THE SYNOPSIS!
THAT'S RIGHT...HERE IT IS! I'm gonna do this... this is the Synopsis as it is in the current draft, the one that will be seen at Harrison Hilltop Theatre. Then... look out!... cause I'm gonna put the original synopsis out there in a bit. I personally think this is a much cleaner, more time- friendly version and also leaves the ending open to interpretation. I do confess though that I miss a lot of the little crap (inside jokes and queer, quirky characters) that went on in the 1st draft. Who cares, really? By about Draft 75 we'll get it right, and we came to the conclusion that some of the songs/characters/bits, etc. will probably work their way back in some capacity if they really matter. So, I'm happy with it! Here it is...
TIRED AMERICAN DREAM
ACT 1
A group of Drama/Art students, the MISFITS, are preparing to graduate from a small school in Indiana. (OPENING:BE THE TRUTH) They are invited to a party at Dylan and TJ's (DYLAN'S TOAST). At the party, we are introduced to DYLAN's friends, PEDDY and EMILY, his childhood friends and former band mates, TJ, his roommate, SUGAR, the bombshell that lives below them and PROFESSOR NEWMAN, the drama teacher that everyone knows and loves. DYLAN is also introduced to a high school girl, KENNEDY, who is a friend of EMILYs. (HOT MESS) At the party, DYLAN announces that they are reforming their band. (BABY BIRD) Later on the porch, TJ expresses his concern for DYLAN's lack of motivation (ON THE LINE), while the MISFITS reaffirm their mutual madness. (MISFITS LIKE US) After graduation, DYLAN takes KENNEDY on their first date and they fall in love. (WHITE) Later that night, the group hangs out at The Basket case, a karaoke bar. (HINT OF RESISTANCE) While SUGAR sings, DYLAN reacquaints with a high school friend who now calls himself SAINT SHALLOW. He takes DYLAN outside for a "smoke". (MISS ME LIKE SUMMER) Meanwhile, after EMILY plays PEDDY a love song she's written "about no one", he complains to about their M.I.A. friend, DYLAN. (BEG THE WIND) During PEDDY's rant, the phone rings and DYLAN informs him of his engagement to KENNEDY. (SPREAD THE LOVE) Time passes through an engagement party and a wedding (FIELDS) and the newlyweds begin to set up house. (SUNDAY TO SUNDAY) In Alabama, TJ, who retreated there when DYLAN refused to go to New York City with him, revels in his lack of opportunity, and prays for a clear direction. (SPEAK) Back in Indiana, DYLAN finds his life less than the grandiose thing he thinks it should be, while KENNEDY reminds him of their dream together. (TIRED AMERICAN DREAM) Later, DYLAN goes to visit PROFESSOR NEWMAN who gives him advice on life and vices. (LEGACY) The next night "the band" gets back together to start working on some tunes when the phone interrupts. (A DRUNKEN MIND SPEAKS A SOBER HEART) TJ informs DYLAN that PROFESSOR NEWMAN has committed suicide, and DYLAN and friends mourn the loss. (WHITE reprise)
ACT 2
The MISFITS all come together to have a party in honor of their lost friend. (HOT MESS reprise). EMILY looks on as SUGAR and PEDDY disappear together. (IF SHE'S THE STRIKE OF LIGHTNING) DYLAN steps outside of The Basket Case for a smoke and once again runs into SAINT SHALLOW who gives him something to stop his shaking and invites him over to hear his band. Meanwhile, SUGAR confesses to KENNEDY that she slept with PEDDY, something she knows will bother EMILY. (IT'S GONNA BE BAD) TJ, who has taken the plunge and moved to NYC and DYLAN, still in Indiana, lament on their struggles to keep their dreams alive. (TAKING TOO LONG) Meanwhile, PEDDY attempts to talk to EMILY but there is too much tension. (YOU HAVE TO CLOSE THAT DOOR). Later, as DYLAN prepares to go to Saint Shallow's house, KENNEDY confronts him about a bag of dope he has dropped. They argue and he leaves. (YOU DON'T HEAR ME) DYLAN then goes to check out Saint Shallow's band and is confronted with music and the chemicals that go along with it. (THE ECHO ROOM) When he returns home, KENNEDY tells DYLAN that PROFESSOR NEWMAN made him his beneficiary. They again fight and KENNEDY leaves. (1 HEART 2 BREAK) PEDDY calls DYLAN and the two angry friends go out. (BLACK) PEDDY leaves DYLAN at a bar and returns to find EMILY packing. He then realizes how much they love each other and they make up. (EMILY'S WINDOW) The next day, KENNEDY tells the others that DYLAN did not return home the night before. To blow off steam, she takes the others on a shopping trip with some of Newman's money. (JUST LIKE THAT GIRL) During the excitement, her phone rings and she learns DYLAN has overdosed. (THE ECHO ROOM reprise) The MISFITS all gather at the hospital and DYLAN vows to KENNEDY to live his life clean. (FIELDS reprise) Part of the Professor's will included a small home just outside of NYC and DYLAN and KENNEDY set up their new home, not sure of what the future will be. (FINALE: IMMIGRANT RELIGION/BE THE TRUTH)
THAT'S RIGHT...HERE IT IS! I'm gonna do this... this is the Synopsis as it is in the current draft, the one that will be seen at Harrison Hilltop Theatre. Then... look out!... cause I'm gonna put the original synopsis out there in a bit. I personally think this is a much cleaner, more time- friendly version and also leaves the ending open to interpretation. I do confess though that I miss a lot of the little crap (inside jokes and queer, quirky characters) that went on in the 1st draft. Who cares, really? By about Draft 75 we'll get it right, and we came to the conclusion that some of the songs/characters/bits, etc. will probably work their way back in some capacity if they really matter. So, I'm happy with it! Here it is...
