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REALITY!
Music & lyrics by Lawrence Goldberg
Additional lyrics by Jack Lechner
Book by Bixby Elliot
Some time around 2002, Spencer Chandler, an actor I'd worked with on Songs of Paradise, came to me with a musical script draft by Bixby Elliot and asked me to write the score. The story cleverly lampooned the reality show craze, featuring a teenaged boy, Henry, who mistakenly believes he's been chosen to be on the ultimate reality show, "Reality!", which surreptitiously follows someone around for an entire day. Henry plays it up, suddenly viewing mundane daily events as reality show "challenges", and in the process emerges from his shell, finds his inner confidence, gets a girlfriend, gets a big head and loses his girlfriend, and ultimately learns the true meaning of reality (and wins back the girlfriend, naturally). The show referenced familiar touchstones from such popular reality programs as "American Idol", "Fear Factor", and "The Bachelor". In 2006 we had a reading at the Stamford Center for the Arts, but following that we ended up facing artistic differences and the project died. Spencer ended up taking the premise and writing his own material under the same title, geared for younger audiences. In hindsight, I think my writing was too sophisticated and mature-sounding for the milieu of junior high or high school kids (there was always some discrepancy among us as to how old these kids were supposed to be...). I am truly fortunate to have gotten such A-list singers for these demos-- the cast of The Drowsy Chaperone while it was trying out in Los Angeles.
(All material © 2002-2005 by Lawrence Goldberg, except "Reality!" © 2002 by Lawrence Goldberg & Jack Lechner)
Music & lyrics by Lawrence Goldberg
Additional lyrics by Jack Lechner
Book by Bixby Elliot
Some time around 2002, Spencer Chandler, an actor I'd worked with on Songs of Paradise, came to me with a musical script draft by Bixby Elliot and asked me to write the score. The story cleverly lampooned the reality show craze, featuring a teenaged boy, Henry, who mistakenly believes he's been chosen to be on the ultimate reality show, "Reality!", which surreptitiously follows someone around for an entire day. Henry plays it up, suddenly viewing mundane daily events as reality show "challenges", and in the process emerges from his shell, finds his inner confidence, gets a girlfriend, gets a big head and loses his girlfriend, and ultimately learns the true meaning of reality (and wins back the girlfriend, naturally). The show referenced familiar touchstones from such popular reality programs as "American Idol", "Fear Factor", and "The Bachelor". In 2006 we had a reading at the Stamford Center for the Arts, but following that we ended up facing artistic differences and the project died. Spencer ended up taking the premise and writing his own material under the same title, geared for younger audiences. In hindsight, I think my writing was too sophisticated and mature-sounding for the milieu of junior high or high school kids (there was always some discrepancy among us as to how old these kids were supposed to be...). I am truly fortunate to have gotten such A-list singers for these demos-- the cast of The Drowsy Chaperone while it was trying out in Los Angeles.
(All material © 2002-2005 by Lawrence Goldberg, except "Reality!" © 2002 by Lawrence Goldberg & Jack Lechner)
Reality! (Lyrics by Jack Lechner) Garth Kravits + Ensemble
I originally asked Jack Lechner to write the lyrics for the show, and we did write this opening number together. After that, Jack passed on the rest of the show, so I decided to write my own lyrics. |
I'm Gonna Be On TV Garth Kravits & Joey Sorge
Henry and his best friend Randy deduce from circumstantial evidence that Henry's been chosen to be on his favorite reality show. |
Something Good Garth Kravits
Although it makes for a very clunky lyric, Henry uncharacteristically wolfs down the "tofu oatmeal" served to him by his mom, believing it to be an "eating challenge" akin to those live maggots on "Fear Factor". And behold, our goof-off kid is on his way to higher achievement! |
I Never Noticed Sutton Foster
After Henry makes a dynamic presentation to his class (another "challenge"), Paula, the girl he secretly likes, suddenly takes notice of him. Here's the incomparable, multi-Tony-winning Sutton Foster singing my song! |
Upon the Wings of Ecstasy Garth Kravits
Henry auditions for the school talent show-- his "American Idol" moment. The song is meant to be a bit cliché, modeled after such self-insirational songs as "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "Theme from America's Greatest Hero". Unfortunately, I failed to realize that "ecstasy" has an entirely different meaning in contemporary culture, which makes this title unusable. I subsequently changed it to "happiness", but it's just not the same! |
What's the Deal With Henry? Alice Lynn, Jennifer Smith, Danny Burstein
Henry's mom, sister, and history and drama teachers notice that something's up with Henry. Danny Burstein is in full Simon Cowell mode here. |
Henry's Crisis Garth Kravits + Ensemble
Henry's growing egotism and cockiness ends up driving Paula away and causes the school principal to "fire" him from the student bake sale (a la "The Apprentice"). Having lost his friends but knowing he needs to keep it together for the cameras, Henry resolves (in classic "Rose's Turn" fashion) to rise above his setbacks through ego. |
I Never Noticed - Reprise Sutton Foster
Paula expresses her hurt feelings, lamenting that real life is never as romantic as it is on "The Bachelor". |
Keep It Real Joey Sorge & Garth Kravits
Henry is crestfallen to discover that his day was not being captured for television immortality, and he feels like a total loser. But Randy reminds him that all the good things he was able to achieve that day were accomplished by him in real life-- he just shouldn't have let it go to his head. And real life is the true "reality", not what you see on those TV shows. |
Finale Garth Kravits & Sutton Foster + Ensemble
Henry apologizes to Paula, and she discovers that sometimes real life IS as romantic as "The Bachelor". And everyone agrees it's better to "keep it real". |