Heather Has One Mommy And One Daddy
I'm here to babble on about a feel-good musical fairytale about friendship, tolerance, sacrifice, and the heterosexual love that dare not speak its name.
Wait, what?
Zanna, Don't!: A Musical Fairytale opened at the John Houseman Theate in March 2003, starring Jai Rodriguez (the guy from Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, apparently...yes, I do actually know him better as Zanna and as RENT's Angel) as Zanna, a teenage boy who lives to matchmake his friends and make them happy, while ignoring his own lovelife.
The show takes place over the course of a school year at Heartsville High School, in Heartsville, USA, once upon a time. It's a fairytale world, where one of Zanna's best friends is a bird named Cindy who helps with his matchmaking attempts, he regularly uses magic to facilitate people falling in love with each other, and, oh yeah, homosexuality is the norm and heterosexuals are subject to heterophobia. Zanna just can't stand to see people unhappy or not in love, so with the help of Cindy and his DJ friend Tank, he arranges things so that everyone has the perfect chance to fall in love.
SPOILER WARNING...TURN BACK NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT A SYNOPSIS
As the show opens and the school year begins, Tank gets on the radio to provide some quick exposition: "girls grab your girls, guys grab your guys, and get on down to Lover's Lane, and if you don't have anyone to grab, I know one local matchmaker who won't stand for that...". He reminds all the listening students that Zanna is on the lookout for anyone who needs to fall in love ("Who's Got Extra Love?"). Zanna learns from Cindy that there's a new kid at school in Steve Bookman, a football player and the son of two military men. Deciding that Steve must be lonely, Zanna goes about setting him up with Mike Singer, the school chess champion.
"Until then, I don't think I knew what love was."
"You mean, you never...?"
"No. Being on the football team isn't like being on the chess team, you know. We're not the sex symbols you guys are."
Zanna's plot works, and the two boys find themselves falling for each other ("I Think We Got Love").
Meanwhile, Zanna is also busily setting up Kate Aspero, all-around overachiever, with Roberta, a part-time waitress. Kate is obsessed with success, and her love life has suffered as a result. Roberta hasn't wanted for girlfriends, but they all seem to cheat on her or dump her the next day, leaving her ready to give up on love entirely ("I Ain't Got Time"). Zanna, of course, can't stand for this and coaxes Roberta -- with the aid of a little magic -- into joining the Girls' Intramural Mechanical Bull-Riding Team to impress Kate ("Ride 'Em") and in the end the two girls get together for what looks to be a long and happy relationship.
Happy with a job well done, although a little regretful over his own lack of someone special -- and even Cindy is leaving him, migrating to Fort Lauderdale with her bird girlfriend -- Zanna settles down for the night ("Zanna's Song").
Soon afterwards, the kids get together to discuss the school musical. They decide to write an original show addressing the issue over whether heterosexuals should be allowed to serve in the military or not. Kate and Steve are cast as the romantic leads. The play includes the songs "Be A Man", which insists that only a man knows how to love another man, and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", wherein Kate and Steve's characters melodramatically fall in love with each other but are forced to hide it from the Army.
Over the course of rehearsing for the show, Kate and Steve fall in love with each other but vow to avoid each other and forget their love, afraid of coming out to their heterophobic town ("Don't Ask, Don't Tell (Reprise)".
Time passes.
Mike asks Steve to move in together after they graduate, but Steve begs him to slow down, trying to avoid commitment. Three adults advise the two boys to move fast, believing that love won't last unless you're willing to jump into without reservations ("Fast"). Steve runs off, leaving Mike behind to lament how they don't seem to know each other and how Steve has been avoiding him ("I Could Write Books"). Later, Zanna comes into the restaurant and reluctantly reveals that he's been falling in love with Steve, but is insistent that he won't break up Mike and Steve and is instead trying desperately to forget his feelings.
