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 ...Read More
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).
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