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Overview

Synopsis

Two high school students, Kim and Eric, are on the beach, and they begin to talk about their high school drama class and their senior production. Their drama teacher has given them the usual choices, such as Hello, Dolly and Our Town but they have a different idea. Although they acknowledge that these are classics, they wonder if they might do something that's more relevant to their lives. The heat at the beach brings them to a discussion of climate change and the existential threat to their future.

Kim and Eric decide to suggest that the drama class put on a show about it. They also decide that lots of their parents are hooked on misery, glued to the TV news, and, among the more conservative parents (some of whom are Evangelicals), the hope for End Times.

The students decide to call the show ‘Hooked on Happiness’ and propose their idea to their drama class. The drama teacher wonders how they can write the show--after all, they're not playwrights--but she says she'll give them two weeks to see what they can come up with. The class gets to work on the songs and a new show is born! However, the students face a tough crowd when they reveal it to their conservative audience.

Show Information

Book
Tom Attea
Music
Arthur Abrams
Lyrics
Tom Attea
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
1
First Produced
2019
Genres
Drama
Settings
Contemporary, Simple/No Set
Time & Place
The ocean beach, An American High School, Present Day
Cast Size
small
Orchestra Size
Small
Dancing
Some Dance
Ideal For
College/University, High School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Late Teen, Young Adult, Adult Characters, Small Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Kim

Lead

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Eric

Lead

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass-Baritone

Rod

Supporting

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass-Baritone

Sue

Supporting

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Ms. Holly Carlson

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Audience Members

Ensemble

Either Gender

Non-singer

Drama Students

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass-Baritone

Songs

HOOKED ON HAPPINESS

THE WORLD’S ONLY WAIT-AND-SEE EMERGENCY

LOVE IN AN UNCERTAIN TIME

HOW HELLISH HOT DOES IT HAVE TO GET?

THE PROPER ATTITUDE IS GRATITUDE

CELEBRATION

HOW MUCH CAN YOU LOVE?

THE BIGGEST DEAL OF ALL

THE MOTHER EARTH BLUES

FAITH IN LIFE ON EARTH

WE ARE THE ANIMALS

GIVING UP MEAT TOUT DE SUITE

REVERE THE BIOSPHERE

PLANT A TREE FOR ME

RELIANCE ON SCIENCE

POOR LITTLE PLANET

THE BURNING QUESTION REPRISE

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher