When a child takes the crown, the world must listen

AN ORIGINAL NEW FAMILY MUSICAL
INSPIRED BY JANUSZ KORCZAK'S
TIMELESS NOVEL

Listen to Selected Songs

About the Musical

What if a child took the throne 
and led with empathy in a world built by adults?

KING MATT THE FIRST is an original family musical
inspired by Janusz Korczak’s timeless novel, with book and lyrics by Ran Liel Shahaf.

, blending humor, imagination, and social vision.

 It follows a young boy who inherits the throne and tries to create a better world 

one where power listens and children have a voice.

A musical for anyone who believes the world can be better  and braver.

 

16 original songs blending modern and classic styles

Multigenerational appeal – for audiences 8 to 88

 

About the Creator

Ran Liel Shahaf is a director, subconscious mind therapist and entrepreneur.

blending theatre and emotional depth into powerful experiences. A graduate of Beit Zvi Performing Arts School in Israel, his work bridges personal transformation and artistic innovation.

This musical is his tribute to Korczak’s vision and to every child who ever wanted to be hear.

Ran Liel Shahaf –   about creating “King Matt the First”

I’m a  creator who grew up on classic musical theatre and chansons,  stories with strong melodies that stay with you long after the curtain falls.

King Matt the First did not appear overnight. It was shaped through a long process of trial, error and refinement. I went through more than 231 drafts of the songs until the music, lyrics and character arcs all felt perfectly aligned. AI-assisted tools formed part of this iterative creative process, particularly in exploring and refining lyrical and musical ideas and developing the musical demos. The technology was a creative tool within a process of direction, selection, rewriting and refinement, rather than a substitute for the authorship and dramatic development of the musical.

The result is a musical with emotionally driven, memorable songs that grow naturally from character and story rooted in the storytelling tradition of classic musical theatre, but expressed through a bold, contemporary musical voice.

 

MUSICAL NUMBERS – STORY ORDER

1. Call Me Matt

Style: Intimate, heartfelt solo

A quiet glimpse beneath the crown.
Overwhelmed by the expectations of being king,
Matt longs to be seen not as a title or a symbol, but simply as himself 
a ten-year-old boy trying to find his place in an adult world.

album-art

  • "Master_Call Me Matt".
00:00

2. Set the Sails

Style: Anthemic, cinematic ensemble

Young King Matt sets out on a bold journey to discover the world and 

lead with compassion. This stirring anthem captures the hope,fear,

and purpose of stepping into .the unknown

album-art

  • "Master_Set the Sails WAV".
00:00

3. News Fit for the King

Style: Dramatic, rhythmic spoken-sung

 Matt discovers that officials have been hiding letters from children and citizens

Furious, he demands honesty and control, setting off a new chapter in his leadership

and driving him toward the dangerous journey ahead

album-art

  • "News fit for a king".
00:00

4. Boomera Mattia

Style: Tribal celebration, invented language

 Matt is welcomed by the Boom-Droom tribe with rhythm, chant, and giant visual spectacle.

This ceremonial number celebrates cultural difference through theatrical wonder.

album-art

  • "Boomera Mattia".
00:00

5. Kloo-Kloo Want to Know

Style: Poetic duet, heartfelt and innocent

Matt shares a tender moment with a tribal child named Kloo Kloo.

A lyrical exchange about curiosity, belonging and the desire to understand each other’s worlds.

album-art

  • "Kloo Kloo Want to Know".
00:00

6. The Tango of Terror

Style: Dark comedic tango, villain number

Back at the palace. corrupt ministers tremble.

Is Matt returning for revenge? A deliciously theatrical panic

unfolds as they fear for their titles and their lives.

album-art

  • "HE IS BACK".
00:00

7. One Wish, One Gift

Style: Playful children’s chorus

 Letters pour in from kids across the kingdom.

They ask for wild, sweet, and silly things but also hope,

dignity, and care. A joyful song full of honesty and imagination.

album-art

  • "Master_One Wish One Gift 8".
00:00

8. A Kingdom of Us

Style: Inspirational finale, full company

Matt speaks to the people not as a ruler, but as a listener.

The musical ends with a powerful anthem about unity,

shared leadership, and the dream of a kingdom built by all.

album-art

  • "A Kingdom of Us final".
00:00

What Makes This Musical Unique?

  • World premiere musical with lyrics co-developed using AI tools.
  • Visual storytelling that blends puppetry, projections, light, and minimalism.
  • A universal theme: leadership, childhood, and the power of listening.
  • Global appeal with production potential in the US, UK, and beyond.

Inspired by Janusz Korczak’s vision, this is more than a story it’s a call to listen to children,

to lead with empathy and to imagine a world built on fairness, dignity, and shared humanity.

Cast Size: Flexible ensemble cast of 12–20

Audience: Ages 8+ / Family audiences / Intergenerational appeal

Language: English

Running Time: Approx. 100–110 minutes (Two Acts)

Number of Original Songs: 16 (8 included in this submission as selected highlights)

Interested in producing or collaborating

Get the full submission packet, demo song lyrics, and contact info below.

Prefer a file? Download the full PDF here

:Contact

  • shahafdigital@gmail.com
  • 972+523695458