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HomeMy WebLinkAbout50 Anniversary Hometown USA Musical ScriptHOMETOWN USA A CELEBRATION OF THE WONDERFUL CITY OF EULESS WRITTEN BY: RIC LEAL The stage is set very simply. Only a backdrop is seen. The backdrop is designed and painted by a student from Trinity High School. In the center of the drop is the name of the city EULESS in bright bold letters. As the show begins the lights dim on the stage highlighting only the image of the birthday cake on the backdrop. The music begins. Lights up. THE BIRTHDAY SONG The cast enters singing the very end of "Happy Birthday" "... happy birthday to you!" (Applause and cheering) TAPE STOP At this point a young lady dressed as a very conservative schoolteacher begins to welcome everyone to the 50-year celebration of the city of Euless. As her welcome speech continues members of the cast bring out an oversized book with the name Euless printed on the cover. School Teacher: Hello. Heloo! Is this thing on? Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the 50-year celebration of the glorious city of Euless! I'm Miss Hattie Bell. Tonight, my students and I will be your guides down memory lane. In order to truly appreciate this great city, one must fully understand its beginnings and its history. Students, if you would bring out the history book... (Book is brought out on stage) Thank you! (Blows on book cover and dust flies... She opens the book... ) Perhaps the best place to start is in the 1840's and 1850's. TAPE START Obviously, things were very different from the hustle and bustle of today. Even though settling new land was a difficult thing to do, it was still a much simpler time... 2 (Voice fades out as she continues to read As she reads the ensemble begins to sing.) TAKE ME BACK This is where the simple pleasures grow. How it all began, I need to know. Relax, let go of pressure, close your eyes. Open your mind. Don't let your dreams get broken or shattered. Just let your thoughts and dreams take you away. You'll never feel insensitive and cold inside. I think it's time now. Open your eyes and dream away. I'm really ready, so take me back to yesterday. Chorus: Take me back. I wanna go back, there's never any pressure. Take me back I wanna go back there's a hope that's beyond measure. Take me where the pain won't find me. There is no pain. It's gonna be fun. The things you'll gain when we are done. Take me where true love can heal me. It's all about love and that's a fact. For the city I'm in. I wanna go back. As the music segues into an instrumental break the teacher details the early years. Taking the audience back 100 years. THE FIRST 100 YEARS School Teacher: In 1841 the first outpost in the area was established. Sam Houston's Bird's Fort Treaty with Native Americans made the first Anglo-American settlement possible. Take me back, to the memories. We're young and free, how it used to be. Take me back to the days of peace. There is no grief. I'm askin ' please. Take me back Show me the plan. Teach me to learn and understand. How this city first began. Take me back, I wanna go back. Take me back, I wanna go back Take me back, I wanna go back Take me back, I wanna go back Take me back, I wanna go back (Direct segue) THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES (A re -lyric of the classic television series theme song) Come listen to the story about our cityfair. And, how it came to be when nothin' else was there. Founded a new town in the Lone Star State. It's where were sittin' now. Ain't this country great! Spoken: So the folks all gathered together to decide, how to get this new town started. Well the first thing they had to do was pick the city's name. But everything they came up with sounded kinda lame. 'Tomas the hardest thing to figure on the new towns' to-do list. When into the room walked a man named Adam Euless. Spoken: Elisha Adam Euless that is. Namesake of our city fair. The ensemble burst out in dance celebrating the naming of the town. At the end of the dance they bring in a primitive sign painted, in cursive, on wood that reads: Welcome To "Enless", Texas. Population 56. Teacher: Now you may have noticed that our population sign indicates that the city was named "ENLESS". This will serve as a fine example of how good penmanship is so very important! In 1886 the post office was established in Euless, but erroneously named ENLESS probably through a mistake in reading the hand-written application. For people with poor penmanship, u's can easily be mistaken for n's and vice versa. The handwriting of our first post- master, Cyrus Snow, was probably to blame for this misunderstanding. The problem was not rectified until 1910! So just to clarify, the spelling of the city's name is: Big "E", Little "U' , "L", "E", Double "S"! (Direct Segue Into) BIG E! 4 (A re -lyric of the song Big D!) Howdy! Howdy! Howdy! Howdy! Howdy! Howdy! Howdy! Howdy! Well hush my puppies and fritter my corn. I'm a pea- pickin , side kickin ' son of an ole coyote, if you weren 't born in Big E! How 'd ya