Le Hot Blu - Synopsis

Le Hot Blu Plot Synopsis 2008
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Ken Lauber and Anita Gonzalez

Act I
It is a normal 1947 day in Harlem and the Spirit of Harlem is Listening for a Change. Franklin, a middle-aged veteran owns a nightclub called Le Hot Blu where his daughter Vincy sings within the Blue Walls. Franklin works hard to manage his business even though it exists within a Black Man’s Alley of struggle. However, Vincy sits in the dressing room and longs to be On Her Own. The struggle begins when the mobster Tico plots with the off-duty cop O Reilly to shut down Le Hot Blu. Tico has his own plans for making money in Harlem. For him, It’s Nothing Personal, just business. Down the block lives a Jewish Variety Store owner called Mom. Her son Doc longs to escape the store and play music because his Mom Goes On and On and On and On about what he should do with his life.

That afternoon, a gunshot shatters the peace of the neighborhood. One of the band members is shot. Vincy is particularly upset as the community recognizes A Day Fight in Harlem. The next morning, Franklin visits Mom who has heard the shooting, and blames Le Hot Blu for the neighborhood disruption. Mom is weary of managing the store. Inside she feels that she is a Budding Delilah. While Mom and Franklin chat, Doc and Vincy play Stoop Ball, and dream of a future playing music. After Vincy inspires Doc to ask for an Audition at the club, Franklin hires Doc who feels that he is now a part of Harlem Time. Meanwhile, Tico meets Vincy at the dressing room door. He convinces her to audition for him.

Later, at an evening club performance, Doc joins the band as it celebrates Little Old New York. After the set, Vincy has an argument with her father because she wants something better. She runs out to the streets where Franklin, Vincy, Doc, and the Spirit of Harlem all look for Distant Voices to resolve their problems. Later that night, Vincy finds Doc down by the river where she fumes that the two of them could make music side by side in Paris or at Carnegie Hall If He’d Only Let Me Go. The next day Tico stirs up more trouble by telling Mom that her son has been playing music with the “coloreds” next door. Mom is upset, but Tico assures her that there are Possibilities for her son with his organization. Later that afternoon, The Band is rehearsing when O Reilly has Franklin arrested on trumped up charges. While Franklin complains that It Ain’t Right, Tico gloats because his plan is starting to work.

Act II
Things are bad, but the community is moaning that Sometimes it Be That Way. The Band is forced to pack and leave the club. As they exit, Doc spots Vincy in the window of her upstairs apartment. He climbs the stairs and joins her there. Doc tries to console Vincy with music. They sing together and grow closer as they realize that they are like Pebbles in a Stream. As they kiss, Franklin returns to the apartment. The Band meets and decides to hold a rent party to raise money for the club, but the bad news is that Prez, one of the band members, is strung out on drugs. Before the party, the Spirit of Harlem visits Mom and convinces her to sew a banner for the club fundraiser. On the street, Franklin confronts the drug dealer, San Juan Joe, about poisoning the neighborhood. Meanwhile Tico has taken over a local dance studio where he plans to create a bordello called The Rainbeau Palace. The Band has only 24 Hours to pay the fines as they start the boisterous Rent Party. The event is a success, but Vincy is disappointed and still has plans to audition for Tico. She invites Doc to join her. When the two of them arrive at the studio, Tico attacks Vincy and nearly rapes her. When Doc tries to defend her, Tico beats him and ties him up. Vincy runs back to Le Hot Blu where she begs her father to Save Him. Franklin and the Band go to the studio, rescue Doc, and stab Tico. As Franklin, Vincy, Mom, and Doc recover from the fight and their adventures, they realize that their children must live their own lives because Endings are New Beginnings. Later, O Reilly spots an injured Tico on the street and tells him that he has 24 hours before the mob murders him. Tico disappears.

Some time later, the community prepares a new marquee announcing the club headliners “Doc” and “Vincy.” A recovered Prez returns to the block and offers to play the opening set. Meanwhile, Mom opens the morning deliveries for her store and discovers Ebony, a new magazine, with a feature article about Le Hot Blu and a full-page photo of Doc and Vincy. Now the community can celebrate their success and the restored health of the band members as they reprise Listening for a Change and honor Le Hot Blu.

