AngelFox Media / Director packet
John Henry vs. the Robot
A folk hero. A robot dad. One musical comedy showdown over what makes us human.
School license from $459 for 3 performances. Organization type and additional performances affect pricing.
The case for your season
A compact folk-hero musical comedy with a modern technology twist and plenty of ensemble energy.
- Good for younger or mixed-experience casts
- Can feel large with an expandable ensemble
- Works for programs that need a brisk, family-friendly show
Cast & production
- Cast
- 10+ actors
- Runtime
- ≈ 1.5 hours
- Best for
- Shorter musical slots; Schools; Family audiences
- Difficulty
- Accessible
- Music
- Folk-flavored comedy numbers with approachable audition materials.
- Content rating
- PG (appropriate for children)
- Content notes
- Folk-hero comedy, technology satire, and family-friendly competition stakes.
- Staging
- Simple staging can work well; the robot element can be as practical or as playful as your shop allows.
- Accompaniment
- Recorded rehearsal and performance tracks included with a standard musical license.
Listed characters / role groups
- John Henry
- male, African-American, the legendary man of steel himself
- Bobby
- male/female, a youth who still believes in magic and doesn't want a robot for a father
- Gramps/Granny
- male/female, Bobby's technologically-illiterate grandfather or grandmother, laments about the good-old-days when folks still had character, rediscovers childlike magic
- Polly (Mama)
- female, Bobby's mother, down-to-earth, no-nonsense, lonely
- Mach 21
- male, the most advanced robot in the world, even when it comes to wooing women
- The John Henry Singers
- female, narrators, chorus girls
Preview before deciding
- Perusal scripthttps://angelfoxmedia.com/scripts/johnHenry/index.html
- Score samplehttps://angelfoxmedia.com/samples/john/score-sample.pdf
- Music demoshttps://angelfoxmedia.com/music/john
Licensing & next steps
Standard licenses include digital scripts, score, recorded tracks, available production artwork, and three public performances for your listed venue and dates. Materials are delivered after payment. Schools and theatres can request an invoice or purchase order during checkout.
Professional, touring, recording, streaming, adaptation, translation, and exclusive rights require written approval. Confirm those needs before purchasing or announcing your production.
https://angelfoxmedia.com/library/john/packet