Shows H

HAPPY DAYS Musical in 2 Acts: book by Garry Marshall; music and lyrics by Paul Williams, based on the ABC TV series of the same name. Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam, Connecticut - 9 August, 2007 to 2 September, 2007 (season) SYNOPSIS The story concerns the kids' plans to save Arnold’s from demolition by hosting a dance contest and a wrestling match. STORY Act One It is 1959 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Richie Cunningham, on the precipice of a new decade, is about to graduate high school and go off to college. His friends and family meet at Arnold's malt shop, and, together, bid the audience welcome. Arnold breaks the bad news that a construction company has plans to turn his eponymous restaurant into a parking lot and something called a "mall". Arthur Fonzerelli AKA "Fonzie" vows to save the day, and that it will be a snap. The next morning, Laurie Beth comes over to Richie's house and tells how all the other girls are getting engaged before going to college, and she wants to know why she isn't. Richie brushes it off as he has Girl Talk #213 with Fonzie. This is interrupted when Ralph, Potsie, and Chachi come over. Chachi then informs everyone about Pinky Tuscadero coming into town to host the dance contest proposed to save Arnold's. After Fonzie leaves, the boys start their "Dial Tones" rehearsal. They talk about how much they don't know about girls, but rehearse anyway. Fonzie informs them that girls like "regular guys singing, not screaming like girls". Across town at the Leopard Lodge meeting, Howard suggests a wrestling match between the tough Malachi brothers, Fonzie's nemesis, and Fonzie. The Leopards promise Howard a plaque if he is able to talk Fonzie into the scheme, expecting it to bring a great deal of media coverage. Back at Arnold's the Dial Tones welcome Miss Tuscadero and she makes her grand entrance. As Arnold takes Pinky and her Pinkettes into the kitchen to go over their schedule, the Malachis make their entrance only to have their bike crashed into by Fonzie. Arnold closes up before trouble ensues. At this moment, Fonzie and Pinky see each other for the first time in years, rekindling some old feelings. As Chachi and Fonzie talk about girls, we hear about Fonzie's and Pinky's history, and Chachi asked Fonzie how to know when something is over and how to get to know a girl. Fonzie says "you've just gotta learn to listen with your heart". At the Cunningham home, Marion, after being rebuffed by Howard, ponders the plight of the 50s housewife. She is joined by Joanie who laments the curse of being a lovelorn 50s teen, for Joanie is in love with Chachi. We then go back to Arnold's for the dance contest. Fonzie enters and is greeted by Richie. Richie tries to talk Fonzie out of wrestling at the match due to his "weak" knee, but Fonzie will have none of it. He goes back in to Arnold's, where Pinky is giving Joanie boy advice and tells her that all she has to do to dance with Chachi is listen to the music. Pinky then asks Fonzie to slow it down on the jukebox and asks him to compete in the wrestling match. Everyone rejoices when he says yes. After Richie finds out that Fonzie promised Pinky he would wrestle anyway, he promises the Fonz that he will tell everyone about his weakness. Fonzie laments about how he is torn between being embarrassed or risking serious injury.

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