazade’s wedding night, as a last wish, she begged for her sister’s company. Dunyazad joined them and requested that her sister tell one of her captivating stories. With the sultan’s approval, Scheherazade started her very first story. So engaging and mesmerizing were her charm and her storytelling capabilities, it was almost dawn before anyone realized. Clever Scheherazade ended the night’s storytelling on a suspenseful turn, leaving her audience on edge, wanting more. The sultan was so engrossed in Scheherazade’s story that – to everybody’s surprise – he allowed her to live one extra night to finish it.
Of course, the following night she finished the first story – and began another one. She continued this night after night, always ending on a tantalizing twist. Scheherazade continued telling her tales for a thousand and one nights, and in that time the sultan slowly started to fall for her beauty, charm and intelligence. He eventually saw the error of his ways and the injustices he’d wrought. Professing his true love for Scheherazade, they finally began a life together. The blood lust stopped, and peace was restored.

Once Upon a Tree

Book Janet McMahan
Music and Lyrics by Janet McMahan and David Huntsinger

Once Upon a Tree is the story of Elizabeth, a highly imaginative, misunderstood little girl who loves and cares tirelessly for her pet plant. One evening around midnight, she tiptoes into her kitchen and reaches into the refrigerator for a piece of fruit. As she grabs the fruit, suddenly, she is mysteriously pulled through the refrigerator into a magical world of grand extremes where she meets a cast of characters she has only read about in fairy tales. A scary, wonder filled, wacky world awaits her. Upon her arrival, Elizabeth finds herself accused as a thief – They say she has stolen a piece of fruit – most specifically, a piece of the “fruit fraught with possibilities.” She must prove her innocence by gaining the love and respect of some of the most diabolical characters of all time. She finds the good in the Big Bad Wolf, a tender side to Captain Hook, and most importantly befriends a lost and lonely talking tree. As Elizabeth begins to unravel the mystery that has cursed the Kingdom, everyone in the Kingdom begins to see that if they will only listen to each other and listen to love, their happily ever afters once again will begin to come true.