Dear Edwina is a musical by Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler. A children's one-hour musical, it concerns a young girl who gives her neighborhood friends and family advice through singing in a musical show. It is set in the town of Paw Paw, Michigan. A 'Junior' version for younger children cuts the songs Seamus and RSVP.
Production history
The musical was written in the 1990s during a BMI Workshop. With no productions, it was finally licensed in 1998 to amateur groups, and has since been performed in schools. In July 2006, the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, New York City, produced Dear Edwina as a special benefit for three performances, directed by Jen Bender and featuring Kate Wetherhead as Edwina. Dear Edwina premiered Off-Broadway at the DR2 Theatre, opening November 14, 2008 through April 19, 2009. Directed by Timothy McDonald with choreography by Steven G. Kennedy, the cast featured Janice Mays as Edwina. The production was part of the DR2 Kids series. This production received two 2009 Drama Desk Award nominations, for Outstanding Music and Outstanding Lyrics. A return engagement ran at the DR2 Theatre from December 11, 2009 to February 15, 2010. Directed by Timothy McDonald with choreography by Steven Kennedy, the cast featured Ephie Aardema as Edwina. The musical played a third holiday season run at the DR2 Theatre from December 17, 2010 to February 25, 2011. Again directed by Timothy McDonald and with Steven G. Kennedy's choreography, this cast featured Counrtney Ann Sanderson as Edwina.
Synopsis
Thirteen-year-old Edwina Spoonapple has very talented siblings. But because of this, she thinks that she isn't special or talented. Yet Edwina has many talents including leadership, singing and advising, and she combines all of them by directing a weekly mini-musical out of her garage. The topic of these musicals is letters written to her by neighborhood kids who need advice. She gives them advice through songs and dances that she orchestrates with her friends. One of the main themes of Dear Edwina is Edwina's desire to be in the "Advice-a-palooza" festival because she feels it will prove that she is as talented as her siblings. This is all going on while Edwina's love interest, Scott, is trying to win her over. But, since Edwina is so concerned about her show, she doesn't care about Scott. Scott wins her heart by singing her a seductive love ballad as an impromptu performance on the show. The talent scout calls, and asks for Scott to perform at the festival, not Edwina. She is heartbroken when she runs into Katie Spoonapple, who has just run away from the Summer Math Olympics because she was getting made fun of by the other girls. She tells Katie not to listen to those kids, and to do what you love to do. Katie hugs her, and Edwina realizes that love is far more important than getting a prize.
Characters
Source: MTI
Edwina Spoonapple - A 13-year-old girl who wants proof of her accomplishments, just like her siblings. She leads the "Dear Edwina Show".
Becky de Vechio - An enthusiastic cheerleader and best friend of Edwina's.
Scott Kunkle - A neighbor of Edwina who is in love with her.
Kelli Poshkonozovich - A "prima" ballerina from Miss Sandy's YMCA class and Edwina's neighbor. She is also a good friend of Edwina.
Bobby Newsome - Edwina's friendly new next-door-neighbor.
Lars, Billy, & Cordell - The Vanderplook triplets who live in Edwina's neighborhood.
Annie Smith Meenahan Johnson - A Girl Scout & Edwina's friend. She is in love with Lars.
Vladimir - The scary, Dracula-like uncle of Edwina.
Frank - A rude & sarcastic kid.
Lola Nonone - A shy girl from Peru visiting her cousin in Honolulu
Harry Petitt - Lola's cousin and the reason she left Peru.
Seamus- a Scottish boy who wants to know what this word R.S.V.P means who writes to Edwina.
Aphrodite/Hephaestus Swenson - a young girl who writes to Edwina about her picky brother.
Chef Ludmila - A chef who does not know how to set a table
Katie Spoonapple - Edwina's youngest sister, a math whiz.
