The Hit Off-Broadway Musical by Roger Bean
The Marvelous Wonderettes takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom where we meet the Wonderettes, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts! As we learn about their lives and loves, we are treated to the girls performing such classic ‘50s and ‘60s songs as “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Lipstick On Your Collar,” “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me,” “It’s My Party” and over 20 other classic hits! You’ve never had this much fun at a prom and you will never forget The Marvelous Wonderettes—a must-take musical trip down memory lane!
Act One opens at the 1958 Springfield High School prom with the lights coming up on tonight’s special entertainment: The Marvelous Wonderettes (Mr. Sandman). These four best friends (Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy) launch into the “Sugar & Spice Medley: Lollipop/Sugartime” and we learn that the Wonderettes are also the trophy-winning varsity song leaders for Springfield High—“Go Chipmunks!” While Betty Jean excitedly runs out front to put their new trophy in the school’s display case, her best friend, Cindy Lou, steals her solo (Allegheny Moon) and cracks in their friendship begin to appear. After Missy and Suzy break up the squabble, we hear the real reason the girls are performing tonight: they are the replacement act for tonight’s originally scheduled group, the Crooning Crabcakes. Billy Ray Patton, the lead Crab, got suspended from school for smoking behind the girls’ locker room. They reveal the theme of tonight’s super senior prom (Marvelous Dreams Medley: All I Have to Do Is Dream/Dream Lover) and with the help of Missy’s special dreamcatcher, each girl gets to dedicate a song to her very own “dream lover.” Suzy sings to her boyfriend, Richie, who is also running the lights (Stupid Cupid). Betty Jean sings to her boyfriend Johnny (Lipstick On Your Collar), discovering that Johnny and Cindy Lou have been making out behind her back, and Cindy Lou sings of her special talents in “Lucky Lips.” After Suzy squelches another fight between Cindy Lou and Betty Jean—“L-O-V-E, that spells love…!”—Missy reveals her own “Secret Love,” the girls’ music teacher (Man of My Dreams Medley: Mr. Lee/Born Too Late/Teacher’s Pet). The talent competition is next, followed by the vote for the 1958 Queen of Your Dreams—“That’s the Prom Queen!” The Wonderettes sing farewell (Goodnight & Goodbye Medley: Sincerely/Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight), followed by the crowning of the 1958 Queen of Your Dreams and her spotlight song (Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me).
Act Two opens at the Springfield High School Class of ‘58 10-Year Reunion and the Marvelous Wonderettes take the stage with “Heatwave.” During the reunion, we learn about each girl and the different roads they’ve traveled since graduation. Missy has been dating the same man for the past five years—“Every Monday night, more pizza…”—and needs to know exactly where it’s headed (It’s In His Kiss, Wedding Bell Blues). The girls try to help Missy stay strong and independent (You Don’t Own Me) but she soon melts under the spell of a surprise onstage proposal (With This Ring). Betty Jean steps up and tells us about her love for Johnny (I Only Want to Be With You) and how their recent marriage has gone awry (That’s When the Tears Start). She rebuffs Cindy Lou’s attempt to restore their friendship with “It’s My Party.” When Cindy Lou takes the spotlight, we learn she fled to Hollywood right after high school, only to return to Springfield years later to meet up with the lead singer of the Crooning Crabcakes (Son of a Preacher Man). Billy Ray indeed changed her life in many ways (Leader of the Pack, Maybe) and Cindy Lou’s journey brings about a heartfelt reconciliation with Betty Jean. A very-pregnant Suzy must now tell her story, fraught with a philandering husband—Richie, once again running the lights—and raging hormones (Maybe I Know). The girls buoy her up (Needle In a Haystack) and with their unwavering support, Suzy finds much-needed strength and resolve with “Rescue Me” and “Respect.” With the reunion drawing to a close, the Marvelous Wonderettes thank everyone for an amazing evening of wonderful memories (Thank You and Goodnight/Sincerely).
