As Act One begins, it's the morning of the first day of school. All over the stage, characters are in various stages of getting up and getting ready. In "Day One," they sing about their hopes and fears for the year. For JAKE and STANLEY, seniors and best friends, it's about the excitement of finally being on top. STELLA, a senior transfer, wants to make friends. ERIKA, junior class president, wants to become student council president, while SKEETER, a freshman boy, just wants to avoid getting stuffed into his locker. And BLAISE, a senior, hates the school and everyone in it; she wants to get the year over with.

As students arrive at school, Skeeter quickly finds a place to hide, while Jake and Stanley survey the scene. Who is cool enough to hang with them? A group of sophomores and juniors aspire to be part of their crowd, but Jake and Stanley aren't interested. Jake misses Helen, who abruptly disappeared the year before after a mysterious accident that blew up a wall, and Stanley is looking for a Stella as they sing "Hole in the Wall."

Stella, not knowing anyone, falls in with the "aspiring" crowd. Stanley picks her out of the crowd and drafts her into him and Jake's circle. The year is shaping up to be a great one, and the three of them make a pact to make the year last forever as they sing "This Place This Time." A bell rings, and all head off to class.

Skeeter comes out from hiding. Just when he thinks the coast is clear, along comes Erika, wearing her newspaper editor hat now, and corners him for an interview about the first day of school. Skeeter tells her how he just wants the year to be over with—he's not even old enough to be part of the aspiring group of sophomores/juniors—when he sings "Mohammed Ali."

Erika, wanting a toadie, suggests that he stick with her, and that she'll get him through during "The Solution is Clear." And when Skeeter's a sophomore, he'll be in prime position. She hates this year too. If only there were a way to get it over with.

A BULLY steps in to harass Skeeter. Erika tries to distract the Bully with an interview, but to no avail. Just when it looks like Skeeter's about to get stuffed into a locker or something similarly awful, along comes Blaise, who saves the day and scares off the Bully. When Skeeter tries to thank her, Blaise wants no part of him either. She just wants to get her last year over with and doesn't particularly like them or anyone else, as she reprises "The Solution is Clear."

The mysterious THYME arrives late to the class where Jake, Stanley and Stella already are. But as she sings "Fifteen Minutes," time seems to move backward. By the time she's finished, the clock has flowed backward and she's early. The trio of seniors takes note, though they're not sure what has happened.

At lunch, a RAGGED FRESHMAN staggers into the cafeteria. Something awful has happened in the library—some kind of explosion. Enter HELEN, Jake's old flame, back from her mysterious disappearance, which includes rumors that she's been practicing voodoo. As she sings "Melt Into Me," Jake seems ready to pick up where he left off—worshipping her.

Blaise starts to take an interest in Jake, but she decides that it could never happen in "Out Past Infinity."

Helen leads Jake, Stanley and Stella in magic rites to try to slow time. They capture Skeeter to be their "sacrifice" as they sing "Don't Let it Splatter." Meanwhile, Erika leads the wannabe group in a rally for underclass rights. Blaise is caught between the two groups, wanting time to move forward, but unable to stop being interested in Jake. As the act ends, Helen is on the verge of sacrificing Skeeter (apparently for real), while the Wannabes, in the middle of their rally, compete with Helen's magic.

As Act Two opens, Jake and the other seniors talk Helen out of actually sacrificing Skeeter. Suddenly, the scene becomes the locker room, where Skeeter is trying to get dressed before the seniors come in. He sings "Locker Room Blues" before the scene melts into the "Year Long Limbo"—Skeeter and the rest of the cast limbo through the entire school year, amidst talk of a handsome Swedish exchange student, the great hope of the Wannabes, whose arrival is always getting delayed. By the end of the limbo, it's the last day of school.

Still no exchange student, but Erika and the wannabes are nearly there and liking their chances as they sing "New School Order." The final dance of the year is that night, and it's tradition that the seniors hand over the senior gavel just before the final dance of the evening.

Jake and company grow desperate; their high school years are almost over. Helen suggests that they kidnap Thyme to stop the clock: "If Thyme can't move, then time can't move." As they sing "Lost Sheep," Jake and Stanley let themselves be persuaded to help Helen, but Stella won't, and she and Stanley have a fight. Stella runs off.

Jake and Stanley kidnap Thyme, securing her in an abandoned janitor's closet, while Helen finds Stella and tells her that she can do better than Stanley, encouraging Stella to sing "I Hate Stanley" after Helen exits.

Meanwhile, a captive Thyme, alone with Jake, goes to work on him, playing on his doubts in "Sand." Jake flees, running into the Wannabes, who are eager to reel him in, singing "Come on, Jake." But just as Jake seems lost, Blaise appears, scaring off the Wannabes and declaring her love for him in "Sturdy and Strong." Helen walks in on them and becomes furious that she's lost Jake, but no amount of threat and persuasion can break up Jake and Blaise.

Helen, after another of a series of run-ins (literally) with Skeeter, finds Stanley, where she embellishes Stella's anger at Stanley and attempts to win Stanley for herself in "I Hate Stanley" (reprise). Stanley wavers, but in the end, fights Helen's magic—he loves Stella too much. Stanley seeks out Stella, and "In a Heartbeat" begs for forgiveness. But it's not enough for Stella, who, fighting herself, leaves Stanley on his knees.

Jake and Blaise return to find Stanley laid low, and help him realize that Stanley needs to stop trying to be Brando's Stanley Kowalski. Stanley—whose real name is Hugo—rushes off to get ready for the dance, as Jake decides that he has to let Thyme go, even if it means that the year will end.

Jake convinces Stella, Stanley and Helen to join him and Blaise right before the dance—all are there to release Thyme. Stella reconciles with Stanley/Hugo, and all proceed to the dance, where Helen, left with no partner, ends up with the now-spunky Skeeter. The Swedish EXCHANGE STUDENT finally arrives, but to the enormous disappointment of the Wannabes, it's a girl. As the cast dances and sings the "Finale," Jake hands over the senior gavel to Erika, and all prepare to move on to the new challenges and day ones that await them.

DAY ONE is a largely ensemble show, designed for a flexible cast ranging from a minimum of about 15 to a maximum of 50 or more.

The Principals

JAKE, popular senior class president
STANLEY, Jake's best buddy
STELLA, a senior transfer student
BLAISE, the school's tough girl
ERIKA, junior class president
SKEETER, a freshman
THYME, a mysterious new female student
HELEN, Jake's girlfriend, formerly missing and rumored to be practicing voodoo

Ensemble Roles

THE WANNABES, Erika's groupies, a series of recurring roles with vocal solos in approximately a half-dozen musical numbers, ensemble singing in other numbers, and recurring dialogue. Requires a minimum of 3 actresses with no maximum number.

STANLEY'S MOTHER
SKEETER'S MOTHER
STELLA'S MOTHER
BLAISE'S MOTHER
VARIOUS FRESHMEN
REPORTER
CAMERA PERSON
MAKE-UP WANNABE
BULLY
TEACHER
RAGGED FRESHMAN
DISC JOCKEY
LARISSA, the Swedish exchange student