1634 shows
Clear filtersTrainspotting The Musical is a stage musical written by Irvine Welsh with music and lyrics by Stephen McGuinness and Welsh and developed and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger. Based on Welsh's novel of the same name and its film adaptation.
Treasure Girl is a 1928 American musical with a book by Fred Thompson and Vincent Lawrence, music by George Gershwin, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It was one of the several Gershwin shows produced by Alex A. Aarons and Vinton Freedley. Seven songs from Treasure Girl were published by Harms Inc.
Trevor: the Musical is a musical based on the 1994 short film Trevor, with book and lyrics by Americans Dan Collins and music by Julianne Wick Davis. The show premiered in Chicago at Writers Theatre on August 9, 2017. It opened off-Broadway at Stage 42 on November 10, 2021, and ran until December 19. The premiere production and the off-Broadway production were directed by Marc Bruni, with choreography by Josh Prince. A 19-track cast album was released by Ghostlight Records on the same day.
A group of cloned dinosaurs questions its world and beliefs in this musical parody of Jurassic Park.
Triumph of Love is a musical with a book by James Magruder, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, and music by Jeffrey Stock. It is based on a play of the same name by the 18th-century French playwright Pierre de Marivaux.
Trixie True, Teen Detective is an Off-Broadway musical with book, music and lyrics by American playwright and composer Kelly Hamilton. It was the first musical to employ the post-modern comedic style then being explored on television by such shows as Saturday Night Live and SCTV.
In 1808, the Tuck family, thirsty and traveling through a forest, comes across a spring and drinks of it. 85 years later, the area near the forest has developed into the town of Treegap, New Hampshire, and the characters sing about what they want most in the world: Winnie Foster, to go to the fair; Mae Tuck, to see her sons again; Jesse Tuck, to take in the familiar sights of Treegap; Miles Tuck, to be unstuck in time; and the Man in the Yellow Suit, to "learn the secret" of Treegap Wood and become immortal ("Live Like This"). Winnie goes into her house, where she spends most of her time with her mother Betsy, and her grandmother. Betsy refuses to let Winnie leave the house, fearing she will suffer the same fate as Winnie's deceased father. Winnie wishes for a life bigger than their living room and wants to explore Treegap Wood ("Good Girl, Winnie Foster"). After running outside once again, Winnie encounters a parade led by the Man in the Yellow Suit that leads to the fair ("Join the Parade"). Desperate to see the fair, Winnie Foster opens the gate and runs into the Wood after the faint sound of a music box ("Good Girl, Winnie Foster (Reprise)"). There she meets Jesse Tuck, who drinks from the spring. To keep her from doing the same, Jesse offers to show her what he calls the top of the world, as seen from the trees ("Top of the World"). After, he and Miles kidnap Winnie and bring her back to the Tucks' house to keep her from revealing their secret. Back at the Foster home, Betsy has called on Constable Joe and his son Hugo to search for Winnie ("Hugo's First Case, Parts 1 and 2"). The Tucks tell Winnie the history of the Tuck family ("The Story of the Tucks"), explaining that they had all stopped growing or aging the moment they drank from the spring, and because of the reactions of the townspeople, the boys now split up to avoid being recognized, travel the world, and only see each other once every ten years, with Angus and Mae maintaining the homestead on what is now the Fosters' land. Winnie stays the night with the Tucks and, while finding clothes for Winnie to wear, Mae tells her the story of the day when her husband, Angus proposed to her ("My Most Beautiful Day"). Winnie decides that staying in the Tuck family's attic is its own kind of adventure ("The Attic"). Still, she eventually decides to sneak out with Jesse to go to the fair ("Join the Parade (Reprise)"). At the fair, Winnie and Jesse play games and decide to become friends that travel the world together ("Partner in Crime"). The Man in the Yellow Suit attempts to guess Jesse's age and is shocked when he looks in Jesse's eyes. Jesse and Winnie leave the fair and sit on top of the Treegap water tower, where Jesse conceives a plan: allow Winnie to continue to grow for the next six years, then have her drink the water so they will be eternally the same age and they can marry ("Seventeen"). The Man in the Yellow Suit follows the Tucks to get to the enchanted water. The Man in the Yellow Suit celebrates his victory with those from the traveling fair ("Everything's Golden") and takes leave to pursue the water. Back at the Tucks' house, Winnie contemplates Jesse's proposal ("Seventeen (Reprise)"). The Tucks discover that Jesse has asked Winnie to drink the water and become angry with him. Winnie talks to Miles about his son Thomas; Miles recalls that his wife became horrified when she noticed the Tucks were not aging, left Miles, and took Thomas with her before he drank the water; Miles notes that he never saw Thomas again and does not know whether he is still alive ("Time"). The Tucks then lament what it means to be stuck in time forever, and aim to live more fully in the coming years ("Time (Reprise)"). The Man in the Yellow Suit blackmails the Fosters into signing over ownership of Treegap Wood (and the spring) to him in exchange for Winnie's safe return ("Everything's Golden (Reprise)"). Constable Joe and Hugo see the Man leaving the Foster home, and remark that you can not trust a man dressed in yellow ("You Can't Trust a Man"). Angus takes Winnie fishing and attempts to convince her to live a mortal life instead of drinking the water with Jesse ("The Wheel"). Miles approaches and tells them that Jesse has gone without saying goodbye, and Winnie says they can find him at the spring in Treegap Wood. There, Jesse encounters the Man in the Yellow Suit who tells him of his long journey to find the spring and forces Jesse to take him there ("The Story of the Man in the Yellow Suit"). The Tucks and Winnie find Jesse, and the Man in the Yellow Suit offers to make them partners in his water-selling business. After the Man takes Winnie hostage, Jesse offers him a vial of water in exchange for her; before he can drink it, however, Mae strikes a fatal blow to the Man's head. When Constable Joe and Hugo arrive, Winnie tells them that she killed the Man in the Yellow Suit in self-defense. The Tucks abandon the homestead and leave Treegap permanently on Constable Joe's advice. They say goodbye to Winnie and offer her their music box, thanking her for reminding them that there is "still something to live for." Jesse says he will leave instructions on how to find him and leaves her with a vial of water from the spring. Winnie contemplates drinking the water and what it means to live forever ("Everlasting"). She ultimately decides to live out her mortal life and pours the water on her toad instead. Through a ballet sequence, the ensemble shows the remainder of Winnie's life: she marries Hugo and has a son, to Jesse's disappointment. Each of Winnie's loved ones pass away one by one. Before she dies, Winnie opens the Tucks' music box and dances one last time at the gate of the Foster home as she did when she was young. The Tucks return to Treegap after Winnie has died and visit her grave, which is dedicated to a "cherished wife, devoted mother, and dearest grandmother." They celebrate the fact that she lived a full life and encounter the toad Winnie made immortal with the water from the spring ("The Wheel (Reprise)").
Twang!! is a musical with music and lyrics written by Lionel Bart and a book by Bart and Harvey Orkin, an American theatrical agent and former writer for The Phil Silvers Show. When production faced issues, American writer Burt Shevelove was called on to help fix the book.
Twenty to One was a British musical comedy first performed in 1935. The musical was a farce set around the world of horseracing. Bill Snibson (Lupino Lane), a bookmaker, joins an anti-gambling organisation in a fit of guilt. It ran for other four hundred performances at the Coliseum Theatre in the West End. Combined with provincial tours it ran for over a thousand shows. It was written by Louis Arthur Rose. The music was composed by Billy Mayerl. The lead character of Bill Snibson was such a success, that he was revived in 1937 for another musical Me and My Girl. This proved to be an even greater hit with its well-known song "The Lambeth Walk". It was adapted into a film in 1939.
Two By Two is a Broadway musical with a book by Peter Stone, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and music by Richard Rodgers. Based on Clifford Odets' play The Flowering Peach, it tells the story of Noah's preparations for the Great Flood and its aftermath. Directed by Joe Layton, the production opened on November 10, 1970 at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for ten months. The opening night cast included Danny Kaye, Marilyn Cooper, Joan Copeland, Harry Goz, Madeline Kahn, Michael Karm, Tricia O'Neil, and Walter Willison.
Two Gentlemen of Verona is a rock musical, with a book by John Guare and Mel Shapiro, lyrics by Guare and music by Galt MacDermot, based on the Shakespeare comedy of the same name. The original Broadway production, in 1971, won the Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical. A London production followed in 1973. The Public Theater revived the piece in 2005.
Two Little Girls in Blue is a musical theatre work composed by Paul Lannin and Vincent Youmans, with lyrics primarily by Ira Gershwin (under the pseudonym "Arthur Francis") and a libretto by Fred Jackson. The musical takes place aboard the S.S. Empress and in India. The musical premiered at George M. Cohan's Theatre on Broadway on May 3, 1921, and closed on August 27 of the same year.
In the kingdom of Esperanto, King Paul orders a year-long ban on kissing unless people buy a license. His adopted daughter, Princess Cynthia, is in love with Charmis, governor of police, while the visiting King Utops of Utopia is expected to marry her. Paul plans to use Cynthia’s poisoned kiss to bargain with Utops for an antidote to mortality. Utops reveals that he was Paul’s assistant when they discovered the Elixir of Life, making them both immortal. The kings agree to duel by drinking from two glasses, one containing water and the other a liquid that makes its drinker mortal. Charmis switches the drinks while the kings are blindfolded, and both drink the Elixir. Cynthia and Charmis become king and queen of Esperanto; Mandamus becomes king of Utopia, Utops becomes his chief justice, and Paul becomes Charmis’s governor of police. The kissing law is repealed, and Iris chooses herald Helvanoise over former postmaster Rolandyl.
25-year-old Englishman Dougal Todd flies to Christmastime New York for the wedding of his millionaire father, Mark, to 30-year-old Melissa. The sister of the bride, cynical 27-year-old New York native Robin Delafosse (Rainey in the Broadway production), picks Dougal up from JFK Airport. Irritated by his enthusiasm for the city he sees in films, Robin puts her headphones on as Dougal serenades plans to tour his wildly inaccurate list of landmarks ("New York"). At his hotel, Dougal calls his single mother and reads his wedding invitation, thrilled to meet his father for the first time in his life ("Dad"). In the coffee shop where she works, Robin reflects on her sideline life's monotony and wonders what she is missing ("What'll It Be"). Melissa tasks her with collecting the expensive wedding cake from Flatbush, Brooklyn, and Dougal joins along. The two bond over Robin's Tinder frustrations with "absolutely horrifying men" and "Perfect Justin" ("On the App"), her memories of childhood in Flatbush ("This Is the Place"), and the barely concealed sexual themes of Christmas songs ("Under the Mistletoe"). At Melissa's doorstep, Robin accidentally drops and destroys one of the cake's four boxes. Dougal reassures her; when he asks her about happiness, Robin rejects the proverb to "Be Happy", with the numbness her years spent pursuing it left ("Be Happy"). Robin reveals that she hadn’t seen her grandma in years. Dougal suggests a movie-style spree through Manhattan to cheer up. Robin points out the city’s high cost of living, asks him to leave, and calls Melissa, with whom she has a distant relationship. Dougal eats the dropped box of cake, returns, and helps Robin respond to a sudden series of messages from Justin, eventuallysecuring her a date. She instead spends the night spreeing with Dougal, using Mark's American Express card to enjoy the luxuries of Midtown Manhattan ("American Express"). The next morning, Robin wakes up confused, embarrassed, and stressed, and Dougal "another day in dreamtown"—together in a Plaza Hotel bridal suite ("The Hangover Duet"). Robin tries to persuade Dougal that meeting his father can never live up to his expectations, pleading him to leave his idealised image of Mark untouched ("He Doesn't Exist"). She finally tells Dougal that Melissa sent his invitation to get back at Mark for cheating, and that Mark had always kept Dougal a secret. A letter from Mark reveals he has persuaded Melissa to let Robin attend the wedding and expresses astonishment at Robin's purchases with her "friend", whom he obliviously invites. Robin again urges Dougal not to attend the wedding and spend another day in the city together. Having travelled specifically to meet his father, Dougal reacts with angered denial and accuses Robin of being jealous. They argue ("What Did You Say?") until Dougal realises that Mark cheated on Melissa with Robin. Dougal storms off. Outside the wedding at Trinity Church, he leaves a voicemail for his mother, reflecting on the events, his happiness, and his family's happiness ("About to Go In"). Robin, meanwhile, reflects on the opportunities she has deliberately let slip away and the ways she has pushed people away. She resolves to change (“This Year”). Later, Robin eats alone at a Chinese restaurant, where Dougal joins her with a tier of wedding cake he has stolen after deciding not to attend the ceremony. The two roleplay a movie-style wedding on their own terms (“Dearly Beloved”). As Dougal prepares to leave for the airport, he and Robin stroll through the city, reflecting on how their time together has changed them and how glad they are to have met (“If I Believed”). Robin gifts Dougal a snow globe and resolves to visit her grandmother. Before they part ways, they read each other's fortune cookies: Dougal's reads, "You will go on a cruise", while Robin's reads, "This time next year you will be happy."
Jack, long estranged from his uncle Samuel Crow, returns incognito to win Crow’s consent to marry his cousin Jenny. Crow, unaware of Jack’s identity, becomes angry at Jenny’s choice and resolves to leave his money to his nephew instead. He is mortified when he learns the young man is Jack.
Newlyweds Gontran and Hélène seek advice about married life from their relatives and from Gontran’s tutor, Pausanias. Gontran asks Pausanias for the lesson in life he believes is missing from his education. During a storm, Hélène seeks comfort and the couple discover their answer, but Pausanias interrupts them again.
Based on Alexander Pope's poem The Rape of the Lock, Unlock'd takes place in 18th century England, and focuses on the romantic entanglements of four main characters and the chaos that ensues after a lock of the vain and beautiful Belinda's hair goes missing.
Up and Down Broadway is a musical revue in two acts with music by Jean Schwartz, lyrics by William Jerome, and a book Edgar Smith. The musical's loose plot concerns the god Apollo who arrives in New York City in the accompany of other Greek deities vowing to improve the theatrical tastes of the American public. In the end they decide Broadway knows more about great entertainment than the Greek gods do. The musical was written as a starring vehicle for Eddie Foy who portrayed the main servant of Apollo, Momus, and provided much of the work's comedic thrust. Up and Down Broadway premiered at the Casino Theatre on July 18, 1910, where it ran for a total of 72 performances; closing on September 17, 1910. The show is most famous for introducing the popular standard "Chinatown, My Chinatown and the tune "Oh, that Beautiful Rag" by Irving Berlin and Ted Snyder, which experienced a succinct period of popularity on phonograph cylinder covers.
Up from Paradise is a musical with a book and lyrics by Arthur Miller and music by Stanley Silverman. In 1972, Miller's comedy The Creation of the World and Other Business closed after only twenty performances.
Up in Central Park is a Broadway musical with a book by Herbert Fields and Dorothy Fields, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and music by Sigmund Romberg. The musical, originally called "Central Park" before Broadway (see image of sheet music), was Romberg's last stage work produced during his lifetime. Produced by Michael Todd, the Broadway production, staged by John Kennedy, and choreographed by Helen Tamiris, opened on January 27, 1945 at the New Century Theatre, where it ran for 504 performances. The cast included Noah Beery Sr., Wilbur Evans and Betty Bruce. The musical is set in the Boss Tweed era of New York City in the 1870s. Wilbur Evans plays John Matthews, a New York Times reporter investigating the Tweed’s crooked political machine, especially the fraud connected with constructing Central Park. He falls in love with the daughter of one of the Boss’ ward heelers, who marries a politician, who is killed. She later rekindles her love for Matthews. The settings, costumes and dances evoked the lithographs of Currier and Ives.