"YOU WON'T FIND A MORE DELIGHTFUL GIRL GROUP! These irrepressible, bubblv Wonderettes are singing their hearts out in this charming, fast-paced musical. Beautiful singing, well-honed timing, often poignant and highly entertaining!" -The Associated Press
“ONE IRRESISTABLE MUSICAL! AN UTTER CHARM BOMB!" - The New York Times
“Don’t buy a ticket – buy two! It’s a show you’ll want to see twice!” - Back Stage
“Iconic '50s POP hits shine in this BUBBLY MUSICAL!" -New York Magazine
“An expertly wrought showcase of ’50s and '60s pop music -It's TREMENDOUSLY FUN." -Variety
“A LAUGH-A-MINUTE SONG FEST!" -BackStage
“SMOOTH AS A MALTED MILK SHAKE! Bask in girl-group renditions of ‘The Shoop Song' and ‘Leader of the Pack.’ Charming!" -Show Business Weekly
“IT DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS!" -Dr. JOI Browne, WOR Radio
"A GOOD TIME! AUDIENCES LEAVE BEAMING AND HUMMING! An INFECTIOUSLY CHARMING homage to the music of the 1950s and 1960s." -TheaterMania.com
“A FUN, FUN, FUN SHOW! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! The tune-packed show is a stroll down memory lane with PLENTY OF LAUGHS and GREAT SINGING!" -Edge NY
“DON'T BUY A TICKET - BUY TWO! It's a show you’ll want to see twice!" -BackStage
“’THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES' is deliciously enjoyable" -Los Angeles Times
'WONDER WOMEN: A simply marvelous time-travel!" -The Portland Phoenix
"A GENEROUS EVENING OF ENTERTAINMENT. Move over, ‘Forever Plaid!'" -Back Stage West
"WILDLY ENTERTAINING FROTH" -Los Angeles Times
“Roger Bean is forging a successful career bv creating light-hearted musicals featuring some of the greatest hits [as well as an occasional obscure flipside] from the era of ducktails, coonskin caps and poodle skirts. In this specialized field, BEAN HAS CERTAINLY BECOME A CONTENDER FOR THE TITLE OF LEADER OF THE PACK." -Wisconsin State Journal
Cast
BETTY JEAN REYNOLDS: Betty Jean is the self-anointed clown of the group, always vying for attention from her best friend Cindy Lou. Her hair is red/auburn. (Alto with strong low range.)
CINDY LOU HUFFINGTON: Cindy Lou is the "bad girl" of the group. It seems that things always go her way, making Betty Jean crazy. (Mezzo Soprano with belt–sings lead on many songs.)
MISSY (MILLER) LEE: Always the over-achiever of the group, Missy is the one to cover for mistakes and is always ready to jump in and save the day. She has an innersexiness–even slightly kinky–that comes out every once-in-a-while, much to her surprise and embarrassment. She has been best friends with Suzy since elementary school. (Soprano with wide range and very high vocals.)
SUZY (SIMPSON) STEVENS: Suzy is happy-go-lucky, a little giddy and a little silly. She’s always willing to go along with anyone and anything and she seems to giggle at just about anything. She finds great pleasure in everything she does; the sillier it is, the more fun she finds it. Her best friend is Missy. (Mezzo Alto with a sweet, soulful sound and big belts.)
Setting
Springfield High School Prom, 1958.
About the Author
Roger Bean created the long-running off-Broadway hit
The Marvelous Wonderettes, as well as the holiday sequel
Winter Wonderettes. Original cast albums for both
Wonderettes shows are available from PS Classics
(The Marvelous Wonderettes) and LML Music
(Winter Wonderettes)—look for both on iTunes. Other musicals created by Mr. Bean include the cross-dressing ‘40s musical
The Andrews Brothers, Why Do Fools Fall In Love?, Honky Tonk Laundry, That’s Amoré, Beach Blanket Bash, Don’t Touch That Dial! and the cross-country hit
Route 66 (over 150 productions throughout the country). Mr. Bean also created the long-running Los Angeles hit
Life Could Be a Dream, which received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, the LA Weekly Theatre Award and the Backstage Garland Award for Best/Outstanding Musical of 2010. Mr. Bean’s latest work is
Summer of Love, a hippie, trippy musical featuring the powerful music of the late 1960s countercultural revolution.
www.rogerbean.com
Royalties
Performance Royalties are based on theater particulars. Please fill out a production application for your personalized quote.
Materials
No-Deposit, No-Return! All rehearsal materials you receive are brand-new. Materials are provided on unbound 3-hole punched paper. Mark them up to your heart's desire–we don't want 'em back!
Rehearsal Materials
Performance Package
8 production scripts
4 vocal scores
1 piano with vocals score
Orchestral Combo Package
Piano/Conductor
Keyboard II/Synth
Drums
Guitar
Materials ship six weeks prior to your first rehearsal.
Additional Materials
Rehearsal CD Package
Includes four CDs–One CD for each vocal part with individual part played at full volume in right channel, other parts at half volume in left channel.
Full Orchestral Tracks Package
Fully orchestrated tracks rental fee quoted with license request.
NEW 5 Piece Orchestrations Piano/Conductor
Keyboard II/Synth
Drums
Guitar
+Reed
NEW Design Pack
Full access to copyrighted costume, set and prop design materials from the off-Broadway production! Includes sketches, photos and everything you need to recreate the off-Broadway designs.
NEW Choreography Book - Available January 2012
Official Choreography Book for The Marvelous Wonderettes – everything you need to recreate the amazing movement to help make your show a smash-hit!
Logo Package
Includes high resolution logo art for your use in advertisments. The logo package is sent via email immediately upon receipt of signed agreement and payment.
Cast Recording
Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording Album
