The comedy explores their relationship to the group's classmates, female counterparts, and perennial runners up: The Ladies in Red.
[7][8][9] The Off-Broadway production was directed by Grosso and co-produced by celebrity reporter and nightlife personality Michael Musto.
[12] Members of The Essentials for Perfect Harmony have included David Barlow, Jeffrey Binder, Drew Cortese, Meg DeFoe, Autumn Dornfeld, Alec Duffy, Cameron Folmar, Santino Fontana, Jordan Gelber, Scott Janes, Nicole Lowrance, Vayu O'Donnell, Thomas Piper, Maria Elena Ramirez, Jeanine Serralles, Margie Stokley, Marina Squerciati, Noah Weisberg, Margot White, Blake Whyte, and Marshall York.
Applauding them as he addresses the assembly, Dr. Mergh, the high school psychologist, cautions that while he feels the community should recognize the tremendous accomplishments of these champion boy singers—and that "the girls try hard too, of course"—he is concerned about the pressure of tight harmony singing and worries that a cappella is a cult that this year will finally be "claiming its victims".
His nerves only get worse when he hears that Lassiter, the Acafellas' pitch, is looking for a talented musician who knows how to blend, JB is hoping for a cool dude, and Philip wants a guy who will not screw up their championship vibe.
However, the plans for both groups are thrown awry when they learn that this year's nationals will be held at their high school and will be televised live on MTV 3.
Meghan and Mickey decide that the MTV 3 exposure necessitates new choreography and demonstrate "What I Like About You", but Melody worries that it is perhaps a little "loose" and she performs a more ladylike version.
At the Christmas Concert the Acafellas suffer a humiliatingly disastrous performance, and so the boys vote to abandon Lassiter's new method.
Determined to do better, Meghan tries to practice singing without dancing with "My Life Flows On In Endless Song", but it is no use; she sounds better when she moves.
They try to sing "I Think We're Alone Now", but it is no use—Philip cannot hit the high notes and lashes out when Simon suggests they invite Lassiter to return.
Simon, having just lost his idol JB, sings the duet they learned in happier times, "I Think I Love You."
Still unable to sing high enough and with only a week left before regional finals, Philip visits the legendary voice whisperer, Toby McClintoch.
Philip is baffled until she counsels that nothing can cure his voice in a week, as "...only two things work instantly in this world: love and drugs".
But when the Acafellas' collective urine sample tests positives for banned substances, the boys are forced to give back the winning trophy.
JB dismisses the drug test results saying, "...false positives happen all the time..." and announces that he left the professional a cappella world because he knew his friends were hurting and needed him to help get the group back together.
They sound fantastic, but Philip stops the song and confesses publicly that he is actually the reason that the boys failed their drug test at regionals; he used his stepmother's home botox kit to help him hit the high notes.
In a panic, Melody insists that their student manager Kerri sing Valerie's part, commanding her to "...not let this be a disaster."
As the applause for the boys dies down, Lady Treble enters the stage and they sing their old standby, "My Life Flows On In Endless Song."
As the two groups recover from performances at nationals that were nothing like they expected, Valerie and Simon compose a new arrangement to commemorate the year, a song about joy—the joy of being in the sound.
Not yet an Acafella at the start of the play, he has dreamed of making the group and practices his song for his mom every night, and just hopes his canker sores and occasional bouts of lockjaw do not interfere with his audition.
Talented, preternaturally poised, and ferociously hardworking; she wishes just once someone would give The Ladies in Red the proper credit they've worked so hard for.
It's fair to say she doesn't love performing, but she is determined not to repeat the previous year's debacle at regionals where she panicked and locked herself in the janitor's closet.
Goran Dhiardeaubovic – Older brother, only living relative and legal guardian to Mickey D. Angry and controlling, but protective of family; he is ultimately harmless.
Tobi is deeply empathetic, overly dramatic, and excited about curing youngsters of their self-inflicted vocal traumas.
[14] Perfect Harmony features a cappella arrangements of hit songs by The Jackson 5, Pat Benatar, Billy Idol, Marvin Gaye, Scandal, Tiffany, The Romantics, The Pretenders, Blue Swede, The Temptations, The Contours, The Commodores, Tommy James & the Shondells, B.J.
Perfect Harmony received positive reviews when it premiered at the Harry de Jur Playhouse in New York City.
"[17] For the Off-Broadway debut at Theatre Row, the New York Post's Frank Scheck wrote "...it's hard to resist this musical comedy ... if you can't get enough of glee clubs and energetic vocals that soar, Perfect Harmony is the show for you.
"[18] and Time Out New York said "...Glee addicts will find perfect pitch in this musical comedy about the most acclaimed singing club in the history of high school.
"[19] Excerpts from Perfect Harmony are featured in Smith and Kraus' 2009 Best Stage Monologues and Scenes series for both men[20] and women.
[21] Thr Perfect Harmony soundtrack was recorded in January 2013, musically directed by Dave Malloy, and can be listened to online.