Urban Cowboy is a musical with a book by Aaron Latham and Phillip Oesterman and a score by Broadway composer-lyricists Jeff Blumenkrantz and Jason Robert Brown and a variety of country music tunesmiths, including Clint Black and Charlie Daniels.
Officer Lockstock, a policeman, grimly welcomes the audience, assisted by the street urchin Little Sally. According to the pair, a twenty-year drought has caused a terrible water shortage, making private toilets unthinkable. All restroom activities are done in public toilets (Public Amenities) controlled by a megacorporation called "Urine Good Company" (referred to as the UGC). To control water consumption, citizens have to pay to use the Amenities ("Too Much Exposition"). There are harsh laws ensuring that people pay to urinate, and if the laws are broken, the offender is sent to a place called "Urinetown", never to return. The oppressed masses huddle in line at the poorest, filthiest urinal in town, Public Amenity #9, which is run by the rigid, harshly authoritarian Penelope Pennywise and her assistant, dashing young everyman Bobby Strong. Trouble ensues when Bobby's father Joseph "Old Man" Strong, unable to afford his daily urinal admission, asks Pennywise to let him go for free "just this once." After Old Man Strong's plea is dismissed ("It's a Privilege to Pee"), he urinates on the street, and Officers Lockstock and Barrel soon arrest him and escort him off to Urinetown ("It's a Privilege to Pee (Reprise)"). Later that day, in the corporate offices of Urine Good Company, CEO Caldwell B. Cladwell is discussing the new fee hikes with Senator Fipp, a politician firmly in Cladwell's pocket, when Cladwell's beautiful daughter, Hope Cladwell, arrives as the UGC's new fax/copy girl. As an introduction, the UGC staff sing a song praising their leader ("Mr. Cladwell"). Officers Lockstock and Barrel discuss the journey to Urinetown and how it reduces everyone, even the toughest, to screams ("The Cop Song"). Hope enters and encounters Bobby, who is distraught over his father's arrest and wonders if he could have done something to prevent it. Hope advises Bobby to follow his heart, and the two realize that they both want a happier world where people can pee for free. United by their belief, they fall in love ("Follow Your Heart"). Little Sally asks Officer Lockstock what Urinetown is like, but Lockstock replies that its power lies in its mystery and he cannot flippantly reveal that "there is no Urinetown, we just kill people", and that the reveal will not come until Act II, "with everybody singing and things like that." The next day, Cladwell's assistant, Mr. McQueen, announces the new fee hikes set upon the urinals. Bobby concludes that the laws are wrong. Opening the doors of the urinal, despite Ms. Pennywise's protests, he begins a pee-for-free rebellion ("Look at the Sky"). Pennywise rushes to the offices of UGC, where she informs Cladwell of the revolution. The two share a moment, but are interrupted by the situation at hand. Cladwell vows to crush the rebellion, frightening Hope, then uses a series of increasingly convoluted metaphors involving killing a bunny to tell Hope that their privilege and responsibility is to oppress the poor ("Don't Be the Bunny"). Cladwell, McQueen, Fipp, Pennywise, Lockstock and Barrel arrive at Amenity #9 to snuff out the uprising. Learning that Hope is Cladwell's daughter, Bobby realizes that the only way out of the trap is to kidnap Hope to use as leverage against Cladwell. The rebels make a poor escape with Hope as their hostage. The police give chase, but the slow-motion choreography makes it impossible for the police to catch them. Lockstock vows to catch the poor as he tells the audience to enjoy intermission ("Act I Finale"). Lockstock welcomes everyone back and tells the audience that the rebels, with their hostage Hope, are in hiding. The rebels wonder what Urinetown is, and two of them, Little Becky Two-Shoes and Hot Blades Harry, explain their theories. Cladwell orders Lockstock to search harder for the rebels, threatening to send everyone to Urinetown if Hope is not found. Bobby and his mother Josephine hand out memos to the other Assistant Custodians, hoping that they will join them. Bobby is sure that Urinetown is nothing but a lie designed to scare the poor people. Lockstock catches Little Sally, but his threat of Urinetown doesn't work, because according to her, they are already there; it "isn't so much a place as it is a metaphysical place" that they are all in, including Lockstock. She escapes before Lockstock can ask her what "metaphysical" means. ("What is Urinetown?") Convinced that Bobby, Josephine, and Little Sally have been captured, the rebels, particularly Hot Blades Harry and Little Becky Two-Shoes, decide that the best way to get revenge on Cladwell is to kill Hope ("Snuff That Girl"). They are interrupted by Bobby, who encourages the rebels to abandon revenge and instead focus on the effort toward freedom for all the town's inhabitants ("Run, Freedom, Run!"). Invigorated, the poor rally around Bobby, but balk at his statement that the violent fight could take decades. Just then, Pennywise bursts into the secret hideout and tells Bobby that Cladwell wants him to come to the UGC headquarters. Bobby goes, but only after the impatient rebels remind him that if anything happens to him, Hope will be killed. Pennywise fiercely swears that if any of the rebels harm Hope, she will have Bobby sent off to Urinetown. Bobby says goodbye to Hope, apologizes, and tells her to think of what they have ("Follow Your Heart (Reprise)"). At the UGC headquarters, Bobby is offered a suitcase full of cash and full amnesty to the rebels as long as Hope is returned and the people agree to the new fee hikes. Bobby refuses, and demands free access for the people. Cladwell orders the cops to escort Bobby to Urinetown—even if it means that the rebel poor will kill Hope. Horrified, Pennywise marvels at the depth of Cladwell's evil. Cladwell has her arrested as well. She, Hope, and Fipp sing of their regrets of falling for Cladwell's schemes. Meanwhile, Bobby is led to the top of the UGC building, and learns the truth: Urinetown is death. Lockstock and Barrel throw him off the building, killing him. ("Why Did I Listen To That Man?"). Little Sally returns to the hideout in a shocked daze, having just heard Bobby's last words. The ghost of Bobby sings, along with Little Sally, his last words, which are directed to Hope ("Tell Her I Love Her"). Just as the rebels are about to murder Hope in revenge, Pennywise enters and offers herself instead, proclaiming herself to be Hope's mother. Hope then convinces the rebels to let her lead them, and she, Penny, and the rebels march to the UGC offices. En route, they kill Officer Barrel (who had just confessed his love to a non-reciprocal Lockstock), Senator Fipp, and Mrs. Millennium (a UGC employee, typically double-cast with Little Becky Two-Shoes) ("We're Not Sorry"). Hope reveals to her father that she is still alive. Cladwell is overjoyed, until the rest of the poor reveal themselves. Hope tells him that his reign of terror is over, and after he and Pennywise reminisce about their past romance ("We're Not Sorry (Reprise)"), he is led to the top of the UGC building and thrown off. With the town finally at peace, the age of fear is over and the toilets are made free to use. Lockstock reappears and explains that he has not been killed by the rebels, as killing the narrator would end the show prematurely. He then informs the audience that the town's limited water supply has quickly disappeared, due to resource mismanagement by a popularity-obsessed Hope. The remaining townsfolk, dying of thirst, are led in a march by Hope. Lockstock wraps up loose ends, and insinuates that the townsfolk eventually killed Hope. The townsfolk sing that "This [town] is Urinetown! Always it's been Urinetown!", and Lockstock closes the show with the cry "Hail Malthus!", which the townsfolk repeat. ("I See A River").
Valmouth is a 1958 musical by Sandy Wilson based on the novel of the same name by Ronald Firbank. It premiered in London at the Lyric Hammersmith, before transferring to the Saville Theatre. The production was directed by Vida Hope. The musical has since been staged several times including twice at the Chichester Festival Theatre and several cast album recordings have been released. The musical has also been performed on BBC Radio, first broadcast in 1975.
The entire musical takes place in between 1963 and 1990 with the high school scenes taking place in 1963, college scenes taking place in 1968, the penthouse scenes taking place in 1974 and the epilogue taking place in 1990. Three best friends journey through high school, college and their professional life, as they remember all their adventures. Joanne is a sweet, naive southern girl, Mary is very confident and Kathy is the planner. In high school, they are the popular cheerleaders and are planning all the social events. They go to college and plan to live together. They end up all in the same sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma. Joanne gets married and becomes extremely conservative. Mary opens an art gallery and explores sexual liberation. Kathy ends up living the high life in New York City and reads all the books she was supposed to read in college, "they are so much better than the cliff's notes." They end up fighting when they meet at Kathy's fabulous apartment in New York. Joanne gets drunk in response and talks about how she never has a break from her kids and Ted never lets her drink. However, at a funeral, they all make up and they end as they started, three best friends.
Venice is a musical collaboration between Matt Sax and Eric Rosen. The plot focuses on a dystopian near-future fictional city named Venice. The show opened at the Copaken Stage in Kansas City in 2010 as a co-production between Kansas City Rep and Center Theatre Group. Venice also ran at the Public Theater in New York from May 28 through June 30, 2013. The cast of Venice at The Public includes Uzo Aduba, Jennifer Damiano, Jonathan-David, Claybourne Elder, Leslie Odom, Jr., Victoria Platt, Angela Polk, Matt Sax, and Haaz Sleiman. The Kansas City production received regional and national attention for its unique use of hip-hop and multimedia elements. Time Magazine called it "the next major American musical", citing its timely allusions to post-9/11 America and the election of President Barack Obama.
Vera Violetta is an operetta including a libretto by Louis Stein and music by Edmund Eysler, additional music by George M. Cohan, Jean Schwartz and Louis A. Hirsch. Set in Paris, the work is about the flirtatious wife of a professor.
Very Good Eddie is a musical with a book by Guy Bolton and Philip Bartholomae, music by Jerome Kern, and lyrics by Schuyler Greene, with additional lyrics by Elsie Janis, Herbert Reynolds, Harry B. Smith, John E. Hazzard, Ring Lardner and Jerome Kern, and additional music by Henry Kailimai.
Very Warm for May is a musical composed by Jerome Kern, with a libretto by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was the team's final score for Broadway, after their hits Show Boat, Sweet Adeline, and Music in the Air.
Via Galactica is a rock musical with a book by Christopher Gore and Judith Ross, lyrics by Gore, and music by Galt MacDermot. Originally titled Up!, the futuristic plot follows social outcasts living on an asteroid in outer space in the year 2972.
Carroll "Toddy" Todd is tenuously employed as the resident performer at Henri Labisse's Left Bank gay club, Chez Lui. Toddy and Les Boys entertain the small but appreciative audience (Paris By Night). Toddy insults a group of customers which includes his ex-boyfriend Richard. Labisse threatens to fire him. A penniless English soprano, Victoria Grant, auditions unsuccessfully for Labisse. Toddy tries to help, but Labisse rejects her and fires him. Toddy befriends Victoria, and offers her shelter from the wet wintry night in his tiny apartment. They become instant buddies and confidantes. Toddy wishes he were a woman, like Victoria, while Victoria believes that there are far more advantages to being a man (If I Were a Man). Richard, the ex-boyfriend, arrives at Toddy's unexpectedly to collect his things. Victoria is by now wearing his hat and pajamas. Richard mistakenly thinks she is Toddy's new boyfriend and insults Toddy. Victoria punches Richard and kicks him out. Seeing that Richard believed Victoria to be a man, Toddy is struck by inspiration: Victoria could gain fame by disguising herself as a male female impersonator. Over Victoria's objections, he dreams up the persona of Count Victor Grazinsky – a gay Polish aristocrat and Toddy's new lover (Trust Me). Toddy drags the reluctant Victoria to meet Andre Cassell, Paris's leading impresario, who is dubious about "Count Victor Grazinsky" until he hears "him" hit a glass-shattering high G-flat. "Victor" is in business. Le Jazz Hot! introduces Victor to Paris café society. His show-stopping performance at once makes him the toast of Gay Paree. The only doubter of Victor's authenticity is a dashing American nightclub owner, King Marchan, visiting Paris with his brassy girlfriend Norma and his loyal bodyguard Squash. Norma mocks King for being attracted to a male impersonator, but King is determined to prove Victor is a woman. At Cassell's opening night party for Victor, King invites Victor to tango with Norma, hoping to prove his point (The Tango), but Victoria successfully avoids detection. By an unwelcome coincidence, King and Norma and Squash find themselves in the adjoining hotel suite to the newly successful Toddy and Victor. Norma tries to seduce King (Paris Makes Me Horny) but she succeeds only in making him impotent. Next door, Victoria bemoans to Toddy that in King she thinks she has finally found the man of her dreams, but here she is trying to convince him that she is a man, too. (Crazy World). Victor continues to take Paris audiences by storm (Louis Says). Norma complains to Victor and Toddy that King is shipping her back to Chicago because he fancies Victor. King confronts his doubts about himself and Victor (King's Dilemma). He invites Victor and Toddy to dinner to try and find out. After dinner they visit Chez Lui, where Labisse also has his suspicions that Victor is a woman. He invites her/him to sing. Victor and Toddy oblige (You and Me). Richard's group arrives noisily in mid-song. Victor trips Richard and starts a major brawl in the club. The police arrive to break it up. Outside the club, King says he doesn't care if Victor is a man, and kisses him. Victoria admits she's not a man. King says he still doesn't care, and kisses her again (Paris By Night (Reprise)). Back in the hotel, Squash barges into King's bedroom and finds King and Victor in bed together: He apologizes profusely. King tries to explain. Squash admires King for coming out of the closet, and stuns his boss by revealing that he, too, is gay. Victor and King examine their potential problems if they are perceived publicly as two men. It won't work. (Almost a Love Song). Back in Chicago, Norma is performing in a night club (Chicago, Illinois). She informs King's gangster partner, Sal Andretti, that King has dumped her for another man – and is living with "a gay Polish fairy." Sal is aghast, and says they're all going to Europe. Two weeks later, Toddy and Squash have become happy partners. Not so for King and Victoria, unable to be seen together in public (Living in the Shadows). Victoria tells Toddy she doesn't want to be a man anymore. Toddy understands. Neither does he. Sal and the spurned Norma arrive in Paris. King admits he loves "Victor", keeping the secret. Sal, disgusted, ends their business relationship. Victoria reveals herself to Norma as a woman. Norma is horrified. Labisse witnesses this moment of naked truth. Victoria is horrified. Toddy tells her not to worry. "Trust me!" Dissolve to Victor's farewell appearance (Victor/Victoria). Labisse tries to expose him/her as a fraud. Toddy, thrilled to be back in drag, replaces Victoria in a blink, to thwart Labisse and leave the way clear for a happy ending for our two loving couples -King and Victoria, and Toddy and Squash.
