Benny the Baboon is an original musical that focuses on the plight of the Chacma baboons who share the suburban landscape
of Cape Town, South Africa.  Based on actual events in present day Cape Town, the play chronicles the tale of Benny, a young idealistic baboon who is the sentinel of a diminishing troupe that invades the surrounding suburban homes and cars searching for food and leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Benny desires to return to their old ways before humans took over their ancestral lands but the troupe, lead by the powerful Bongo, opts for the 'easy life' of clowning for tourists and then stealing their food. War is in the air and Benny and Bongo come into a battle of ideals in how the troupe is live with the humans. 
 
As a result of this conflict, Benny is forcibly banished from the troupe and amidst the cliffs overlooking the sea, where he encounters Bella, a broken former queen of a troupe that had vanished due to an attack by the humans and their dogs. Living isolated from other baboons, Bella is wounded both in body in spirit but Benny, through his kindness and devotion to her as her new sentinel, brings her back to be the proud and courageous queen that she once was. Under her leadership, the baboons of Capetown face the encroaching humans who are destroying the woodlands of their ancestral home and become united in spirit and dignity. 

This musical based on an original story by Molly Summer with music by Natalie White is a powerful and beautiful statement of the necessity to live in harmony and peace but with the knowledge that peace comes with a decision to act courageously and honorably.

"It's a Great Day to Be a Baboon"
Music by Natalie White, Lyrics by Molly Summer
Vocal Talent By Bryce Blue, Stephen Reynolds, Dana Shaw, Kelby Thwaits, and Sean Wing