Synopsis

ACT 1

            This musical drama is set in present-day Freehold, N.J., where fourteen sociology-major students are at a party, debating, “Why are we still governed by Baby Boomers and the remarkably old?”. Realizing they need to do a project about the Boomers, one student, John III, reveals he has his grandfather’s journal (excerpts of which are read throughout the show), starting in 1951 and ending in 2003. He suggests they read it to obtain real insights about the lives of the Baby Boomers. The scene morphs into 1951, as the students enact scenes from the experiences in Granddad’s journal. The show’s score will evoke the music of the various time periods, accompanied by projections that will indicate the year and the ages of the Boomers as the show progresses.

            Three white couples (the lead Boomers’ parents) embodying the attitudes of the “Silent Generation”, (“Made in America”), are interrupted by a group of Baby Boomers who are now twelve years old, (“78 Million Strong”), forcing their parents to retreat. These Boomer kids, featuring Melanie, Bobby, and John, then segue into a classroom, where their Social Studies teacher introduces a new Black student, Isaac, bused in to comply with new integration laws. They welcome him and introduce him to the government mandated “Duck and Cover” nuclear drill, (“Duck and Cover”).

            The four Boomers have antagonistic interactions with their parents about the social issues of 1965, (“Do They See Me?”). At sixteen they each branch out to explore personal agendas (feminism, racial prejudices, homosexuality, and working-class challenges), resulting in intimate secrets, (“I’ve Got a Secret”). They experiment with the temptations of drugs, (“Psychedelic Times”). In high school, Melanie and Isaac give reports about the current riots distressing the nation, (“I Read the News Today”). Bobby and his boyfriend, Chip, attend a Gay Pride rally, only to be accosted by bigoted protestors, (“Dare I Dream”). John has an uneasy encounter with a wheelchair-bound Vietnam Vet, and Isaac brings Melanie home to meet his anti-white mother, (“Why Should it Matter?”) They all attend Woodstock, (“Woodstock City”). John and Isaac receive their draft cards, (“I Got my Card Today”), and are sent to the trenches of Vietnam, (“Is God Dead?”), where one of them is killed.

ACT 2

At Isaac’s funeral, (“Rest in Peace”), he watches as his friends read his last letter written in the Vietnam trenches, (“Last Letter”). Bobby helps Melanie cope with the stress of juggling grad school, and being the mother to Isaac’s baby son, Tyler. They confront John about his rushed wedding and his PTSD drug addiction.

            Chip coaxes Bobby to a discotheque, where they witness John with a cocaine dealer, (“Disco Street”). Melanie confronts her Childcare Center for not allowing her biracial son (age 4) to attend, (“My Boy”). The Boomers, their kids and parents, have a Thanksgiving event where Mtv and financial attitudes cause a rift, (“Video Star”, “Save It! Spend It!”). Chip ends up dying of AIDS in hospital where Bobby has become a doctor, (“The New Plague”). Tyler (age 16) is harassed by the police. The Millennial kids complain about The Boomers anti-aging issues, (“Grow Up”).

            The Columbine tragedy triggers John’s indignation about his generation’s inability to complete their crusade, (“Boomer Realization”).  He appeals to the Gen Zers, to pick up the torch, (“Loud!”), as the show returns to the present day students.

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BORN BABY BOOMERS

CAST LIST

All cast members are Gen Z college students, around 20 years old, who take on the following roles:

(Student numbers as shown)

#1.   MELANIE, de facto leader of the group, ambitious, concerned about the feminist social issues of the times, white female, ages from 12 to 52.

#2.   BOBBY, smart aleck, coming to terms with his sexuality, and religious issues of the times, white male, ages from 12-52.

#3.   ISAAC, idealistic, socially conscious, coming to grips with his racial identity, black male, ages from 12-20 (also plays Mtv video star).

#4.   JOHN, cocky, covers his insecurities with macho bravado, the soul of the group, white male, ages from 12-52. (also plays JOHN III)

ENSEMBLE:

#5.   CHIP, Dad #2, white male, ages 16-32.

#6.   TYLER, Black Panther Leader, mixed race male, ages 4-30.

#7.   Isaac’s Mom and Grandma, black female, ages 20-55.

#8.   Elementary School Kid, Thug, Protestor, Frank, John Jr., white male, ages 11-25.

#9.   Mom #2 (John’s Mom), Protestor, Shalyn, white female, ages 12-45.

#10.  Elementary School Kid, Protestor, Jenny, Brittany, white female, ages 12-26.

#11.  Dad #3 (Melanie’s Dad), High School Teacher, Thug, Protestor, white male, ages 25-40

#12.  Mom #3 (Melanie’s Mom), Childcare Owner, white female, ages 25-35.

#13.  Dad #1 (John’s Dad), Record Store Owner, Protestor, Thor, white male,

ages 25-35.

#14.  Mom #1 (Bobby’s Mom), Elementary School Teacher, Women’s Lib Lecturer, Drug Dealer, white female, ages 25-35.