Groundhog Day - SYNOPSIS

Broadway 2017
Groundhog Day the Musical - Synopsis

Act I
Phil Connors, an arrogant TV weatherman, is dreading his trip to Punxsutawney, PA to do a report on the annual Groundhog Day Ceremony, believing it is beneath him. As his weather van arrives in town, the people of Punxsutawney are hoping that the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, will not see his shadow signifying an end to winter and the start of spring ("There Will Be Sun Lyrics"). The next morning, Phil wakes on February 2 full of scorn for everything and everyone he encounters on his way to Gobbler's Knob where the annual ceremony takes place ("Small Town, U.S.A. (Day 1)"). When he arrives on location he meets up with cameraman Larry and his new producer Rita before the groundhog's forecast of six more weeks of winter ("Punxsutawney Phil"). While Phil and Rita eat lunch at a diner, Larry packs the van preparing for their departure, and the sheriff enters and tells them that a bad snowstorm has closed every road out of town, keeping them from leaving. Rita makes an entry in her journal before the Groundhog Day banquet and the townspeople remain ever hopeful for the coming spring ("February 2nd/There Will Be Sun"). The next morning, Phil wakes on February 2 and he confusedly relives his morning over again, including a run-in with an obnoxious high school classmate Ned Ryerson ("Small Town, U.S.A. (Day 2)"). Phil begrudgingly reports on the ceremony again which has the same result as the day before ("Punxsutawney Phil") and Rita enjoys the festivities after commenting in her journal about Phil's odd behavior ("February 2nd/There Will Be Sun"). The next morning, Phil wakes on February 2 and fearing a mental breakdown, consults every doctor and healer in town, none of which are medically qualified, who suggest a variety of ridiculous remedies ("Stuck Lyrics"). Phil decides to self-medicate at the bar instead, and finds camaraderie with two drunks who are stuck in a rut and live every day just the same as the day before. The trio take advantage of not having a future and drive recklessly on train tracks and evade cops before they are caught and Phil is arrested ("Nobody Cares Lyrics"). The next morning, Phil wakes on February 2 with a newfound skip in his step as he openly treats others terribly, does as he pleases, and uses his repeated days to meet and reintroduce himself to Nancy Taylor, a local woman that he tricks into sleeping with him ("Philandering Lyrics"). After settling into a hedonistic groove, Phil sets his sights on Rita, determined to sleep with her. He spends several days trying to manufacture her perfect date, and grows more manic as he invariably keeps failing. With success never in sight, Phil wonders why he couldn't repeat a better day, Rita wonders if she'll ever meet a man who can live up to her intense specifications, and the townspeople wonder if they will ever do all the things they've been putting off, waiting for some idealized future ("One Day Lyrics"). The next morning, Phil wakes on February 2 and smashes his alarm clock.

Act II

Act Two opens at yet another Groundhog Day Ceremony as Nancy Taylor contemplates her behaviour patterns and how she presents herself ("Playing Nancy Lyrics"). Phil arrives at Gobbler's Knob for his broadcast and interrupts his report to shoot Punxsutawney Phil and then himself. The next morning, Phil wakes on February 2 and exhausts every way to kill himself, vowing not to give up ("Hope Lyrics") that he will one day successfully commit suicide. Phil returns to the diner and with nothing to lose, tells Rita what is happening, proving his claims by spouting off facts about the townspeople, predicting their actions, and finally telling Rita things he has learned about her ("Everything About You Lyrics"). Intrigued, Rita spends the day with Phil, learning various things he's done about town and theorizing what she would do in his shoes ("If I Had My Time Again Lyrics"). That evening Rita goes to the B&B to see what happens when his day starts over, but falls asleep first, with "Everything About You (Reprise) Lyrics".

The next morning, Phil wakes on February 2 alone again and decides to engage with the townspeople and better himself by learning piano ("Philosopher Lyrics"). Phil learns that Ned's wife has died and later that evening Phil finds a homeless man dead in the park, which he spends several days trying to prevent before accepting that some things are inevitable ("Night Will Come Lyrics"). On a new Groundhog Day, Phil delivers a surprisingly profound broadcast before running about town all day helping townspeople ("Philanthropy"). Rita arrives at the banquet and overhears everyone in town raving about what Phil has done for them that day, only to discover he is also playing in the band ("Punxsutawney Rock Lyrics"). In a bachelor auction, Rita buys a dance with Phil and kisses him, both feeling that they are only just learning what the other is like ("Seeing You Lyrics"). The next morning, Phil wakes to find Rita still in his room and a fresh layer of snow covering the ground outside. Though overjoyed at finally being able to leave, Phil agrees to spend the day with Rita. They start their day with watching the sun rise in Punxsutawney on February 3 ("Dawn").

Album Songs: Groundhog Day the Musical Lyrics
Synopsis to Groundhog Day the musical


Groundhog Day the Musical Lyrics

SYNOPSIS
There Will be Sun
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Stuck
Nobody Cares
Philandering
One Day
Playing Nancy
Hope
Everything About You
If I Had My Time Again
Everything About You (reprise)
Night Will Come
Philanthropy
Punxsutawney Rock
Seeing You