Tiger Beat (excerpt) A play with music by Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin kaelamgarvin@gmail.com www.kaelameishinggarvin.com
CHARACTERS Ashley,18ish. Lead singer of Girls Next Door. White with a deep spray tan. Queer. Singing role. Poppy,18ish. Second fiddle to Ashley in Girls Next Door, obsessed with chemistry, white. Singing role. Tess, 18ish, Asian American, opinionated, bright-eyed, optimistic. Usually in the background of GND. Singing role. Vivian,Tess’s sister and manager. Asian American. Tough cookie. Mr. Johansson, executive for the Network. White. Actor also plays Choreographer, Reporter(s), Emcee et al JP,the biggest male pop star to get a start on the Network. White. Singing role. Setting 2003 pop music. Beyonce just went solo. Last year Britney released “ Toxic” and Christina released S tripped. H ilary Duff just dropped “So Yesterday.” Jersey skirts, trucker hats, cropped cargos, navels abound. On Music Music should be slumber-party-loud throughout. Synopsis Tiger Beat follows the Girls Next Door, a pop group rising to fame in 2003 pop music. As the band juggles choreography, awards shows, and crushes on teen heartthrobs, Asian American singer/songwriter Tess navigates her identity within the framework of the entertainment industry. This play with music is a coming of age story about pop stardom, questionable 2003 fashion choices, and finding one's identity through art. This excerpt comes from near the end of the play. The Girls Next Door are opening a national tour for teen pop icon JP under their shared label, The Network, which privileges its male artists with contracts and opportunities. Both JP and the Girls Next Door are nominated for Artist of the Year at the Video Awards. JP and Asian American singer/songwriter Tess have embarked upon a romantic relationship, to the dismay of Tess’ sister/manager Vivian. As the tour ramps up, all the artists rely on the Network-provided white pills which give them energy. After being photographed on a drunken spree, the Girls Next Door are put on curfew as they visit Tess and Vivian’s hometown, Columbus.