Originally produced in 2000, and revived 4 times after, “Next Time” just may be the most representative of my musicals. By that, I mean, the show has just about everything; a great plot, super songs, wit, humor, and a message that I actually followed.
The idea came from the actual members of the 8th grade class. After speaking with other faculty members, it became apparent that tis class was not into taking risks. So, I wrote a musical about a young person who has a chance to make it big, but is concerned about what might happen. I then had the kids choose which part they would like. Nobody chose the big singing parts. I then cast students into parts they didn’t want. It proved to be a genius move.
I needed a setting that accomplished two goals; first, it had to be set in a place where young men would feel comfortable together. I never have written gender specific roles, but the fact remains that I was working with a class of boys, so. The second goal was a setting where singing is not only welcome, but expected. Thus, the setting of Mills’ and Sons’ Landstowne Barbershop, the town selected randomly from dropping a pencil on a road atlas. The opening song, based clearly on the them from “Cheers” is so much fun!
A note before I go into the plot. I forget who said it, but at that moment in my creative career, I wasn’t producing plays, I was producing revisions. “Next Time” includes more songs, added and subtracted, than any other show I’ve written! Part of the reason is that a central component of “Next Time” is singing! So there is a lot of it.
Sherlock (a little bit of a hair joke there) works at a barber shop, sweeping up and stuff. The shop is operated by Billy Mills ( a Mills Brothers reference) and quite possibly, the worst barber in the city. A poster goes up announcing a vocal group competition sponsored by a big chain if hair salons called Qute Cutz. QC sponsors a touring group, L’rg’r Th’n L’f, who always win these competitions. There are a group of teens (Fourtune) associated with the barbershop who sing, but are intimidated by the contest. Then, the group’s lead singer quits, but guess who can sing?…Sherlock! Ah, but Sherlock lacks confidence, things could go wrong, maybe I’ll just wait for next time.
Billy, the owner, then shares his own story. In the 80’s, Billy and his brother Denny (Beach Boy references) had a vocal group (The Earth-tones) that had a hit with an awesome song (8-Track Love). However, their dad got sick, and one of them had to run the barbershop. Billy wrote the song, Denny sang it, so Billy gave up his career to honor his dad. There has never been a “next time” for Billy. So his advice for Sherlock is pretty clear.
Now, over the years, the plot has changed. In the original, Sherlock (back then “Brian”) decides to give it a try, as does Sherlock. And then…plot twist! The manager of L’rg’r Th’n L’f is Billy’s brother, Denny, the very one who is Billy’s brother. They meet, and while Denny seems to like what managing a boy band, there is something missing.
In earlier versions there was a song called “Where’s Brian?” The song, based on a jazz progression, is super tricky and I decided to leave it out of the show, but, I really am proud of it.
Ok, so it all sets up for the “competition” that is always won by L’rg’r Th’n L’f (because they are sponsored by Qute Cutz). So here comes the most fun I’ve ever had as a songwriter…writing songs for a vocal competition. The first group in the competition was made up of a group of choir songers from our school. The song “Mullet Man” has remained one of the most popular songs I have ever written. I still remember laughing out loud when I wrote it. Now, the second song, performed by a secret group of faculty members, it has the awesome title of “Now That I’m Humble, I’m Perfect.” L’rg’r Th’n L’F” then steps in with “It’s All About the Hair.” It’s pretty funny. In the original production, Four-tune sings a song called “The Darkest Night”, inspired by a version of “Sukiyaki” by the group 4.P.M, but then I replaced it with “This Time.”
Back at the barbershop Billy and Denny come clean. Yes, Billy always wanted to be a songwriter (he wrote 8-Track Love and Next Time), and yes, Denny always wanted to run a barbershop. Four-tune wins, but, wait, Sherlock has one love in life, cutting hair. So, there it is. Billy is a songwriter, Denny owns a barbershop, Sherlock is doing what he loves, and the group moves on.
One more note: I added a song “When You Sing” to the opening scene. I wanted to honor “a capella” singing and could think of no better way than to channel Billy Joel’s “For The Longest Time.”
Enjoy! Comments are always welcome.
THE SONGS:
Sean Breen 