After being blown off by their significant others, Mike and Roberta hook up for a friendly night on the town, playfully suggesting that they should fall in love with each other ("Don't You Wish We Could Be In Love?"); Zanna, Kate, and Steve all join in on the song, reflecting on how everyone seems to be in love with the wrong person.
At the State Chess Finals, Steve and Kate try desperately to be perfect for their S.O.s. Steve promises to exchange varsity rings with Mike after the game, and Kate is overattentive to Roberta's every need. Mike is confused and hesitant in the final match, causing his new best friend Roberta to lead the crowd in a raucous, sexy cheer ("Whatcha Got?") which inspires Mike to win the tournament. Unfortunately, in the resulting celebration, Kate and Steve make the mistake of kissing each other.
Controversy, naturally erupts.
Mike, Steve, Kate, and Roberta are all devastated by these developments ("Do You Know What It's Like?"). Mike and Roberta are heartbroken. Kate and Steve find themselves shunned and mistreated by the rest of the town, and in the end decide to run away, asking Zanna for help. Desperate and confused, Zanna seeks out and finds a spell that promises to make the world safe for heterosexuals, although with the likely side effects of the loss of his own powers and taste and style. Giving everything up, including any chance of Steve returning his feelings, Zanna casts the spell ("'Tis A Far, Far Better Thing I Do/Blow Winds").
The spell works. Kate and Steve are accepted. They're even King and Queen of the prom ("Straight to Heaven"). But when Zanna runs into the dance, he discovers that the spell has had certain side effects: such as, heterosexuality is now the norm, Roberta and Mike are now a couple, no one remembers the original world of magic, and his friends all ostracize him for being gay. Our poor hero, who is after all a people-person at the core, is heartbroken ("Someday You Might Love Me"). His friends hear him, realize that sexuality doesn't matter, and rejoin him, singing a reprise of "Straight To Heaven" -- giving us some completely awesome lines:
STEVE:"Come on...Guys, grab a girl, girls, grab a guy, Girls, grab a girl, and guys, grab a guy."
KATE: "Just grab ahold of somebody, whatever feels right."
MIKE: "And join the army of love, we're goin' dancin' tonight."
ROBERTA: "We can't afford to leave anyone outta the game."
TANK: "Love who you are, and someone else might do the same."
ALL: "And tonight we just might go - straight -- right to heaven."
Zanna chooses to leave the party early to think things over. He drops a shoe on the way home...
...and Tank rushes to return it to him. The DJ shyly tells Zanna that he thought he'd be alone his whole life because he thought his feelings were wrong, but Zanna's courage that night gave him the strength to come out. He confesses his love of Zanna and asks if there's a chance that they might get together ("Sometime, Do You Think We Could Fall In Love?") Zanna, startled to realize that he has feelings for Tank as well but had just never noticed, accepts.
And a happy ending is had by all!
SPOILERS END HERE
It's enough of a sugar overload to kill a diabetic, but it's also adorable, snuggly, and has a great message without being preachy about it. The music is upbeat and poppy and clever, and I swear to you "Sometime, Do You Think We Could Fall In Love?" is one of my favorite love songs ever. The slash is canon, the characters are all lovely and sympathetic, and there's magic! and helpful birds! and love triangles!
Why is there no fandom!
Trust me, I've looked. There's an LJ comm -- zanna_dont -- that's pretty much entirely dead. And as much as I've hunted, I can't seem to find icons, fic, squee, any of that stuff that normally accompanies fandom. WHY.
Is anyone out there familiar with this musical? Willing to become familiar? The cast recording has been released and is available through iTunes as well as any place that sells cast albums, and the official site is at zannadont.com. And there are rumors that the show will be premiering on Broadway sometime in the near future.
And, hey! There are clips!
A rehearsal of "I Think We Got Love". Mike and Steve confess their budding feelings for each other.
A rehearsal of "I Could Write Books". Mike contemplates how much he and Steve don't know about each other.
