The 1950s era story from the original books by John R. Powers was also turned into a
musical with music and lyrics by James Quinn and Alaric 'Rokko' Jans in 1979. Produced by Libby Adler Mages and Daniel Golman of Mavin Productions. The original
coming of age musical involves the 1950s
Catholic education of eight
Chicago children, following them from the start of elementary school through the
senior prom and beyond. Along the way it touches on such topics as first
confessions, puppy love,
patron saints, teacher's pets,
sex education classes, and the importance of not wearing patent leather shoes as they could reflect up under the school uniform's plaid pleated skirts. One of the central plot elements running through the musical is that Eddie Ryan is infatuated with a chubby girl, Becky Bakowski. She becomes his best friend, and he later falls in love with her when she matures into a beautiful young woman. Unfortunately, she has decided to become a nun. Many years later Eddie returns to his old elementary school to inquire about Becky only to find she has left the order and is teaching in a small school in Indiana. At the end of the musical they are reunited. An
original cast recording was released by Bay Cities Records. The licensing agent for all performances is
Samuel French, Inc., which calculates over 250 performances are given each year in North America. ==Song list==