Synopsis
ACT I
Rose, a young Mexican migrant, finds herself abandoned in racially turbulent 1930s California when her parents are suddenly deported (" Deportation") . Margaret, a Kansas farmwife, struggles desperately to keep the family farm through the unrelenting hardships of the Dust Bowl ("Dust to Dust" and "Hold On"). Margaret’s careworn husband, Edward, gives up and moves his wife and sons, William and Charlie, to California. Soon after they arrive, Edward succumbs to dust pneumonia ("Farther On") and Margaret is forced to lead the family alone.
In the walnut orchards of Modesto, fun-loving Charlie falls for a pretty girl named Opal. Soft-spoken William befriends Rose, who is now hardened from surviving friendless in a hostile world ("A Place to Stand"). Both couples marry with the promise of a new future provided by work in Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps program ("In the Shadow"). Margaret, Rose, and Opal wait for the boys' return in gleeful anticipation of a new start. But dreams are shattered when a letter arrives, announcing that both William and Charlie were killed battling a forest fire ("Farther On Reprise").
After a year has passed, good news finally arrives for the still-grieving Margaret. Headlines read, "The Dusty Plains of Kansas Taste Rain for the First Time Since 1932” ("Horizons of Gold"). Margaret is determined to return to the family farm in honor of her deceased husband and sons. Margaret urges Rose and Opal to stay in California and says a tearful goodbye to Opal. Rose refuses to leave Margaret and tenderly vows to take care of her ("Go Where You Go").
Rose and Margaret return to Goodland, Kansas, just in time to celebrate the first wheat harvest after the Dust Bowl ("Goodland!"). Margaret discovers the foreclosure of her family farm, a fact she conceals from Rose ("Hold On Reprise"). Despite her new surroundings, Rose finds that she has not escaped the familiar battle with racism and rejection as she tries to find work in the small Kansas town. Determined to take care of Margaret, Rose walks a long, dusty road, begging for work at farm after farm until she faints in the heat at the edge of the property owned by John "Bo" Bollen ("Dusty Road").
Waking on Bollen’s couch, Rose is greeted by talkative Nettie, nurturing Pearl, and antagonistic Alice, who suggests that Rose works in the fields gathering leftover grain. Nettie finds out Rose’s "whole story" and informs Bo that Rose was married to his nephew, William. Bo encourages Nettie not to tell Rose that they have a family connection because Margaret has seemingly cut ties with him. Rose finds a few more friends ("Farmers Serenade") before arriving home exhausted. She shows Margaret a basket of food gifted them by the generous farmer for whom she works. Margaret tries to mask her concern when she learns Rose is on John Bollen’s farm. When Rose presses her for the reason for her concern, Margaret regretfully confesses news of the foreclosure instead ("House of Memories"). Margaret consoles Rose with the notion that her wealthy brother-in-law, Lawrence, may help them.
The next day, Rose, Nettie, and Pearl cool off in the hot field with a water fight ("Count it All Joy"). Bo arrives, surprising everyone, and Rose musters her confidence to introduce herself and thank him. Rose is immediately taken by Bo’s presence, experiencing a courtesy and warmth she has not been used to. Despite looming homelessness, unemployment, and grief, Rose is struck by a kindness she’s never known and reflects that maybe—just maybe—she’s found a place of peace ("A Place to Stand Reprise").
ACT II
One afternoon, Bo throws a picnic ("The Life that We All Love"), and Bo invites Rose to join them. Seeing Rose’s need for healing and belonging, Bo reflects on his desire to see her needs met ("Bo’s Prayer"). Hopes are high as Margaret and Rose wait expectedly for Lawrence to assist them financially. But when embittered Lawrence arrives, he tells Margaret he has purchased the land from her, not for her. The women will be homeless when he brings tenant farmers to occupy the house in coming weeks ("House of Memories Reprise").
Nettie, Pearl, and Alice prepare for the barn dance that evening. Alice offers unsolicited advice for Rose to stay home from the dance. Nettie and Pearl share their dreams of romantic love while Rose shares the simple need for someone to understand her ("Don’t We All"). Moments later, Lawrence enters and baits Rose: he will allow Margaret to stay on her land if Rose moves miles away to be his live-in housekeeper.