A rehearsal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell (Reprise)". Steve and Kate start falling in love and vow not to give in to it.
Wait, what?
Zanna, Don't!: A Musical Fairytale opened at the John Houseman Theate in March 2003, starring Jai Rodriguez (the guy from Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, apparently...yes, I do actually know him better as Zanna and as RENT's Angel) as Zanna, a teenage boy who lives to matchmake his friends and make them happy, while ignoring his own lovelife.
The show takes place over the course of a school year at Heartsville High School, in Heartsville, USA, once upon a time. It's a fairytale world, where one of Zanna's best friends is a bird named Cindy who helps with his matchmaking attempts, he regularly uses magic to facilitate people falling in love with each other, and, oh yeah, homosexuality is the norm and heterosexuals are subject to heterophobia. Zanna just can't stand to see people unhappy or not in love, so with the help of Cindy and his DJ friend Tank, he arranges things so that everyone has the perfect chance to fall in love.
SPOILER WARNING...TURN BACK NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT A SYNOPSIS
As the show opens and the school year begins, Tank gets on the radio to provide some quick exposition: "girls grab your girls, guys grab your guys, and get on down to Lover's Lane, and if you don't have anyone to grab, I know one local matchmaker who won't stand for that...". He reminds all the listening students that Zanna is on the lookout for anyone who needs to fall in love ("Who's Got Extra Love?"). Zanna learns from Cindy that there's a new kid at school in Steve Bookman, a football player and the son of two military men. Deciding that Steve must be lonely, Zanna goes about setting him up with Mike Singer, the school chess champion.
"Until then, I don't think I knew what love was."
"You mean, you never...?"
"No. Being on the football team isn't like being on the chess team, you know. We're not the sex symbols you guys are."
Zanna's plot works, and the two boys find themselves falling for each other ("I Think We Got Love").
Meanwhile, Zanna is also busily setting up Kate Aspero, all-around overachiever, with Roberta, a part-time waitress. Kate is obsessed with success, and her love life has suffered as a result. Roberta hasn't wanted for girlfriends, but they all seem to cheat on her or dump her the next day, leaving her ready to give up on love entirely ("I Ain't Got Time"). Zanna, of course, can't stand for this and coaxes Roberta -- with the aid of a little magic -- into joining the Girls' Intramural Mechanical Bull-Riding Team to impress Kate ("Ride 'Em") and in the end the two girls get together for what looks to be a long and happy relationship.
Happy with a job well done, although a little regretful over his own lack of someone special -- and even Cindy is leaving him, migrating to Fort Lauderdale with her bird girlfriend -- Zanna settles down for the night ("Zanna's Song").
Soon afterwards, the kids get together to discuss the school musical. They decide to write an original show addressing the issue over whether heterosexuals should be allowed to serve in the military or not. Kate and Steve are cast as the romantic leads. The play includes the songs "Be A Man", which insists that only a man knows how to love another man, and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", wherein Kate and Steve's characters melodramatically fall in love with each other but are forced to hide it from the Army.
Over the course of rehearsing for the show, Kate and Steve fall in love with each other but vow to avoid each other and forget their love, afraid of coming out to their heterophobic town ("Don't Ask, Don't Tell (Reprise)".
Time passes.
Mike asks Steve to move in together after they graduate, but Steve begs him to slow down, trying to avoid commitment. Three adults advise the two boys to move fast, believing that love won't last unless you're willing to jump into without reservations ("Fast"). Steve runs off, leaving Mike behind to lament how they don't seem to know each other and how Steve has been avoiding him ("I Could Write Books"). Later, Zanna comes into the restaurant and reluctantly reveals that he's been falling in love with Steve, but is insistent that he won't break up Mike and Steve and is instead trying desperately to forget his feelings.
After being blown off by their significant others, Mike and Roberta hook up for a friendly night on the town, playfully suggesting that they should fall in love with each other ("Don't You Wish We Could Be In Love?"); Zanna, Kate, and Steve all join in on the song, reflecting on how everyone seems to be in love with the wrong person.
