HEAVENLY COUNTRY
A Jukebox Musical by Joel Russell
Music
Selections from the score may be listened to while opening the various other components in pdf.
Script
Download or open The Full Script in Adobe Reader.
Score
If you are interested in this work and would like to talk with the creators, please email your request to info@mainstreetmusicals.org. Please include: Name of Show, Your Name, Name of Your Company or School. Thank you.
Musical comedy featuring 21 famous songs in the Country and Gospel musical genres
Cast: 6 total, 3 men, 3 women Set: Courtyard in front of an apartment building
Running Time: 120 minutes, including 15-minute intermission
Plot: Boy meets girl, they fall in love, but boy has a drinking problem. Through their love and faith, he overcomes his addiction and they get married.
Synopsis
Nemo would like to think of himself as a modern-day cowboy. Actually, he’s a moving company employee originally from Minneapolis who sings country karaoke with his Boss and a co-worker, a wiry woman named Danny.
The morning after a bar performance Nemo meets Lily, a country lady who has hired the crew to move herself and her fragile mother into an apartment. Nemo immediately recognizes Lily as a tutor who can make him an authentic cowboy, but she would rather turn him into a Southern gentleman.
For Nehemiah Slavikoslowski (“Nemo”), drinking figures prominently in a cowboy’s appeal – a natural fit with his lifestyle. Lily, who lived through her father’s alcoholism, will have none of it. She enlists her church friends Pastor James and his wife Sister Ruth to try to save Nemo from his demons.
Nemo and Lily feel a mutual attraction, and he respects her steadying Christian faith, but he sees no reason to give in to her silly whims. As the successful move ends, Nemo and Danny pop the cork too early and the final haul – which involves a valuable heirloom lamp – ends with a crate full of shattered glass when a tipsy Nemo loses his balance and drops it.
Months later, in the aftermath of her mother’s funeral, Lily feels ready to begin a new chapter in her life. Meanwhile, Nemo ran away following his humiliation and hits “rock bottom.” He experiences a spiritual rebirth and returns to make amends for his failings – and hopefully build a new life with Lily.
The couple reconcile and set a wedding date. But old habits die hard, and Danny is not keen on losing her favorite drinking buddy. On the day of the ceremony, she argues that a celebration deserves champagne and a “real cowboy” should share it heartily with his friends. But Nemo hands her back the bottle and invites her the wedding – minus the booze.
At the altar, Lily hesitates. Nemo persuades her with an old Country love song, and the newlyweds finally kiss and waltz to the lyrics “Could I Have This Dance for the Rest of My Life?”
Notes
To save the script to your computer click with the right mouse button. A small menu should appear select "save target as" or "save to your computer," or "save link as." The exact text may vary depending on your browser.
Heavenly Country
HEAVENLY COUNTRY
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Lily L’Amoreaux: Young woman. Optimistic, feminine. Devout Christian from the South.
Nehemiah “Nemo” Slavikozlowski: Young man. Energetic, eager to-please personality; alcoholic.
Albert “Boss” Ross: Older man who owns Ross Moving Co. Somewhat befuddled by life.
Danielle “Danny” Morris/Mrs. L’Amoreaux: Tough “urban cowgirl” tomboy. Alcoholic. She doubles in a brief cameo as Lily’s mother.
Pastor James Roberts: African-American clergyman with a frank and dignified demeanor.
Sister Ruth Roberts: African-American woman, wife of Pastor James and director of the choir at the church. Intuitive, expressive, religious.
Notes
To save the script to your computer click with the right mouse button. A small menu should appear select "save target as" or "save to your computer," or "save link as." The exact text may vary depending on your browser.