Feeling trapped, a distraught Rose flees the barn, only to run into Bo on her way home. Knowing well the pain she masks, Bo gently draws her out and, in so doing, shares his own tragic story of loss ("Black Sunday"). Bo and Rose share a moment of undeniable connection that renders each of them speechless. Alice interrupts, offering Bo lemonade and pointedly reminding Rose that she’s just a charity case to Bo. Rose leaves Bo, telling him she won’t be back. Bo and Rose separately ponder their feelings ("What’s Not Meant to Be"). When farmhand Hank tells Bo of Rose's plans to leave with Lawrence, Bo believes he’s misjudged Rose’s character and their relationship ("What’s Not Meant to Be Tag").
That evening, several secrets are revealed between Rose and Margaret: Bo is a family relation of Margaret’s; Margaret still blames herself for the loss of Bo’s wife and child; and most importantly, Rose has undeniable feelings for Bo ("Every Time I’m Near Him"). Margaret then presses Rose to go and ask Bo for help that night at his annual barn dance. Bo and Rose see each other, but Bo, believing she is leaving with Lawrence the next morning, resists speaking to her. The party ends, and Bo turns in for the night ("Farmer’s Lullaby"). Knowing that she must ask him for financial help, Rose awkwardly approaches him in the dark barn, taking him by surprise. During their conversation, Bo admits his feelings for her…almost ("Under the Stars"). Rose falls asleep on his shoulder, but hastily leaves in the morning with no assurance of Bo’s assistance in the matter with Lawrence or the house.
The town gathers for the end of the harvest celebration. While Rose anxiously waits for Bo, Lawrence arrives, pressuring Rose to leave with him once he finishes with a meeting at the bank. Rose sadly resigns herself to this, seeing no other way ("Don’t We All Reprise"). Later, Bo finds Rose to explain that he bought the land from Lawrence for Margaret. Rose is overwhelmed and relieved at the news, and even more surprised when Bo declares his love and proposes marriage ("Finally Home"). As friends congratulate the happy couple, Margaret enters tentatively, seeing Bo for the first time in years. Rose rushes to her with the land deed. Margaret's burdens are lifted as she steps into a long-awaited moment of reconciliation in Bo’s outstretched arms. As the town celebrates redemption of their land, Margaret, Bo, and Rose celebrate restored relationships and fulfillment of their dreams ("Horizons of Gold Finale").
Rose, a young Mexican migrant, finds herself abandoned in racially turbulent 1930s California when her parents are suddenly deported (" Deportation") . Margaret, a Kansas farmwife, struggles desperately to keep the family farm through the unrelenting hardships of the Dust Bowl ("Dust to Dust" and "Hold On"). Margaret’s careworn husband, Edward, gives up and moves his wife and sons, William and Charlie, to California. Soon after they arrive, Edward succumbs to dust pneumonia ("Farther On") and Margaret is forced to lead the family alone.
In the walnut orchards of Modesto, fun-loving Charlie falls for a pretty girl named Opal. Soft-spoken William befriends Rose, who is now hardened from surviving friendless in a hostile world ("A Place to Stand"). Both couples marry with the promise of a new future provided by work in Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps program ("In the Shadow"). Margaret, Rose, and Opal wait for the boys' return in gleeful anticipation of a new start. But dreams are shattered when a letter arrives, announcing that both William and Charlie were killed battling a forest fire ("Farther On Reprise").
After a year has passed, good news finally arrives for the still-grieving Margaret. Headlines read, "The Dusty Plains of Kansas Taste Rain for the First Time Since 1932” ("Horizons of Gold"). Margaret is determined to return to the family farm in honor of her deceased husband and sons. Margaret urges Rose and Opal to stay in California and says a tearful goodbye to Opal. Rose refuses to leave Margaret and tenderly vows to take care of her ("Go Where You Go").
Rose and Margaret return to Goodland, Kansas, just in time to celebrate the first wheat harvest after the Dust Bowl ("Goodland!"). Margaret discovers the foreclosure of her family farm, a fact she conceals from Rose ("Hold On Reprise"). Despite her new surroundings, Rose finds that she has not escaped the familiar battle with racism and rejection as she tries to find work in the small Kansas town. Determined to take care of Margaret, Rose walks a long, dusty road, begging for work at farm after farm until she faints in the heat at the edge of the property owned by John "Bo" Bollen ("Dusty Road").