guess? By the way you drawl and the way you dress. You're from Big E. My, oh yes. I mean big "E", little "u", "L", "E" double "S". And that spells Euless. My darlin , darlin' Euless. Don't it give you pleasure to confess, That you from Euless? My, oh yes. I mean Big "E ", little "u ", "L ", "E ", double... Big "E ", little "u'; "L ", "E" double... Big 'E", little "u ", "L ", "E"I "S ". I'm a hounds' old carcass. I'm a can a cold beans. Should'a known you was Neiman Marcus by the cut of them tight and fancy jeans. Big E! How'd ya guess. By the way you drawl and the way you dress. You're from Big E! My, oh yes. I mean big "E ", little "u ", "L ", "E ", double... Big "E", little "u", "L", "E", double... """ Big "E , little "u ", "L , "E, double "S ". And that spells Euless. We know you might have guessed. No other cities greater, Euless is the best! School Teacher: In the mid- 1800's, the earliest settlers in the Euless area began to build a community. Pioneers such as Isham Crowley, Alexander Dobkins, Andrew Huitt, Lee Borah and Joseph Jones were the farmers and ranchers who first saw the great potential of the land. DEAR EULESS (A re -lyric of the classic television shows theme song from Green Acres) Dear Euless is the town for me. New land as far as I can see. A place to start and raise a family. Euless is the only place to be. Lets' build, Right here. Soil's tilled, Sky's clear. This is a place, We all can embrace. Dear Euless we are here! THE PEARS OF BOOM The 1950's BANDSTAND BOOGIE (Underscore) Speaker #1: The 50's were the boom years for the city of Euless, with rapid population growth and new sub -divisions being developed. Speaker #2: In 1950 the first mayor was elected in the city, which now boasted a population of about 250 inhabitants. Speaker #3: As to who the first mayor was, is still a mystery. Two brothers Warren and Homer Fuller were the first two 6 mayors, but who was actually the first depends on who you ask. Speaker #4: That same year the city incorporated in order to provide municipal water and other city amenities. Speaker #5: In 1951 the first volunteer fire department was organized, and the city was growing. Speaker #6: However, turmoil soon developed over taxation policies and a dis-incorporation election was called. Speaker #7: In 1953 the City was abolished and immediately re- incorporated as the Village of Euless. The stage was set for new growth and great change. Jailhouse Rock Warden threw a party in the county jail. The prison band was there and they began to wail. The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing. You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing. Chorus: Let's rock Oh, baby, let's rock. Everybody in the whole cell block Was dancin'to the jailhouse rock Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone. Little Joe was blowin' on the slide trombone. The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang! The whole rhythm section was the purple gang. (Repeat chorus) School Teacher: Jimmy Payton was the mayor of Euless from 1955 to `57 and recalled the time that Elvis Presley himself was rumored to have stayed at the Western Hills Inn. "I never did see him there, but it could possibly be true. We had a lot of people through there. And it was a really fine place, really." Things were definitely hoppin' ! At the Hop Ba... , at he hop! Well you can rock it, you can roll it, do the stomp and even stroll it at the hop. When the record starts a spinnin', you calypso when you chicken at the hop. Do the dance sensation that is sweepin' the nation at the hop. Let's go to the hop. (4x) Ah... Let's go to the hop. THE TUMULTUOS TIWS The 1960's At The Hop (Second verse) (Underscoring —not sung) Speaker # 1: In 1960 the Euless population reached 4,263. Speaker #2: The First Methodist Church built its new sanctuary. Speaker #3: ... and Euless was named the fastest growing city in Texas for 3 straight years. Speaker #4: In 1961 J. S. Anderson was elected mayor and the city established its first library. Speaker #5: In `64 a professional fire department was established and the first city bond election was held. Totaling $3 Million Dollars it included street and drainage improvements, new parks, a city hall and the first community center. F-TROOP (Underscoring) Speaker #6: In the late 60's trouble started brewing between Euless and its neighboring city, Bedford, when a petition was started to dissolve Bedford and merge it with Euless. Speaker #7: In 1967 the annexation was approved and was immediately rejected by Bedford. A third neighboring city, Hurst, observed from the sidelines as the two cities engaged in a battle over boundaries... Speaker #8: And in the words of retired schoolteacher and Euless historian, Weldon Cannon: Speaker #9: "There were some pretty serious battles between Euless and Bedford, I mean, now that was a knock down drag -out, back stabbing thing as each one was trying to annex the same land. It got pretty nasty between Bedford and Euless." (Direct Segue Into) H.E.B. (A re -lyric of the theme from The Brady Bunch) Here's