ETERNAL HOLDINGS

THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

The Impossible Dream

The Impossible Dream is a bold, emotionally charged six-act musical by Lee Elman that blends the grit of Pride of the Yankees with the haunting mystery of Eddie and the Cruisers. At its heart is the semi-fictional life of Paco Gato, a raw, magnetic musician whose career rises from the smoke-filled dive bars of the late 1980s to the brink of stardom—before fate, passion, and personal struggle reshape the course of his destiny.

The story begins in 1988, in a forgotten dive bar where Paco belts out “Long Live Punk” and “Down Under,” electrifying a tiny room of believers. Soon, he meets A.J., the owner of a popular beach bar who gives him a nightly stage and the chance to find his audience. In this world of neon lights and ocean breezes, he meets Michelle—his muse, his anchor, his first real love.

By Act II, Paco’s path takes him from beach bars to city stages. Under the mentorship of Kyle, a fast-talking promoter, Paco’s sound grows louder, more polished, and undeniably destined for bigger things. He dreams of greatness in “The Impossible Dream,” and his energy lights up city streets and the subway’s 7 train. His career burns like a bonfire—songs like “Bonfire” and “Cinderella on the Beach” cement him as a rising star. But fame is a dangerous fire.

Act III, he is at the height of fame, playing his biggest shows with hits like “Lost on the Moon” and “OK Corral.In Laguna Beach, Paco encounters Lilia, a Russian med student whose brief, passionate presence inspires the haunting album Paintings of Lilia. Yet, like smoke, she vanishes overnight—leaving Paco heartbroken but fueled creatively.” But the spotlight grows heavy. In a shattering anthem, “This Is My Life,” Paco walks away, declaring goodbye to it all.

Act IV jumps forward. Michelle, now older and wiser, organizes Woofstock—a massive music festival for shelter animals. In a small Florida tiki bar, she discovers Paco playing quietly for tourists, singing songs like She convinces him to return for one last stage. His song “We Are the Shelter, We Are the Dogs” becomes an anthem of hope, reviving his career and inspiring a new generation.

But in Act V, the dream takes a darker turn. Paco learns he has a rare disease. He reflects in “Rocker Retirement” and “Luckiest Man,” a poignant nod to Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech. Standing by the ocean, he sings “Nirvana on the Beach,” and the audience wonders—was that the final bow?

The answer comes in Act VI. Years later, a young musician strums Paco’s old hit “Down Under” in a tiki bar and invites a special guest to the stage. Paco emerges, older but unbroken, to deliver one last encore. In the final moments, Lilia reappears—tying together the threads of love, music, and destiny as the curtain falls.

The Impossible Dream is not just a musical—it’s a celebration of passion, resilience, and the eternal flame of music that lives on in every heart that dares to dream.

Principal Roles

  • Paco Gato (18–55) – Lead singer/guitarist; scrappy poet turned cult icon. (Rock tenor/baritenor)
  • Michelle (20s–50s) – Beach-bar regular turned festival organizer; Paco’s true-north. (Pop mezzo)
  • A.J. (30s–60s) – Magnetic owner of a beloved beach bar; Paco’s first champion. (Alto/belt)
  • Kyle (30s–40s) – Hustling manager/true believer who spots the spark. (Tenor)
  • Lilia (20s–50s) – Russian med student in Laguna; a fleeting, life-altering love. (Soprano)
  • Young Man/Protégé (20s) – New blood at the tiki bar who carries Paco’s flame. (Any)
  • Ensemble – Bandmates, bartenders, city buskers, commuters, fans, techs, shelter volunteers; optional dog puppetry/mascots for Woofstock.

Musical Palette: punk-pop anthems, beach rock, acoustic confessionals, city-beat percussion, gospel-tinged finales.
Orchestration: 2 gtrs, bass, drums, keys, aux perc; optional strings (2 vln/1 vla/1 vc).
Runtime: ~2h20m + intermission (after Act 3). Acts 1–3 (75–80m), Acts 4–6 (60–65m).

Recurring Motifs

  • “The Impossible Dream (Paco’s Theme)” – Hope motif; returns as a weary, then triumphant reprise.
  • Guitar Light Cue – A soft spotlight on Paco’s six-string whenever choice/identity is at stake.
  • Train/Rolling Waves – Percussive underscoring shifts from subway rhythm to surf, mirroring Paco’s journey from hustle to home.