	Le Hot Blu Plot Synopsis
Home Synopsis Bios Songs & Lyrics Contacts		*Le Hot Blu* Plot Synopsis 2008 Book, Music, and Lyrics by Ken Lauber and Anita Gonzalez Act I It is a normal 1947 day in Harlem and the Spirit of Harlem is *Listening for a Change. Franklin, a middle-aged veteran owns a nightclub called Le Hot Blu* where his daughter Vincy sings within the *Blue Walls. Franklin works hard to manage his business even though it exists within a Black Man’s Alley* of struggle. However, Vincy sits in the dressing room and longs to be *On Her Own.* The struggle begins when the mobster Tico plots with the off-duty cop O Reilly to shut down Le Hot Blu. Tico has his own plans for making money in Harlem. For him, *It’s Nothing Personal, just business. Down the block lives a Jewish Variety Store owner called Mom. Her son Doc longs to escape the store and play music because his Mom Goes On and On and On and On* about what he should do with his life. That afternoon, a gunshot shatters the peace of the neighborhood. One of the band members is shot. Vincy is particularly upset as the community recognizes *A Day Fight in Harlem. The next morning, Franklin visits Mom who has heard the shooting, and blames Le Hot Blu* for the neighborhood disruption. Mom is weary of managing the store. Inside she feels that she is a *Budding Delilah. While Mom and Franklin chat, Doc and Vincy play Stoop Ball, and dream of a future playing music. After Vincy inspires Doc to ask for an Audition* at the club, Franklin hires Doc who feels that he is now a part of *Harlem Time. Meanwhile, Tico meets Vincy at the dressing room door. He convinces her to audition for him. Later, at an evening club performance, Doc joins the band as it celebrates Little Old New York. After the set, Vincy has an argument with her father because she wants something better. She runs out to the streets where Franklin, Vincy, Doc, and the Spirit of Harlem all look for Distant Voices* to resolve their problems. Later that night, Vincy finds Doc down by the river where she fumes that the two of them could make music side by side in Paris or at Carnegie Hall *If He’d Only Let Me Go. The next day Tico stirs up more trouble by telling Mom that her son has been playing music with the “coloreds” next door. Mom is upset, but Tico assures her that there are Possibilities* for her son with his organization. Later that afternoon, The Band is rehearsing when O Reilly has Franklin arrested on trumped up charges. While Franklin complains that *It Ain’t Right, Tico gloats because his plan is starting to work. Act II* Things are bad, but the community is moaning that *Sometimes it Be That Way. The Band is forced to pack and leave the club. As they exit, Doc spots Vincy in the window of her upstairs apartment. He climbs the stairs and joins her there. Doc tries to console Vincy with music. They sing together and grow closer as they realize that they are like Pebbles in a Stream. As they kiss, Franklin returns to the apartment. The Band meets and decides to hold a rent party to raise money for the club, but the bad news is that Prez, one of the band members, is strung out on drugs. Before the party, the Spirit of Harlem visits Mom and convinces her to sew a banner for the club fundraiser. On the street, Franklin confronts the drug dealer, San Juan Joe, about poisoning the neighborhood. Meanwhile Tico has taken over a local dance studio where he plans to create a bordello called The Rainbeau Palace. The Band has only 24 Hours* to pay the fines as they start the boisterous *Rent Party.* The event is a success, but Vincy is disappointed and still has plans to audition for Tico. She invites Doc to join her. When the two of them arrive at the studio, Tico attacks Vincy and nearly rapes her. When Doc tries to defend her, Tico beats him and ties him up. Vincy runs back to Le Hot Blu where she begs her father to *Save Him. Franklin and the Band go to the studio, rescue Doc, and stab Tico. As Franklin, Vincy, Mom, and Doc recover from the fight and their adventures, they realize that their children must live their own lives because Endings are New Beginnings. Later, O Reilly spots an injured Tico on the street and tells him that he has 24 hours before the mob murders him. Tico disappears. Some time later, the community prepares a new marquee announcing the club headliners “Doc” and “Vincy.” A recovered Prez returns to the block and offers to play the opening set. Meanwhile, Mom opens the morning deliveries for her store and discovers Ebony, a new magazine, with a feature article about Le Hot Blu* and a full-page photo of Doc and Vincy. Now the community can celebrate their success and the restored health of the band members as they reprise *Listening for a Change* and honor *Le Hot Blu*.
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