Viet Rock is a rock musical by Megan Terry that served as inspiration to the musical Hair. A violent denunciation of the American involvement in the Vietnam War, the play was described by its author as a "folk war movie" comprising scenes of disillusionment and protest to the American military…
With a ticket, a suitcase, and a heart full of expectation, Violet Karl waits for a Greyhound bus in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. It is September 4, 1964. For a moment she sees herself as a young girl (Young Vi), carefree and singing a folk song ("Water in the Well"), before her face was horribly disfigured in an accident. A local's nosy question breaks Violet's reverie, prompting her to look forward to the healing she expects to receive from a televangelist in Tulsa that will help her transcend her provincial little town ("Surprised"). As the bus departs the station, the passengers muse as to where this journey might lead them ("On My Way"). The passengers pile off the bus to get some food at a rest stop in Kingsport, Tennessee ("M&M's"). In the grill Violet meets two poker-playing soldiers, Flick and Monty. Flick is a black sergeant in his early thirties, Monty a younger white corporal, a paratrooper. Both are bound for Fort Smith, Arkansas. Violet asks to join their game, and as they deal her in, she privately recalls how her father taught her to play ("Luck of the Draw"). Back on the bus, Monty teases Violet about a preacher he obviously has no faith in ("Question 'n' Answer"). He takes a book she carries and plays keep-away with it, which triggers Violet's memory of the day she found the catechism in her father's bedside table. Later, in the Nashville station, Flick wants to know exactly what it is that Violet wants to change. With the help of movie magazines she shows the soldiers the physical features she'd like best ("All to Pieces"), but they offend her when their attention wanders. She sits apart from them as the journey continues, recalling once again her younger self singing the folk song, which turns out to have been the moment just before the accident ("Water in the Well [Reprise]"). Violet daydreams an encounter between herself as Young Vi and the Preacher ("A Healing Touch"). As they are approaching Memphis, Flick seeks Violet out to apologize for offending her earlier. He suggests she can take care of herself without the help of the Preacher ("Let It Sing"). Stopping in Memphis overnight, the trio pass a hooker on the way to a boarding house, where Almeta the landlady resists housing a white woman until Flick slips her some money ("Anyone Would Do"). While a song plays on the radio ("Who'll Be the One [If Not Me]"), Violet dozes, seeing herself as Young Vi trying to dance with her father, then practicing dancing with the old lady from the bus. Monty appears and dances with both women in turn. In reality, Monty has entered Violet's room. He finds her book and starts to read things Violet has written in it. She awakes and confronts him, prompting Monty to explain himself ("You're Different" or "Last Time I Came to Memphis" in the 2014 revival). Flick enters the room with some drinks to start the night off ("Go to It"). The threesome venture out to a Beale Street music hall, where the sight of Flick dancing with Violet attracts some unfriendly attention ("Lonely Stranger"). When Monty moves in and makes a pass at Violet, Flick leaves the hall. Violet follows him back to the boarding house; the landlady interrupts a tender moment between them. In the middle of the night, Monty stumbles in through Violet's unlocked door. He wakes her, has sex with her, then falls asleep in her lap ("Lay Down Your Head"). The music hall singer, the landlady and the hooker cap the evening with a trio about unfulfilled desire ("Anyone Would Do [Reprise]"). Violet travels with the men to Fort Smith the next morning, on her way to Tulsa. Flick and Violet pledge to write each other, but Flick gets upset about the events of the night before ("Hard to Say Goodbye"). Violet escapes to the bus bathroom, where she rehearses what she will say to spurn Monty, afraid he'll otherwise reject her first. In the front of the bus Monty rehearses his own spiel, at Flick's direction. But when it comes time to part, Monty instead asks Violet to meet him on her return stop at Fort Smith ("Promise Me, Violet"). She promises nothing, cleaving to her plan, and the bus pulls away. In Tulsa, Violet surprises the Preacher in rehearsal with his choir ("Raise Me Up"). He pawns her off on Virgil, a young assistant, and in her frustration she recovers the memory of being carried in her father's arms after the accident ("Down the Mountain"). Soon she slips away from Virgil and returns to the televangelist's empty chapel. Violet takes out her catechism and empties slips of paper she has covered with Bible quotes onto the altar. When the Preacher discovers her, she pleads with him to help invoke her miracle ("Raise Me Up [Reprise]"). When nothing comes of this desperate attempt, she demands he see her for what she is: scarred and hideous, a prodigy of pain ("Look at Me"). She looks to the heavens for a moment; the Preacher is replaced by her father. They fight, until he apologizes for what he has done ("That's What I Could Do"). Aware that something about herself has changed, Violet assumes it is her scar; she reboards the bus, convinced she has had a miracle ("Surprised [Reprise]"). When she gets out at the Fort Smith station, Monty is there waiting. His efforts at sympathy make plain to her that her face has not changed at all. Crushed, she rejects Monty's invitation to marry him before he ships out to Vietnam. Flick is also at the station and recognizes that Violet has changed, though her scar has not. He entreats her to stay with him ("Promise Me, Violet [Reprise]"). Violet's healing is complete when she takes Flick's hand and commits to a new life with him ("Bring Me to Light").
Viva Forever! is a jukebox musical based on the songs of 1990s British girl-group the Spice Girls. It was written by Jennifer Saunders, produced by Judy Craymer and directed by Paul Garrington. Musical Supervision by Martin Koch, and Musical Direction by John Donovan. Sound Design by Bobby Aitken.
Deeply in debt, the aristocrat Florestan agrees to marry Hélène, an heiress he has never met, while ending an affair with Agathe. Hélène overhears him and disguises herself as a flower-shop girl named Véronique; Florestan falls for her. When he refuses to marry an unknown fiancée and is jailed, Hélène pays his debts, reveals herself, and reconciles with him.
Jenna is a waitress and expert pie baker at Joe's Pie Diner in the American South. She bakes pies to distract herself from her unhappiness with her home life ("What's Inside"). She begins another day at the diner with her boss Cal and fellow waitresses Becky and Dawn ("Opening Up"). After Jenna almost throws up, Becky and Dawn convince her to take a pregnancy test which, to Jenna's dismay, comes back positive; Jenna deduces the pregnancy came from a night when she drunkenly had sex with her abusive husband, Earl ("The Negative"). Earl comes to the diner and suggests he wants to make Jenna quit and give up her passion for baking. He takes the tips she has earned from working so far that day. She decides not to tell him about her pregnancy and recalls her late mother, who also found solace from an unhappy marriage in baking ("What Baking Can Do"). At her OB/GYN's office, Jenna is taunted by other pregnant women ("Club Knocked Up") and meets Dr. James "Jim" Pomatter, a new doctor from Connecticut. Jenna explains she does not want to raise a child but does not want an abortion, and leaves Dr. Pomatter with a Mermaid Marshmallow pie, which he eats and loves ("Pomatter Pie"). Word of Jenna's pregnancy reaches Joe, the diner's elderly owner, who suggests she enter a local pie-baking contest with a cash prize of $20,000, which would give Jenna enough money to leave Earl. Dawn begins using an online dating platform but is terrified of every outcome ("When He Sees Me"). Jenna runs into Dr. Pomatter at the bus stop. He tells her he loved the Mermaid Marshmallow pie, saying it could "win contests and ribbons and things" ("It Only Takes a Taste"). Jenna arrives home to learn Earl has been fired from his job. He berates her, and his anger almost turns physical; out of impulse and fear, Jenna confesses she is pregnant. Earl softens up, but makes Jenna promise not to love the baby more than she loves him ("You Will Still Be Mine"). Jenna tells Dawn and Becky of her plan to enter the pie contest; if she wins, she will use the prize money to leave Earl and raise the baby herself. The three waitresses see their dreams of a better life within reach ("A Soft Place to Land"). Jenna begins to give Earl only half her earnings, hiding the other half around the house in order to save up for entering the pie contest. Dawn's date, Ogie, visits the diner. Dawn believes that their first date did not go well, but Ogie insists on finding out more about Dawn and helping her overcome her anxiety ("Never Ever Getting Rid of Me"). Dawn and Ogie realize how much they have in common, such as their mutual enjoyment of American Revolution reenactments. Jenna makes an appointment with Dr. Pomatter, where he comes in two hours early just to see her again. Jenna confronts Dr. Pomatter, accusing him of being strange, but then she impulsively kisses him. Though both are married, they decide to escape their frustrating lives, and have sex in his office ("Bad Idea"). After her tryst, Jenna discovers Becky and Cal making out at the diner. The married Becky is unashamed of giving in to passion ("I Didn't Plan It"). Jenna and Dr. Pomatter continue their affair, as do Becky and Cal; Dawn and Ogie begin their relationship ("Bad Idea (Reprise)"). Jenna wonders if having an affair is a mistake, but Dr. Pomatter reassures her. Jenna begins writing a letter to her baby ("You Matter to Me"). After happily dating for several months, Dawn and Ogie get married at the diner ("I Love You Like a Table"). Jenna arrives with a tiered pie resembling a wedding cake. At the reception, Jenna asks if Cal, despite his affair, is truly happy; he responds that he is "happy enough." Joe tells Jenna his sincere hopes for her ("Take It from an Old Man"). Earl drags Jenna home and uncovers the money she has been hiding. She meekly tells him she has been saving for the baby, but Earl leaves with the money. Jenna breaks down, lamenting her long-lost control over her life ("She Used to Be Mine"). Jenna goes into labor ("Contraction Ballet"). She sees Joe at the hospital on his way to surgery. Joe gives Jenna an envelope, and tells her not to open it until she leaves the hospital. Earl, Becky and Dawn, and even Dr. Pomatter's wife, who is a resident at the hospital, crowd the delivery room. Jenna cries out in distress and gives birth. She names her daughter Lulu. Earl reminds Jenna of her promise not to love Lulu more than him, and Jenna finally tells him she wants a divorce. He reacts poorly, and she implies she will seek a restraining order against him if he ever comes near her or Lulu. Dr. Pomatter visits Jenna alone in her room, but Jenna refuses his kiss. Saying she does not want to remain "happy enough", she ends the affair. As thanks for his positive impact on her life, she gives him a moon pie. Jenna remarks on her change in outlook with Lulu in her life ("Everything Changes"). Jenna opens Joe's envelope. Knowing he was dying, he left her the diner in his will; Joe also wanted Jenna to "name a pie after me when I'm gone". Five years later, the diner has been renamed "Lulu's Pies" and Jenna, the owner and head chef, is content that her life has finally turned around ("Opening Up (Finale)").
Wake Up and Dream is a musical revue with a book by John Hastings Turner and music and lyrics by Cole Porter and others. The most famous song from the revue is the Porter standard "What Is This Thing Called Love?" The revue opened in London while Porter's Paris was still running on Broadway. Producer Charles B. Cochran asked Porter to write the score, even though in their previous dealings Porter had treated him with some discourtesy. Opening on December 30, 1929, the production was the last to open on Broadway in the 1920s. The title later would be used for unrelated films in 1934, 1942 and 1946.
During a storm, foresters and singer Pauline take shelter at a forest mill. Pauline distracts the strict forester Tymoleon while botanist Professor Müller photographs the scene. Later, district captain Heffele mistakes ink-darkened woodruff for a new plant species, while his daughter Freda loves Botho rather than the intended fiancé Tymoleon. Pauline and the apprentices arrange a woodruff punch that confuses the guests. The next morning, Tymoleon accepts Freda’s love for Botho and turns his attention to Pauline; Müller is appointed to the forest academy and is drawn to Jeanne.
Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice (also known simply as Walk on Through) is a musical by Gavin Creel inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collections. It is based on a concept originally commissioned by The Met. The original production made its world premiere and Off-Broadway debut at the MCC Theater from November 13, 2023, to January 7, 2024.
Walking Happy is a musical with music by Jimmy Van Heusen, lyrics by Sammy Cahn and book by Roger O. Hirson and Ketti Frings. The story is based on the 1916 play Hobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse. The musical was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Walmartopia is a musical with music by Andrew Rohn and book by Catherine Capellaro. It is an irreverent political satire of big business and eternal smiley faces, a musical tale of a single mom who speaks up to her corporate employer and finds herself and her young daughter jettisoned to a future where Wal-Mart dominates the entire world.
Mary and Martha Clarke are two African-American twin sisters living in Texas in 1893. In an effort to settle their mother's sharecropper debt and stop her from losing her home, the sister pass as white and become outlaws.
In 1935 Manhattan, several society women fret over the beauty ideals imposed on them by an unforgiving culture ("Best Face Forward"). A red door beckons them inside Elizabeth Arden's salon, where they are greeted by the Arden Girls and then by Elizabeth Arden herself ("Behind the Red Door"). Elizabeth's husband Tommy informs her that Helena Rubinstein plans to relaunch her company in America. Meanwhile, Helena arrives in Manhattan with her marketing director Harry Fleming and tells him that, while she's never met Elizabeth in person, she still plans to undo her ("Back on Top"). When Helena extols her latest face cream, an unfazed Elizabeth reassures Tommy that her iconic pink packaging will always trump pseudo-science. Harry urges Helena to market her cream as two separate products: one for the daytime and one for the nighttime. Helena consents, causing her sales to surpass Elizabeth's. Tommy urges Elizabeth to give him a promotion, but she is reluctant to do so because she believes it will make her look weak ("My Secret Weapon"). One night, while having dinner at the St. Regis Hotel, Elizabeth overhears Helena and Harry talking in an adjoining banquette. She learns that Helena longs for inclusion and that Harry feels undervalued ("My American Moment"). When Harry storms off after Helena mentions her knowing about his late-night trysts, Elizabeth gives him her card and invites him to a job interview. Sometime later, Harry meets with Elizabeth and insists on working as her Vice President of Sales. Despite her initial reluctance, Elizabeth agrees to Harry's demands after Tommy walks in on them. Harry tells Helena about his new job and hits the town with an errant sailor while Tommy enjoys a night out with several of the Arden Girls. When Elizabeth catches him in the steam room with one of the girls, she promptly fires him and demands a divorce ("Step on Out"). Both women wonder what their lives would be had they been born male ("If I'd Been a Man"). While receiving a visit from nail polish salesman Charles Revson and his hand model Dorian Leigh, Elizabeth becomes intrigued with Dorian as she sees vestiges of her former self in the up-and-comer ("Better Yourself"). Meanwhile, after being approached by Tommy about a job, Helena suggests they work together to destroy Elizabeth's reputation by telling the FDA her skin cream doubles as horse salve ("Oh, That's Rich"). In 1939 Washington, D.C., Elizabeth appears at a Senate Committee hearing and offers a spirited defense to committee chairman Senator Royal Copeland. Fully aware that Tommy deliberately sold her out, Elizabeth reports Helena and forces her to testify before the committee. Following Helena's testimony, however, Copeland chides both women and claims their efforts to undermine one another only resulted in them incriminating themselves. Alone and bereft, the two wonder what it would be like if they actually met ("Face to Face"). As dismayed society ladies across Manhattan read the obligatory labels on Arden and Rubinstein products ("Inside of the Jar"), both women discover that war has broken out in Europe. Helena decides to buoy the spirits of women dedicated to the war effort with a brand new line while Elizabeth learns that the War Office is rationing silk and nylon and vows to do her part by inventing products without them ("Necessity Is the Mother of Invention"). In the post-war years, both women thrive financially and open salons in fashionable neighborhoods across America ("Best Face Forward [Reprise]"). One day, Helena is dining at the St. Regis when she learns she lost the bid on a Park Avenue penthouse because its board of directors finds her too Jewish. She overhears Elizabeth being rejected by the elite Mayfair Club because they find her too nouveau riche and gloats over her rival getting a much-needed taste of her own prejudice ("Now You Know"). In the 1950s, Tommy and Harry urge their respective employers to update their ad campaigns. When CBS president Bill Paley offers them sponsorship of the new game show "The $64,000 Question," both women refuse ("No Thank You"). During the show's premiere, they are shocked to learn that the sponsor is Charles Revson's newly formed company Revlon, which features Dorian Leigh in an ad campaign that celebrates sex appeal ("Fire and Ice"). Following the premiere, Helena fires Tommy for failing to alert her to the danger Revlon now poses while Elizabeth fires Harry when he dares to say "I told you so." Both men commiserate at a bar, fully aware that their former employers are digging their own graves by failing to keep up with the times ("Dinosaurs"). Several years later, Elizabeth's Board of Directors pressures her to name a successor, prompting her to opine about how her entire résumé has been pared down to her patented color ("Pink"). Helena, meanwhile, is pressured by her attorneys to save on taxes by donating her large portrait collection. She refuses, insisting that, unlike the creams she spent her entire life championing, the paintings are what preserve her immortality ("Forever Beautiful"). At a gala organized by the American Women's Association in 1964, both women find themselves face to face after being accidentally invited to deliver the keynote address. The two argue until Helena notices that Elizabeth is wearing a shade of her lipstick. The two eventually realize that they had a shared goal that surpassed their bitter rivalry ("Beauty in the World"). As they are ushered to the stage, their handler Tulip thanks the former cosmetics moguls for "all you've done to – I mean for – women." Upon hearing this, both women pause and wonder who will defend beauty in an ever-coarsening world ("Finale").
