Characters
Hope- 14 year old, mentally ill, freshman in high school, confused about herself and the world around her.
Happiness- The emotion of happiness in Hope’s brain
Depression- Depression in Hope’s brain, gradually taking control.
Liz- Incredibly sweet member of the royals, cares about people and grades
Ally- Manipulative, jerk member of the royals
Bree- Leader of the royals, mentally unstable
Cynthia- A sweet girl that wants to be Hope’s friend. Despises the royals
John- Sweet, nerdy, Hope’s crush and Bree’s ex
Alice- John’s girlfriend. Possessive of her relationship.
Young Hope- Hope's younger self
Jaydin- Hope's Crush. Genderfluid
Original Production
The original production was done online through various mediums, through Skype and Soundcloud. It was done this way because the show largely revolves around social media, that Persephone felt it should be done with people online throughout the world.
Cast and Crew
Director… Persephone Litchfield
Assistant Director…Lillian Starling
Album Manager… Adele Levy
Hope Winter… Rose Messenger
Liz Smith… Madison Griego
Bree Flandel… Christine Kaufmann
Ally Colcone… Jane McCaffrey
Happiness… Emma Ashton
Depression… Gillian Snyder
Cynthia Budd... Madisyn Reeve
Alice Santiago...Malina “Lulu” Sanchez
John Wollons… Sophie Choo
Jaydin Pallet… Sophia Baker
Young Hope… Annie Porter
Song Order
All songs are bolded.
-For Forever
-Raise the Bar
-Royalty
-Jaydin
-He is Mine/I am His
-Dolled Up
-Maybe She’s Born With It
-Crumbling
-Numb
-AP Calculus
-My Turn
-Confrontation
-Fluent
-I’m Fine
-Grievances
-Are you Okay?
-Let the Girl Burn
-Me-just me/For Forever (Reprise)
Scene 1
Richland, Oregon. August 26th, 2015. HOPE stands center stage, grabbing her backpack. She stops. She looks at her feet and then out. She takes a deep breath.
Hope: I can't believe it. High school. I never thought I'd make it here. I've been looking forward to this day since...since 3rd grade!
YOUNG HOPE runs on stage. Excited. She begins to jump up and down as she sings.
Young Hope: One day, I'll be the girl who gets picked on, the kickball team, I don't get picked now.
Who cares, I'll be the girl in the new blue jeans or maybe pink ones. I guess I'll choose later
One day, I'll be the girl who's understood, finally understood
All the boys will want me, because I'll be 14, and that's practically an adult
Mom says that in high school, I'll blossom to a rose, whatever that means
One day, I'll be the girl who gets to play, till 10 pm on my DS
One day, I will get a pulitzer prize, I'll shine in the boys' eyes
Like I say I will
One day people won't be so cruel, and I'll have my own pool, to swim in when I please
And I'll have all this by high school
Can't wait till high school
Hope: For forever, I've waited for this day
And forever I've wished for it to be great
And forever, I will remember this day
For forever
I wonder what the people will look like
I wonder if they'll be like me
I wonder if the people are wondering
Just like me
Just like I've been
For forever
For forever
My mother has warned me
Lower your expectations or it won't be as lovely
But I know I know that
I won't be as lonely
Or as hurting
Like I've been
for forever
(Two people, HAPPINESS and DEPRESSION go to opposite sides of the stage, they stay there for the rest of the show, preferably on a platform.)
Happiness: Yes I wonder, if she'll be okay
And I wonder what will she do if it's not great
Depression has taken over, but now it's my time to shine
To show her she can be happy
For forever
Depression: High schools hell, everybody knows that
She doesn't stand a chance if I have a say
Happiness thinks she's got this is the bag
She'll have hell to pay
For forever
(The lights blackout, and the scene opens on Hope in a class, sitting behind her is CYNTHIA. CYNTHIA taps her on the shoulder)
Cynthia: Hey! Um- I don't know if you remember me but we were in Mr. Johnson's class last year, and I just thought you seemed a little lonely so I-
Hope: I remember you! Cynthia, right?
Cynthia: Yeah! That's me. (Cynthia laughs)
Hope: So how's your first day?
Cynthia: Good, great, actually. And yours?
Hope: A little less great than expected but not horrible.
Cynthia: Glad to hear it. Hey do you have a phone?
Hope: Yeah. 845-656-7689.
(CYNTHIA enters the number into her phone. The bell rings.)
Hope: Well, I should-
Cynthia: Yeah me too, see you around?
Hope: Definitely.
(They go their separate ways. Hope bumps into LIZ in the hall)
Liz: Oh sorry! I didn't mean to-oh hi! I'm Liz.
Hope: Hope.
Liz: I was just talking about you with Bree.
Hope: Bree Flandel?!
Liz: Yeah, duh. We were thinking you could hang with us after school?
Hope: With you? Is that some kind of joke. I'm nobody, and you're-I mean, queens of this school! Since like the 5th grade
Liz: We call ourselves the royals now. Re-branding.
Hope: Ahh, gotcha.
Liz: So are you in?
Hope: Yeah, of course I'm in.
Liz: Awesome! We'll meet you at 1134 Yadsten Boulevard right after school. Oh and bring a change of clothes.
Hope: Um! Of course! Yeah, cool! (calming down to seem cool) Yeah psshh whatever.
(LIZ exits and HOPE does a little dance, mouthing “OH MY GOD”. The scene switches to Bree’s living room. The royals, ALLY, BREE, and LIZ sit on a couch)
Bree: So...Haley, is it?
Hope: It’s Hope. Hope Winter.
Ally: Cool.
Liz: I think you’d make a great addition to the royals.
Ally: I disagree.
Bree: And why is that?
(ALLY gets flustered)
Ally: Nevermind.
The (Almost) True Story of Hope Winter (A Musical) Page 1