the story Of three cities. Who were trying very hard to stand-alone. They were all infringing on each other's boundaries For each one just had no other place to grow. Till the one -day when they finally came together Just to try and put their restless minds at ease. They would come to grow and share the land forever: That's the way these three became the mid -cities. H.E.B. H.E.B. Euless, Bedford and Hurst The mid -cities! RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM School Teacher: After years of growing pains the city was ready to get back to basics. The years of turmoil were over and things were looking up. Chorus: (Lead always sung by Speaker #1) Ooh and it's all right and it's comin' on. We gotta get right back to where we started from. Love is good, love can be strong. We gotta get right back to where we started from. Dialogue introducing the 1970's occurs with underscoring of "Right Back Where We Started From" and segues into song performance at each chorus. Speaker #2: Tell us how things were changing as the new decade rolled in. School Teacher: The 1970's were looking up as Albert C. Krause was elected mayor on a bright sunny day. As Euless flew into the 70's, Trinity High School had opened and land prices soared in anticipation of building the new Dallas -Ft. Worth Airport. 9 Speaker # 1: Living in the bigger cities left many people burned out, building the population of this hometown suburb to 19,316 people. Business was booming and the Euless Industrial Park was created. Speaker #1: (Sung) Things were... Repeat Chorus Speaker #2: You know, I've always wondered about the people who loved the city enough to get things moving in a positive direction again. School Teacher: Well, in 1973 someone with a great love of the city was elected to the city council. Willie Mae McCormick served for twelve years starting in `73 and was the first woman ever elected to the city council. Speaker # 1: She loved advancing the causes of civil service, senior citizens and woman, actually getting a raise for a librarian by relentlessly bringing up her low salary at council meetings. School Teacher: Exasperated, someone finally said, "For goodness sake, give the gal a raise so we can do something else!" Speaker # 1: (Sung) Ooh and it's alright... Repeat chorus Speaker #2: O.K. Who else helped to get the city back on track? Speaker # 1: How about Harold Samuels and Gary McKamie. School Teacher: Alright, Harold Samuels was on the city council for five years before being elected Mayor in 1975. "I would like to say thanks to the citizens of Euless for allowing me to serve. Obviously I enjoyed it or I would not have stayed for twenty-five years. He served until 1993. Speaker #2: He really loves this city. Speaker # 1: Current deputy city manager Gary McKamie, who first came to work for the city in '73, said "Harmony... I would use that term to describe our city." 10 Speaker #2: Sounds great to me! Speaker # 1: (Sung) Things are... Repeat chorus (3x) UP, UP AND AWAY The 1970's School Teacher: The city was growing stronger than ever. A great place to live and work citizens now had a reason to get happy. COME ON GET HAPPY Hello world, here's a song that we're singin'. Come on, get happy. A whole lot of lovin' is what we'll be bringin'. We'll make you happy. We have a dream we go travl in ' together. We'll spread a little love and then we'll keep movin' on. Something always happens whenever we're together. We get a happy feel in ' when we're singin ' a song. Travlin' along there's a song that we're singin'. Come on, get happy. A whole lot of lovin' is what we'll be bringin'. We'll make you happy. We'll make you happy. We'll make you happy. I'M YOUR BOOGIE MAN I'm your boogieman, that's what I am. And I'm here to do whatever I can. Be it early mornin , or late afternoon. Or at midnight, it's never too soon. To wanna please you. To wanna keep you. To wanna do it all, all for you. 1 wanna be your, be your rubber ball. I wanna be the one you love most of all. Oh yeah. it Chorus: I'm your boogieman. I'm your boogieman. Turn me on. I'm your boogieman. I'm your boogieman. A -do what you want. (Repeat chorus) Speaker # 1: Things were really beginning to boogie in the late 70's for the city. Although the energy crisis had the entire country in a crunch, the city council had an abundance of energy. Gary McKamie, who started working for the city as a police dispatcher is a great example of how citizens felt about the city then and still feel today. School Teacher: "I came simply to work as I went to college and found that it was such a great place to live and work that I've spent the last thirty years here. It's been home for me and my family." Most families wouldn't have it any other way. IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU Don't know why I'm survivin' ever lonely day. When there's got to be no chance for me, my life would end. And it doesn't matter how 1 cry. My tears so far are a waste of time. If I turn away, am I strong enough to see it through? Go crazy, here's what I will do. Chorus: If I