245 AND COUNTING is a piece about four addicts in a music rehabilitation facility and their psychiatrist – Maizy is an eclectic 17 year old who becomes addicted to cough syrup in order to cope with her parents’ divorce – Skip is a confident waspy 20 year old lacrosse bro addicted to cocaine who is currently in his third round of rehab, as he got involved with drugs in high school and has now been abandoned by everyone in his life – Timmy is a 19 year old nerdy Harvard freshman who is addicted to Adderall as a means to cope with a double major and a very active social life - Brooke is an entitled and materialistic 21 year old who has been diagnosed with hyperactive personality disorder due to her addiction to attention, boys, and material items. All of these addicts interact with their 30 year old psychiatrist - Sophie - who has just completed her residency. Sophie is smart and prides herself on getting the right answer to everything. She is a bit of a control freak and throughout this process has to learn how to relate to these teens on a personal level instead of finding the answer to their addictions in her textbooks.
This story takes place over the course of eight months at the Rhapsody Music Rehabilitation Center. At the beginning of their therapy all four addicts are in very divergent places and each has a distinctly different relationship to music. By the end, both Timmy and Skip have come to terms with their addiction and are ready to move forward. However, Maizy and Brooke are just at the beginning of their journeys and recognize that they need more intervention before either will be able to recognize, cope, and ultimately conquer their addictions. The main theme of 245 and Counting is that music is universal and can help bring people together, so that they may move forward and life a productive and hopefully enjoyable life. Each group session in the rehab process addresses a musical lesson that relates back to their lives and the idea of a positive future. Over time each characters relationship to music and each other blossoms and supportive friendships blend with the tunes.
In my musical, 245 and Counting, I am focusing on the power of music through the setting of rehabilitation and addiction, both of which have played large roles in my life.