The Demons of Destiny

The Demons of Destiny is an original musical play created by the students of the Coastside Young Actors Workshop. It premiered in May of 1996, at Cunha Intermediate School in Half Moon Bay, California.

Synopsis

"The Demons of Destiny" tells the story of an adolescent girl, plagued by inner demons, struggling to achieve her goal of graduating middle school with her friends. The girl, named Destiny, is in danger of failing Ms. Barnett's class, which would result in her having to repeat eighth grade. To pass, Destiny must complete a major term project which she has yet to start -- and it is due the next day! The assignment is a storybook with four original stories...................................

Encouraged by her friends Jamie and Christy, and with Ms. Barnett's admonitions in mind, Destiny begins working on her first story, The Dwarves Who Are Obsessed With Pizza. This story tells us about a group of Dwarves, new to the forest, who go out to find the forest's only pizza stand. While waiting for The Pizza Man to make their extra large pizza, they sing 'Do You Know Where Pizza Comes From?' They are bitterly disappointed, however, when their expensive pizza turns out to be extremely small and very burnt. Retreating into the woods to consider their options, the Dwarves hit upon the idea of making their own pizza........

Inside Destiny's mind, the Demon Goddess decides that Destiny's story is going too well. She summons the Demon of Laziness, and orders him to disrupt the project........

Back in the forest, the dwarves' story begins to fall apart as they realize that making their own pizza might involve hard work. Excuses are followed by a nap........

The Demon of Laziness appears, and tries to convince Destiny that putting off her assignment in favor of a nap would be a good idea. Destiny succumbs and dozes off...................................

She is jarred awake by the telephone. Jamie and Christy are calling to check on her progress, and they manage to get her back on track. Destiny begins her second story, Surprise Party In Nursery Rhyme Land. Ms. Muffet, who is grown up, is planning a surprise birthday party for her twin daughters, Curds and Whey. Humpty Dumpty is to act as the doorman, and he has been instructed not to let anyone in to the party unless they say a rhyme. The guests, various nursery rhyme characters, begin to arrive, getting by Humpty Dumpty only after some difficulty and a lesson by Humpty's favorite, Mr. Rogers. Curds and Whey arrive, sad because they think their birthday has been forgotten. Even though it's their own home, Humpty Dumpty insists that they say a rhyme to get in. Just as they are about to........

The Demon Goddess summons the Demon of Distraction........

The story begins to fall apart as each time the twins say their rhyme Humpty misses it. This is because he is being distraction by the Mr. Rogers collectors' items brought out in a bag by Tuffet, the twins' sister. Curds and Whey finally give up trying and begin to leave........

The Demon of Distraction appears. He tells Destiny about other things she could be doing with her time, and persuades her to stop working and go to the mall. Destiny calls Jamie and Christy to invite them to the mall. Her friends set Destiny straight and she gets back to work...................................

The third story is The Death Zone. A wizard has summoned a group of loyal subjects to his castle, which appears to be in a state of decay. The wizard explains that his staff, the source of his magic, has accidentally been lost and he needs them to retrieve it -- from the Death Zone. Despite frightening rumors, the subjects decide that they will go, and they sing, 'We're Going to the Death Zone.' Once in the Death Zone, the group prepares to look for the staff........

The Demon Goddess summons the Demon of Fear........

Back in the Death Zone little demons terrorize the group. Feeling that it may be too dangerous to continue, they decide to abandon their quest and leave the Death Zone........

The Demon of Fear appears, and prompts Destiny to think about death. With tales of horror, the Demon of Fear is able to work Destiny into a state of anxiety that prevents her from continuing...................................

A call from her friends helps to calm Destiny so that she can go on. The fourth story comes from Destiny's need to continue her schoolwork combined with the realization that she is getting hungry. She begins Recognition Assembly at the School for Food. The first students to arrive at the assembly, assorted fruits, are dismayed over the recent demise of their friend, an apple who was probably done in by maggots. They sing of their contempt for those creatures in the song 'Maggots!' The assembly is to feature a concert by a band made up of maggots. The fruit-students decide to sabotage the concert by de-tuning their guitars. The other students, a group of asparagus, arrive. Another student, also an asparagus, introduces the band, Metal Militia. The maggots of Metal Militia play poorly and are jeered off the stage by the assorted fruit. The asparagus, realizing that the sabotage may have occurred, try to get the maggots to give it another try. The maggots seem encouraged........

The Demon Goddess summons the Demon of Self-Doubt........

The story takes a turn for the worse when the maggots decide that, even with their instruments tuned, they wouldn't do well. They sing the song 'We Stink!'........

The Demon of Self-Doubt appears and hurls merciless insults at Destiny, singing 'Doubt Yourself'. Destiny's self-esteem begins to drop, and she decides she can't continue...................................

Talking to her friends on the phone convinces Destiny that she can't give up. In the song 'Inside My Head,' Destiny resolves to fight her inner demons and to conquer them.......................................................................................................

Intermission

A newly determined Destiny begins to take control by summoning the Demon of Laziness. She is able to beat him at his own game, causing him to go off to take a nap. She finishes the first story, as the Dwarves wake up and decide making their own pizza is worth the effort. They accomplish their goal, in the process creating the world's largest pizza! ..................................

Destiny then summons the Demon of Distraction, and manages to distract him, allowing her to get back to work. Humpty Dumpty calls the twins back, hears their rhyme and lets them in. The characters celebrate as they sing 'Surprise Happy Birthday!'..................................

Next Destiny summons the Demon of Fear, whom she manages to frighten away, and she continues her writing. The subjects decide that finding the staff is too important after all. They go deeper into the Death Zone and find the wizard's staff. When they return to the castle they find that everything is now restored to its former beauty...................................

Destiny summons the Demon of Self-Doubt. Destiny wins a battle of insults when she exposes the Demon's weakness -- insulting others to make herself feel bigger. The Metal Militia maggots decide to let the asparagus help tune their guitars, and they try again. Shedding their outer shells and becoming flies, they go on to play well to the delight of all the food...................................

Destiny picks up the phone to call her friends with the exciting news that she has finished only to be confronted on the other end of the line by the Demon Goddess. The Demon Goddess is joined by the other demons in the song 'We're Always With You.' Destiny maintains control and drives the Demons Goddess and the other demons away...................................

Graduation day finds Destiny proudly accepting her diploma, and giving the valedictory speech: Going For Your Goals -- Work Hard, Stay Focused, Be Courageous, and Believe in Yourself!

Cast

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