Waking on Bollen’s couch, Rose is greeted by talkative Nettie, nurturing Pearl, and antagonistic Alice, who suggests that Rose works in the fields gathering leftover grain. Nettie finds out Rose’s "whole story" and informs Bo that Rose was married to his nephew, William. Bo encourages Nettie not to tell Rose that they have a family connection because Margaret has seemingly cut ties with him. Rose finds a few more friends ("Farmers Serenade") before arriving home exhausted. She shows Margaret a basket of food gifted them by the generous farmer for whom she works. Margaret tries to mask her concern when she learns Rose is on John Bollen’s farm. When Rose presses her for the reason for her concern, Margaret regretfully confesses news of the foreclosure instead ("House of Memories"). Margaret consoles Rose with the notion that her wealthy brother-in-law, Lawrence, may help them.
The next day, Rose, Nettie, and Pearl cool off in the hot field with a water fight ("Count it All Joy"). Bo arrives, surprising everyone, and Rose musters her confidence to introduce herself and thank him. Rose is immediately taken by Bo’s presence, experiencing a courtesy and warmth she has not been used to. Despite looming homelessness, unemployment, and grief, Rose is struck by a kindness she’s never known and reflects that maybe—just maybe—she’s found a place of peace ("A Place to Stand Reprise").
ACT II
One afternoon, Bo throws a picnic ("The Life that We All Love"), and Bo invites Rose to join them. Seeing Rose’s need for healing and belonging, Bo reflects on his desire to see her needs met ("Bo’s Prayer"). Hopes are high as Margaret and Rose wait expectedly for Lawrence to assist them financially. But when embittered Lawrence arrives, he tells Margaret he has purchased the land from her, not for her. The women will be homeless when he brings tenant farmers to occupy the house in coming weeks ("House of Memories Reprise").
Nettie, Pearl, and Alice prepare for the barn dance that evening. Alice offers unsolicited advice for Rose to stay home from the dance. Nettie and Pearl share their dreams of romantic love while Rose shares the simple need for someone to understand her ("Don’t We All"). Moments later, Lawrence enters and baits Rose: he will allow Margaret to stay on her land if Rose moves miles away to be his live-in housekeeper.
Feeling trapped, a distraught Rose flees the barn, only to run into Bo on her way home. Knowing well the pain she masks, Bo gently draws her out and, in so doing, shares his own tragic story of loss ("Black Sunday"). Bo and Rose share a moment of undeniable connection that renders each of them speechless. Alice interrupts, offering Bo lemonade and pointedly reminding Rose that she’s just a charity case to Bo. Rose leaves Bo, telling him she won’t be back. Bo and Rose separately ponder their feelings ("What’s Not Meant to Be"). When farmhand Hank tells Bo of Rose's plans to leave with Lawrence, Bo believes he’s misjudged Rose’s character and their relationship ("What’s Not Meant to Be Tag").
That evening, several secrets are revealed between Rose and Margaret: Bo is a family relation of Margaret’s; Margaret still blames herself for the loss of Bo’s wife and child; and most importantly, Rose has undeniable feelings for Bo ("Every Time I’m Near Him"). Margaret then presses Rose to go and ask Bo for help that night at his annual barn dance. Bo and Rose see each other, but Bo, believing she is leaving with Lawrence the next morning, resists speaking to her. The party ends, and Bo turns in for the night ("Farmer’s Lullaby"). Knowing that she must ask him for financial help, Rose awkwardly approaches him in the dark barn, taking him by surprise. During their conversation, Bo admits his feelings for her…almost ("Under the Stars"). Rose falls asleep on his shoulder, but hastily leaves in the morning with no assurance of Bo’s assistance in the matter with Lawrence or the house.
The town gathers for the end of the harvest celebration. While Rose anxiously waits for Bo, Lawrence arrives, pressuring Rose to leave with him once he finishes with a meeting at the bank. Rose sadly resigns herself to this, seeing no other way ("Don’t We All Reprise"). Later, Bo finds Rose to explain that he bought the land from Lawrence for Margaret. Rose is overwhelmed and relieved at the news, and even more surprised when Bo declares his love and proposes marriage ("Finally Home"). As friends congratulate the happy couple, Margaret enters tentatively, seeing Bo for the first time in years. Rose rushes to her with the land deed. Margaret's burdens are lifted as she steps into a long-awaited moment of reconciliation in Bo’s outstretched arms. As the town celebrates redemption of their land, Margaret, Bo, and Rose celebrate restored relationships and fulfillment of their dreams ("Horizons of Gold Finale").