Synopsis

'Why Daniel ...' is an amusing musical oratorio for youngsters - an 'adult musical for children'. It requires two competent adult male solo voices, has a children's chorus of lions and offers optional opportunities for dancers. The format is that of an oratorio with young storytellers providing recitatives between the musical numbers, and if required the audience can be encouraged to sing along with some of the easier melodies.

It's loosely a 'play within a play' as the cast are involved in creating a musical about the life of Daniel, the Bible’s ‘unsung hero’. A Director arrives at a rehearsal of their musical, warms up the audience, and the storytellers then guide the audience through the various stages and scenes of his Daniel’s life interspersed with songs that are relevant, evangelical, inspirational or amusing.

Amongst others, three well-know incidents are explored : the fiery furnace which Daniel is flung into with his friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; the writing on the wall at Belshazzar’s Feast, and (probably the most well-known) Daniel in the lion’s den.

The musical is an ideal piece for children’s theatre, schools, civic and religious groups.

Characters

Songs