Pet Side Story - Coming Soon
Ages 7-11
COMING SOON
It's CATS versus DOGS as this ancient grudge flares up once again and the moonlit streets of the city are beset with new mutiny. But then Jack meets Melody: a dog and a cat become friends! Will this finally set the wheels of change in motion? Or are some rivalries just too strong?
With ten fantastic, contemporary songs and an action-packed yet poignant script, join Chorizo and Chipolata the sausage dogs, Salsa the feisty Chiwawa and a gang of lovable mutts and quick-witted cats in an unforgettable musical adventure.
Email info@theschoolmusicalscompany.com to be notified when this show comes into stock.
AVAILABLE - DECEMBER 2025
- Overview
- Songs
- Synopsis
- Sample Scripts & Character Info
- Reviews
Overview
‘Pet Side Story’ is based very loosely on William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and Leonard Bernstein’s ‘West Side Story’, but with dogs and cats instead of warring families, always fighting, usually without good reason, just because that’s the way things have always been. Beyond that, however, the story is wholly original, a tale of friendship, of loyalty, of trust and mistrust, of joy and sadness, isolation and togetherness. It is a story driven by the characters, a myriad of individual dogs and cats, different breeds and different personalities: Jack, our hero, a sheepdog who exudes resourcefulness: Melody, a Burmese cat who radiates class and grace: Fury, a Maine Coon cat with a fiery temper and a predisposition for furballs: Chorizo and Chipolata, whimsical Dachshunds who while away their days wondering about ‘cat’s pyjamas’ and ‘dog’s dinners’: Goliath, a dog/pony; Cappucino, a Bobtail with plenty of attitude. Then there’s the Animal Catcher, heard but never seen, a constant threat to their freedom and survival. It is a musical in which every part matters, in which every character has an identity, a personality, an individuality. It is also a musical in which every performer has the opportunity to enjoy a meaningful role as well as being part of the ensemble.
Synopsis
The cats and dogs begin with a musical exploration of why they are always fighting like … cats and dogs (CATS & DOGS). They arrive at no answers.
It’s Friday night and the cats’ turn to enjoy the bakery left-overs (THE BACK OF THE BAKERY), but Fiesta, Jack and a sprinkling of dogs are intent on spoiling the party. With the cats led on a wild-goose chase by Salsa, it falls to Jack to gather up the pastries. Here he meets Melody, a Burmese cat. They get talking and a friendship is born.
Meanwhile, the cats question the existence of dogs and the dogs wonder about the existence of cats (WHAT IS THE POINT?). They decide to meet up to make arrangements for one final battle, a ‘who stays and who goes’ type of battle. The problem for Fiesta – top dog and all-round mischief-maker – is that his right-hand-dog is missing. Indeed, Jack is catching up with Melody, their friendship blossoming as they both begin to realise that they have much in common (MORE LIKE YOU). However, as the ‘final battle’ approaches, Jack and Melody fear their friendship may be at an end as threats rain down (GONNA GET YOU). But the unexpected arrival of the Animal Catcher gets everyone’s tails up and lands a few of them – including Jack – in The Pound.
A few days later, the female cats are attending to their grooming (PLAY IT COOL) when news arrives that Diesel, Smokey and two dogs have been caught by the Animal Catcher and are now likely to be permanent residents of The Pound. Melody is crestfallen when she learns that one of the dogs is Jack, and all the more so when the other cats realise that she has become friends with a dog.
In The Pound, the ‘lifers’ make the newcomers feel far from welcome (THE ANIMAL CATCHER). Jack suggests to his friend Sherlock and the two cats with them that they should work together to escape, much to the cats’ ridicule. Jack wonders whether he will ever see Melody again and if she is alright (SOMEWHERE). Sadly, she is far from alright, increasingly isolated, teased and maligned by the majority of the other cats.
Back in The Pound, Jack realises that their only chance of escape is by being as charming and cute as they can possibly be when the humans come looking for pets. With plenty of raising a paw, cocking a head, rolling around and doing sad eyes (IF YOU’RE SMART), they manage to win-round the humans and instigate their escape. And just in time, for Melody is about to be given her marching orders by top-cat, Fury. Jack returns and, with the help of feline escapees Diesel and Smokey, convinces the dogs and cats that their feud must end, that friendship is better than foe, and that Melody and he will be friends regardless of what anyone else thinks. As more and more of the cats and dogs come round to his way of thinking (WE DON’T
NEED ANOTHER WAR), it is only Fury(top cat) who is left alone with his bitterness, desperately seeking support for his personal vendetta against all dogs everywhere.
Song Samples
| Title | Listen |
|---|---|
| Cats And Dogs | |
| At The Back Of The Bakery | |
| What Is The Point? | |
| More Like You | |
| Gonna Get You | |
| Play It Cool | |
| The Animal Catcher | |
| Somewhere | |
| If You're Smart | |
| We Don't Need Another War |