Imagine a high school gymnasium with banners hanging, proclaiming best wishes to the graduating class of 1957. The bleachers and folding chairs on the gym floor, (with a giant painted ‘A’ for Athens High center court), gradually fill with high school students arriving for an assembly. Cheerleaders with their letter sweaters surround the gorgeous Titania, a knock-out, Homecoming Queen, who snubs Oberon - as Puck, with propeller beanie atop her pony-tail, laughs and cuts up with the custodian, Bottom and his buddies, the school janitors. The head coach, Peter Quince, looks on, clip board in hand.
Principal Theseus taps the microphone and begins his pep talk, with an announcement of his pending marriage to the Drama/Gym teacher Miss Hippolyta. He announces the big prom on the week-end featuring The Obertones, a rock & roll band made up of former grads, and featuring the lead singer Oberon.
As the lights fade we hear ONE SUMMER NIGHT, sung by the two teachers, and the play proper begins.
From here on the language is all Shakespeare…interspersed with rock ‘n’ roll at just the right moments. As Shakespeare’s rollicking romping rocking play unfolds, we are transported into the wonderful world of an innocent era replete with poodle skirts, saddle shoes, and songs that evoke the romance of young love.
Once Lysander & Hermia agree to elope that night in the moonlight, they grab the Principal’s microphone and rock their promise to COME GO WITH ME! The school janitors, on their lunch break, are assigned roles in a play entitled Pyramus & Thisbe to be performed that night at the prom. Immediately the lights take us to the woods outside the town where “ROCKIN’ ROBIN” Goodfellow (Puck) is recognized by the Cheerleaders (Titania’s Fairy Followers), and immediately Oberon & Titania face off to the sounds of ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK.
Forlorn and jilted, Helena sings out “I WILL FOLLOW HIM,” as she pursues Demetrius, her heartthrob of the moment, into the enchanted woods; and the four teen-age lovers rush into their LONG LONELY NIGHTS. The rocking and rolling continue throughout the forest…until finally all is resolved as the quartet of lovers is GOIN’ TO THE CHAPEL. The Mechanicals bring down the house with their play… and all have the last slow dance to the sweet refrain of LOVE ME TENDER. The festivities end as the entire school bursts forth to celebrate with a hand jiving curtain call where SH’BOOM, SH’BOOM, LIFE CAN BE A DREAM…
This script may be purchased as a read-only, non-printable PDF by anyone who is interested in reading the play, but not yet ready or able to produce it. Or, you may purchase a downloadable version of the musical when you agree to the licensing agreement. You must then pay an additional fee for each and any performance after the first. We honor your honesty and trust that you will respect the skill and care involved in creating this conceptualized version of the play by paying the appropriate fee which accurately reflects your intentions.
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