Lush, full-bodied orchestrations and soaring melodies take us back to 1940 in the sweeping wheat fields of America’s Great Plains. With its cast of vibrant characters, this thoughtful script is packed with heart-rending drama, laugh-out-loud humor, and gentle romance. Horizons of Gold has won the hearts of audiences across the Midwest at performances in Cincinnati, Chicago, Michigan, Indianapolis, and Kentucky.
Synopsis
ACT I
Kansas farm wife, Margaret 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, Edward succumbs to dust pneumonia ("Farther On") and Margaret is forced to lead the family alone. Soft-spoken William befriends abandoned Mexican migrant, Rose, ("A Place to Stand"). In the walnut orchards of Modesto, brother Charlie falls for a pretty girl named Opal. Both couples marry with the promise of work and a brighter future ("In the Shadow"). Dreams are shattered for Margaret, Rose and Opal when William and Charlie were killed battling a forest fire ("Farther On Reprise").
A year passes; good news finally arrives. Margaret learns that rain has returned to Kansas and the land is being restored ("Horizons of Gold"). Margaret determines to return to the family farm in honor of her deceased husband and sons. Margaret urges Rose and Opal to stay in California, saying a tearful goodbye to Opal. Rose refuses to Margaret's side and vows to take care of her ("Go Where You Go"). Rose and Margaret return to Goodland, Kansas, during the first wheat harvest after the Dust Bowl ("Goodland!"). Margaret discovers the foreclosure of her family farm ("Hold On Reprise"). Despite her new surroundings, Rose has not escaped the familiar battle with rejection in the small Kansas town.
After begging for work at farm after farm, she faints in the heat and is found by John Bollen ("Dusty Road"). Waking on Bollen’s couch, Rose is greeted by talkative Nettie, nurturing Pearl, and antagonistic Alice, who suggest that Rose work in the fields gathering grain. Nettie learns Roses story and promptly informs Bo that Rose was married to his nephew, William. Bo conceals the family connection as Rose is becoming more welcomed on the farm ("Farmers Serenade"). Later that day, Margaret confesses news of the foreclosure to Rose ("House of Memories") but shares her hopes that her wealthy brother-in-law, Lawrence, may help them. The next day, Nettie and Pearl meet Rose in the hot field ("Count it All Joy") just before Bo arrives. Despite looming homelessness, unemployment, and grief, Rose is struck by an acceptance she’s never known by this kind farmer ("A Place to Stand Reprise").
ACT II
Bo invites Rose to a picnic to celebrate the end of the harvest ("The Life that We All Love"). Bo is struck by the compassion he feels for her ("Bo’s Prayer"). Margaret and Rose wait expectantly for Lawrence to assist them financially. When embittered Lawrence arrives, Margaret finds her situation has grown worse: the women will be homeless when he brings tenant farmers to occupy the house ("House of Memories Reprise").
At the Bollen farm, Nettie and Pearl share their dreams of romantic love while Rose confides her brokenness with them ("Don’t We All"). Moments later, Lawrence enters and baits Rose by offering work as his live-in housekeeper. Feeling trapped, a distraught Rose flees the barn, to find Bo who, lost in struggles of his own, shares his own tragic story of loss ("Black Sunday"). Bo and Rose share a moment of undeniable connection until Alice interrupts. Rose, feeling rejected, leaves and Bo and Rose lament ("What’s Not Meant to Be"). When farmhand Hank tells Bo of Rose's plans to leave with Lawrence, Bo believes he’s misjudged their relationship ("What’s Not Meant to Be Tag").
That evening, secrets are revealed between Rose and Margaret ("Every Time I’m Near Him"). Margaret then presses Rose to go and ask Bo for help. Bo and Rose see each other at the dance, but Bo resists speaking to her. Bo turns in for the night ("Farmer’s Lullaby") before Rose awkwardly approaches him in the dark barn. Feelings are undeniable ("Under the Stars") and Rose falls asleep on his shoulder. The next morning, however, misunderstandings spark a hasty exit and Rose fears a dismal fate Lawrence.
At the town social, Rose, feeling once again abandoned, waits for Lawrence ("Don’t We All Reprise"). Rose is overwhelmed when Bo explains his meeting with Lawrence, his purchase of the land for Margaret and finally, his love for Rose ("Finally Home"). Amidst their joy, Rose rushes to Margaret with the deed and Margaret finds a long-awaited reconciliation in Bo’s outstretched arms. As the town celebrates redemption of their land, Margaret, Bo, and Rose embrace the fulfillment of their dreams ("Horizons of Gold Finale").
