2006—2007 SEASON THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS THE MUSICAL! Music by Eric Rockwell Lyrics by Joanne Bogart Book by Eric Rockwell and Joanne Bogart Directed by Pamela Hunt CONTENTS MAJOR SPONSOR: BUDWEISER SELECT 2 The 411 3 A/S/L 4 FYI 5 HTH, RMAI 6 B4U 7IRL 8 F2F 12 SWDYT? STUDY GUIDES ARE SUPPORTED BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM CITIGROUP MISSOURI ARTS COUNCIL MIHYAP: TOP TEN WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED AT THE REP At The Rep, we know that life moves fast— 10. TBA Ushers will seat your school or class as a group, okay, really fast. so even if you are dying to mingle with the group from the But we also know all girls school that just walked in the door, stick with your that some things friends until you have been shown your section in the are worth slowing down for. We believe that live theatre is theatre. one of those pit stops worth making and are excited that 9. SITD The house lights will dim immediately before the you are going to stop by for a show. To help you get the performance begins and then go dark. Fight off that oh-so- most bang for your buck, we have put together immature urge to whisper, giggle like a grade schooler, or WU? @ THE REP—an IM guide that will give you yell at this time and during any other blackouts in the show. everything you need to know to get at the top of your 8. SED Before the performance begins, turn off all cell theatergoing game—fast. You’ll find character descriptions phones, pagers, beepers and watch alarms. If you need to (A/S/L), a plot summary (FYI), biographical information text, talk, or dial back during intermission, please make sure on the playwright (F2F), historical context (B4U), and to click off before the show resumes. other bits and pieces (HTH). Most importantly, we’ll have 7. TMI Not to sound like your mom, but “if you need to some ideas about what this all means IRL, anyway. go now, you needed to go then.” Leaving the theatre during the performance is disruptive, so take care of any personal needs before the show starts. 6. RTM When you arrive at the theatre, read the production program. It’s like a deluxe version of liner notes and a free souvenir, all in one. 5. P-ZA? NW! Though your ability to eat ten slices at one The Teacher’s sitting may impress your friends, no one wants to listen to Lounge you chew, slurp, or smack, so please leave all food, drink, and gum outside the theatre. In an effort to make our educational materials more accessible to 4. TLK-2-U-L-8-R We know that you will be dying to discuss what you see onstage with your friends, but please students and easier for educators to incorporate into wait until intermission. Any talking—even whispering— is the classroom, we have adopted a new, more student- very distracting for both the actors onstage and the audience oriented format. We hope that you will circulate this seated around you. guide among your students in the weeks preceding your visit to The Rep, encouraging them to browse it before 3. LOL Without you, we really wouldn’t have a show. It’s and after class and as time allows, using it as a launch your job to laugh when a scene is funny or maybe even shed point for both pre- and post-performance discussions. a tear or two in a tender moment. However, since you are not the audience at The Jerry Springer Show please refrain You may also want to visit our website, www.repstl.org from inappropriate responses such as talking, whistling, for additional information regarding the production making catcalls or singing along with the performers. elements, such as scenery, costumes, and lighting. Any materials, either from this guide, or from our 2. SOP While it’s great that you want a celeb picture of website may be reproduced for use in the class- your day at The Rep, the theatre is off-limits to the room. As always, we appreciate your paparazzi. Flash photography interrupts the performance and making live theatre a part of your class- along with videorecording is prohibited by Actors Equity rules. You can sneak a peek at production photos on our room experience and welcome your website, www.repstl.org. feedback and questions. 