"College/Bound" is a dramatic musical comedy about family expectations and college aspirations. Though intended for adults and teens, it is “family friendly,” with only mild euphemistic cursing (“goldarnit”), one instance of pot smoking, and the implication of a make-out session.

Staging Information: This two-act show covers approximately ten years. It can be set from the 1970s onward. The settings in both acts are a home (kitchen and living room), and classrooms and hallways in a high school. The only props needed are normal household items (e.g. a phone, a backpack, a box of cookies).

Casting Requirements: College/Bound has more than twenty-five distinct speaking and/or singing roles. Many are small yet juicy. It can be done with a large cast, or, with doubling, it can be comfortably performed with eight singing actors: four mezzo-sopranos or high altos, one tenor, two baritones, and one bass.

Short Synopsis: After a surprising night with high school seniors gets a goody two-shoes sophomore (Ellen) unfairly grounded, she decides to reach beyond the limited expectations her perfectionist parents have for her— and seek out the "bad girl" behaviors they've accused her of. At stake: independence, love, and the chance to go to an excllent college.

Fuller Synopsis: Nothing is ever good enough for Ellen's Dad—even an A+ paper gets a critique. And Dad's frustrations with ordinary life result in tantrums—narrated as if they were sportscasts by the ongoing observers (the Commentator and the Measurer) that Ellen has in her head.

Ellen's Mother never goes to her aid directly (Don't You Know) but instead talks about the Promised Land Of College (Promised Land Chorus).

As Ellen grows up—and applies what she learns in school to her own life—she pushes her Mother to change things in the family. Her Mother, however, refuses to rock the boat (Keep Things The Same).

When Ellen is a sophomore in high school, her parents ground her for forbidden conduct she hasn't even considered. She decides to change her goody-two-shoes ways. Her new goals are to try the "bad girl" things she's been accused of, and to get into a college her parents think is beyond her reach (My Goals).

Some obstacles arise. Among other things, she fails to get her love interest's mind off of anxiety over college (It's Time For You To Kiss Me), has close encounters with a bully (Gonna Get It), and winds up in detention (The Egghead Has Cracked).

Will Ellen achieve any of her "bad girl" goals? Will she ever really "dream a little"—as her guidance counselor advises? And will she figure out what she wants to be (Figure Out Later)?

A classmate demonstrates special feelings and powers (Angel Of Detention), Ellen's Mother shows resolve in a surprising way, and Ellen makes a fateful decision before show's end.