A street gang must cross New York City to reach home after a gathering intended to unite rival groups turns violent. Over the course of one night, the journey tests loyalty, friendship and the possibility of peace. The musical adapts The Warriors film and Sol Yurick’s novel.
Watch Your Step is a musical with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and a book by Harry B. Smith. Set over the course of one day in New York City, the musical takes place after the death of a wealthy man who leaves his fortune to whichever relative has never been in love and never been kissed.
Mr. Jacob Jankowski, an elderly Polish-American man living in an assisted living home, visits O’Brien’s One-Ring Circus before it heads out of town. He reveals to the employees that he worked with circus animals in his youth. He reminisces on his first circus job. During the Great Depression, Jacob hops a train "going anywhere." Camel, an older circus worker, and Wade, the foreman, try to intimidate him off the train, but he stands his ground. Camel reveals to Jacob that the train belongs to the "Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth" ("Anywhere/Another Train"). Jacob is hired for one day’s work and will leave after their next stop ("The Road Don’t Make You Young"). Jacob walks in on Marlena, the star performer, comforting her horse, Silver Star ("Easy"). Jacob, who studied veterinary medicine at Cornell University, shows August, the ringmaster and Marlena’s husband, that the horse is foundering and may need to be euthanized. After hearing that Jacob was studying to be a vet before being forced to drop out of school, August offers Jacob a job as the circus vet if he is able to keep Silver Star working. August takes Jacob to the menagerie and tricks Jacob into getting attacked by a toothless lion - he boasts that nothing at his circus is real as people only want to see spectacular illusions instead of the grim reality ("The Lion Has Got No Teeth"). Later that night it's revealed that Wade "red-lighted" another circus worker on August’s command, throwing him off the train. Camel warns Jacob of the dangers of the circus, but Jacob decides to stay because he has nowhere else to go ("I Choose the Ride"). Jacob ultimately has to put Silver Star down as the injury has progressed beyond saving. When the circus arrives at the no-longer-in-business Fox Brothers Train, August plans on buying a horse to replace Silver Star. However, all that remains is an old elephant, Rosie ("Ode to an Elephant"). Jacob and Marlena struggle to train Rosie ("Just Our Luck"), and August, unsatisfied with their progress, begins to abuse Rosie with a bullhook. Marlena tells Jacob that August is prone to fits of rage ("I Shouldn’t Be Surprised"). Jacob, Marlena, and August spend the evening at a speakeasy. Jacob tells them that he had been studying to be a vet to follow in his father's footsteps and his father had even ordered a sign reading "Jankowski and Son" to put over their practice, but he and Jacob's mother were killed in a car accident before he could pass his final exams. Jacob had hopped the train because the bank had confiscated his childhood home as well as his father's practice, so he was leaving the city to start a new life. Marlena empathizes with Jacob's story as she had run away from her family to marry August. Jealous of the tender moment, August becomes violent again, this time towards Marlena. When the speakeasy is raided, Jacob and Marlena escape from the police together. Outside of the speakeasy, they share a moment, and Jacob kisses Marlena. Marlena runs away, and Jacob revels in his thrilling situation ("Silver Stars"). In Chicago, Marlena and Rosie are set to make their debut as the star act, but Rosie refuses to move, forcing August to improvise. Furious, August prepares to beat her with his bullhook when Rosie swipes August down with her trunk. She is about to kill him when Jacob instinctively yells zostań, the Polish word for "stop". Rosie, whose previous trainer was Polish, understands the language and can now follow Jacob’s commands. The circus celebrates finally being "back in business" ("The Grand Spec"). Mr. Jankowski reminisces on his younger days spent with Rosie ("Funny Angel"). With Rosie as their new star, The Benzini Brothers Circus becomes a success. As Jacob teaches the circus workers Polish, he grows increasingly close with Marlena ("Zostań"). This draws the eye of circus workers Barbara, Walter, and Camel, who convince Jacob that a relationship with Marlena will bring nothing but trouble ("Squeaky Wheel"). Jacob plans to leave the circus to Marlena’s dismay - August grows suspicious of their relationship. He accuses Marlena of cheating on him and Marlena and August exchange blows ("You’ve Got Nothing (Part 1)"). August orders Wade to red-light Jacob, Walter and Camel. Jacob and Marlena disappear, and a reluctant Wade pushes Walter and Camel off the train as it’s going over a bridge, killing them ("You’ve Got Nothing (Part 2)"). In a hotel room, Marlena regrets how poorly she let people treat her, but resolves to trust herself from now on ("What Do You Do"). Jacob finds Marlena, and they are free to be together for the first time ("Wild"). They form a plan: They will go back to the show, perform the first half, then run off with Rosie, Camel, and Walter while August finishes the show. When they arrive at the circus, Jacob goes to Walter and Camel's compartment, but only finds Walter's pet dog Queenie. Wade walks in on him and Jacob realizes what happened. The two end up fighting until Wade smacks Jacob's head against a post and runs off. When he comes to his senses, Jacob takes a knife and resolves to kill August as he takes a nap before the show ("Go Home"), but can’t go through with it. During the show, a guilt-ridden Wade opens the menagerie cages, and the animals stampede the circus. Many people die, including August, who is killed by Rosie wielding his bullhook. Being the only person to see this, Jacob contemplates whether his indecision to try and stop Rosie was him being frozen with fear or a deliberate desire to let August die. Jacob and Marlena make it out alive and soon after got married, keeping Rosie and Queenie in their care. Jacob went on to pass his exams and they had five children, allowing Jacob to finally hang the sign his father had ordered before he eventually retired and left the practice in the hands of his children. After revealing that Marlena died not too long ago, Mr. Jankowski decides that he misses the circus life, and accepts a job at O’Brien’s One-Ring Circus, jokingly telling Marlena's spirit that he's running away with the circus before declaring that he's finally home ("Finale (I choose the ride)").
As Riley and her best friend Cairo prepare for the annual cheerleading sleepover in the basement of Riley's home, Riley expresses her desire to prove herself as the new captain of the Giles Corey High cheerleading squad, while lamenting the team's "loser" status. Meanwhile, the other team members arrive, with varying levels of enthusiasm, as Cairo tries to get Riley to relax ("Worst Team Ever"). The meeting is delayed until Annleigh arrives late, with her step-sister Farrah, who is clearly drunk, in tow. While Riley attempts to lead them all in an introduction exercise, each team member expresses their inner concerns and worries, but ultimately states that they don't care ("Don't Even"). Cairo suggests a game of truth or dare and makes Mattie, the freshman on the team, drink the contents of Farrah's bottle. Riley tries to get them back on track by practicing a cheer, but Farrah refuses to participate if Chess is part of the team. Farrah berates Chess for being stoned and dropping her during a cheer, which was the reason the team went viral the previous year. Kate rises to her defense, stating that Farrah is drunk, and the argument escalates until Riley insists Kate take a walk and calm down. Chess follows her friend outside and Kate confesses her fears over Chess moving away to college, since Kate is a junior while Chess is a senior ("Skype Tomorrow"). When Kate asks Chess to come back inside with her, Chess tries to stay outside and they argue until Kate finds Chess's bottle of pain medication and leaves, furious. At the same time, Farrah tries to get Annleigh to stop texting Clark, who is Annleigh's boyfriend, and pay attention to her, accidentally breaking her phone in the process. Annleigh tells Farrah that they will never be sisters and leaves, furious. Chess and Farrah divulge their concerns over their lives and their vices while the other girls describe the struggles of being teenage girls ("Before the Breakdown"). Alone, Chess hears strange noises and is murdered by an unseen person. Back in the kitchen, Annleigh is surprised by Clark, who has snuck into the sleepover to see her. The couple share their desires with each other and confirm their commitment to each other and their chastity, with Clark proposing to Annleigh ("Forever"). Before Annleigh can respond, Cairo comes to retrieve her and Clark hides in the pantry. The doorbell rings and Cairo and Annleigh introduce themselves to the pizza delivery girl, Eva Sanchez, who they recognize as the star cheerleader of West High's team, who are the Tigers' rivals. In the living room, Reese is ignored by the other girls because she is just the mascot and she reveals her dreams to be popular and liked, the way Riley and the others are, as well as her desire to be on the team ("Captain of the Team"). When Kate returns without Chess, Reese volunteers to take her place in the routine, but the other members pressure Riley to say no. Instead, Reese is sent to find Chess and Farrah. Mattie stumbles to the bathroom, drunk from the earlier dare. In the other bathroom, Reese finds Farrah throwing up from the alcohol she has consumed. Reese and Farrah have an honest heart to heart, where Reese, who has long been the victim of bullying due to her weight, asks Farrah to stop calling her "Reeses". Farrah begs Reese not to tell the others that she drank so much. When Reese leaves, Farrah reflects on her life ("Before the Breakdown (Reprise)") and pours the rest of her flask down the toilet. Someone knocks on the door, and Farrah apologizes for being drunk before she is killed in the shower by an unseen person. Meanwhile, Annleigh checks on a drunk Mattie and Cairo confronts Kate about her feelings for Chess. Mattie comes back into the room, bloody from hitting her head in the bathroom. Cairo follows an upset Riley into the kitchen, where they argue over who has done more for the other. Both believe that they are responsible for the other's success and thus deserve better treatment ("Wallflower"). They hear a scream and run outside to find Kate trying to save a dead Chess. In the bathroom, Reese finds Farrah's body and is surprised by Clark. Startled and afraid, Reese attacks Clark and hits him with the showerhead, believing him to be the person who killed Farrah. Realizing that it was Clark she attacked after turning on the lights, Reese attempts to wake him up, but she panics when she realizes that he died after falling and hitting his head on the toilet. When the other girls come running in after hearing her scream, Reese lets them assume Clark was killed by the same person as Chess and Farrah. Panicked by the deaths, Riley tries to call the police, but Cairo is worried that they will be blamed for the murders and stops her. Instead, she proposes that they pin the murder on Mattie, a girl who they barely know and who is drunk and covered in blood. The team reluctantly agrees to Cairo's plan and work together to plant a murder weapon. As Mattie staggers in and asks what's happening, the girls pass the knife with blood on it to Riley as they surround Mattie and the lights go out ("Defense"). Mattie is in prison. She writes a letter to her parents about how bad her life is now, and how she should never have joined the cheer team ("Mattie's Lament"). The Tigers return to Riley's, with two new promising team members, Reese, and Eva Sanchez. Cairo accuses Riley of avoiding her and for paying for Eva's scholarship to come to their school. The girls once again assemble in the basement, where Riley does her best to convince them that they can still have a great year ("Phoenix"). Kate, who keeps hearing Chess's ghost, is furious at them all for trying to act as if nothing happened. They argue until Kate announces that she is going to call the police and fix what they've done. Outside, Kate and Annleigh struggle over their feelings for their dead loved ones, with the ghosts of Farrah, Clark, and Chess watching them and asking them to promise not to forget them ("Move On"). Reese follows Kate outside and begs her not to call the police. When Kate asks her why, Reese confesses to accidentally killing Clark. Annleigh overhears and angrily attacks Reese for letting her believe that Clark died after cheating on her with Farrah. As the two begin to fight and Riley, Cairo, and Kate try to separate them, Eva watches the chaos and wrestles with whether or not she should stay on the team; on one hand, being on the Tigers means that she is at a better school and can receive a better education, but the team members are clearly unstable ("Shut Up and Cheer"). Dismayed over the fighting, Riley goes inside to get Annleigh and Reese some ice and tells everyone that they can leave. Cairo follows her, insisting that Riley stop them from leaving. Cairo believes they need to maintain the lie in order to stay out of trouble and they argue over what to do next. Riley leaves, and Cairo struggles over Riley's decision not to listen to her ("Wallflower (Reprise)"). Back in the basement, Riley finds that the door is locked and the Wi-Fi is down. While Riley searches for a key, she asks them to talk out their issues. Cairo, Kate, Annleigh, and Reese argue over which one of them could have been the murderer ("IDK"). Annoyed, Riley tries to get them to just practice cheering. When the team refuses, Riley becomes increasingly agitated and breaks down as the rest of the girls watch. Cairo realizes that Riley has the key and Kate and Reese attempt to reassure her, but an erratic Riley confesses to the murders ("The Breakdown"). After a struggle, Reese knocks Riley out and Cairo helps to tie her up. Annleigh is sent to call the police while Eva helps Kate, whom Riley stabbed in the thigh. Riley tells them that no one will believe them if they turn her in, but Eva reveals she recorded Riley's whole confession on her phone. Riley begs Cairo to untie her as police sirens wail. Later, in the gym, the remaining Tigers return to practice. Kate and Annleigh reveal that they are coping with the deaths of their loved ones ("Move On (Reprise)"). Mattie is back from Juvie, Cairo is the new cheer captain, Annleigh has met a new guy in grief counseling, and Kate is dating Eva. Eva reminds them all that they have community service for being accessories to the crime. Reese starts to show them all the new cheer and they all, including the ghosts of Farrah, Chess, and Clark, as well as Riley, who is in prison, reflect on moving on and healing with the support of each other ("Finale").
In a future controlled by the Globalsoft corporation, individuality is suppressed and musical instruments are forbidden. Outsiders Galileo and Scaramouche join a group of rebels searching for the lost power of rock music. Queen’s songs accompany their attempt to challenge the Killer Queen and restore freedom of expression.
Two figures in a toy weather house emerge from opposite doors according to the weather, so they cannot meet. They fall in love and finally wrench themselves free of their supports to be together.
Welcome to the Club is a 1989 Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Cy Coleman. Set in a New York City jail for alimony violators, the musical was directed by Peter Mark Schifter and opened at the Music Box Theatre on April 13, 1989. Poor reviews led the production to close on April 22, after only twelve performances. The New York Times deemed the musical "embarrassingly out of touch with the present-day realities of men, women, sex, marriage and divorce", with limited praise given to Coleman's "inconsistent" score. Despite flopping at the box office, the musical garnered two Tony nominations: Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Scott Wentworth) and Best Direction of a Musical (Schifter). In her Broadway debut, actress Sally Mayes won a 1989 Theatre World award.