At the State Chess Finals, Steve and Kate try desperately to be perfect for their S.O.s. Steve promises to exchange varsity rings with Mike after the game, and Kate is overattentive to Roberta's every need. Mike is confused and hesitant in the final match, causing his new best friend Roberta to lead the crowd in a raucous, sexy cheer ("Whatcha Got?") which inspires Mike to win the tournament. Unfortunately, in the resulting celebration, Kate and Steve make the mistake of kissing each other.
Controversy, naturally erupts.
Mike, Steve, Kate, and Roberta are all devastated by these developments ("Do You Know What It's Like?"). Mike and Roberta are heartbroken. Kate and Steve find themselves shunned and mistreated by the rest of the town, and in the end decide to run away, asking Zanna for help. Desperate and confused, Zanna seeks out and finds a spell that promises to make the world safe for heterosexuals, although with the likely side effects of the loss of his own powers and taste and style. Giving everything up, including any chance of Steve returning his feelings, Zanna casts the spell ("'Tis A Far, Far Better Thing I Do/Blow Winds").
The spell works. Kate and Steve are accepted. They're even King and Queen of the prom ("Straight to Heaven"). But when Zanna runs into the dance, he discovers that the spell has had certain side effects: such as, heterosexuality is now the norm, Roberta and Mike are now a couple, no one remembers the original world of magic, and his friends all ostracize him for being gay. Our poor hero, who is after all a people-person at the core, is heartbroken ("Someday You Might Love Me"). His friends hear him, realize that sexuality doesn't matter, and rejoin him, singing a reprise of "Straight To Heaven" -- giving us some completely awesome lines:
STEVE:"Come on...Guys, grab a girl, girls, grab a guy, Girls, grab a girl, and guys, grab a guy."
KATE: "Just grab ahold of somebody, whatever feels right."
MIKE: "And join the army of love, we're goin' dancin' tonight."
ROBERTA: "We can't afford to leave anyone outta the game."
TANK: "Love who you are, and someone else might do the same."
ALL: "And tonight we just might go - straight -- right to heaven."
Zanna chooses to leave the party early to think things over. He drops a shoe on the way home...
...and Tank rushes to return it to him. The DJ shyly tells Zanna that he thought he'd be alone his whole life because he thought his feelings were wrong, but Zanna's courage that night gave him the strength to come out. He confesses his love of Zanna and asks if there's a chance that they might get together ("Sometime, Do You Think We Could Fall In Love?") Zanna, startled to realize that he has feelings for Tank as well but had just never noticed, accepts.
And a happy ending is had by all!
SPOILERS END HERE
It's enough of a sugar overload to kill a diabetic, but it's also adorable, snuggly, and has a great message without being preachy about it. The music is upbeat and poppy and clever, and I swear to you "Sometime, Do You Think We Could Fall In Love?" is one of my favorite love songs ever. The slash is canon, the characters are all lovely and sympathetic, and there's magic! and helpful birds! and love triangles!
Why is there no fandom!
Trust me, I've looked. There's an LJ comm -- zanna_dont -- that's pretty much entirely dead. And as much as I've hunted, I can't seem to find icons, fic, squee, any of that stuff that normally accompanies fandom. WHY.
Is anyone out there familiar with this musical? Willing to become familiar? The cast recording has been released and is available through iTunes as well as any place that sells cast albums, and the official site is at zannadont.com. And there are rumors that the show will be premiering on Broadway sometime in the near future.
And, hey! There are clips!
Click to viewA rehearsal of "I Think We Got Love". Mike and Steve confess their budding feelings for each other.
A rehearsal of "I Could Write Books". Mike contemplates how much he and Steve don't know about each other.
A rehearsal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell (Reprise)". Steve and Kate start falling in love and vow not to give in to it.