2017–2018 SEASON

the marvelous wonderettes

Written and created by Roger Bean Directed and choreographed by CONTENTS Melissa Rain Anderson 2 The 411 3 FYI, HTH, A/S/L 4 F2F 6 IRL 7 RBTL 8 BTW

Major Sponsors At The Rep, we know how to be the best audience ever! that life moves fast— Take your seat okay, really fast. But An usher will seat your class as a group, and often we have we also know that a full house with no seats to spare, so be sure to stick with some things are your school until you have been shown your section in the worth slowing down theatre. for. We believe that live theatre is one of those pit stops worth making and are excited that you are going to stop Silence is Golden by for a show. To help you get the most bang for your buck, Before the performance begins, be sure to turn off your cell we have put together WU? @ THE REP—an IM guide that will phone and watch alarms. If you need to talk or text during give you everything you need to know to get at the top of your intermission, don’t forget to click off before the show theatergoing game—fast. You’ll find character descriptions resumes. (A/S/L), a plot summary (FYI), biographical information (F2F), Break Time historical context (B4U), and other bits and pieces (HTH). Most This performance includes an intermission, at which time importantly, we’ll have some ideas about what this all means you can visit the restrooms in the lobby. Intermission is only IRL, anyway. 15 minutes though, so hurry back to your seat.

Snack Time There is no food or drink permitted inside the theatre, so make sure you finish your snacks in the lobby before you enter the house.

Now Hear This Just as you can see and hear the actors, they can see and hear you. Any talking, even whispering, can be heard by The Teacher’s those around you and those onstage, so please wait until Lounge the show is over to chat. No Paparazzi Please In an effort to make our The theatre is a camera-free zone. Flash photography educational materials accessible interrupts the action onstage and is prohibited by to students and easy for educators­ Actors’ Equity Association rules. You can sneak a peek at to incorporate into the classroom, our production photos on The Rep’s website at repstl.org. study guide is written in a student-oriented format. We hope that you will circulate this guide among your Take a Bow students in the weeks preceding your visit to The Rep, Let the actors know you respect their work by responding encouraging them to browse it before and after class and to the curtain call at the end of the performance. Show your as time allows, using it as a launch point for both pre- and appreciation for a job well done through applause. post-performance discussions.You may also want to visit our website, www.repstl.org, for additional information Thanks for being a great audience! including activity suggestions and behind-the-scenes information. Any materials, either from this guide or from our website may be reproduced for use in the classroom.­ As always, we appreciate your making live Rep Education Department theatre a part of your classroom experience and welcome your Director of Education Marsha Coplon feedback and questions. Associate Director of Education Sarah Brandt Education Programs Associate Brian Coats spoiler When the lead singer of the Springfield High School boys alert! glee club is unexpectedly suspended from school, The Marvelous Wonderettes are chosen as a last-minute This study guide entertainment replacement for the 1958 senior prom. contains spoilers Suzy, Cindy Lou, Missy and Betty Jean sing hits of the 1950s about the story of while dealing with drama in their own personal relationships. the show. If you wish to be completely Ten years later, The Marvelous Wonderettes reunite to surprised by what perform for their high school reunion. Their personal you see on stage, relationships are just as fraught as they were when they were you may want to wait younger. However, hit songs of the 1960s may just help them until after the play to to rekindle their friendships and romantic relationships. read this.

Merci: French for “thank you” The Marvelous Wonderettes : Beaucoup: French for “very much” Suzy, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Betty Jean find themselves in the spotlight as they perform for Oui: French for “yes” their high school prom and, ten years later, In absentia: absence, or being absent at a their high school reunion. current event Pinned: to enter into a relationship with someone; the phrase comes from a boy giving his fraternity pin to his girlfriend to signify that they are together. S’il vous plait: French for “please” or “if you please” Butterick’s 5927: a vintage sewing pattern used to make clothing or other materials

3 Female Icons of the 50s and 60s The Marvelous Wonderettes features some of the greatest hits of the 1950s and 1960s. In fact, Roger Bean, the creator of the play, modeled The Wonderettes after many of the famous girl groups of the decades. Below are just some of the female artists whose songs are included in The Marvelous Wonderettes!

