(The story of Wanda Ga'g wanders from New Ulm, Minnesota, to New York, to New Jersey. She lived many different lives, though all in service to her art. In this opening number, three of her incarnations -- played by three different actors -- introduce us to the stories of her life. She sings to an audience of children gathered for a reading of her book, MILLIONS OF CATS.)

    ME (Wanda at age 51) enters.
    [img=Wanda1.jpg]

    ME
    (Singing)
MY NAME IS WANDA
AND I LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW!
    (Speaking to the CHILDREN)
It's 1944, and I'm 51 years old. That's pretty old, right? Well, I wasn't always this old. A long time ago I was your age, and for as long as I can remember, the only thing I ever wanted to do was draw. And that's what I do now, whenever I can.
    (Singing)
MY NAME IS WANDA
AND I LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW!

IT'S NEVER WHETHER
I DRAW WHENEVER
I SIMPLY LIVE TO DRAW

AND LATELY WRITING
IS QUITE EXCITING
BUT STILL I LIVE TO DRAW,
LIVE TO DRAW,
LIVE TO DRAW!

STRAIGHT LINES ARE BORING
THE CURVES OF LIFE ARE WORTH EXPLORING
EVERYTHING THAT I SEE
VIBRATES THROUGH ME
THE AIR IS ALIVE
AND SO AM I!
    (Speaking)
I live in the countryside of New Jersey on a farm called All Creation. It is a very beautiful place which reminds me of when I was a little girl growing up in New Ulm, Minnesota. I'm a famous artist now, but that wasn't always the case.
 
    MOUSE (Wanda at age 12) enters.
    [img=Wanda2.jpg]

    MOUSE
    (Singing)
MY NAME IS WANDA
AND I LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW!
    (Speaking)
It's 1905, and I'm 12 years old. One day I hope to be a famous artist, and have my pictures seen around the world. I live in New Ulm, Minnesota, in a beautiful house with my father, mother, five sisters, and a brother. We don't have very much, but that never stops me from doing what I love the most.
    (Singing)
MY NAME IS WANDA
AND I LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW!

I SKETCH THE FLOWERS
FOR HOURS AND HOURS
I SIMPLY LIVE TO DRAW

WHEN WE HAVE SADNESS
I STILL FIND GLADNESS
BECAUSE I LIVE TO DRAW,
LIVE TO DRAW,
LIVE TO DRAW!

EACH DAY I'M LEARNING
THE PATH I TAKE IS ALWAYS TURNING
EVERY NIGHT STARLIGHT
DANCES THROUGH ME
THE SKY IS ALIVE
AND SO AM I!
    (Speaking)
I love to walk along the railroad tracks to Grandma's house. When we're there we can play and laugh and sleep near the river, and a mist comes up many mornings. I love New Ulm, but I wonder what it would be like to live in a big city and discover other things to draw. I hope it will happen someday.
 
    MYSELF (Wanda at age 35) enters.
    [img=Wanda3.jpg]

    MYSELF
    (Singing)
MY NAME IS WANDA
AND I LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW!
    (Speaking)
It's 1928. I'm 35 years old and I live in New York City, where my drawings are showing right now in famous art galleries. I just finished my first book, called Millions of Cats, and I've finally found an audience for what I love to do.
    (Singing)
MY NAME IS WANDA
AND I LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW!

SO NOW I'M READY
MY HAND IS STEADY
BECAUSE I LIVE TO DRAW

NO GETTING TIRED
WHEN I'M INSPIRED
I SIMPLY LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW!

MY TIME IS ARRIVING
AFTER MANY YEARS OF STRIVING
NOW IT'S THERE IN THE AIR
INSPIRATION
THE WIND IS ALIVE
AND SO AM I!
    (Speaking)
My life has been full of sadness and happiness. But right now it's so exciting that I can't always remember who I once was, and I don't have time to worry about who I may one day become. Through it all, there are two things that never change: I know who I am, and I know what I love.
 
    MOUSE and MYSELF and ME
    (Singing)
MY NAME IS WANDA
AND I LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW
LIVE TO DRAW!

STRAIGHT LINES ARE BORING
THE CURVES OF LIFE ARE WORTH ADORING
EVERYTHING THAT I SEE
SPARKLES, SHINING
THE WORLD IS ALIVE
AND SO AM I!
SO AM I!

    MOUSE           MYSELF               ME
I               MY NAME IS WANDA     WAN-
...             MY NAME IS WANDA     DA
LIVE TO DRAW    I LIVE TO DRAW       WANDA GA'G

    MOUSE and MYSELF and ME
MY NAME IS WANDA
AND I LIVE TO DRAW!