can't have you. I don't want nobody baby. If I can't have you. Oh, huh, oh. (Repeat chorus) NIGHT FEVER Listen to the ground there is movement all around. There is something goin' down and I can feel it. On the waves of the air there is dancin' out there. If it's somethin' we can share, we can steal it. 12 That sweet city woman, she moves through the night. Controllin' my mind and my soul. When you reach out for me and the feelin' is right. Then 1 get night fever, night fever. We know how to do it. Gimme the night fever, night fever. We know how to show it. A MODERN WORLD The 1980's Speaker # 1: By the 1980's the population was 24,002 and the Euless Town Center opened. Robert Nail who was the postmaster for the city since 1949 retired. Speaker #2: "When I became postmaster I was the only employee. But when I retired, I had twenty two city routes, one rural route and had sixty two employees." Speaker #3: The Beautify Euless Every Day Committee was formed and the city won the Governor's Keep Texas Beautiful Award. Euless had been built and things began to rock and roll. We Built This City Say you don't know me, or recognize my face. Say you don't care who lives in that kind of place. Tired of all the hustle, sinking in your fight, try moving to a place that sleeps at night. Founded on family values, other cities lost long ago. Don't you remember? Chorus: We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll. (Repeat Sx) R.O.C.K. In The U.S,A. They come from the cities and they come from the smaller towns, Beat up cars with guitars and drummers goin' crack, boom, bam. Chorus: RO.C.K. in the U.S.A. (Repeat 3x) Yeah, yeah. Rockin' in the U.S.A. Said goodbye to their families, said goodbye to their friends, with pipe dreams in their heads and very little money in their hands. 13 Some are black and some are white, ain't too proud to sleep on the floor tonight. With blindfaith you know that they just might be rockin' in the U.S.A. Speaker#1: (Shouted) Euless, U.S.A.M Repeat chorus Land of A Thousand Dances Alright! Uh! You gotta know how to pony. Like Bony Maronie. Mashed potato. Do the alligator. Put your hands on your hips. Let your backbone slip. Do the Watusi Like my little Lucy. Uh! Na, na na na na... RO.C.K. in the U.S.A. (Repeat 4x) Rock! THE NEW HOMETOWN U.S.A. The 1990's to The Present Rhythm Nation (Underscore) Speaker #1: Moving into the 1990's the annual Arbor Daze Celebration began and the city experienced great new growth. Speaker #2: The population had reached 38,149 and the widening of Euless Blvd. was started Speaker #3: In 1992 the Euless Historical Preservation Committee was established to preserve historical documents and promote city history. Speaker #4: In 1998 the historic Fuller House Museum was opened to the public. 14 Speaker #5: By the year 2000, Euless had a population of 48,005 people and the city moved into the new millennium. (Sang) People of the world unite. Reunite us we can get it right, that's right. We are apart of a rhythm nation. Oops ... I Did It Again Speaker #1: The city's growth was unstoppable as a new library, police station complex, The Texas Star Conference and Golf Course and the Star Center Softball Fields were built. I think I did it again. I made you believe we're more than justfriends. Oh baby, it might seem like a crush. But it doesn't mean that I'm serious. `Cause to loose all my senses. That is just so typically me. Oh baby, baby. Oops!... I did it again. I played with your heart, got lost in the game. Oh baby, baby Oops!... you think I'm in love. That I'm sent from above. I'm not that innocent. Independent Woman Child of destiny, Independent woman. No one else takes care of me, Charlie's Angels. Speaker #2: The city added its new Parks facility and Greenhouse in the 90's along with the completion of the Fleet Building and the opening of The Midway Recreation Center. Survivor 15 Speaker #3; The first amphitheater and nature trail were developed with the Villages of Bear Creek as well as the Wilshire Pond and old was made new again with the renovation of the old Police Station for the Fire Dept. Chorus: I'm a survivor, I'm not gon' give up. I'm not gon ' stop. I'm gon ' work harder. I'm a survivor, I'm gonna make it. I will survive and keep on survivin'. Thought I couldn't breathe without you, I'm inhalin You thought I couldn't see without you, perfect vision. You thought 1 couldn't last without you, but I'm lastin'. You thought that I would die without you, but I'm livin'. Thought that I would fail without you, but I'm on top. Thought it would be over by now, but it won't stop. Thought that 1 would self-destruct, but I'm still here. Even in my years to come I'm still gon' be here. (Repeat chorus) Genie In A Bottle Feels like I've been locked up tight, For a century of lonely nights. Waitin' for someone to release me. You're lickin' your lips and blowin, kisses my way. