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Marv2 The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns

JUKEBOX MUSICAL

MW2-Caps and Gowns
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This is the second show in the WONDERETTES Series!

Three versions to choose from: This Original Version, the One-Act Version, and the Glee Club Edition!

We’re back in 1958, and it’s time for the Wonderettes to graduate in this delightful sequel to the smash Off-Broadway hit! Join Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy as they sing about their final year in high school, celebrate with their fellow classmates and teachers, and prepare for their next step toward a bright future. Act II zooms ahead to 1968, where the girls perform as bride and bridesmaids to celebrate Missy’s marriage to Mr. Lee! Featuring “Rock Around the Clock,” “At the Hop,” “Dancing in the Street,” “River Deep, Mountain High,” and 25 more hits, The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps & Gowns will have your audience cheering for more!

A One-Act Version (Caps & Gowns '58) of this show is also available! Make it home by curfew in this delightful one-act version of the hit show. 55-minutes in length. Click on here for more info.


SYNOPSIS


Act I

It’s Graduation Day for the Class of 1958 (“Pomp & Circumstance”), and the lights come up on the evening’s special entertainment: The Marvelous Wonderettes (“V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N”). We first met these four best friends and song leaders— Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy— at their Super Senior Prom in The Marvelous Wonderettes, and Caps and Gowns takes us to their final day of school at Springfield High (“Ding Dong”). They announce that the PTA Board has approved the Chipmunk All-Night Rock-and-Roll-a-thon (Rock-at-the-Hop Medley: “Rock Around the Clock”/”Rockin’ Robin”/”At the Hop”), and we learn that even squares like Suzy’s mom like rock ‘n’ roll music (“Rock and Roll Waltz”). Last week these trophy-winning song-leaders— “Go Chipmunks!”— attended their final paper-shaker camp, and they show us how they won accolades for agility and enthusiasm (Chipmunk Football: “Mr. Touchdown”/”You Gotta Be a Football Hero”). The Wonderettes excitedly show their admiration for the new leader of the football program, audience-member Coach Warner, Springfield High’s biggest athletic supporter (“Personality”). The girls each reveal a special “last will and testament” for their final day of school (“Dedicated to the One I Love”), and Cindy Lou dedicates her song to the rival high school star quarterback (“My Boy, Flat Top”). Betty Jean quickly grabs the reins to dedicate a song to her long-running on-again, off-again boyfriend Johnny (“Oh Boy!”). Missy dedicates a song to her absolute favorite teacher, Mr. Lee (“Teacher, Teacher”), and passes on her special “Chippie Teacher’s Assistant Manual” to the next Chippie in line (“It’s Only Make Believe”). Suzy reveals she flunked her senior year and has to return for summer school (“Sealed with a Kiss”, “What a Wonderful World”). With their matriculation near (“Springfield High Alma Mater”), we celebrate all of the year’s accomplishments with the senior year slide show (“May You Always”), and look forward to the hopes and dreams of the future on this magical day (“Graduation Day”).

Act II

It is now a decade later, three months after their ten-year reunion (from the original The Marvelous Wonderettes), and we meet Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, and Suzy as perfectly matched bridesmaids (“Dancing in the Street”) at Missy’s wedding reception. These ‘Marvelous Bridesmaids’ introduce us to Mr. Lee’s brand new bride, Missy (Here She Comes: “Hooked on a Feeling”/”Just One Look”), and Missy soon warns Mr. Lee’s new Chippie assistant to steer clear if she knows what’s good for her (“Don’t Mess with Bill”). The Wonderettes play a game of telling secrets to liven up the reception, and soon reveal Cindy Lou has a secret new boyfriend (“When You Walk in the Room”). After the others encourage her (“Wishin’ and Hopin’”), Cindy Lou drops a bombshell and reveals her love for Coach Warner (“The Look of Love”). Suzy shares her secret of finally receiving her GED and thanks her husband Ritchie for helping her study (“Baby, I Love You”). But Suzy’s big secret is that once again, she’s pregnant (“Good Lovin’”)! Betty Jean is forced to reveal that Johnny has strayed once again (“It’s Gonna Take a Miracle”), and the others join forces to provide her with full Wonderettes support and girl power in her hour of need (“Hold On, I’m Comin’”/”You Keep Me Hangin’ On”). Missy thanks everyone for attending her wedding reception (“A Brand New Me”), Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, and Suzy wish her love and fortune on her new journey (“May You Always”), and Missy sets out to conquer the world as Mrs. Missy Lee (“River Deep, Mountain High”)!

QUOTE


Delightful and nostalgic— a guaranteed good time!

–BroadwayWorld


Characters:

Betty Jean (18, 28) is the self-anointed class clown of the group, always vying for attention from her best friend Cindy Lou. She loves boy humor, and is probably the most physically fit out of all the girls— or at least the most "sporty." Red-headed Betty Jean has a loving heart that is easy to break, as we see in Act II. (Alto with strong low range.)