The Chordettes The McGuire Sisters Connie Francis Like The Wonderettes, The Christine, Dorothy and Phyllis A recording artist in the late 50s and Chordettes was made up of four McGuire, three sisters from Ohio, early 60s, Connie Francis is probably women who harmonized in the style were often compared to famous best known for her song “Stupid of a barbershop quartet. The group group The Andrews Sisters and had a Cupid,” which has continued to be formed in 1946 and went through few number one hits between 1952 popular song decades later. You may many member changes before and 1968, including “Sugartime” and recognize it as the song Mandy disbanding in 1961. Two of their most “Sincerely.” Moore sings in Disney’s The Princess popular hits, “Mr. Sandman” and Diaries, also starring Anne Hathaway. “Lollipop,” appear in the play. Francis also sings “Lipstick on Your Collar,” which appears in the play.

4 Female Icons of the 50s and 60s

Martha and the Vandellas Leslie Gore Dusty Springfield This group found fame in Born Lesley Goldstein, Leslie Gore A British recording artist, the 1960s after forming in 1957. has remained a notable recording Dusty Springfield’s career spanned was not actually an artist for her songs “It’s My Party” and over four decades, from the 1950s to original member of the group, but “You Don’t Own Me,” which has the 1990s. Her bright and flamboyant became the lead singer after become a strong feminist anthem in personality made her an icon of the Gloria Williams left the group in the recent years and used in many Swinging 60s and led her to have early 60s. They recorded a string of popular television shows and movies, many chart-topping hits, including “I hits throughout the 1960s, including including Suicide Squad and Only Want to Be with You” and “Son “Heatwave” and “Dancing in the American Horror Story, to highlight of a Preacher Man.” Street,” which became their the power and independence of signature song. female characters.

The Shangri-Las Fontella Bass Aretha Franklin Similar to The Wonderettes, The This R&B artist is actually from Probably the most notable name on Shangri-Las was a girl group formed St. Louis, and became interested in this list, Aretha Franklin was labelled in high school. Consisting of two sets music when she was very young. Her the “Queen of Soul” during the of sisters, The Shangri-Las had a greatest hit was “Rescue Me,” which 1960s and has continued to earn that “tough girl” persona that set them spent an entire month at the top of title even today. With hits like apart from other girl groups of the the charts. Bass has her own star on “RESPECT” and “(You Make Me Feel time. Their hit song “Leader of the the St. Louis Walk of Fame, which you Like) A Natural Woman,” Franklin Pack” appears in the play and is can visit in the Loop. made herself a household name. She probably one of the most is considered one of the greatest recognizable songs from the 1960s. recording artists of all time and has won a total of 18 Grammy Awards. Just as The Marvelous Wonderettes of Springfield High School were inspired by other song squads of the 1950s, contemporary female singing groups today also owe these same groups for their existence. Below are some major pop groups that just would not exist without the girl groups of the 50s and 60s.

The Spice Girls Destiny’s Child Of course you’ve heard of The Spice Girls! They may Another group that has since disbanded, Destiny’s have been most popular in the 1990s, but these British Child was a major R&B group of the late-1990s and superstars continue to inspire younger generations all early 2000s. Their lead singer, Beyonce, has gone on to around the world. Each of the spices have their own achieve record fame, which would not have been unique identity—Sporty, Scary, Baby, Ginger and Posh— possible without her start in this girl group. With hits like which has made them extremely relatable to fans for “Independent Woman” and “Survivor,” these women decades. With hits like “Spice Up Your Life” and made names for themselves as strong feminist icons, “Wannabe,” and films like Spice World, the Spice Girls similar to The Supremes and Leslie Gore nearly 30 years broke down expectations and became international prior. phenomenons unlike any group before or since.