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna give it away. Baby, baby, baby. Oh... (I wont be sayin' let's go) Oh... (but my heart's sayin' no) If you want to be with me Baby there's a price to pay. I'm a genie in a bottle you gotta rub me the right way. If you want to be with me I can make your wish come true. Just come and set me free, Baby and I'll be with you. I'm a genie in a bottle baby. Come, come, come on and let me out. Pop 16 I'm sick and tired of hearing all these people talk about. What's the deal with this pop life and when is it gonna fade out. The thing you've got to realize, what we're doin' is not a trend. We got the gift of melody. We're gonna bring it to the end. Come on now. It doesn't matter. 'bout the car I drive, what I wear around my neck. All that matters. Is that you recognize that it's just about respect. It doesn 't matter. `bout the clothes 1 wear and where 1 go and why. All that matters. Is that you get hyped and we'll do it to you every time. Come on now. Chorus: Did you ever wonder why this gets you high? It takes you for a ride. Feel it when your body starts to rock Baby you can't stop and the music's all you got. This must be... pop! Dance Break Speaker #4: The nineties saw a great wealth of change and growth in the City of Euless. The arbor Daze Celebration that began as a lawn and garden show with a vintage car show that lasted from noon to five, has turned into the huge weekend of entertainment that it is today. What began with The Kitchen Band playing on the back of a flatbed truck has turned into Mega -star concerts with giant headline bands. (Repeat chorus 2x) The scene is back to the beginning of the show. The teacher returns to finish the book, bringing the Euless Honor Choir onto the stage and surrounding area. TAPE STOP School Teacher: Today we should all be very proud to live in this great city of Euless. A city that has gone from 250 citizens in the 1950 to more than 50,000 today. 17 TAPE START What began as a remote outpost has developed into a great place to live... the New Hometown USA. Let's take a moment to recognize some of our distinguished leaders who have been instrumental in shaping the destiny of this great city. Ladies and Gentlemen: Mayor . 19 to 19 (However many there are (The teacher introduces the mayors noting years in office. As each mayor is named he/she enters and is escorted to a place of honor among the Choir) In the words of Mayor Mary Lib Saleh: "I have lived in the city of Euless for thirty -.eight years. And I've watched the city grow, change and become the wonderful place that it is today." Speaker # 1: "And if I would have to say what I am proudest of I would tell you it's you. The volunteers ... whenever we put on an Arbor Daze celebration, it takes about four or five hundred volunteers." Speaker #2: "That's what makes Euless the friendly city that it is. That's what makes the members of the city council proud of our citizens and proud to serve." School Teacher: Ladies and Gentlemen, our current mayor — the honorable Mary Lib Saleh. (Enters and is also escorted to a position among the Choir.) The current and former mayors of the great City of Euless! Visionary leaders and great American patriots. FINALE- AN AMERICAN CELEBRATION America The Beautiful Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain. For purple mountain majesty's, above the fruited plain. America, America God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shinning sea. 18 Golden Dream Chorus: America, spread your golden wings, sail on freedom's wind across the sky. Great bird with your golden dreams flying high, flying high. Restless one in a world of change keeping dreams aloft in the rain. Spirit free, sailing through the clouds of time, of time. America you must keep dreaming now. Keeping the promise now of you pioneers. America, keep on flying now, keep your spirit free facing new frontiers. Repeat Chorus (Honor choir sings with entire Company) Battle Hymn Of The Republic Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord. He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored. He hath loosed the faithful lightning of his terrible swift sword. His truth is marching on. Chorus: Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on. Repeat chorus Amen! BANDSTAND BOOGIE (BOWS) JAILHOUSE ROCK AT THE HOP (EXIT MUSIC) 1141wo►1�71 June 26, 2003 Mayor Saleh, I am so very sorry it has taken so very long for me to forward the show cd to you. My life as a contractor can be very challenging at times and when I juggle several projects at once I sometimes forget to tie up loose ends. Jan had to call and remind me that I had neglected to send you the show track. I am very embarrassed and I hope that it has not arrived too late to be of use to your workshops. Thank you so much for the wonderful opportunity to work on this show. It really was great to learn so much about the city, teach the incredibly talented students and have it all be so well received. The show for me will always be an experience I will treasure. Please feel free to call me if I can ever be of any assistance to you or the city. Joyfully Leal / Ric Leal Enterprises 2505 Wedglea Dr. # 234 Dallas, Texas 75211 214 946-9196 JUN 30 2003 CITY OF EULESS