At the New York Record, copy boy Sammy Glick eagerly darts around, collecting the day's new stories from the reporters, like Al Manhaim. He shows O'Brien, the Managing Editor, some typographical errors. Sammy is ambitious and enterprising: he earns money on the side, too. He buys "A New Pair of Shoes", fancy ones, the first chance he gets. Sammy asks AI for advice on his first radio column. Al notes that Sammy stole it from a book written by Kit Sargent. O’Brien publishes "Sammy's" article instead of Al's drama column. Al is amazed when Sammy protests that he was "helping" Al by making the entertainment page better ("You Help Me"). Sammy persuades a talented writer, Julian Blumberg, to let Sammy "help" him get his radio script produced. He uses Al's connections to get an agent to sell the script under Sammy's name to Hollywood producer Sidney Fineman. Soon Sammy is hired to write scripts for World-Wide Pictures in Los Angeles, where he meets rising star Rita Rio, tough-guy assistant director Sheik Orsini, and writer Kit Sargent. Kit has "A Tender Spot" for difficult men, so she falls for Sammy. Al shows up at the studio, looking to adapt a script for the movies, and Sammy takes the credit for finding him. Kit joins Al and Sammy to lampoon film plots ("Lights! Camera! Platitude!") Sidney sees that Sammy is a Hollywood natural — unsavory, duplicitous and glory-seeking ("My Home Town"). Sammy suggests a film plot to Sidney, stolen from the Joan Crawford movie Rain: Monsoon, written by Sammy's ghostwriter, Julian, stars Rita Rio. At an industry showing, Sammy and Kit continue their affair. Investor H. R. Harrington, who might purchase control of the studio, and his spoiled daughter Laurette see the film. Sammy realizes that if he can win Laurette, he could eventually head the studio, but Laurette fantasizes about crushing Sammy ("I See Something"). Al hopes for romance with Kit, but she turns him down ("Maybe Some Other Time"). Monsoon is a hit, and Sidney gives Sammy his own film unit. A disappointed Al goes to the airport to fly east. Sammy suggests a sexy weekend with Kit in Mexico ("You Can Trust Me: A Room Without Windows"). Laurette calls Kit, wanting Sammy to take her out on the town. Sammy slinks away from Kit, but when he calls for Laurette, she acts uninterested. Everyone is unhappy ("Kiss Me No Kisses"). Sammy's new film, Paint a Rainbow, gives a red carpet premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Sammy is interviewed about his success ("I Feel Humble"). Sammy wants Kit to write a new film, Sob Sister, but she will not speak to him. Sammy flies east to persuade Al to phone Kit in Los Angeles and propose marriage so that the two will write the screenplay together. Kit, not realizing the implications of the proposal, believes that she has "Something to Live For". Sammy's low-class brother Seymour arrives at the New York premiere of the film to demand that Sammy leave to see their mother for the anniversary of the death of their father; Sammy refuses. Laurette is impressed that Sammy's callousness is on a level with hers ("You’re No Good"). Back in Hollywood, Kit is startled and disgruntled when she discovers Sammy's plan to get her to write for him. Al and Kit reluctantly write a series of films for Sammy. Laurette is now attracted to Sammy, but he plays hard-to-get ("The Friendliest Thing"). Sidney's production unit is failing, and Sammy will not assist him. Harrington fires Sidney. Sammy has clawed his way to the top of the studio. At his ostentatious mansion, Sammy and Laurette present the "Wedding of the Year". At the ceremony, they learn that Sidney has committed suicide. Everyone is shaken; Kit and Al, Sammy's only friends, are so disgusted that they finally break away from him and flee Los Angeles. When Sammy discovers Laurette in bed with a young French movie star, his wife comments that he cannot do anything about it, or Harrington will dismiss him. Sammy knows: "Some Days Everything Goes Wrong".
What's Up? is a musical notable as the first Broadway stage collaboration by Lerner and Loewe, with book by Arthur Pierson and Alan Jay Lerner, lyrics by Lerner, and music by Frederick Loewe.
When Claudia Smiles is a musical in three acts with music by Jean Schwartz and both book and lyrics by Anne Caldwell. Set in New York City, the work is based on Leo Ditrichstein's 1903 play Vivian's Papas. The musical began its Broadway run at the 39th Street Theatre on February 2, 1914, and then transferred to the Lyric Theatre where it ultimately closed on March 21, 1914, after 56 performances. The production was directed by Charles Winninger and produced by Frederic McKay. The cast included Blanche Ring, Mahlon Hamilton, Anna Laughlin, and Bertha Mann.
When Dreams Comes True is a musical in three acts and four scenes with music by Silvio Hein and both book and lyrics by Philip Bartholomae.
Where's Charley? is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by George Abbott. The story was based on the 1892 play Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas. The musical debuted on Broadway in 1948 and was revived on Broadway and in the West End. Ray Bolger starred, and sang the popular song "Once in Love with Amy".
Which Witch is a musical written by Norwegian singers/composers Benedicte Adrian and Ingrid Bjørnov. The storyline for Which Witch was derived from the witch finder's manual Malleus Maleficarum, and the original script was written by Adrian and Bjørnov's manager Ole A. Sørli.
Whirled into Happiness is a musical comedy with music by Robert Stolz, and book and lyrics by Harry Graham, adapted from Stolz's Der Tanz ins Glück, with a libretto by Robert Bodanzky and. The work, billed as a "musical farce", was presented in London in 1922.
White Christmas is a musical based on the Paramount Pictures 1954 film of the same name. The book is by David Ives and Paul Blake, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. The original St. Louis production starred Lara Teeter, Karen Mason, Lauren Kennedy, and Lee Roy Reams, and the 2004 San Francisco production starred Brian D'Arcy James, Anastasia Barzee, Meredith Patterson, and Jeffry Denman.
White Girl in Danger is a satirical musical written by Michael R. Jackson. The show was first produced off-Broadway at the Kiser Theater in New York City in 2023. Jackson originally developed the new musical intending for it to be part of a multi-year residency at the Vineyard Theatre. The musical follows the citizens of Allwhite, a town filled with drama and intrigue worthy of, and blatantly satirizing, a daytime soap opera. Keesha Gibbs and the other “Blackgrounds” have been relegated to backburner stories of slavery and police violence for all of their lives. Keesha is determined to step out of her role and into the center of Allwhite's juiciest stories. While she claims to be making this shift for her people, the move really comes from her own self-interest in being a larger part of the story.
Whoop-Dee-Doo is a Broadway musical by Weber and Fields that played in 1903–1904 at Weber and Fields' Broadway Music Hall. The music book by Edgar Smith is based on Henri Lavedan's 1897 play Catherine. The musical is set at Kaiser Wilhelm Bier-haus in the city of Paris.
Whoop-Up is a musical with music by Moose Charlap, lyrics by Norman Gimbel, and book by Cy Feuer and Ernest Martin, based on Stay Away, Joe by Dan Cushman. It was directed by Cy Feuer, with sets and lighting by Jo Mielziner and choreography by Onna White.
Setting: Mission Rest, Arizona; Black Top Canyon; The Bar "M" Ranch; the Wilderness; the Desert. Sheriff Bob Wells and the daughter of a rancher Sally Morgan are getting married. She is in love with Wanenis, whose part-Indian heritage presents social difficulties for their romance. Sally abandons Sheriff Bob and their wedding, catching a ride with Henry Williams. As a hypochondriac, Henry has problems of his own, but Sally adds to his problems when she leaves a note saying they have eloped. A chase ensues, with the jilted Bob; Mary, Henry's nurse who is in love with him; and a cast of others. Along the way they arrive at the Indian Reservation where Wanenis lives. The movie star Leslie Daw enters the proceedings and sings the torchy, sentimental "Love Me, or Leave Me".
Why Am I So Single? is a musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. Loosely based on their own lives, Why Am I So Single? follows two musical theatre writers and best friends who are struggling to navigate the frustrations of being constantly single while also trying to write a musical. The show received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best New Musical & four WhatsOnStage Award nominations (including Best New Musical) and won for Best Casting Direction.
Set during the Congress of Vienna, the operetta reuses music by Johann Strauss II and includes music by his brother Josef Strauss. Adolf Müller Jr. compiled the score, and Victor Léon and Leo Stein wrote the libretto.
Wildcat "Wildy" Jackson arrives in 1912 in Centavo City with dreams of striking oil but with neither capital nor know-how to help her accomplish her goal. Joe Dynamite, the most successful crew foreman in the territory, finds her ruggedness appealing and agrees to work with her if she can prove ownership to her claimed land and hire a crew. She finds owned by a hermit prospector, but Joe is certain the property is dry. Wildy attempts to lure him with her female charms, but when he still rejects her plans she has him falsely arrested, then released into her custody. A grateful Joe agrees to start work on the project but abandons it once he discovers it was Wildy who had him jailed. Left high and literally dry by her partner and crew, Wildy resorts to desperate measures to strike a Texas-sized gusher.
Wildflower or The Wildflower (as styled on the sheet music), is a musical in three acts with book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II and music by Herbert Stothart and Vincent Youmans. The plot concerns a pretty Italian farmgirl, Nina, who has a fiery temper.
Wind in the Willows is a musical based on the novel of the same name, with music by William P. Perry, lyrics by Roger McGough and Perry, and a book by Jane Iredale. The musical premiered in August 1983, at the Folger Theatre in Washington, D.C. The Broadway production opened at the Nederlander Theatre on December 19, 1985, and closed after only four performances. Directed by Tony Stevens and choreographed by Margery Beddow, the cast featured Nathan Lane as Toad, David Carroll as Rat, Vicki Lewis as Mole, and P. J. Benjamin as Chief Weasel. Wind in the Willows was nominated for two Tony Awards: Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score.
Set in 1929, the story focuses on ace reporter Hildy Johnson, who has just quit his job at the Chicago Examiner to marry his fiancée Esther Stone and write screenplays for her movie mogul father, much to the dismay of unscrupulous and cantankerous editor Walter Burns. When streetwalker Mollie Malloy, girlfriend of escaped condemned killer Earl Williams, reveals to Hildy he has secreted himself in a rolltop desk in the courthouse, Hildy cannot resist the lure of writing what could be the biggest scoop of his journalistic career before he boards the train for the West Coast.
Wings is a musical with music by Jeffrey Lunden and book and lyrics by Arthur Perlman adapted from Arthur Kopit's play of the same name. The one-act musical concerns an older female stroke victim who was an aviatrix and wing-walker. The original production premiered at Chicago's Goodman Theatre in October 1992 and opened at the New York Shakespeare Festival Joseph Papp Public Theater in February 1993. Wings received the 1994 Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical.
Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation is a 2021 musical based on the film franchise of the same name. The music and lyrics were written by the Sherman Brothers with a book by Jonathan Rockefeller. The production also borrows elements from the short stories of the same name. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, the musical had its debut at the Theatre Row Building in New York City in October 2021 and was met with a positive critical response.
Wish You Were Here is a musical with a book by Arthur Kober and Joshua Logan and music and lyrics by Harold Rome. The musical was adapted from Kober's 1937 play, Having Wonderful Time, and revolves around a summer camp for adults. It is known for the song "Wish You Were Here".
The American Repertory Theatre wrote: The story was based on Matthews' experience in Uganda, as well as Gould's Peace Corps experience in Mauritania and other similar experiences.
Just before Tess Harding, a nationally known television news personality, comes on stage to receive an award as "Woman of the Year", she reminisces about an on-air editorial that she gave denigrating newspaper comic strips. The article offended the cartoonists who frequent the Ink Pot saloon and inspired syndicated cartoonist Sam Craig to publish a caricature depicting her as a snob in his strip Katz. Tess is annoyed, but when the handsome and charming Sam shows up at her office, she apologizes and invites him to dinner. At the Ink Pot, she charms Sam and his colleagues by revealing her knowledge about comic art. Tess and Sam begin a romance, move in together, and finally marry, but their busy careers leave little time for them to spend together, and their big egos pose problems in their marriage. In one of his comics, Katz quips that marriage is a breeze - it's the living together that's so damned hard. Tess is offended, an argument ensues, and Sam announces he no longer can deal with the couple's fraying love life. The time moves forward to the present, and it's time for Tess to accept her award, just as she has lost the man she loves. Several weeks later, Tess is conflicted about her role as a powerful newswoman versus her role as a wife. She seeks advice from Russian ballet dancer Alexi Petrikov, whom she helped to defect. He tells her that he is returning to Russia, because the wife he left behind is more important than his career. Tess travels to visit first husband Larry Donovan and his wife Jan to discover why their marriage is a success. She decides to concentrate on her marriage and announces that she is resigning from her show. But Sam tells her that he wants her to keep her career; he just wants to be involved in the decisions in their relationship. They decide to work things out.
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is a musical with music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Jeffrey Lane. Based on the Pedro Almodóvar film Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988), the musical tells the tale of a group of women in late 20th-century Madrid whose relationships with men lead to a tumultuous 48 hours of love, confusion and passion. The original Broadway production opened at the Belasco Theatre in October 2010, but received mostly negative reviews and closed in January 2011 after 30 previews and 69 performances. It was nominated for 3 Tony Awards and 6 Drama Desk Awards. With new direction and production design, the musical transferred to London and opened at the Playhouse Theatre in January 2015, where it received mixed to positive reviews and 2 Laurence Olivier Award nominations. It closed in May of that year.
During the summer of 1935 in Greenwich Village, New York, a tour guide leads a group of sightseers on a tour of "Christopher Street" and its colorful residents. When the tourists have departed, the witty Ruth Sherwood arrives in Greenwich Village with Eileen, her younger sister. The two have just arrived from Columbus, Ohio, determined to forge a life in New York City as a writer (Ruth) and an actress (Eileen). Soon they are living in a basement apartment, recently vacated by Violet. Their landlord is Mr. Appopoulos. Their apartment building is shaken frequently by dynamite from the construction of a subway underneath them and they are disturbed by Violet's returning customers. The sisters are soon stricken with homesickness for "Ohio". The next morning, Ruth and Eileen set out to try their hand at "Conquering New York", only to find defeat and humiliation. Eileen, at least, has gotten food from a food samples man, as well as Mr. Valenti, but has also met Frank Lippencott, a local Walgreens manager who has developed a crush on her. Ruth, however, is left to wonder at her sister's magnetic appeal and her own unique romantic abilities — a talent for repelling men that is so successful that she could write a book entitled "One Hundred Easy Ways to Lose a Man." Eventually, Ruth talks her way into the offices of a short story magazine, where she meets Bob Baker. Bob likes Ruth, but advises her that she has little chance of success, and tells her flat out what a waste of money and time it was to come to New York City, because he along with many others have done the same thing ("What a Waste"). Undaunted, Ruth leaves three stories with Bob in the hope that he will read them. Meanwhile, Eileen has been eating all of her lunches free at Walgreens, and finds herself infatuated with Frank ("A Little Bit in Love"), and invites him over to dinner so Ruth can have free lunches when she goes to Walgreens, too. Bob arrives at the apartment, looking for Ruth, and Eileen invites him over for dinner as well. The phone rings, and it is Chick Clark, a newspaper editor, whom Eileen met in an elevator, wanting to see Eileen. The upstairs neighbors, Wreck, an out-of-season American football player ("Pass the Football"), and his live-in lover, Helen, ask the girls to hide Wreck while Helen's mother, Mrs. Ella Wade is in town, because Mrs. Wade does not yet know about Wreck. Eileen happily agrees to stow him in their apartment, much to Ruth's hesitation. Wreck describes his lucky history as a student at Trenton Tech, who got by very well only because of his ability with football. Eileen has invited Frank Lippencott, Bob Baker, and Chick Clark, a slimy newspaper scribe whom she has met with the object of furthering Ruth's career, over for potluck supper. Unaware of each other's feelings, both women find themselves attracted to Bob. Soon, all five of them are seated around the cramped apartment trying to fill the awkward silence ("Conversation Piece"). Meanwhile, Helen deals with her overbearing and exaggerated mother. Ruth and Bob talk over the quality of her stories, and he advises her to write about what she knows rather than flights of fancy. Both say several wrong things, and he finally tells her off. He soon regrets it as Ruth rushes inside in tears ("A Quiet Girl"). While all this is happening, anxious to be alone with Eileen, Chick Clark creates a bogus assignment for Ruth. He sends her off to the Brooklyn Navy Yard to interview a group of Brazilian navy cadets. She quickly realizes that their sole interest is to learn and dance the "Conga!". The sailors follow Ruth home, where the girls soon find themselves in chaotic confusion, as all the citizens of Christopher Street join the conga line in a finale. Ruth runs into Bob and gives him a piece of her mind, while Eileen is hauled off to jail for causing the riot. In the local jail Eileen finds herself practically running the place, with Officer Lonigan and his brigade of doting Irish police officers at her beck and call. Given her name, they are convinced that she is Irish. They serenade her and are not at all discouraged when she says she is not Irish ("My Darlin' Eileen"). Ruth comes to assure Eileen that she will bail her out as soon as she collects the money from her new job as a promoter for the Village Vortex, a local nightclub. At the club, Ruth digs the rhythm of swing ("Wonderful Town Swing"). Meanwhile, Wreck is awkwardly masquerading as a wealthy art collector to meet the approval of Helen's mother, and Chick is frantically calling Eileen, trying to make things right. Thanks to Bob, Eileen is soon released from jail, and the sisters learn that Mr. Appopoulos has been so scandalized by a missing picture that he painted (that was actually stolen and sold for $2 by Helen and Wreck for Wreck to stay at the Y) as well as Eileen's arrest that he has threatened to evict them. Eileen discovers that Ruth is also attracted to Bob Baker, and the two of them wish, for a moment, that they had never left home ("Ohio" (reprise)). Eileen is then confronted by the rhythmical Speedy Valenti, owner of the Village Vortex (the night club), who arranges for her New York City debut as a singer because her fame has reached the front page of the news. Mr. Appopoulos immediately changes his tune now that one of his tenants has a paying job, and extends their lease. Eileen soon learns that Bob Baker has quit his job as a result of a disagreement with his boss about Ruth's story on the Brazilian sailors. Eileen is thrilled that Bob quit his job and assures the unbelieving Bob that it's love that he feels for Ruth. Bob, faced with the facts, hesitantly realizes the truth that it is love ("It's Love"). The mood at the Vortex turns jazzy ("Ballet At the Village Vortex"). Eileen finds herself with a case of stage fright and she convinces Ruth to join her on stage to sing. Chick arrives to make amends and presents Ruth with a press pass: His boss has read her story about the Brazilian sailors and loved it, and given Ruth a job to take on the following Monday. The Vortex is alive with singing and dancing ("Wrong Note Rag"), and Bob decides it is the perfect moment to let Ruth know how he feels. The curtain closes as Eileen and the guests at the club sing "It's Love" along with everyone in a finale in celebration of Ruth and Bob's newfound affection.
