Book, Music & Lyrics By Wendy Bichel
"Bikers in Camelot had its premiere in the multicultural city of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and was undoubtedly the most successful theatrical engagement in that city’s history. There were standing ovations nightly and people were coming back to see it two and three times. I myself found the show irresistible — charming premise, funny and sophisticated book, smart lyrics, and hummable melodies. It merits a much larger audience, and a spot in the standard repertoire of small-cast musicals."
— Fredric Dannen, Billboard
Holly writes chivalric sci-fi romantasy. Michael writes biographies of Victorian women writers. They’re soul mates. But Holly has developed writer’s block and blames it on Michael. Secretly, they have each begun fantasizing about the protagonists of their own books, with whom they’ve fallen in love. Convinced marriage can solve Holly’s problem, Michael proposes, entirely forgetting that she doesn’t believe in marriage. She feels trapped. A nasty fight ensues, during which, they unwittingly materialize their fantasy lovers: Tonio, a knight in black leather who drives a Harley through the wall of their loft, and Caroline, a Victorian delight who steps out of a British telephone booth convinced it’s a red coffin. What ensues is a crazy and enlightening night during which the two learn to be careful what you wish for. Of course, they rediscover their love for each other. But their dream lovers aren’t going anywhere.
Bikers in Camelot, a four-character musical romp, a romantic fable with a super natural twist and a lush score.
PERFORMERS
Holly : Santa Claire Hirsch
Michael : Joshua David Cavanaugh
Tonio : Magnus Dorholt Kjeldal
Caroline : Clara Dunham
"Hidden in the Shadows":
Michael : Teddy Brunetti
Holly : Cass Morgan
ACT ONE
ACT TWO
ACT 1
Holly writes chivalric sci-fi romantasy. Michael writes biographies of Victorian women writers. They’re soul mates. But Holly has developed writer’s block and blames it on Michael. Secretly, they have each begun fantasizing about the protagonists of their own books, with whom they’ve fallen in love. Convinced marriage can solve Holly’s problem, Michael proposes, entirely forgetting that she doesn’t believe in marriage. She feels trapped. A nasty fight ensues, during which, they unwittingly materialize their fantasy lovers: Tonio, a knight in black leather who drives a Harley through the wall of their loft, and Caroline, a Victorian delight who steps out of a British telephone booth convinced it’s a red coffin. What ensues is a crazy and enlightening night during which the two learn to be careful what you wish for. Of course, they rediscover their love for each other. But their dream lovers aren’t going anywhere.
ACT II
(Commitments Reprise) Alone, the two new couples exchange intimate secrets. But Tonio and Caroline quickly discover that their creators are unconsciously rewriting them! Empowered by rejecting her former self (Submissive Barbie), Holly is making Tonio increasingly vulnerable (Let Me Stay Awhile),which he hates. Michael’s influence is dissolving Caroline’s Victorian restraint (You Like the Bitch in My Blood), which she enjoys – until he begins turning her into Holly. Determined to preserve their own personalities, Tonio and Caroline reveal their true identities to their creators and fire them. Then, focusing on each other, they argue about which of them is more real (Real as a Rock).
Holly and Michael realize how close they’ve come to losing everything that matters (Holly). When they reconnect, Michael reminds her that with the power to create their ideal partners, they ultimately tried to turn their fantasies into each other. They have grown, and their understanding and forgiveness rekindle their love, and passion (Hidden in the Shadows).
Caroline and Tonio discover that neither of them has any intention of returning to the pages of a book . . . or a Kindle. Forced to become allies, they plot the take-over of Holly and Michael’s lives and fall in love (Bikers in Camelot). Claiming the loft as their own, they accuse Holly and Michael of being “Impostors” and challenge their creators to a double duel. Michael slashes Tonio’s arm and seeing the blood, Caroline cuts her own as proof that they are both alive! They chase Michael and Holly out of the loft and into the street, where the two accept and embrace their perfectly imperfect love (“Right Now”) and Holly, writer’s block conquered, shares her latest sentence with Michael. Tonio and Caroline, who have decided to marry and become heroes in a world that badly needs them, return to make peace with their creators. When they invite Holly and Michael, not only to join their quest, but in true Shakespearean fashion, to share a double wedding, Holly drops to her knee and proposes to Michael (Bikers in Camelot Reprise)
A graduate of Stanford University, Wendy sang jazz in Europe before moving to NYC to begin a career as a singer-songwriter. Her first musical, Love, Sex & Rock ‘n Roll, won her a full fellowship for the MFA Program in Music Theatre Writing at NYU. The show was commissioned by Gail Merrifield Papp of the Public Theater, who later commissioned “Give Me Your Eyes” for the first festival of ten-minute musicals. Wendy Wonder and the Permanent Wave, An Ode to Miss Subways, was produced at S.N.A.F.U. in NYC. The Garden of Katan, a fantasy opera, with composer Andrew Wilder. Emir’s Adventures, a children’s musical which, like Coco, presents a lighter take on death. The Millennium Medicine Show — The Goddess Returns, is a musical/pageant, that allowed her to work with the Tent Master of Cirque du Soleil. Something Borrowed, Something New, a Jazz Memoir, was produced at the Santa Ana Theatre in San Miguel de Allende, MX. Fred Dannen, of Billboard, called Bikers in Camelot, produced in 2019, a “rollicking success in every way.” She is currently working on Are You Dying to Live with Me, a vampire pas de deux exploring the pros and cons of immortality.
