Picture it: 1998. The country is in turmoil. One face occupies every TV screen in the nation: the face of Monica Lewinsky. The country spontaneously goes insane: Kinko's sells early copies of the Starr Report for $75 a pop; All My Children is interrupted with news of stained blue dresses; and two recent college grads wonder what the world is coming to. And eureka. A musical is born.

Even amidst its humble beginnings, Monica! The Musical was special. For a very long time, its creators didn't believe that it was "real." They thought of it as a funny diversion - a chance to one-up each other by writing progressively more outrageous scenes and situations that would never appear in a real musical about the Lewinsky scandal. Daniel J. Blau and Tracie Potochnik focused their substantial creative energies and substantially twisted minds on the alternately dumb, insane and libelous: Bill Clinton toking with his college buddy Vernon Jordan at a hippie love-in; Tom Jones (yes, that Tom Jones) serving as an unlikely catalyst for Bill's growing libido; Hillary Clinton and Janet Reno singing a tender duet about the pleasures of being...lawyers (...women lawyers, that is).

After a time, Dan and Tracie moved on to other projects and Monica! charted a very slow course, indeed. That is, until Adam Blau, composer extraordinaire, became involved in the project and brought new life with his endlessly perfect music. Suddenly, there was a glimmer of hope. Maybe Monica! could be a real musical after all! The three friends and colleagues set about completing the script and writing the songs. The book was completed amongst a frenzy of inspiration late in 2002 and then the Blau / Potochnik / Blau collaborative realized...it was time for Monica! to make her debut to the world, one reading at a time.

Thus, the trio decided to start doing it themselves. They put their wits together and planned and produced a reading in May, 2003 of Monica's first act. The reading was homespun - cast with friends, paid for by the creators, seen by friends and family, and shown in a rented studio at the Manhattan Theater Club. It was a huge undertaking and Dan, Tracie and Adam began to realize both that the script needed substantial work and that intense public interest in all things Clinton / Lewinsky remained strong. A chance connection led to an article in the New York Observer, and the story was picked up by such luminaries as Fox News (yes, that Fox News) and Studio Brussel. The Washington Post called and requested an interview. Dan, Tracie, and Adam were thoroughly freaked out, but also encouraged.

After attending the May reading and making their way through the entire script, Page 73 Productions, a non-profit production group dedicated to developing new work, signed on to produce the next public performances of Monica!. Dan and Tracie went into hiding to substantially revise Acts I and II, and Adam finished the show's music. A series of two readings were held in late October, 2003. Added to the Monica! team were director Casey Hushion, musical director Nadia DiGiallonardo, and a cast of twelve professional actors. The excitement among the creative team and cast was palpable - there was a sense that this show, while still needing work, carried a great deal of potential. The raw material was there: the show was funny, smart, musically adventurous, and had one unexpected ace in the hole...a heart.

Which brings us to...the present. Page 73 Productions has continued to work with the creators to tighten the script and the Manhattan Theater Club has produced a reading of Monica! as part of its "6@6" series. A reading was held in September, 2004 as part of the New York Music Theatre Festival. A limited run production is planned for May, 2005. Dan, Tracie and Adam continue to strive to give Monica! the consistency and polish that it needs to attain greater glory. They are proceeding with an intense level of commitment, excitement, energy and originality, certain that this show - which was spawned from no more than a silly idea - has what it takes to be not only real, but fabulous.