The story, in the Broadway production, was as follows: Act 1 Author Alice Stetson and her daughter have just moved to Queens, New York so that Alice can have some space from her husband, Jack ("Home"). Her young daughter, Chloe, laments about the move and her family's demise, as Alice notes that her life isn't going in the direction she had hoped. Edwina, Jack's mother, is cooking dinner for Chloe. Alice, who has just hit her head on the light of the building's service elevator, receives her children's book manuscript back from the publishers, who have coldly rejected it, saying it is too dark for children. She sadly makes a comment that Alice in Wonderland, the book Edwina had been reading to Chloe, was dark. As she lies down, she is awoken by a white rabbit who she follows down to Wonderland ("Down the Rabbit Hole"). In Wonderland, she encounters strange people and creatures who are dressed in the same dresses that the original Alice in Wonderland is known to wear ("Welcome to Wonderland"). She tries to discover why she has been brought there, and finds a mysterious drink ("Drink Me"). She then encounters the Caterpillar, whose advice is to follow in the footsteps of El Gato (the Cheshire Cat) to find out who she is ("Advice from a Caterpillar" and "Go With the Flow"). El Gato believes himself to be invisible, but he has lost the power; Alice learns from the Caterpillar that the characters in Wonderland "don't have the heart to tell him". El Gato leads her to the White Rabbit, when White Knight makes a grand entrance. He and his cohorts promises to save her at all means ("One Knight") and invites her to the Tea Party ("The Mad Tea Party"). At the party, the Mad Hatter announces with flair that she intends to rule things in Wonderland ("The Mad Hatter"). She reads Alice's tea leaves, commenting on Alice's bad qualities as the Queen arrives. The Queen announces that she is the ruler and all must obey her, or it will be off with your head ("All Hail the Queen"). Alice promises to take the Queen a brand new kingdom – the kingdom of Queens (a reference to her home in New York). The Hatter, angry, goes with Morris the March Hare to find her revenge on Alice who is a threat to the Hatter's plans. The Rabbit, El Gato, Caterpillar and Jack the White Knight all agree to help Alice find the service elevator that brought her there. Alice just wants to go home, as she and Chloe, in their new apartment, yearn for the way things used to be ("Home Reprise"). The Mad Hatter, who uses the name "Maddie", and the March Hare ascend the rabbit hole to Chloe's bedroom. They convince Chloe to come with them to help with Alice and Jack's marriage treatment to bring the family closer together ("A Nice Little Walk"). Chloe goes with them to Wonderland. However, the Hatter takes Chloe to the Land of the Looking-Glass as a prisoner, the Hatter's side of the kingdom, given to her by the Queen of Hearts, where she captures and turns her prisoners' "brains to tapioca". Jack agrees to help Alice in exchange for a kiss, as the White Rabbit makes mention of this news. Together, Alice, Jack, Rabbit, El Gato and the Caterpillar agree to break through the Looking-Glass to save Chloe ("Through the Looking Glass"). Act 2 Inside the Hatter's war room, she locks Chloe in the tallest dungeon. She also captures the Caterpillar, El Gato and the White Knight as they fight to free Alice (and the Rabbit). The Hatter declares she will win her battle ("I Will Prevail"). Alice finds herself in front of a door with the comedy and tragedy masks. She notices above the door the word "THEATRICAL" (which changes spell HATTER and ALICE, with the letter "E" rotating between the two names) though she misses the clue the first time, this is when the Rabbit tells Alice that he can turn back time by just "winding back his watch". Alice tells the Rabbit to get captured and use the watch to save everyone. After the Rabbit leaves, Alice enters and encounters Lewis Carroll (the Victorian Gentleman). He encourages her to write something that is important to her, something she dreamt of ("I Am My Own Invention"). The Hatter delivers the list of executions to the Queen of Hearts, 7 beheadings, with the names of 6 of the characters and a "wildcard" slot (meant for the Queen). The Hatter eggs her on that she is the only one who can say "Off with their heads" with such flair, and convinces the Queen to allow the beheadings to take place in the land of the Looking-Glass. The Queen delights in the truth of her signature phrase ("Off With Their Heads"). Lewis Carroll leads Alice to a hall of mirrors, where she believes she has found Chloe. However, she realizes she is talking to a young Alice. She finally learns why she was brought to Wonderland: to remember and love who she is and was ("Once More I Can See"). Back at the prison, the Rabbit is captured. When Morris the March Hare asks for any valuables he wants them to keep safe, he hands over the watch. When Jack asks why he was captured, he explains about the watch to save them, but the prisoners are dismayed at the news. Jack tells the Rabbit to find dismiss his fears, that they will get the watch back, but they must attack the very men they are trying to save. They defeat the prison guards, who are Jack's Boy-Band Knights that were transformed after the Hatter brought them under her control, and return them to their normal mindset when they get the watch back. They free the rest of the guards from the Hatter's command, leaving her defenseless. The boy-band, Jack, Caterpillar, Rabbit and El Gato save Alice from the dungeon and learn that together, anything is possible ("Together"). Morris hands over the beheading list to Jack, where they learn of the Hatter's plans to overthrow everyone, including the Queen. When the Hatter arrives to taunt Alice with a final riddle, Alice learns that the Hatter is the alter-ego of herself. Alice did not come to Wonderland when she was supposed, due to her mother's death and her childhood coming to an end, over two decades prior. Due to this, the Hatter was created out of every bad moment Alice has ever faced in her life. The Queen, learning of the Hatter's plan to behead her, banishes the Hatter to the underground world. Alice, who tries to defend the Hatter, is held at knife-point until Jack saves her. However, he is brought down to the underworld as well. Alice is happy that she may leave with Chloe, but the two lament Jack's death as they go home ("Heroes"). Alice awakens from her dream when her husband, Jack, arrives with Chloe's forgotten doll and claiming it is his White Knight syndrome that drove him there and his desire to protect his family since they're under a new roof. Alice embraces him and realizes what she has in front of her eyes, the family is together once again. As they all head down for dinner, she remains behind for a moment to write down what she has learned from her adventures in Wonderland, but especially what she learned from the rabbit, that time is fleeting, and from her dream: "ordinary magic happens every single day", and it is all around us in the simplest ways ("Finding Wonderland").
In the morning all the workers are getting ready for their jobs (All the Livelong Day). Mike Dillard, a steelworker, talks about the dangers of his job. Some people get caught in a (Traffic Jam) on the highway. Some of the cars stop at an office building where Al Calinda, a parking lot attendant is working. He parks the cars and states that he has been parking cars his whole life, and probably will for the rest of his life (Lovin Al). On top of the parking lot there is an office building. Amanda McKenny is displeased that people stereotype her with her job. She has a strained relationship with her boss, Rex Winship, who tells us he wants to be a teacher. Rose Hoffman, a teacher who has one year left until retirement, is unhappy with the changes she sees in the school system (Nobody Tells Me How). She remembers a student of hers, Babe Secoli, who is now a checker at the Treasure Island Supermarket. Babe explains that her job requires work from every part of the body (I'm Just Movin). Her bag boy, Roberto Núñez, is unhappy with the music that is playing in the market, which is the Cuban Revolution celebratory song along with the hardships of working on a farm and hopes a better day will come (Un Mejor Día Vendrá). In the neighborhood, Conrad Swibel is on his UPS delivery route, talking about the perks of his job: meeting women, and the bad parts, getting chased by dogs. After he leaves, John Rushton delivers the newspaper and tells of his dreams for the future (Neat to be a Newsboy). His mother, Kate Rushton, a housewife, who complains that people doubt her intelligence because she chooses to stay at home and look after her family (Just a Housewife). Candy Cottingham says that she needs to separate people from their jobs for her job as a political fundraiser. Grace Clements explains that she does not want to see any young people doing her job as a millworker because of the physical stress on the body (Millwork). As evening rolls in, all the workers remember their dreams of old (If I Could've Been). Anthony Coelho likes his job because in a hundred years people will still see his work (The Mason). On the highway, Frank Decker and Dave are driving their truck (Brother Trucker). Frank explains that he barely sees his family because of his schedule. He makes a call and because of the signal is transferred to the operator, Heather Lamb. She, Sharon Atkins, and Enid DuBois explain that sometimes it's hard not to listen in on phone conversations. Dolores Dante loves her job and is proud to be a waitress (It's an Art). At the park Joe Zutty, a retired man, talks about his life (Joe). He spends his days as a volunteer firefighter. Tom Patrick, who also works as a firefighter, gets emotional talking about the lives he saved. Maggie Holmes talks about wanting a better life for her daughter (Cleanin' Women). Finally, Ralph Werner recounts his dream life. Mike Dillard comes back and relates how much time he has missed with his family because of work (Fathers and Sons). The ensemble boasts about their accomplishments as workers (Something to Point To).
Xanadu is a musical comedy with a book by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, based on the 1980 film of the same name, which was, in turn, inspired by the 1947 Rita Hayworth film Down to Earth. The title refers to Xanadu, the site of the Mongolian emperor Kublai Khan's summer palace. The musical opened on Broadway in 2007 and ran for over 500 performances. Unlike the 1980 film, it was generally well-received by critics upon opening. It earned an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and a Drama Desk Award for Best Book. It was also nominated for Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Book. The US Tour officially began on December 15, 2009, at the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center.
Yank! A WWII Love Story is a 2005 musical with book and lyrics by David Zellnik and music by his brother Joseph. Yank! "tells the story of Stu, a scared Midwestern kid who gets drafted for World War II in 1943, and becomes a photographer for Yank Magazine, the journal 'for and by the servicemen.' Yank! has a score that pays homage to the 1940s and explores what it means to be a man, and what it is to fall in love and struggle." Yank! takes its title from the World War II publication Yank, the Army Weekly.
Yes, Uncle! is a musical comedy with a book by Austen Hurgon and George Arthurs, music by Nat D. Ayer and lyrics by Clifford Grey. The story is based on the farce Le truc du Brésilien by Nicolas Nancey and Paul Armont, and the musical takes its title from the catch-phrase used by Bobby Summers and…
Yes, Yes, Yvette is a musical in three acts with lyrics by Irving Caesar and music by Philip Charig and Ben Jerome. James Montgomery and William Cary Duncan co-authored the musical's book which was based on Montgomery's 1916 play Nothing But the Truth which was in turn based on Frederic S. Isham's 1914 novel Nothing But the Truth.
Maria, maid to Mme. Baltin, impersonates her mistress while carrying out an assignation with the Baron de Romer's valet, Gaston, whom she believes to be the Baron himself. The Baron discovers the pair, but, being a good sport, he assumes the role of his servant in order to assist Gaston in his romantic pursuit. When Mme. Baltin discovers her maid's deceit, she is less of a good sport and exposes the masquerade. All ends happily, though, as the foursome sup by candlelight. Other characters include the Baron's gregarious friend Ida Courtney and Mme. Baltin's cheating husband, Henri, the dry goods king of France.
You Said It is a musical by Harold Arlen (music) and Jack Yellen (lyrics) that uses a musical book by Yellen and Sid Silvers.; The musical opened at the Chanin's 46th Street Theatre in New York City on January 19, 1931, and ran for 192 performances. The production was directed by John Harwood, choreographed by Danny Dare, and used set designs by Donald Oenslager and Dale Stetson. The production notably launched the career of Lyda Roberti. The cast included comedian Lou Holtz and Good News (musical) lead Mary Lawlor. Like Good News, the story was set at a college; in this case the fictional Kenton College.