Little Mix Fifth Harmony This girl group formed in 2011 for the UK talent This girl group from Miami, Florida gained fame when competition show, The X Factor. They released their they appeared on the US version of The X Factor in first album in 2012 and became an international 2012. Since then, they have released three albums, all success. Songs such as “Wings” and “Black Magic” of which have earned them multiple awards and have become very popular in the UK, where Little Mix success throughout the United States. There is a good has found most of its success. However, they continue chance that you have heard their songs “Work from to win international awards and gain recognition in Home” and “Worth It,” as each song became a Europe and the United States. chart-topping hit for the girl group. Following the departure of Camila Cabello in 2016, Fifth Harmony is now composed of only four, in a member change very similar to those of groups in the 50s and 60s.

6 Music Nostalgia The Marvelous Wonderettes is almost all about the The Marvelous Wonderettes is a play that depends music. The show is structured as a concert performance heavily on nostalgia. Many of the songs that are sung at a high school prom, with everything that is seen on are still recognizable and considered classics today. stage actually taking place in front of an audience (the They evoke the era of the 50s and 60s in an attempt to audience to the play doubles as the audience at the not only compare the two decades, but to possibly prom). The show quickly moves through major hits of draw parallels to modern day America as well. In Act 2, the 1950s in Act 1 and the 1960s in Act 2. Like most nostalgia for the past becomes a key ingredient in the musicals, the characters use songs to explore their relationships of The Wonderettes. There is a sense that emotions and relationships at a deeper level. As you as they perform for their high school reunion, they are watch the show, think about the effect of telling the hoping to relive the glory of their initial performance at story through this sort of performance device. Does it their high school prom and the glory of their high limit what can happen onstage? If so, how? Do you school years. Certainly, their relationships with one think the structure works? Why or why not? another, broken and neglected at the top of Act 2, are repaired with the help of nostalgia for the way things used to be. Why do you think people find themselves nostalgic for a past that they cannot Friendship return to? Outside of the play, can you find When The Marvelous Wonderettes are not singing, examples of society’s draw towards the past? Do they are dealing with the drama of their personal lives. you find yourself drawn to past moments or It just so happens that each girl has a secret that is memories that you wish you could return to? revealed during the course of their performance at the prom. Betty Jean is betrayed by Cindy Lou when she finds out that Cindy Lou has been sneaking around with her boyfriend. The girls try to remain semi-professional to get through their performance, but each one has jealousies and insecurities that threaten to overwhelm them. When The Marvelous Wonderettes reunite 10 years later, the audience realizes that their friendships did not survive past high school. Each woman has her own life with her own personal shortcomings and drama. Through their reunion concert, they patch up their relationships and emerge stronger friends through their music and shared experiences. Have you experienced challenges within a friendship? What can you do to overcome these obstacles?

7 7 The Marvelous Wonderettes is not the first jukebox musical or the first work to center around girl groups of the 50s and 60s. Check out these other works similar to The Marvelous Wonderettes!

Dreamgirls (2006 film) Mamma Mia! (2008 film) Directed by Bill Condon Directed by Phyllida Lloyd

This film, based on a hit Like many jukebox musicals, Broadway musical, tells the this film (based on a Broadway story of a fictional girl group musical of the same name) rising to fame in the 1960s uses the music of only one and 1970s. Starring Beyonce, artist—in this case, the band Jamie Foxx and an Oscar- ABBA. The music acts as a winning performance by vehicle for the story of a girl Jennifer Hudson, the original who is about to marry and music will throw you all the wants her long-lost father to way back to the era of the walk her down the aisle. harmonic divas! It stars Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried and Colin Firth.

Jersey Boys (musical) Beehive (musical) Music by Bob Gaudio Created by Larry Gallagher Lyrics by Bob Crewe Book by Marshall Brickman This musical uses songs of and Rick Elice the 1960s to track the growth, music and This Tony-winning musical empowerment of the six tells the story of The Four female leads. The music Seasons, a rock ‘n’ roll group guides the story in this from New Jersey. Featuring musical that’s a fun blast “Sherry,” “Can’t Take My straight into the past, with Eyes Off You” and “Big Girls some songs from The Don’t Cry,” it is a crowd- Marvelous Wonderettes pleasing look back at an era popping up as well! of doo-wop groups and Frankie Valli’s falsetto notes.