TIRED AMERICAN DREAM
ACT 1
A group of Drama/Art students, the MISFITS, are preparing to graduate from a small school in Indiana. (OPENING:BE THE TRUTH) They are invited to a party at Dylan and TJ's (DYLAN'S TOAST). At the party, we are introduced to DYLAN's friends, PEDDY and EMILY, his childhood friends and former band mates, TJ, his roommate, SUGAR, the bombshell that lives below them and PROFESSOR NEWMAN, the drama teacher that everyone knows and loves. DYLAN is also introduced to a high school girl, KENNEDY, who is a friend of EMILYs. (HOT MESS) At the party, DYLAN announces that they are reforming their band. (BABY BIRD) Later on the porch, TJ expresses his concern for DYLAN's lack of motivation (ON THE LINE), while the MISFITS reaffirm their mutual madness. (MISFITS LIKE US) After graduation, DYLAN takes KENNEDY on their first date and they fall in love. (WHITE) Later that night, the group hangs out at The Basket case, a karaoke bar. (HINT OF RESISTANCE) While SUGAR sings, DYLAN reacquaints with a high school friend who now calls himself SAINT SHALLOW. He takes DYLAN outside for a "smoke". (MISS ME LIKE SUMMER) Meanwhile, after EMILY plays PEDDY a love song she's written "about no one", he complains to about their M.I.A. friend, DYLAN. (BEG THE WIND) During PEDDY's rant, the phone rings and DYLAN informs him of his engagement to KENNEDY. (SPREAD THE LOVE) Time passes through an engagement party and a wedding (FIELDS) and the newlyweds begin to set up house. (SUNDAY TO SUNDAY) In Alabama, TJ, who retreated there when DYLAN refused to go to New York City with him, revels in his lack of opportunity, and prays for a clear direction. (SPEAK) Back in Indiana, DYLAN finds his life less than the grandiose thing he thinks it should be, while KENNEDY reminds him of their dream together. (TIRED AMERICAN DREAM) Later, DYLAN goes to visit PROFESSOR NEWMAN who gives him advice on life and vices. (LEGACY) The next night "the band" gets back together to start working on some tunes when the phone interrupts. (A DRUNKEN MIND SPEAKS A SOBER HEART) TJ informs DYLAN that PROFESSOR NEWMAN has committed suicide, and DYLAN and friends mourn the loss. (WHITE reprise)
ACT 2
The MISFITS all come together to have a party in honor of their lost friend. (HOT MESS reprise). EMILY looks on as SUGAR and PEDDY disappear together. (IF SHE'S THE STRIKE OF LIGHTNING) DYLAN steps outside of The Basket Case for a smoke and once again runs into SAINT SHALLOW who gives him something to stop his shaking and invites him over to hear his band. Meanwhile, SUGAR confesses to KENNEDY that she slept with PEDDY, something she knows will bother EMILY. (IT'S GONNA BE BAD) TJ, who has taken the plunge and moved to NYC and DYLAN, still in Indiana, lament on their struggles to keep their dreams alive. (TAKING TOO LONG) Meanwhile, PEDDY attempts to talk to EMILY but there is too much tension. (YOU HAVE TO CLOSE THAT DOOR). Later, as DYLAN prepares to go to Saint Shallow's house, KENNEDY confronts him about a bag of dope he has dropped. They argue and he leaves. (YOU DON'T HEAR ME) DYLAN then goes to check out Saint Shallow's band and is confronted with music and the chemicals that go along with it. (THE ECHO ROOM) When he returns home, KENNEDY tells DYLAN that PROFESSOR NEWMAN made him his beneficiary. They again fight and KENNEDY leaves. (1 HEART 2 BREAK) PEDDY calls DYLAN and the two angry friends go out. (BLACK) PEDDY leaves DYLAN at a bar and returns to find EMILY packing. He then realizes how much they love each other and they make up. (EMILY'S WINDOW) The next day, KENNEDY tells the others that DYLAN did not return home the night before. To blow off steam, she takes the others on a shopping trip with some of Newman's money. (JUST LIKE THAT GIRL) During the excitement, her phone rings and she learns DYLAN has overdosed. (THE ECHO ROOM reprise) The MISFITS all gather at the hospital and DYLAN vows to KENNEDY to live his life clean. (FIELDS reprise) Part of the Professor's will included a small home just outside of NYC and DYLAN and KENNEDY set up their new home, not sure of what the future will be. (FINALE: IMMIGRANT RELIGION/BE THE TRUTH)
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