Leader of the Pack is a popular choice for high school and amateur productions, which Ellie Greenwich frequently managed and oversaw until her death in August 2009. 2000 U.S. Tour A major U.S. tour was produced in 2000–2001, with new arrangements, orchestrations and musical direction by Nathan Hurwitz, directed by Kurt Stamm, choreography by Scott Wise. The cast included: Shoshana Bean, Brenda Braxton, Dianna Bush, Todd DuBail, Duane Martin Foster, Angela Garrison, Amy Goldberger, David Josefsberg, Joe Machuta, Ric Ryder, Denise Summerford, Jewel Tompkins, Ashley Howard Wilkinson. One reviewer wrote, "Brenda Braxton shows her stuff in "The Sunshine After the Rain," and Angela Garrison does well with her numbers, including, notably, "The First Time." When they finally throw a bone to the men, the guys make the most of it. Ric Ryder and Todd DuBail carry their songs effortlessly. They do have a fine orchestra to work with, and the band, led by Nathan Hurwitz, gets better as the songs get richer." Synopsis Act 1 Darlene Love, serving as a narrator, welcomes us to the 1980s and the still-present popularity of songs from the 1960s (‘’Be My Baby’’). Darlene then takes us back to a simpler time, the 1960s, and the music of that period as well (‘’Wait ‘til My Bobby Gets Home’’). Enter Ellie Greenwich, a teenage girl living in Levittown, New York. She dreams of her own musical success, but is sidelined by her mother who wishes for her to pursue a degree in education. (‘’A…My Name Is Ellie’’). In Ellie’s spare time, she formed a trio with her two best friends, Shelley and Mickey, called the Jivettes. The Jivettes are given a chance to record a single at the Brill Building, which they believe could be their big break. (‘’Jivette Boogie Beat’’) Fast forward a few years later where Ellie, now finished with school, attempts to get job writing at the Brill Building. There she meets a fellow writer, Jeff Barry, and Gus Sharkey, a music producer (in the vein of Phil Spector). Despite skepticism from Gus, Ellie writes and records her first hit single. (‘’Why Do Lovers Break Each Other’s Hearts?’’) At an office party celebrating her hit single, Ellie and Jeff meet again and begin flirting with each other. (‘’Today I Met The Boy I’m Gonna Marry’’) The office party culminates into a huge dance party, with each side singing about the opposite sex (‘’I