Sh-Boom! Take another trip to Springfield and meet the Crooning Crabcakes, the boys banned from the Wonderettes’ prom, as they prepare to enter the Big Whopper Radio contest and realize their dreams of making it to the big time! Trouble comes in the form of Lois, who arrives to put some polish on the boys. Denny and Wally fall in love, Eugene falls apart, and along comes handsome heartthrob Skip to send the whole situation spinning. The '60s doo-wop songs say it all: "Fools Fall in Love," "Tears on My Pillow," "Runaround Sue," "Earth Angel," "Stay," "Unchained Melody," "Lonely Teardrops," and "The Glory of Love." Winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Best Musical Award, Life Could Be a Dream will leave you laughing, singing, and cheering—let’s hear it for the boys!
The Story
Act I
Denny and Eugene are rehearsing for the “Dream of a Lifetime Talent Search” (Sh-Boom [Life Could Be a Dream]), hosted by Big Whopper Radio. Denny, a former Crooning Crabcake in the Springfield High School Glee Club, grabs the spotlight as Eugene struggles to keep up with him. They rehearse in Denny’s basement, and it becomes clear when their friend Wally arrives that Denny’s mother is ready for him to grow up and move out (Get a Job). Wally joins the singing group and suggests they ask if Big Stuff Auto will sponsor them in the contest. Denny’s mother speaks over the PA system to tell the boys to keep the noise down, but no one can stifle these boys and their musical ambitions (Mama Don't Allow It).
The next night the boys are anxiously awaiting their audition for “Big” Earl, the owner of Big Stuff Auto, when head-mechanic Skip shows up instead. Trouble comes in the form of Lois, “Big” Earl’s daughter, who shows up to help Skip evaluate the group, but who also broke loveable Eugene’s heart many years before. Eugene works through his pain as the boys audition (Tears On My Pillow). Lois likes the boys, but thinks they need to add a fourth member to become a proper doo-wop quartet. After hearing Skip sing (Fools Fall In Love), the boys welcome him into the group and Lois realizes her budding romantic feelings for him. As the newly formed quartet rehearses, Denny struggles with Skip singing lead (Runaround Sue). Lois tries to add polish to the rough edges of their act (The Wanderer), triggering Wally, Denny and Eugene to fantasize about their love for her (Lovin' Lois Medley: Devil or Angel/Earth Angel/Only You). Little do the boys realize that Lois has fallen hard for Skip (I Only Have Eyes for You), surprising him with a kiss.Skip is startled and runs off, leaving the boys oblivious to the unfolding drama, begging Lois to stay and rehearse with them (Stay).
The following evening, Denny, Eugene and Wally rehearse while imagining themselves with Lois ([Just Like] Romeo and Juliet) when Skip arrives to offer the guys some advice about girls and love in general (A Sunday Kind of Love). Skip realizes that Lois is the girl for him and races off to ask for her father’s blessing. Lois arrives to clear things up with the boys, Skip is fired from his job for daring to ask out the boss’ daughter, and Lois and Skip lament their unrequited love in one of the greatest love songs of all time (Unchained Melody).
Act II
The next day, the boys implore Lois to go after Skip and bring him back (Easier Said Than Done). They thank her for helping them improve as a group (The Magic Touch) and then head out to search for Skip while Lois reveals her true feelings (Lonely Teardrops). The next morning (Buzz Buzz Buzz), Skip returns just in time to sing for the contest. The boys have since learned a little about love themselves and help Skip realize some important lessons (The Glory of Love). Lois arrives and Skip is prompted by the boys to finally reveal his love for her (Duke of Earl). Later that evening, the rip-roaring finale sequence features the newly-christened Denny and the Dreamers winning the talent search (Pretty Little Angel Eyes) and our talented quartet becomes a quintet as Lois becomes Skip’s wife and joins them onstage in their triumphant return from their worldwide tour (Rama Lama Ding Dong/Sh-Boom/Unchained Melody). Allends happily in this musical that will leave you laughing, singing and cheering in the aisles—let’s hear it for the boys!
Act I
Act II
Sh-Boom (Life Could Be A Dream)
Easier Said Than Done
Get A Job
(You've Got) The Magic Touch
Mama Don't Allow It
Lonely Teardrops
Tears On My Pillow
Buzz Buzz Buzz
Fools Fall In Love
The Glory of Love
Runaround Sue
Duke of Earl
The Wanderer
Pretty Little Angel Eyes
Lovin Lois Medley
Rama Lama Ding Dong
Devil Or Angel
Encore: Unchained Melody (Reprise)
Earth Angel
Only You
I Only Have Eyes For You
Stay
(Just Like) Romeo And Juliet
A Sunday Kind Of Love
Unchained Melody
WINNER! LA Drama Critics Circle Award – Production of the Year!
WINNER! LA Weekly Award – Best Musical of the Year!
WINNER! Backstage Garland Award – Best Production of the Year!
