About the Show

Musical Numbers

Because four of the roles are written for transgender actors, all music for Gabriel, Future Gabriel, Jason and Amber Wilde is intended to be transposed or re-adjusted as necessary. It is imperative that actors feel comfortable, both vocally and emotionally, with playing these roles. Please feel free to contact the composer if you would like the notation or a backing track in a different key, or to alter the melody within the existing harmonic structure.  

Detailed Synopsis

Connected is about a transgender teenager named Gabriel who transitions during the show. At the beginning, Gabriel is called “Angelina” and referred to with she/her pronouns, and from the end of Act One on, he is called Gabriel or Gabe and uses he/they pronouns. 

Act One: Link, the personification of the internet, introduces the audience to the online world through the eyes of figure skater Gabriel and his mother Helen, and Jeremy and his wife Abby (“Connected”). Abby is stressed as she prepares her students for the biggest skating show of the season, and Jeremy is not helping around the house. Gabriel and his friends fawn over trans moviestar Amber Wilde.  Jeremy leaves for the gym when Abby asks for his help (“I Need to Know”), reluctantly bringing his daughter Liz along with him to the gym. As they work out, Jeremy flirts with his new heart throb, Veronica (“Push Yourself”) and Liz is confused. 

Abby coaches the ice skaters who are preparing for their performance, including Gabriel and Derek, the star pair in the upcoming show. Gabriel feels pressure from his coach, his mother and his audience (“Enough”). Fellow skater Brooke and her mom, Megan, try to comfort him.

The first time Megan hears about her best friend Abby wanting a divorce, she is hard at work preparing for a concert with her high school music students. One of her favorite students is Gabriel, whom she has known as a girl all through middle school, but she can see the struggle as he finds his true identity ("Shine Like the Sun"). Megan tells the chorus that they will be performing at the skating show in which Gabriel will be the star skater. 

On Facebook, Jeremy posts that he hates his job, Veronica goes public about a recent trip to the local bar with Jeremy, and Megan cautions Jeremy to be more sensible online (“Jeremy’s Facebook Feed”). Gabriel goes online to explore some of his recent feelings, and discovers a large community of transgender people who put into words what he’s been experiencing (Gabriel’s Research). A brief encounter with an Internet troll makes him withdraw from the otherwise caring community, and he calls Derek for a workout session at the rink.

Abby visits Megan at school with new concerns to share about Jeremy’s behavior. Megan cheers her up by detailing the virtues of social media, but Abby has only seen the detriments (“In My Hand is a Tool”). Helen contacts Megan to ask if her child has been okay at school. 

After being fitted for the feminine costume for his next skating show, Gabriel has a moment of dysphoria that culminates in an honest conversation with his future self (“Listen to the Calling”). 

Abby, Megan, Gabriel, and friends visit the carnival, where Gabriel meets his idol Amber Wilde. Inspired by her speech, Gabriel tells Brooke and Liz that he is transgender. They are both supportive. Megan encourages Jeremy to get the help he needs. Jeremy is offended and directs his anger at Abby (“Abby and Jeremy’s Argument”). Liz has a panic attack (“What’s the Matter”), and turns to Brooke for support.

The night before the skating show, Jeremy takes his children Liz and Chase to an adult party at Julie’s house, alcohol and all. Liz is not comfortable with seeing her father drunk, and contacts Abby, who is furious. The skating show arrives, with Abby, Megan, and Helen busy with preparations. Derek worries as the start time looms closer and Gabriel is still absent. Jeremy arrives at the rink as the show begins, and Abby tells him that she is moving out. Gabriel arrives just before his performance time, in masculine clothing and without skates (“You’re Gonna Fly”). The act ends with a dramatic announcement from Gabriel, with Abby excited and terrified by her next step. 

Act Two: The adults explore being parents in the age of cell phones (“The Split Generation”) as the youth demonstrate their comfort communicating online.

Derek confronts Gabriel about abandoning him at the skating show, but Gabriel takes it personally and assumes that Derek is not supportive of his identity. A new school year has started, and Megan offers to give Gabriel voice lessons with his lower voice. Megan also suggests to Liz that she could benefit from therapy, because she is going through a difficult experience (“Shine like the Sun”). Liz is resistant. 

Abby and her children adjust to her new house and visitation schedule. Chase and Liz cheer them all up by fantasizing about potential pets after a tough weekend with Jeremy (“Puppies”). 

Brooke goes to visit Gabriel, noticing the changes in his living space now that he presents masculine and has quit skating. Gabriel confides in her that Helen still isn’t calling him by his correct name and pronouns, and that he is using duct tape to flatten his chest. Determined to help her friend, Brooke emphasizes the correct pronouns and chosen name in her conversation with Helen. Helen is angry, first at Gabriel, and then at Brooke for being a bad influence. Brooke is frustrated that her attempt to make things better has backfired (“Magic Wand”).

When Jeremy’s mother dies, Abby goes back to her former home to help her ex with funeral preparations. Their reminiscing turns into Jeremy inviting her to dinner, promising that he’ll treat her well this time (“Jeremy’s Tango”). 

Brooke asks her mother, Megan, to buy Gabriel a chest binder to help his gender dysphoria, but Megan is conflicted about her many roles in Gabriel’s life (“Parenting in the Internet Age”). Abby encourages Megan to treat Helen with kindness, and listen to her parental concerns. Gabriel makes amends with Derek, who convinces him to come back to skating as a man (“Give It A Try”). 

Megan talks to Helen, who is furious that Megan and Brooke have bought Gabriel a chest binder. Helen believes that Gabriel is falling prey to a trend that shouldn’t be encouraged, and Megan tries to convince her to love Gabriel as he is. After Helen storms out, Megan checks her phone and learns that Abby is getting back together with Jeremy. Megan is horrified, and in her heightened emotional state from her conversation with Helen, Megan is not as supportive as she usually is (“One More Step”). 

Although Megan felt as if she didn't get through to Helen, their conversation results in Helen tentatively researching being the parent of a transgender child. She realizes from reading about it online that her willingness to accept Gabriel could make or break her future with him. She finds Gabriel’s Instagram account, in which he expresses gender euphoria and is met with resounding support from his online community (“Bursting with Pride”), including Megan, Abby and Amber Wilde. 

Abby arrives at Jeremy’s house ready for a date, only to find Liz in a panic attack. Chase reveals that Jeremy treated them inappropriately and terrified his sister. Abby cancels the date and takes her children home with her. Jeremy takes his rage onto the Internet, and his public posts and stinging words end up in the courtroom of a custody case four months later (“Connected Reprise”). Jeremy is held in contempt of court, and Abby is granted full custody of her kids. 

Gabriel, Derek (now a solo skater!), and Gabriel’s new female skating partner practice their new routines at Abby’s ice rink. Watching from the stands, Helen finally understands that Gabriel is still the same person she’s always loved (“My Pride and Joy”). She apologizes to Gabriel, and they reconcile. The skating club gathers for the Grove Valley Pride Parade, with a visit from special guest Amber Wilde! Helen shows that she is attempting to understand her son, and Abby and Megan cheer her on. Abby celebrates the joys and challenges of her new freedom, and Gabriel starts an online transgender support group, and a nonbinary teenager reaches out for advice about their identity. Gabriel and the company welcome them with pride and joy (“Act Two Finale”).