Kansas farm wife, Margaret 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, Edward succumbs to dust pneumonia ("Farther On") and Margaret is forced to lead the family alone. Soft-spoken William befriends abandoned Mexican migrant, Rose, ("A Place to Stand"). In the walnut orchards of Modesto, brother Charlie falls for a pretty girl named Opal. Both couples marry with the promise of work and a brighter future ("In the Shadow"). Dreams are shattered for Margaret, Rose and Opal when William and Charlie were killed battling a forest fire ("Farther On Reprise").
A year passes; good news finally arrives. Margaret learns that rain has returned to Kansas and the land is being restored ("Horizons of Gold"). Margaret determines to return to the family farm in honor of her deceased husband and sons. Margaret urges Rose and Opal to stay in California, saying a tearful goodbye to Opal. Rose refuses to Margaret's side and vows to take care of her ("Go Where You Go"). Rose and Margaret return to Goodland, Kansas, during the first wheat harvest after the Dust Bowl ("Goodland!"). Margaret discovers the foreclosure of her family farm ("Hold On Reprise"). Despite her new surroundings, Rose has not escaped the familiar battle with rejection in the small Kansas town.
After begging for work at farm after farm, she faints in the heat and is found by John Bollen ("Dusty Road"). Waking on Bollen’s couch, Rose is greeted by talkative Nettie, nurturing Pearl, and antagonistic Alice, who suggest that Rose work in the fields gathering grain. Nettie learns Roses story and promptly informs Bo that Rose was married to his nephew, William. Bo conceals the family connection as Rose is becoming more welcomed on the farm ("Farmers Serenade"). Later that day, Margaret confesses news of the foreclosure to Rose ("House of Memories") but shares her hopes that her wealthy brother-in-law, Lawrence, may help them. The next day, Nettie and Pearl meet Rose in the hot field ("Count it All Joy") just before Bo arrives. Despite looming homelessness, unemployment, and grief, Rose is struck by an acceptance she’s never known by this kind farmer ("A Place to Stand Reprise").
ACT II
Bo invites Rose to a picnic to celebrate the end of the harvest ("The Life that We All Love"). Bo is struck by the compassion he feels for her ("Bo’s Prayer"). Margaret and Rose wait expectantly for Lawrence to assist them financially. When embittered Lawrence arrives, Margaret finds her situation has grown worse: the women will be homeless when he brings tenant farmers to occupy the house ("House of Memories Reprise").
At the Bollen farm, Nettie and Pearl share their dreams of romantic love while Rose confides her brokenness with them ("Don’t We All"). Moments later, Lawrence enters and baits Rose by offering work as his live-in housekeeper. Feeling trapped, a distraught Rose flees the barn, to find Bo who, lost in struggles of his own, shares his own tragic story of loss ("Black Sunday"). Bo and Rose share a moment of undeniable connection until Alice interrupts. Rose, feeling rejected, leaves and Bo and Rose lament ("What’s Not Meant to Be"). When farmhand Hank tells Bo of Rose's plans to leave with Lawrence, Bo believes he’s misjudged their relationship ("What’s Not Meant to Be Tag").
That evening, secrets are revealed between Rose and Margaret ("Every Time I’m Near Him"). Margaret then presses Rose to go and ask Bo for help. Bo and Rose see each other at the dance, but Bo resists speaking to her. Bo turns in for the night ("Farmer’s Lullaby") before Rose awkwardly approaches him in the dark barn. Feelings are undeniable ("Under the Stars") and Rose falls asleep on his shoulder. The next morning, however, misunderstandings spark a hasty exit and Rose fears a dismal fate Lawrence.
At the town social, Rose, feeling once again abandoned, waits for Lawrence ("Don’t We All Reprise"). Rose is overwhelmed when Bo explains his meeting with Lawrence, his purchase of the land for Margaret and finally, his love for Rose ("Finally Home"). Amidst their joy, Rose rushes to Margaret with the deed and Margaret finds a long-awaited reconciliation in Bo’s outstretched arms. As the town celebrates redemption of their land, Margaret, Bo, and Rose embrace the fulfillment of their dreams ("Horizons of Gold Finale").