1. LLTA Let the actors know that you respect their work Show Me Standards: CA 2, 5, 6, 7; FA 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; SS 2, 6 by remaining for the curtain call at the end of the and Illinois Learning Standards: 1, 2, 4, 5, 25, 26, 27. performance. Show your appreciation through applause. CORN! WILLIAM lives for his Auntie Abby and enjoys the comforts of her luxurious JUNE is behind on the rent and may lose lifestyle. her chance at true love with Big Willy if she can’t find a way to pay. MR. JITTERS is the landlord who needs to get his tenant’s rent, but has other things BIG WILLY loves the fields of corn on on his mind. Kansas farms but isn’t sure he’s ready to marry and leave his exciting life as a AUNTIE ABBY, an aging former star, carnival barker. encourages others to live by her philosophy, “Live! Live! Live!” JIDDER, the evil landlord, will either collect his rent money or make June his wife as ASPECTS OF JUNITA payment. JUNITA has fallen behind on her rent, but MOTHER ABBY urges her daughter not to with her status as a rock opera star, feels give in to Jidder, but to follow her dreams. she is above such things. A LITTLE COMPLEX BILL wants to help his girlfriend Junita, but is unsure of their relationship. JEUNE is a somewhat ditzy young woman who has fallen behind on her rent and is PHANTOM JITTER leads a double life as close to falling prey to Jitter. Junita’s landlord and an opera writer in hiding. BILLY spends his time writing songs inspired by his girlfriend Jeune, until he must spring ABIGAIL VON SCHTARR is unwilling to into action to defend her. allow Junita to upstage her as the premier opera star. JITTER fancies himself an artist, and swears vengeance on his tenants when they are SPEAKEASY less than respectful of his “talent.” JUNY works in the speakeasy and must ABBY’S advice to her neighbor, Jeune, try to find a way to afford her rent. reflects her odd and abrasive personality. VILLY was Juny’s boyfriend, but their relationship has changed during his DEAR ABBY time in prison. JUNIE FAYE is a lovely JUTTER runs the speakeasy and is girl who seems to be a pressuring Juny so he can get rent perfect match for from at least one of his deadbeat William, but has fallen tenants. behind on her rent. FRAULEIN ABBY gives Juny some questionable advice in her attempt to find rent money. 3 THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS, The Musical! her nephew William to the lovely young Junie is a fun, hilarious spoof of some of Broadway’s Faye, who is confronted about her back rent best and most beloved musical styles. One by the landlord, Mr. Jitters. Frightened of the standard storyline becomes quite different consequences, Junie begins to cry and Mr. when told in the style of five different musical Jitters unhappily complains about the party. theatre masters. In the first production, Corn!, Hearing this, Abby wonders if she has done we meet young June, a fresh-faced farm girl enough to ensure the success of her party. Can from Kansas. June is in terrible trouble—she Abby mend the situation between June and can’t pay her rent and in lieu of payment, her Mr. Jitters? evil landlord, Jidder, is going to marry her. ACT II OPENS with Aspects of Junita, in June’s sometimes boyfriend, Big Willy, can’t which we find young rock opera star Junita is decide if he wants to marry June or continue behind in her rent. The landlord, Jitter, his life of adventure as a carnival barker and demands payment from Junita who assures Miss Abby, June’s Mother, is left urging the him that she’ll pay it as soon as she can. As boy to save her daughter. The day of the Junita exits, we discover the landlord’s true wedding, Big Willy has wrestled with his identity—he is none other than the feelings and finally made his choice to stay mysterious opera impresario, Sir Phantom with June, but as he arrives to claim his love Jitter! The Phantom is desperate for Junita to he finds her already married to Jidder. How sing for him in his brand new opera. Junita is will the lovers get out of this predicament? unsure if she can sing real opera, and she also SCENE II brings us to the New York City has another problem on her mind. Her apartment complex, The Woods, in A Little relationship with her boyfriend Bill is in Complex. Down-on-her-luck Jeune hasn’t paid jeopardy and he refuses to pay her rent. her rent and is wondering when she’ll be Desperate for help, Junita goes to the evicted. Jitter, the slightly crazy Phantom who assures her that with his new landlord/artist, is on a rampage because opera, she will be a star. At this moment, someone has thrown his “Art” in the former opera star Abigail Von Schtarr enters dumpster.