Act I Charlie Brown and Linus van Pelt are together, as his friends provide exposition and give their various opinions of him ("Opening"). One morning, Charlie Brown wakes to his friends celebrating him as a "good man" with the potential to do anything ("You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown"). Linus's older sister Lucy expresses her deep infatuation with Schroeder and asks him what he thinks of the idea of marriage. Schroeder is aware of her feelings, but remains aloof as he plays his piano, much to her disappointment ("Schroeder"). Schroeder walks around in the sun, happy with all the peace and quiet. However, that is soon interrupted by Lucy screaming for a ball. Snoopy lies on top of his doghouse, daydreaming about all the children adoring him until birds start to poke his stomach; he then begins to daydream about being a wild jungle beast. He soon realizes his fear of heights in this fantasy and returns to his peaceful state ("Snoopy"). Linus enters, holding his blanket and sucking his thumb. Lucy and Peppermint Patty show up and mock him for this habit. Lucy tries to pull away the blanket, but fails. Linus decides to abandon his blanket and move on, only to come running back to it in desperation. After the girls leave, Linus decides to relax with his blanket until he can outgrow it ("My Blanket and Me"). Charlie Brown tries to get his unusually stubborn kite to soar in the air. Eventually, he succeeds in doing this, and he enjoys a few minutes of triumph before the kite plummets to the ground ("The Kite"). Charlie Brown tries to find the right way to give his perennial crush, the Little Red-Haired Girl, her Valentine's Day card, but he ends up saying "Merry Christmas", making a fool out of himself. He finds Patty handing out valentines, and she drops a valentine with the initials C.B. Charlie Brown gives it back to Patty, but soon learns it was Craig Bowerman's valentine. He goes to see Lucy, who is at her psychiatrist booth. He tells her all the things he thinks of himself. Lucy then clears it up by saying that Charlie Brown is unique the way he is, then asks for the five cent price ("The Doctor Is In"). Lucy comes up to Schroeder again and talks about if they got married, and potentially having to survive poverty, annoying Schroeder yet again. Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, and Charlie Brown work on their Peter Rabbit book reports, each in his or her own way. Lucy simply rambles to fit the 100-word minimum requirement; Schroeder tries comparing the book to Robin Hood and ends up making his report mostly about the latter; Linus writes an overcomplicated psychological analysis, and Charlie Brown procrastinates out of panic ("The Book Report"). Act II Snoopy, in his World War I flying ace uniform, climbs atop his doghouse and imagines himself as a pilot searching for the Red Baron. He is defeated by the Red Baron and returns to the aerodrome in France ("The Red Baron"). Charlie Brown describes to his pen pal the events of a recent baseball game, where after various mishaps they nearly won the game, only for him to strike out and lose ("T-E-A-M (The Baseball Game)"). Linus and Lucy arrive home. Linus starts to watch TV, but Lucy tells him to switch channels. Lucy tells Linus that when she grows up, she will become a queen. Linus denies, and Lucy decides to cultivate her life for her "natural beauty" ("Queen Lucy"). The next day, at lunchtime, Charlie Brown talks about his bad days. He then notices the Little Red-Haired Girl approaching and puts a paper bag over his head. It turns out it is Lucy and Patty, chatting together. The friends for Schroeder's Glee Club and sing "Home on the Range". Unfortunately, a fight ensues between Lucy and Linus over a pencil, eventually leading to everyone except Schroeder and Snoopy becoming fed up and leaving ("Glee Club Rehearsal"). Later, Charlie Brown comes across Lucy teaching Linus about nature the way she views it, with "facts" such as bugs pulling the grass to make it grow or snow coming out of the ground in winter. Charlie Brown tries to correct her, but she retaliates with a false explanation, and Charlie Brown bangs his head against a tree in frustration ("Little Known Facts"). The next morning, Snoopy is puzzled why he has his supper in his red dish and water in his blue dish. While walking to school, Schroeder asks if Linus filled out the form that Ms. Othmar gave them. Linus puts down “Dr. Seuss“. Snoopy talks about how he hates cats, but he is also scared of them ("Peanuts Potpourri"). That evening, Snoopy complains that he hasn't been fed yet, and begins to overly complicate and dramatize the matter until Charlie Brown shows up with his dinner. Snoopy bursts into song about his craving for supper until Charlie Brown firmly tells him to eat his meal ("Suppertime"). That night, everyone looks at the stars in wonder. The next day, Charlie Brown discovers a pencil which has been dropped by the Little Red-Haired Girl. As he examines it, he discovers that it has teeth-marks and is overjoyed to learn that she is "human". As Charlie Brown expresses in song what makes him happy, everyone, touched by his love of life, begin to express what makes them happy as well ("Happiness"). Right then, he realizes being a "good man" means trying one's best and making the most of the things given in life. As his other friends leave the stage, Lucy turns to him and tells him one last time, "You're a good man, Charlie Brown." The revised edition is mostly similar to the original, although Peppermint Patty is replaced with Charlie Brown's younger sister Sally. Act I Charlie Brown's friends provide exposition and express their various opinions of him ("Opening"). As Charlie Brown heads to school, he takes in his friends referring to him as a "good man" and ponders what this really means ("You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"). Alone one day, during lunch, Charlie Brown talks about his bad days. He then notices the Little Red-Haired Girl, his perennial crush, and decides to go sit with her. However, he cannot find the courage to do so, and puts a paper bag over his head. Lucy and Sally walk by and draw a dress on the paper bag. Charlie Brown eventually takes it off and bemoans his lack of confidence ("You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (reprise)). Lucy expresses her deep infatuation with Schroeder and asks him what he thinks of the idea of marriage. Schroeder is aware of her feelings, but remains aloof as he plays his piano. Sally is sad because her jump rope became entangled. Snoopy lies on top of his doghouse, relaxing vacantly and peacefully. He begins to daydream about being a wild jungle beast when several birds poke at his stomach. This fantasy is interrupted by his fear of heights, and he returns to his peaceful state ("Snoopy"). Linus enters, holding his blanket and sucking his thumb. Lucy and Sally show up and mock him for this habit. Linus decides to abandon his blanket and move on, only to come running back to it in desperation. After the girls leave, Linus daydreams of a blanket fantasy where everyone can relax with their blankets ("My Blanket and Me"). Lucy later tells him that she would someday like to be a queen ("Queen Lucy"). However, Linus tells her that she can't and she threatens to punch him. Sally gets a C for her low-quality coat-hanger sculpture. Charlie Brown tries to fly his kite and experiences a brief few minutes of triumph before it is eaten by the notorious Kite-Eating Tree ("The Kite"). Later, Charlie Brown tries to find the right way to give Lucy a Valentine's Day card, but he ends up saying "Merry Christmas", making a fool out of himself. He later learns that no one sent him a card, whereas everyone else, including Snoopy, got several. He goes to see Lucy, who is at her psychiatrist booth. He tells her all the things he thinks of himself. Lucy then clears it up by saying that Charlie Brown is unique the way he is, then asks for the five cent price ("The Doctor Is In"). Schroeder spreads the word of Beethoven's birthday and pulling together a celebration ("Beethoven Day"). Sally wakes up Snoopy to go rabbit chasing, and they go into strange places, like the Sahara. Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, and Charlie Brown work on their Peter Rabbit book reports, each in his or her own way. Lucy simply rambles to fit the 100-word minimum requirement; Schroeder tries comparing the book to Robin Hood and ends up making his report mostly about the latter; Linus writes an overcomplicated psychological analysis, and Charlie Brown procrastinates out of panic, while Sally and Snoopy continue chasing rabbits ("The Book Report"). Act II Snoopy, in his World War I flying ace uniform, climbs atop his doghouse and imagines himself as a pilot searching for the Red Baron. He is defeated by the Red Baron and returns to the aerodrome in France ("The Red Baron"). Sally, upset about a D her teacher gave her on her homework assignment, comes up with various new "philosophies", ignoring Schroeder's attempts to explain how philosophies actually work ("My New Philosophy"). Charlie Brown describes to his pen pal the events of a recent baseball game, where after various mishaps they nearly won the game, only for him to strike out and lose ("T-E-A-M (The Baseball Game)"). After Schroeder tells her she is a very crabby person, Lucy takes a crabbiness survey of all her friends to determine her crabbiness: Charlie Brown gives a waffling answer, while Sally is more definitive. Upon asking Linus, he refuses to answer until she promises not to punch him; when he gives her a score of ninety-five, though, she punches him anyway. After tallying the score, she realizes that she, in reality, is really very crabby and becomes depressed. Linus cheers her up by reminding her she has a little brother who loves her. The friends for Schroeder's Glee Club and sing "Home on the Range".
Young Frankenstein (promoted as The New Mel Brooks Musical: Young Frankenstein) is a musical with a book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, and music and lyrics by Brooks. It is based on the 1974 comedy film of the same name written by Gene Wilder and Brooks who also directed and has described it as his best film. It is a parody of the horror film genre, especially the 1931 Universal Pictures adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and its 1935 and 1939 sequels, Bride of Frankenstein and Son of Frankenstein. After tryouts in Seattle and four weeks of previews, the musical opened on Broadway on November 8, 2007 to mixed reviews. The Broadway production closed on January 4, 2009, after 29 previews and 485 performances. A U.S. tour started on September 29, 2009, in Providence, Rhode Island. A revised version of the show opened in London's West End at the Garrick Theatre on October 10, 2017 (after a tryout at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle) to positive reviews.
Your Arms Too Short to Box with God: A Soaring Celebration in Song and Dance is a Broadway musical based on the Biblical Book of Matthew, with music and lyrics by Alex Bradford and a book by Vinnette Carroll, who also directed. Micki Grant was credited for "additional music and lyrics". A 1980 revival was the Broadway debut of star Jennifer Holliday, then billed as Jennifer-Yvette Holliday.
The show is set in the present (late 1960s) in the land of Illyria, which looks very much like New York City. It is a tale of separated twins, mistaken identities, love triangles and "doing your own thing". It opens when a raging storm wrecks the ship on which a rock duet is traveling. They are "identical" twenty-year-old twins, Viola and Sebastian. Even in this life-threatening situation, they are bickering as usual (No One's Perfect Dear). In the confusion of the ship sinking, the twins are parted. Viola lands in Illyria where, being told Sebastian drowned, she expresses her loneliness in the strange city (The Flowers). A mysterious stranger gives her a business-card with a job offer. The all-male rock quartet "The Apocalypse" is short one member since Disease was drafted to fight in Vietnam. Famine, War and Death all hate the idea of being forced into such a role (I'm Not Afraid/I'm Me). Disguised as a guy, Charlie, Viola auditions to become "The Apocalypse’s” fourth member (Somethin's Happenin (Baby! Baby!)). She is successful and joins the group, thanks to winning over their 30-year-old manager, Orson. Meanwhile, recovering in hospital from his shipwreck ordeal, Sebastian grieves his sister's death in the shipwreck (Come Away, Death). Realising he'll have to move forward on his own, he goes in search of a job and a mysterious stranger gives him a business-card with a job offer. He meets up with Orson, who mistakes Sebastian for his twin, Viola/Charlie and confirms his appointment as the new member of "The Apocalypse". Sebastian is too thrilled at getting a job to worry his new manager can't get his name right (I'm On My Way To the Top). Orson is in love with Olivia, the 30-year-old owner of the nightclub where “The Apocalypse” is the star act. She doesn't want to see him so he asks "Charlie" to deliver a love letter to Olivia. Viola realises that she also is falling in love with Orson (She Never Told Her Love). Inspired by her own situation, Viola advises Orson on how he should win Olivia (Be Gentle). Unfortunately, Olivia falls for Orson's messenger(s), not realising the second “Charlie”, who likes her, isn't the first, who didn't. While the mixed-up couples continue their ever-changing yet confusing relationships, "The Apocalypse" set about rehearsals with their newest member (The Apocalypse Fugue), Viola's confusion continues (What Do I Know) and friendships grow (The Now Generation). As the confusion builds, the younger Sebastian acknowledges his growing love for the more mature Olivia (The Middle Years). Separately, Olivia also realises that she is falling in love with the younger messenger (The Middle Years (Reprise)). Meanwhile, Orson realises that he has identified unexplainable feelings for "Charlie" (Young and In Love). The confusion builds (Hunca Munca) resulting in an argument between Sebastian and Olivia, which they eventually settle (Don't Leave Me). Finally, the mix-ups are resolved. The twins are reunited. Viola gets Orson and Sebastian gets Olivia (Your Own Thing).
Yvonne is a musical comedy with a book and lyrics by Percy Greenbank and music by Jean Gilbert and Vernon Duke (at that time still using his birth name of Dukelsky). It was adapted by Greenbank from an Austrian musical of the same name.
Zanna, Don't! (subtitled "A Musical Fairy Tale") is a 2003 musical written by Tim Acito with additional lyrics and material by Alexander Dinelaris. The story is set in a parallel universe where homosexuality is the norm and heterosexuality is a taboo: Zanna is the local matchmaker at Heartsville High, bringing happy couples together in mid-west America, but heterophobia strikes when a pair of opposite-sex highschoolers discover their feelings for each other. The show has been produced off-Broadway, off West End, and in regional theatres.
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with revivals in 1934, 1936, 1943, and 1957. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air. Inspired by the Folies Bergère of Paris, the Ziegfeld Follies were conceived and mounted by Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. Many of the top comedians, singers and other entertainers in America appeared in the shows. They were also known for displaying beautiful chorus girls, commonly called Ziegfeld Girls, dressed in elaborate costumes. The biopic The Great Ziegfeld won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1937. A 1941 film, Ziegfeld Girl, starring Judy Garland, and another in 1946, Ziegfeld Follies, recreated or reimagined numbers from the revues. The stage musical Funny Girl, which premiered on Broadway in 1964 depicts Fanny Brice's career with the Follies, starring Barbra Streisand, who then starred in the 1968 film adaptation; it was the year's top-grossing movie.
Percy Piggott, a window cleaner, stands to inherit a fortune. To receive the money, however, he is required to spend a million dollars in a hurry without letting anyone know what he is doing. He decides to invest in a musical comedy, The Garter Girl, starring Lilac Delaney, which he thinks will be a failure. Other spendthrift ideas include putting money in the stock market and betting on the ponies. Each of these dubious investments is a success, even though a shady banker, Van Norden, and his daughter try to separate Percy from his money and from Sally Whittle, Percy's innocent girlfriend. In the second act, on a South Seas island, Percy succeeds in wrecking a yacht, which is hugely expensive to salvage. After various complications, Percy finishes spending the million dollars and finally inherits the money.
Zipp!, One Hundred Musicals for Less Than the Price of One is a musical revue conceived by Gyles Brandreth and Stewart Nicholls. It opened in the West End's Duchess Theatre on February 4, 2003, following previews from January 24. It closed on April 19, 2003. The show whizzes through a century of Broadway and West End musicals, including the complete works of Andrew Lloyd Webber in 60 seconds.
