Yes this is a musical about an alligator. 

A very real alligator that captured the hearts of a city.

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Based on the true story. It’s July 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. An alligator finds himself alone and abandoned in Humboldt Park lagoon. While the Chicago Park District’s Director of Communications, Kadie Crokodowski (Urbs in Horto) contemplates leaving her job and home for a less complicated city (ya know-like Detroit), she finds herself landed with helping this alligator find his home. One very corrupt Alderman distorts Kadie’s words, hiring the incompetent and reluctant Alligator Bob to trap the alligator who just doesn’t want to be caught.

 

Despite some communication barriers, Chance (the alligator of course) and Kadie become friends and Chance captures the heart of the Windy City. Meanwhile, the Alderman plots to use this alligator to scare folks away from the park, so that he can tear it down and slap up some condos. But upon hearing the citizens love Chance and want him to stay (they even named him, in song!) the Alderman shifts gears and convinces Kadie to put that alligator in The Shedd (the aquarium - not an actual shed). Betrayed, Chance and Kadie fight, Chance bites Bob (it was an accident) and leaves the lagoon.

 

Kadie realizes the evil alderman’s plan of gentrifying her neighborhood and fights the corruption all the way to city hall, finally procuring the funds to hire her first suggestion, Alligator ​Robb​, who actually speaks alligator. After facing his demons and past traumas of abandonment in a celebrity filled dream ballet, Chance comes back to the lagoon. When our scalley-dude arrives, he finds Robb (who actually speaks alligator) and Kadie (ready to finally listen), which allows Chance to finally have a say in what he wants.

 

The Alderman reappears, enraged by Chance and tries to shoot Alligator Robb But Kadie and Chance team up to save the day, leaving the citizens of Chicago to recall their politician and throw him in the lagoon. Chance thanks the City of Chicago for their hospitality and decides to find his home in sunny Florida. Kadie declines the job offer in Detroit and decides to stay in her hometown, with renewed dedication to fighting gentrification and corruption (with the help of the newly organized citizens). Part criticism of local politics, part love letter to Chicago; ​Chance the Snapper​ is about the very human (and alligator) concepts of Friendship, communication, perception, and home.

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CAST
Chance:​    Just your average teenage alligator trying to find his way home.

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Kadie with a D:​     Chicago Park District public relations official in charge of managing “the alligator situation”. Level headed and smart, but unsure of herself. So eager to serve the people as a Civil Servant. Urbs in Horto. 

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Alderman (tenor):​     A ‘legally’ elected city official. Crazy, slimy, and less than scrupulous he will do anything to take a sip of that Gravy Train. 

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*Alligator Robb (Spoken):​ The man, the myth, the legend. An expert alligator trapper brought in by the city to remove Chance from the lagoon. 

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*Alligator Bob (baritone):​ Just a guy trying to run his Herpetological society in peace, but thrust in the spotlight in the city’s need to remove an alligator from a lagoon. Definitely owns a bucket hat. 

*Played by the same actor

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The Three Sides of Chicago

West:​ Humboldt Park, Hermosa, Jefferson Park, Jibarito eater, blue line rider, gentrification fighter and causer, generally does not give a crap... until they do 

North:​ Go cubs! Likes things to be nice, Gold coast, Rogers Park, or Wrigleyville, can be seen with a jogging stroller and Venti latte at any time. 

South:​ Pilsen, Hyde Park, Englewood. Would like you to stop stereotyping them as violent. Literally gave you Barack Obama. Enjoys a good Polish. Is going to need you to toughen up. Go Sox.