ACT 1

                Shelter is a musical comedy about a small interior decorating company named Peachette Design, run by Miss Arlene Peachette, an assertive, extraverted woman determined to propel her firm to the next level. With her eclectic group of three young decorators, she enters a contest sponsored by Gentry Design Company, challenging local firms to renovate neighborhood homes, for a significant prize. (“We’re Designers/The Contest”). The aimless designers, Sherman, Corbin, and Lilly are unhappy about participating in this lame contest, but agree to meet with their colorful clients, leading to awkward relationships among them, (“My Nest”).

                Sherman’s client is Kerry Litton, a bipolar widow with a hoarding issue, and her son, Marcus, an idle teenager whose mission is to care for his mother. Corbin’s client is an older Mexican couple, the Guzmans, who are determined to alter their eccentric, iridescent home to be more modern and cozier. Lilly’s client is Maximillian Werner, who wants to transform his stark, sterile home in order to accommodate his petulant daughter, Kim, and her trendy style, (“I Wish”). Miss Peach has chosen her client for personal reasons, a Vietnam Vet, Walter Edwards, who is struggling with homelessness, (“Invisible”). Spoon is employed as the firm’s wacky assistant. Barry is their general contractor, who loves to quote Shakespeare - badly. An aristocratic competitor, Albert Cunningham III, taunts them, saying he will easily beat them in this competition, (“The Decorina”).

                As the remodels proceed, the personal insecurities of the designers emerge; Sherman’s dullness, Corbin’s loneliness, Lilly’s shyness, and Peach’s need for family. The clients become acutely involved in the designer’s personal lives. Spoon turns out to be insightful, (“If Life is Blue, Wear a Different Shoe”), changing the attitudes of his coworkers. He develops a gay relationship with Marcus, (“Mathematics is my Aphrodisiac”). Barry facilitates the remodeling for the firm, (“The Contractor”). Kim persuades Lilly to break out of her shell, (“You Gotta be Pretty”). Miss Peach pressures her staff to finish their projects, (“Open Concepts”), while revealing that Spoon is the actual owner of Peachette design.

ACT 2

                When they see how shocked everyone is, Spoon and Miss Peach try to explain, (“Lies and Secrets”). To add to their surprise, Miss Peach reveals she is transgender, (“Gender Flip”), and that Walter Edwards is her father. Barry bursts in to disclose that Albert has offered to buy all their clients’ homes in order to eliminate them from the contest. Meanwhile, Sherman has fallen in love with Kerry (“Wake up to Love”), Mrs. Guzman convinces Corbin to find his father (“Father Snapshots”), and Lilly is given a generous gift from Max to inspire her future, (“Tear Down These Walls”).

                Corbin finds out from his mother that Miss Peach is actually his father, Peter Edwards, sending him into a spiral. He confronts her angrily, but his coworkers encourage him to embrace his new family. The company works together to finish the final touches on all the homes, driven to beat Albert, (“Blocking Albert”). Miss Peach has a dinner for Walter and Corbin to connect the newly realized three generations, (“Gramps, Dad and Son”).

                Everyone meets for a viewing party to find out if they won (“My Nest”, reprise), but they do not. However, they all feel they have won in personal ways, made new and better relationships, and strengthened the firm by committing to providing shelter for those in need, (“Shelter”).

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CAST LIST

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ARLENE PEACHETTE (Peach):  Age 45. Self-confident, gregarious, entrepreneur of her own design company.   (Belt/Mix)

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CORBIN: Age 25. A cocky street-wise, ostentatious, biracial designer at Peachette’s firm. (Bari/Tenor)

 

SHERMAN: Age 38. A stodgy, conservative, decorator who wishes he was still working as an architect. (Lyric Baritone)

 

LILLY: Age 26. A timid, insecure decorator with a big heart, longing to open up. (Soprano/Mix)

 

SPOON: Age 19. A charismatic, exuberant, gay man. Intern at Peachette Designs. (Pop Tenor) 

 

BARRY: Age 50. The garrulous, easy-going building contractor for the firm. (Baritone)

 

ALBERT CUNNINGHAM II: Age 47. A pompous, elitist, self-centered competitor of Ms. Peach. (Baritone)

 

KERRY LITTON: Age 38. A widowed, devoted single mother, talkative, and a bit scattered. Sherman’s client. (Belt/Mix)

 

MARCUS LITTON: Age 20. Kerry’s intelligent, horny young son. A computer whiz. (Pop Tenor)

 

MAX WERNER: Age 40-45. A successful lawyer and dedicated father. Lilly’s client. (Lyric Baritone)

 

KIM WERNER: Age 17. Max’s perky, social media obsessed daughter. (Belt/Mix)

 

TONY GUZMAN: Age 60s. Mexican-American, proud husband and father. Corbin’s client. (Baritone)

 

TONIA GUZMAN: Age 60s. Tony’s wife. Still yearning for the old-fashioned ways of her home country. Loves her family. (Belt/Mix)

 

WALTER EDWARDS: Age 65. A gruff, damaged, Iraqi War Veteran. Ms. Peach’s client. (Baritone)

 

ENSEMBLE: 3 male, 3 female

Shannon: Marketing Director, Gentry magazine.                     Shoe shop sales and customers (3M,3F).

Parson: CEO of Gentry Magazine.                                             Gentry’s Salespeople (2M, 2F).

Walter’s neighbor.                                                                        Barry’s Construction crew (2M, 2F).

Mr. Luggerton: Walter’s landlord.                                               Albert’s crew (2M, 2F).

Veterans’ Affairs lady.                                                                   Home Depot sales and customers (3M, 3F)

Corbin’s Mom.                                                                               Waiters etc./ Finale (3M, 3F).

Homeless people. (2M, 3F)