FROM MY HOMETOWN
Conceived by Lee Summers
Co-written by Lee Summers, Ty Stephens and Herbert Rawlings, Jr.
show details
Cast Size: 3 (3m)
www.frommyhometown.net
synopsis
Circa 1980: Inspired by classic rhythm and blues artists like Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, the Stylistics and Otis Redding, three young soul singers head for the Big Apple to fulfill their dreams of headlining at the Apollo Theater.
The three characters are simply named for their Rhythm and Blues producing hometowns: “Philly,” “Memphis” and “Detroit.” Each is leaving behind a life of poverty and a hometown sweetheart.
From the start, From My Hometown’s humor, precision harmonies and exciting choreography explode against the drop of the New York City of 1980. Propelling each character is the embodiment of an arsenal of hometown hits -- nostalgic tunes of competition, such as: Jackie Wilson’s, “Lonely Teardrops,” Otis Redding’s “Sitting On The Dock Of the Bay,” and Sam Cooke’s, “Chaingang.” Their solo stories surface intermingled with the music of: “Sam and Dave,” “Al Green,” “Rufus Thomas” and “The Spinners.”
In a series of new-to-New York coincidences, we experience the laughter, fears, fights, separations, broken hearts, poverty, humiliation, romances, rejections, and hopes of Philly, Memphis and Detroit -- three show biz dreamers. Collectively, they are impacted as years pass and the world around them changes. Past, present and future interplay, challenging them to unify as a group. For inspiration, they joyfully relive classic Rhythm & Blues by the great three man groups that came before them, ala “The Impressions,” “The Chilites,” “The Ojays,” and “The Isely Brothers.” By overcoming odds and obstacles, a decade later, award-winning three man group “Unity” finally performs their own hit anthem, “I Want You To Stand By Me,” at the Apollo. They finale, a trip-down-memory-lane -- live-at-the-Apollo style. The audience leaves humming tunes old and new -- reminded no one’s singing solo; we are all part of a greater whole, with hopes of a happy ending.
quotes & reviews
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music clips
From My Hometown
(Music & Lyrics by L. Summers | sung by L. Summers, T. Stephens, & H. Rawlings, Jr.)
Wonderful World
(Music & Lyrics by S. Cook, L. Alder, H. Alpert | sung by Andre Garner)
I Want You to Stand By Me
(Music & Lyrics by L. Summers & T. Stephens | sung by L. Summers & Friends)