The Junior Theater Version of the
Hit Off-Broadway Musical
Created by Roger Bean
Make it home by curfew in this prom-only version of the off-Broadway hit!
The Marvelous Wonderettes ‘58 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 songs as “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Lipstick On Your Collar,” “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me,” and other classic hits! You’ve never had this much fun at a prom and you will never forget The Marvelous Wonderettes ‘58—a must-take musical trip down memory lane! The smash off-Broadway hit is cut down to Act 1 only in this Junior Theater reworking of The Marvelous Wonderettes.
The Marvelous Wonderettes Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording is available to purchase from Steele Spring or online through iTunes or Amazon.com.
The Story
At the 1958 Springfield High School prom, the lights come up on the evening’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 prepare for the end of the prom (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). The Wonderettes thank everyone for an amazing evening of wonderful memories (Thank You and Goodnight/Sincerely).
Mr. Sandman
Sugar & Spice Medley
Lollopop
Sugartime
Chipmunk Cheer
Allegheny Moon
Marvelous Dreams Medley
All I Have To Do Is Dream
Dream Lover
Stupid Cupid
Lipstick On Your Collar
Lucky Lips
Secret Love
Man Of My Dreams Medley
Mr Lee
Born Too Late
Teacher's Pet
Sugar & Spice Reprise
Goodnight & Goodbye Medley
Sincerely
Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
Thank You and Goodnight/Sincerely
“You won’t find a more delightful girl group! These irrepressible, bubbly 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 irresistible 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!” –Back Stage
“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
“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 by 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
4 Women
BETTY JEAN – Female. 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 – Female. 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 – Female. 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 been best friends with Suzy since elementary school. (Soprano with wide range and very high vocals.)
SUZY – Female. Gum-chewing Suzy is happy-go-lucky, a little giddy and a little silly. 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 Gymnasium, 1958 High School Prom
Running Time
1 Act, Approx. 55 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
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.
Staging Manual
An Official Directing and Choreography Manual to help you stage the perfect production.
Choreography Video
A step-by-step tutorial showing how the choreography fits with the music.
Design Pack
Full access to copyrighted costume, set, and prop design materials from the original designers; with sketches, photos, and everything you need to recreate their masterful work. Click Here for more info.
Original Cast Recording
The Marvelous Wonderettes Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording is available to purchase from Steele Spring or online through iTunes or Amazon.com.
