Based on the bizarre real-life story, Pregnancy Pact debuted August 30 at The Weston Playhouse in Vermont & will run until September 8. The story is original but inspired by Time magazine's 2008 news story about a surge of pregnancies at Gloucester High (MA). In the 2007-2008 school year, 17 girls got pregnant & allegedly had made a pact to do so (they denied the existence of a pact). Joe Calarco is directing with a book/lyrics by Gordon Leary & music by Julia Meinwald. It is being described as: "An entertaining and hard-hitting pop-rock musical about the realities of love, responsibility, and growing up in America, Pregnancy Pact tells the complex story of these young girls with a fresh voice that is at once realistic and captivating." [Playbill]
This production marks the world premiere having had 2 workshops (National Alliance for Musical Theatre Festival of New Musicals & Yale Institute for Music Theatre) and 2 concerts (Ars Nova: Uncharted & Weston Playhouse in 2011). It was developed in the Dramatists Guild Fellows Program & was Recipient of the Weston Playhouse 2011 New Musical Award. The longevity of the production process is a good indicator that the kinks have been ironed out & they are bringing their strongest game to the table.
I'm not sure how I feel about this musical. I love musicals based on real events & this specific story is universally intriguing & dramatic. There is potential for songs that are rich with emotion, infused with social commentary, & creatively concocted themes of childhood lost. However, this is an equally strong potential for the songs to make that easy slide from creative commentary to cheap exploitation. I love a good, campy comedy but I hope this piece brings more to the table than a few laughs.
P.S. The Pregnancy Pact was also made into a Lifetime movie.
(I'm not ashamed to admit I love Lifetime. Maybe The Lifetime Movie Musical trend will catch on...)
P.P.S. I graduated from Gordon College in Wenham, MA (about 20 minutes from Gloucester). I love that little town & it's a shame these weird girls are its' only claim to fame (besides A Perfect Storm). I'm hoping that the fact that this production is taking place in a state next-door to the scene of the drama will cause them to incorporate a heightened sense of respect towards the girls, their children, & this embarrassed community.
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