Zombie Prom is set at Enrico Fermi High School, a school located near a very unstable nuclear power plant. The students and staff go through their daily routine ("Enrico Fermi High"); among them is Jonny, a rebel who spells his name without the traditional 'H', the good-girl heroine, Toffee, and Miss Strict, the principal of Enrico Fermi High School. The day is interrupted by an air raid siren, signalling a duck-and-cover drill. Jonny and Toffee meet and fall in love ("Ain't No Goin' Back"). They date for several months before Toffee's parents forbid her from seeing Jonny. She reluctantly breaks up with him, and Jonny commits suicide by hurling himself into the Francis Gary Powers nuclear power plant, causing a "class 3 nuclear disaster". He is buried at sea in international waters, with the rest of the nuclear waste. Three weeks pass. Toffee's friends notice that she is upset and distracted. She expresses sadness over Jonny's death, and retells the night from her point of view ("Jonny Don't Go"). As the rest of the school gets ready for the senior prom, Toffee continues to wearing black to Jonny ("Good As It Gets"). Her friends insist that she should go to prom and get over Jonny's death, but she refuses. She also occasionally hears Jonny's voice ("The C Word"). Frustrated at constantly being told to get over Jonny, she states that "life's a trap of the same old crap." 'Crap,' however, is a taboo word at Enrico Fermi High; Toffee's friend Ginger tells on her to Miss Strict, and Miss Strict reminds her of the school's philosophy, something the students are very familiar with ("Rules, Regulations, and Respect"). Toffee continues to hear Jonny's voice, eventually hearing it coming from inside her locker. He begs to be let free and bursts from the locker, shocking the other students ("Blast From The Past"). This is not well-received, and the students are scared and disgusted by Jonny's deteriorating appearance. Not to miss out on a story, reporter Eddie Flagrante picks up on the story from Josh, a cub reporter from Enrico Fermi High ("That's the Beat For Me"). He elaborates on his job, and his goal in journalism: "Tamer than Playboy, but bigger than Life." Trying to cope with Jonny's unexpected reappearance, Toffee talks with him about what brought him back - her voice, as it turns out ("The Voice in the Ocean"). Inspired to return to school, Jonny is ready to graduate ("It's Alive"). Miss Strict, however, adamantly refuses to allow him to re-enroll and bans him from school, despite Jonny's new appreciation for Miss Strict and her ideals. Overwhelmed, Toffee struggles to decide what to do next. Her friends urge her to give up on Jonny and move on, while Jonny's friends encourage him to do the same to her, as they believe Toffee has made her answer clear by not immediately taking him back. Jonny pleads with Toffee to get back together with him, unsuccessfully ("Where Do We Go From Here?"). Josh points Jonny out to a visiting Flagrante, who recognizes Miss Strict. He states that it has been "a very long time" and the two have a cryptic conversation, in which Miss Strict is defensive and angry for an unknown reason. The three then begin to argue over Jonny's rights; Flagrante believes Jonny should be allowed to return and preventing him from doing so is an infringement on his civil rights, while Miss Strict believes the school rules should be enforced and breaking tradition even once is too dangerous to risk, especially for a student as unremarkable as Jonny (who genuinely just wants to return to school). Neither side gives in, and the argument ends in a stalemate ("Trio [Case Closed]"). The students at Enrico Fermi High school protest that Jonny should be let back into school ("Then Came Jonny"). Miss Strict retaliates by canceling the pep squad; not slowed by her tactics, they begin to disobey the dress code. Miss Strict dismantles the baseball team, but even so, the students make a petition to reinstate Jonny as a student. Miss Strict puts all seniors on probation, threatens to cancel all after-school events, and promises that at the next transgression, she can and will cancel the senior prom. Flagrante has continued to report on Jonny's story on television ("Come Join Us"). During a commercial break, he asks for the number to Our Lady of Divine Masochism, a Catholic orphanage, for unspecified reasons. While being interviewed by Flagrante, Jonny explains that he cannot give up love because it is what brought him back ("How Can I Say Good-Bye?"). Meanwhile, Toffee cannot focused on her schoolwork. She debates with herself if she should take back Jonny. Her friends call on a party line and talk with her about her situation. None of them missed Jonny's TV appearance, which was broadcast on "all three channels". In the end, Toffee chooses to take Jonny back ("Easy to Say"). Flagrante tracks down Miss Strict and begins flirting with her ("Exposé"). It is revealed that they were lovers in high school, with a very physical relationship - the last time they were together, Miss Strict reminds him, was in the back seat of his father's Studebaker. Each feels that the other had abandoned them, without revealing specifics. Prom night arrives, and the students marvel at how the school has been decorated ("Isn't It?"). Toffee approaches Jonny, who has snuck into the prom, and tells him that she will always be with him. They dance and continue to profess their love for each other ("Forbidden Love"). However, Jonny is then caught by Miss Strict, who stops everything to kick him out. Before she can do so, Eddie Flagrante appears in order to confront Miss Strict about her secrets and her hostility towards Jonny, but she refuses to explain herself ("The Lid's Been Blown"). Pushed by Flagrante, Miss Strict reveals her past ("Delilah's Confession"); despite her mother's warnings, she had been dating "a boy from the wrong side of the tracks" - Flagrante. On the evening of her own prom, she and Flagrante drove around before stopping off an old highway and slept together, resulting in Miss Strict becoming pregnant. Once her parents found out, she was sent to a home for unwed mothers in Santa Fe, New Mexico to give birth. Her son was taken away to an orphanage, and Miss Strict was never able to identify the child. Flagrante, who had investigated the orphanage, reveals that Jonny is their long-lost son and proposes to Miss Strict. Overjoyed, Miss Strict allows the prom to continue and permits Jonny to return to school. The students reflect on how their realities are so much different than their dreams, but life remains worth living, and Toffee and Jonny have one more dance before the curtain drops ("Zombie Prom").
Zombies from The Beyond is an American musical comedy with book, music, and lyrics by James Valcq. It opened Off-Broadway on October 11, 1995, at the Players Theatre. The show examines American ideals and foibles during the era of President Dwight D. Eisenhower in a tone that is often parodistic and sometimes genuinely satiric, all following closely the structural form of grade-B space paranoia films that were popular during the 1950s.
The musical follows Nikos, an unworldly young American who travels to Greece after inheriting a mine on Crete. He befriends the carefree and charismatic Zorba, who accompanies him and becomes his guide to the local community. As the two attempt to reopen the mine, Zorba begins a romance with the aging French courtesan Madame Hortense, while Nikos is drawn to a withdrawn young widow. Their plans and relationships are overtaken by a series of tragedies. The community's hostility toward the Widow leads to suicide, murder, and a blood feud, while an accident destroys the partners' hopes for the mine. Despite their losses, Zorba urges Nikos to accept both the joy and suffering of life.
Deep inside a cave, a band of gypsies stop to rest for the night, while dancing and singing, they listen eagerly as their leader tells them about an old gypsy myth - the infamous story of the legendary hero, Zorro. Don Diego de la Vega, a wealthy young caballero, is sent away from his California home by his father, Don Alejandro, to school in Spain. He is forced to leave his childhood love Luisa, who is also being sent away by Diego's father. At the same time, Don Alejandro announces that Diego and Luisa's childhood friend Ramon shall become captain of the army, which pleases both Diego and Luisa. Later, in Spain, Diego has run away from school and joined a band of gypsies who perform in the backstreets of the city ("Baila Me"). He is their star attraction, and after showing several tricks to an enthralled audience, he sees Luisa. Luisa persuades Diego to return to California to stop Ramon, who has become a tyrant. Inez, another gypsy and evidently Diego's lover, is not pleased to see Luisa and decides that she and all the other gypsies must accompany them. In California, Diego finds that Ramon has stripped the people of their rights and has put himself in charge ever since Don Alejandro "died." However, unbeknownst to everyone, Don Alejandro is not dead and is being held captive by Ramon. Ramon demonstrates his cruelty by sentencing three men to death for stealing; the men had added rocks to their sacks of grain to gain extra money for their hungry families. As the men are taken away, their women angrily declare their hatred of Ramon and his treatment of the people ("Libertad"). After witnessing the cruelty of his old friend, and with the help of Inez (the only one who knows his plans), Diego adopts a heroic alter ego, which the people name "El Zorro" (though Diego wanted to be called "El Puma" instead), to defend the people of the pueblo ("Hope"). At the same time, to keep his identity secret, he presents himself to Ramon as an idiot of no real threat. He offers himself to Ramon as a personal servant, a move that angers Luisa, who believes that she brought Diego back for nothing. The following day, the three men prepare to be hanged. As they are led to the gallows, Luisa and the women of the pueblo lament over the way the pueblo used to be and express hope that things will get better ("In One Day"). Before the noose can be tightened, Zorro makes a name for himself by saving the prisoners. Zorro swings in spectacularly out of nowhere and manages to appear almost simultaneously as Zorro and Diego, so that no one will suspect Diego. After another spectacular rescue, Zorro flees from Ramon's guards and find himself in Luisa's room, having walked in on her while she is in the bath. Embarrassed, he lets it slip that he knows her name, but his identity is kept safe from her, and she begins to fall in love with Zorro, just as Diego has always been in love with her ("Falling"). Meanwhile, the gypsies cause a stir in the pueblo by drinking and dancing together ("Bamboleo/There's a Tale"), enticing Ramon's cowardly but warm-hearted second-in-command Sergeant Garcia. Flirting and joking with Garcia, Inez soon finds a new admirer, and Garcia tries his best to act strong and brave like Zorro. However, Inez still has eyes for Diego and finds Garcia merely entertaining. Ramon, initially intrigued by the idea of free wine, eventually turns against the gypsies and their radical ways and tries to prevent their activities. He finally attempts to exert his power by forcing himself upon Luisa, the woman he lusts after but who hates everything that he has become. Zorro appears just in time to save Luisa and tricks Ramon into accidentally admitting that Don Alejandro is still alive. To show that he will always be watching him, Zorro forces Ramon to his knees and carves his signature "Z" into Ramon's chest, as Ramon screams in agony and anger. The second act opens with the band of gypsies from the prologue reappearing on stage and performing a large song and dance routine. ("Entrada") When the storyline continues, Ramon reveals the full extent of his injury: he is permanently scarred with the mark of Zorro. The gypsies and citizens mock him, and he angrily declares a curfew and that anyone out after the curfew will be shot. The crowd protests ("Freedom"). Inez tells Luisa that it is too dangerous for her to stay in Los Angeles; Luisa says that she knows a place where Ramon can never find her. Ramon orders the guards to shoot into the crowd. The people flee, leaving Inez and Ramon alone. She tells Ramon that his empire is crumbling around him and that soon his greed will consume him ("Bamboleo (Reprise)"). Ramon leaves in denial, but her words have a great effect on him. Diego tries to advise Garcia on how to express his love for Inez, but when she arrives, Garcia becomes embarrassed and runs off. Diego enquires about Luisa's whereabouts. Inez tells him and also admits that she understands that Diego loves Luisa. Diego, dressed as Zorro, finds the cave where Luisa is hiding. Luisa confesses her feelings to Zorro, and the two dance outside the cave together ("Serenade"). The dance ends with Diego kissing Luisa but then pulling away. Luisa asks him why he's so afraid of his feelings; outside the cave, Diego sadly confesses that he wants to be with Luisa but is afraid that he risks putting her life in danger ("A Love We'll Never Live"). The following day, Garcia tries to impress Inez ("One More Beer"). Ramon, still distressed by Inez's words, goes to confession; he soon notices the priest is actually Zorro, who is trying to find out where Ramon is keeping Don Alejandro. Ramon sets a trap for Zorro, but Zorro manages to escape. Luisa goes to the gypsy camp where Inez transforms her into a gypsy ("Djobi Djoba"). Ramon bursts in and arrests Luisa. Inez calls Garcia a coward because he does nothing to stop Ramon. Luisa is about to be executed by a firing squad when Zorro, accompanied by several other men dressed as Zorro, fights off the guards. Ramon puts a knife to Inez's throat and tries to make Zorro choose between Luisa and Inez, but Inez throws Ramon to the ground. She tells Ramon that the love between Zorro and Luisa is a love that he can never know. Ramon produces a pistol from his pocket and fatally shoots Inez. After she dies in his arms, a heartbroken Zorro surrenders and is dragged away by the guards as Ramon forces Luisa to agree to marry him. As Ramon leaves with Luisa, the gypsies discover Inez's body and mournfully carry her away. In his prison cell, Diego laments his failure to protect the people and blames himself for the suffering of the ones he loves ("Hope (Reprise)"). Garcia arrives and, admitting his cowardice, tells Zorro that he can take him to Don Alejandro. Meanwhile, Luisa is dressed by attendants for her wedding to Ramon. She wishes that she could have known the true identity of Zorro ("The Man Behind the Mask") and laments that in order to protect her love, she must sacrifice it as well as her happiness. As the wedding begins, Zorro arrives, but this Zorro is revealed to be Don Alejandro, who confronts Ramon about his cruelty. An emboldened Garcia and the other guards turn against Ramon, charging him with murdering Inez. Don Alejandro orders Ramon to be arrested, but Ramon says that he will kill Luisa if they try. The wedding proceeds, but just before Luisa gives her vows, the real Zorro swings into the chapel. During the ensuing sword fight with Ramon, Zorro reveals his true identity to Ramon and asks him to stop fighting, saying that they are brothers. Ramon appears to agree, but then draws a small knife and charges at him. Diego evades the blade and causes Ramon to fall on his own knife. Ramon is fatally wounded and dies with his final thoughts being him, Diego, and Luisa as children. Diego is distressed by what he has done, when Luisa and Don Alejandro reenter the room. Luisa, seeing that Zorro is unmasked, begs him to show her his face. Reluctantly he does so, and Luisa is shocked by the discovery that Zorro is Diego, but still declares that she loves him. The two kiss and embrace. All rejoice ("Fiesta").
Zuleika is a musical with music by Peter Tranchell and book and lyrics by James Ferman. The musical is based on the 1911 novel, Zuleika Dobson, by Max Beerbohm.
The show opens with a musical number introducing the premise of the musical ("Untitled Opening Number"). Jeff and Hunter, two struggling writers in New York, discuss the possibility of entering the upcoming inaugural New York Musical Theatre Festival. Though the submission deadline is only three weeks away, they make a pact to write an original musical in that time as a writing exercise. The scene morphs into song as they discuss setting their dialogue to music, imagine the success of their show, and express their longing for fame and recognition ("Two Nobodies In New York"). The two recruit their friends Susan and Heidi to help with the project. Jeff privately laments his writer's block; when his blank writing pad begins to look like Hunter, ideas begin to flow ("An Original Musical"). After Hunter's laptop crashes, resulting in much lost progress, Jeff and Hunter continue to battle writer's block by looking at song lists from old Playbills and brainstorming on a blank notepad; Susan and Heidi become voices in their heads, providing inspiration for their writing ("Monkeys and Playbills"). As they continue to write the show, excitement mounts; Hunter even ponders winning a Tony ("The Tony Award Song"), though Jeff reminds him that they have already cut the song he is in the midst of singing. Jeff and Hunter discuss their ambition to write for a living and become a part of the theatre industry they so admire ("Part of It All"). As Heidi and Jeff work on a solo about her doubts on the whole project, Hunter and Susan worry that they are just stringing sketches and novelty songs together and feel that they need to write something "a little meatier" ("I Am Playing Me"). Susan and Heidi become suspicious of each other ("What Kind Of Girl Is She?"). After a shared 'fake foggy dream sequence', the four express their doubts over the future and premise of their musical. Susan encourages them to keep going and 'kill their vampires', or the doubts preventing them from writing ("Die, Vampire, Die!"). Reenergized, they finish the show and, after discussing the show's production values (minimalistic set of four chairs, one costume throughout the show, etc.), they tackle the festival's submission paperwork. Seeing the form asking for their "title of show" and lacking a better name, they decide to name their show [title of show]. ("Filling Out The Form"). After a moment of doubt and a brief intimate moment between Hunter and Jeff, they finally submit the show to the festival. Against the odds, their musical is chosen for the festival. The four revel in their six performances at the festival ("Montage Part 1: September Song"); backstage, Heidi and Susan reconcile their differences and bond over their supporting roles in the show ("Secondary Characters"). The four find an industry producer interested in the show who encourages them to continue to develop it, first at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center before they get an offer to do the show Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre. At their run there, they meet many industry stars, receiving a healthy mix of good and bad reviews as they soak up the energy and momentum of their Off-Broadway run. Ten months later, Susan, Jeff, and Hunter are back at their 'day jobs' while Heidi receives an offer to join the cast of The Little Mermaid on Broadway. Hunter comes up with the idea of posting videos on the internet with the cast about the show to boost the show's popularity online — "the [title of show] show". The idea works — the show and the four go viral and the show's producer expresses interest in actually bringing the show to Broadway. As plans progress toward taking the musical to Broadway, things begin to unravel: the four friends argue over changes to the show to make it more marketable, cutting some of its more risque content ("Change It/Don't Change It"). Hunter gets a voicemail from Sutton Foster and, much to Jeff's chagrin, suggests casting her in Heidi's role for marketability. Tensions build — everything finally boils over at a publicity photo shoot ("Awkward Photo Shoot"). Heidi is upset that Hunter wants to replace her, Susan laments the time-consuming nature of the show's development and is concerned about profit-sharing, Jeff is upset at Hunter for pushing hard for changes that wound the integrity of the show, and Larry (the accompanist) feels left out of the press photos and interviews. Hunter lashes out at all of them and leaves in a huff. Later, Hunter breaks the ice by apologizing. More apologies follow, and the four (led by Heidi) wax nostalgic over younger, happier, less complicated days ("A Way Back To Then"). They now understand that the show must sink or swim as it is — with the five of them, without a "bankable" star — because their relationship and the quality of their creation are more important to them than commercial success ("Nine People's Favorite Thing"). Having reached a resolution, they decide to end the show, to "put the show out there and see what happens" ("Finale").
Inspired by the September 11 attacks when he was in sixth grade, and not wanting to pursue his father's career in construction, Tony goes to a Marine enlistment office on his 18th birthday. He is surprised to learn that he is an undocumented immigrant, and is upset with his parents for not telling him. Tony's friend Joaquin invites him to a meeting about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that offers the possibility of legal work for those like him who were brought to the United States as children. He becomes a political activist to find a way to serve.
Showing 1,537–1,634 of 1,634 shows