“Critic’s Pick! Dream is so frothy, it floats.” –Los Angeles Times
“Heaven sent! This show will run everywhere for years to come.” –BroadwayWorld.com
“Go! Spectacular! Affectionate and clever–a rousing good-time musical!”–LA Weekly
“Roger Bean is in high-flying form with this cotton-candy treat, which seems certain to duplicate the runaway success of The Marvelous Wonderettes.” –Back Stage
“Fabulous, charming and affectionate! Your kids will love it!”–American Radio Networks
“Beanis back with another fabulous, feel-good musical! The sweet story is an audience-pleasing and delicious romp.” –Los Angeles Examiner
“Downright delightful and idiotically infectious!” –Stage & Cinema LA
“Perfect musical arrangements make this doo-wop musical infectious and a lot of fun!” –Talkin’ Broadway
“Now is the perfect time for a big dose of Roger Bean.” –The Orange County Register
“Dream is readier than ever for the lights of New York!” –Broadway World
“Engaging, quick-moving and fun.” –Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
“A delicious jukebox musical as refreshing as an icy wedge of watermelon on a hot summer night.” –The Saginaw News
“Dream is pure nostalgia. A doo-wopper's delight!” –Calgary Sun
Cast
1 Woman, 4 Men
DENNY VARNEY – Male. Five years after high school graduation, Denny still lives with his mother, goofing off in the family basement instead of working for a living. Denny’s lack of ambition and discipline have always been his downfall, but the new WOPR Radio "Dream of a Lifetime Talent Search" has put new wind in his sails. He uses his talents as a former Crooning Crabcake (the Glee Club at Springfield High) to first create a duo, then a trio, and finally a quartet to help find the unique doo-wop sound (and backer’s money) he needs to bring his dream to reality. Jealousy rears its head when the final member of the group unintentionally steals Denny’s spotlight. Can Denny still lead the group to a win? Will he still be able to attract the ladies in the spotlight? Stay tuned...
EUGENE JOHNSON – Male. Denny’s best friend and co-conspirator, Eugene works hard just to stay in step with Denny’s fast-moving schemes. During most days, Eugene works for his Dad down at the Springfield Sweet Shop, but at night he cuts loose with his fellow Crooning Crabcakes during singing and dancing practice in Denny’s basement. The entrance of an old grade-school crush, Lois, threatens to derail all attempts at winning the radio contest, and Eugene has to work twice as hard as the others to keep his mind in the game. Does he have a shot at winning the girl back? Can he possibly become a functioning member of the all-singing, all-dancing Dream group? Stay tuned...
WALLY PATTON – Male. A checker at the Piggly-Wiggly, and older brother to bad-boy Billy Ray (from The Marvelous Wonderettes), Wally is the son of a preacher who truly becomes the heart and soul of the group. He’s desperate to be a part of the group, if only because inclusion is better than exclusion. Still a youngster himself, often childish, he does have an uncanny knack for seeing what’s important in life when the going gets tough. But that doesn’t mean he’s not immune to a full-on crush when Eugene’s grade-school sweetheart comes into the picture. Does Wally have a shot at the girl? Will the fight over Lois create a rift too wide to repair? Stay tuned...
SKIP HENDERSON – Male. The last add-on to our singing group, Skip is the new guy from the wrong side of the tracks, and a natural singing whiz. He works for Big Stuff Auto, the new sponsor of the group, and Skip is added to Denny’s fledgling group to turn it into a proper quartet. Skip is definitely the new alpha male, and Denny feels pushed aside and ignored for the seemingly brighter talents Skip brings to the table. Skip is also conflicted about falling in love with the boss’s daughter, Lois, the girl that Eugene and Wally are already fighting over. Could he ever possibly fit into her family? Will Skip’s bad-boy attitude break up the group’s chance to win the big contest? Stay tuned...
LOIS FRANKLIN – Female. Daughter of "Big Earl" Franklin, owner of Big Stuff Auto, and herself a former song leader at Springfield High, Lois arrives on the scene to help shape the boys into a real singing and dancing group. Going against her father’s advice, she decides to give his sponsorship money to the fledgling singing group, and in doing so falls head-over-heels in love with bad-boy Skip. Lois’ parents refuse to allow their daughter to date the grease monkey from their auto shop, and the fireworks that ensue threaten to destroy the whole enterprise. Will Lois get the guy? Which guy? Can she be the super-glue that holds the whole group together? Stay tuned...
Setting
Denny's Basement, 1960s
Running Time
2 Acts, Approx. 110 minutes
About the Author
Roger Bean is the creator of the long-running off-Broadway smash hit The Marvelous Wonderettes, which has played in hundreds of theaters around the world. Mr. Bean also created two popular sequels for these four delightful song leaders from Springfield High: The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns and the holiday celebration Winter Wonderettes. Original cast albums for all three Wonderettes shows are available online at Amazon and iTunes. Additional audience-pleasing jukebox hits from Mr. Bean include Summer of Love,The Andrews Brothers, Why Do Fools Fall in Love?,Route 66 (over 100 productions throughout the country), and the long-running Los Angeles hit Life Could Be a Dream, the ’60s doo-wop musical that received the LA Drama Critics Circle Award, the LA Weekly Theatre Award, and the Backstage Garland Award for Outstanding Musical of 2010. 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 three-hole-punched paper. Mark them up to your heart's desire—we don't want 'em back!
Orchestrations
Piano/Conductor
Keyboard 2
Guitar
Percussion
Reed
Production Resources
Rehearsal CDs
One for each actor isolating their character's vocal part.
Music Tracks
Fully realized music tracks to use in performance instead of live musicians.
Logo/PR Pack
Includes high-resolution logo artwork, a ready-made show poster, a press packet with pull quotes and reviews, and reference photos to inform your design.
Reference Recording
Demo studio tracks or live audio from the show in performance.
