Smile (musical) - Story

Story

Act 1 Smile opens with all the contestants packing to leave for Santa Rosa, where the pageant is held ("Typical High School Senior"). At orientation, Brenda tells the girls what to expect during the upcoming week ("The Very Best Week of Your Lives"). The story switches over to the dorms where we meet Maria and Shawn, and Doria and Robin. Doria explains to Robin about the pageant and what happens while Robin writes a postcard to her Mom ("Dear Mom #1"). Doria then remembers seeing her first pageant in Disneyland and how one day she'll be there ("Disneyland").

We then meet Little Bob Freelander, who wants to sneak into the dorms and take pictures of the girls while they're in the showers. The next day, the girls begin learning their dance routines under Tommy French ("Shine"). This song follows the typical day before the pageant. The girls learn to dance, while Brenda takes a few girls to speak at luncheons for the Elks, Lions Club, and Rotarians. At the end of the day, Brenda is determined to do better than she did eighteen years ago, and have everything go perfect; the girls have finally gotten a hold of the dance.

Robin, who has no experience in pageants, is worn out and wants to leave ("Dear Mom #2"). Meanwhile, Shawn has become angry that the judges like Maria's talent of cooking. Shawn wants to have Maria taken out of competition. The scene changes to Big Bob talking to the other judges. He warns them to look beyond the appearance of the girls and look at their hearts, and how the world never does this. ("Bob's Song"). Freddy and Little Bob are seen sneaking around that night. They plan on getting pictures of the girls that night. The scene changes to the next morning. Brenda is giving the girls their daily schedule, while they recover from the previous workout. ("Nerves"). The girls rehearse for their preliminary night, and Heidi falls. Preliminary night begins with three categories: Vim and Vigor, Scholastic Achievement, and Creative Talent. ("Young and American"). Sandra-Kay Macaffee, Robin Gibson, and Maria Gonzales win respectively in each category.

The girls return to their dorms and Doria talks to Robin about what she's doing wrong. Everyone then talks about their anxiousness for the final night. ("Until tomorrow night"). Meanwhile, Shawn catches Little Bob and Freddie and uses them to her advantage against Maria.

Act 2 (opening act 2). Robin writes a third letter to her mom. Brenda talks about how this year is going to be the best year. The girls are still freaking out. Brenda then introduces Ted Farley who will be the MC of the event. The girls then prepare for the final night. Ted Farley opens with a song to begin the event. ("Smile"). After Ted announces the previous winner, the girls also come on stage performing and also singing the song Smile. Pictures of the girls appear later in the song, ending with the nude picture of Maria taken by Little Bob that Shawn put into the slideshow. Maria runs off in horror. Ted Farley is talking to the crowd as Brenda and Maria talk about what just happened. Maria runs off soon after.

Dale Wilson-Shears, the National Chairman, confronts Brenda about the catastrophe on stage. Brenda comes up with a plan to fix everything that just happened and gives a long, heartfelt speech on the importance of the pageant. She hands Ted the envelope that now contains only 4 girls names as opposed to the original 5. Ted announces the finalists: Shawn, Sandra-Kay, Robin, and Doria. There is much relief as Brenda had just saved the pageant. Bob talks to Brenda about how the judges don't want to choose a winner because of what happened and Brenda basically fires Bob in order to pick a winner. The 4 Finalists then give their final remarks before the winner is announced. ("In Our Hands"). Big Bob finds out that his son is the one who took that picture. Ted and Joanne go onstage to announce the winner of the pageant. It is announced that Doria Hudson is the runner-up. The big moment arrives and Sandra-Kay MacAffee is the winner of the pageant. ("There goes the Girl"). Ted closes the pageant when the song is over.

Dale congratulates Brenda on saving the pageant and offers her a spot on the National Committee. Brenda tries to reconcile with Bob to no avail. Bob tries to figure out how to deal with his wife and his son now. Doria tries to convince Robin to join her in the Miss Sunbelt Pageant. Robin ultimately decides to go home. Doria seeing this sings about Disneyland one final time. ("Closing song/Disneyland").