Cindy Lou (18, 28) knows she is the prettiest girl at Springfield High. Her ongoing rivalry with best friend Betty Jean bursts forth throughout their performance, threatening to derail the planned activities of their Graduation Day. Raven-haired Cindy Lou would be considered the "bad girl," or "mean girl" of the group, but truly has a hidden heart of gold that shines through in Act II. (Mezzo Soprano with belt— sings lead on many songs.)

Missy (18, 28) is the over-achiever of the group. She is always ready to cover for mistakes and jump in and save the day. She has been best friends with Suzy since elementary school. Brown-haired Missy’s hidden heart-throb is teacher Mr. Lee, whom she finally weds in Act II. (Soprano with wide range and very high vocals.)

Suzy (18, 28) is the gum-chewing, happy-go-lucky, go-along girl. Blonde Suzy is always a little giddy and a little silly, and finds great pleasure in everything she does. Slightly ditzy, Act I finds Suzy flunking out of her elective Library class for electing not to go, but finally receives her GED in Act II. Her best friend is Missy. (Mezzo Alto with a sweet, soulful sound and big belts.)

Setting: Springfield High School Gymnasium, 1958 and 1968.

  1. Pomp & Circumstance / Vacation
  2. Ding Dong
  3. Rock At The Hop Medley: Rock Around The Clock, Rockin' Robin, At The Hop
  4. Rock And Roll Waltz
  5. Chipmunk Football: Mr. Touchdown/Football Hero
  6. Personality
  7. Dedicated To The One I Love
  8. My Boy, Flat Top
  9. Oh Boy!
  10. Teacher, Teacher
  11. It’s Only Make Believe
  12. Sealed With A Kiss
  13. (What A) Wonderful World
  14. Springfield High Alma Mater
  15. Onward & Upward: May You Always / Graduation Day
  16. Dancing in the Street
  17. Here Comes the Bride: Hooked on a Feeling-Just One Look
  18. Don’t Mess With Bill
  19. When You Walk In The Room
  20. Wishin’ and Hopin’
  21. The Look Of Love
  22. Baby, I Love You
  23. Good Lovin’
  24. It’s Gonna Take A Miracle
  25. Hold On, Hang On: Hold On, I’m Comin’/You Keep Me Hangin’ On
  26. Bon Voyage: A Brand New Me / May You Always
  27. River Deep, Mountain High

Performance Royalties are based on theater particulars.

Billing responsibilities, pertinent copyright information, and playwrights' biographies are available in the show rider that comes with your license agreement.

“Roger Bean has done it again!” –Broadway World

“Entertaining froth of a rarefied order.” –Backstage

“Bean, once again, displays his knack for choosing songs both famous and obscure that neatly comment on the concerns of prissy Missy; ditzy Suzy; man-less Betty Jean; and sometimes mean-spirited Cindy Lou.” –The Orange County Register

“I harbor a special fondness for shows featuring music from the 1950s… and few people know how to push that particular button more than Roger Bean!” –Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot

“Suzy, Cindy Lou, Betty Jean, and Missy are as loveable and delightful as ever!” –StageSceneLA

“An evening of melodic nostalgia.” –Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot

“The four gals are still crackling with energy and optimism under the loving eye of Bean.” –Broadway World

“What transforms Bean’s work from a mere revue into something a bit more substantial is the deft way he develops character and uses songs to describe their problem of situation.” –The Orange County Register

Materials: Digital Materials are provided via email as downloadable PDF files for you to print in-house. All materials are yours to keep! No deposits, no returns.

Required Production Materials for The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns:

  • 4 Cast Script and Vocal Book
  • Orchestrations
  • 2 Piano/Conductor Score
  • 2 Director's Scripts
  • 1 Stage Manager Scripts
  • Logo Pack

Orchestrations:

  • Piano/Conductor Score
  • Keyboard 2
  • Guitar
  • Drums

Official Logo Pack Now Included!

To help you promote your show, Stage Rights now includes a logo pack with your license. The logo pack includes high resolution versions (both color and black and white) of our show logo. The logo is the portion of the artwork with the title of the show. The surrounding artwork is also available for an additional fee.

Production Resources:

  • Customizable Poster & Layered Artwork
  • Official Logo Pack
  • Social Media Marketing Kit
  • Performance Tracks
  • Rehearsal Tracks – Rehearsal tracks for each role with the individual character played at full volume, other parts at half volume.

Official Show Poster and Layered Artwork are available for this title. We’ve collaborated with our partners at Subplot Studio to bring you powerful and easy-to-use online poster design and downloadable artwork for this Stage Rights title. Customize by adding your theater name and logo, show dates, credits, and box office info, and use elements in the layered artwork to create your own print and online marketing pieces. You can even order printed posters! Learn more at www.subplotstudio.com/store/posters/collection/stage-rights/