Act 1 – Dive Bar, 1988 (Approx. 25 min)

Act 1 – The Dive Bar to the Beach

The story opens in 1988 with Paco playing gritty sets in a smoky dive bar, chasing his punk rock dream. After his fiery performances, he meets AJ, the owner of the hottest beach club in town. She convinces Paco to leave the shadows of the dive bar and step into the spotlight where stars are born. There, Paco also meets Michelle, whose song of love closes the act on a heartfelt note.

Songs in Act 1:

  1. Long Live Punk
  2. Down Under
  3. Come Play at the Beach
  4. Songs from the Beach
  5. I’m in Love with You (Michelle’s Theme)

Act 2 – City of Chances (Approx. 30 min)

ct 2 – From Beach to the Big City

The curtain rises at a tiki bar where Paco trades his leather jacket for a captain’s hat and white shirt, playing lighter songs by the shore. But the pull of his punk roots lingers. Kyle, an ambitious agent, pushes Paco toward the city lights, promising him fame and glory. Paco’s sound grows bigger, his crowds louder, and his star begins to rise as he takes on New York City.

Songs in Act 2:

  1. Tiki Guy
  2. Destined for Fame (Kyle)
  3. City Streets
  4. 7 Train
  5. OK Corral
  6. American Donkey
  7. Almost Famous (Finale)

Act 3 – The Brink & The Break (Approx. 25 min)

Act 3 – The Highs and the Goodbye

Paco’s fame peaks with sold-out arenas and the whirlwind of touring, but exhaustion and heartbreak creep in. In Laguna Beach, he falls for Lilia and pens the haunting album Paintings of Lilia. By dawn, she’s gone. Paco closes with a bittersweet duet and bids farewell as the curtain falls on his meteoric rise.

Songs in Act 3:

  1. Summer of ’83
  2. Life on Tour
  3. Paco and Lilia (duet)
  4. Dear Lilia, See You Again
  5. Letter from Lilia
  6. Carnival
  7. Lost on the Moon

Interlude Paco has the breakdown The Island

Act 4 – Woofstock (Approx. 20 min)

Act 4 – Woofstock and the Comeback

Decades later, Michelle is now leading Woofstock, a massive benefit for shelter animals. From her office to a Florida tiki bar at sunset, she searches for Paco and finds him quietly strumming his guitar for tourists. She convinces him to return for one more stage, and Paco’s music sparks a movement. The anthem “We Are the Shelter, We Are the Dogs” goes viral, reigniting his fame. But just as the world sings with him again, Paco shows the first signs of something wrong—his hand trembles in the spotlight.

Songs in Act 4:

  1. Woofstock
  2. I Found Paco
  3. Sing for the Dogs
  4. One Last Show
  5. We Are the Shelter, We Are the Dogs
  6. 5 Million Views
  7. I’m Back

Act 5 – The Diagnosis & The Decision

At dawn in his quiet beach house, Paco learns the devastating truth from his doctor: a rare disease will soon steal his music. As he struggles between acceptance and defiance, Paco reflects on his career, his legacy, and the fleeting power of fame. Surrounded by friends and memories, he vows to give everything he has left to one last show. The act closes on the shoreline, waves echoing his song, as Paco faces the ocean in stillness.

Songs in Act 5:

  1. The Diagnosis
  2. Luckiest Man
  3. Rocker Retirement
  4. Tribute to Paco (The Last Unicorn)
  5. Nirvana on the Beach

Act 6 – Encore (Approx. 20 min)

Act 6 – Encore

Years later, at a quiet tiki bar under twinkle lights, Paco’s story comes full circle. A young musician pays tribute to his idol with a cover of Down Under, then invites Paco to join him onstage. With two guitars, generations unite in a simple duet, before the music swells into a final medley that turns the bar into a chorus. As the last chord fades, Lilia appears at the doorway, and Paco’s journey finds its perfect closing note.

Songs in Act 6:

  1. Down Under (Tiki cover)
  2. Long Live Punk (Reprise)
  3. The Impossible Dream (Reprise)
  4. The Final Encore