Book by Karmo Sanders
Lyrics by Karmo Sanders & Jerry Sanders
Music by Jerry Sanders

 

Synopsis

Fleeing an abusive past, Eudora Horn lands in Dawson with a plan. Staking everything she has on the gold rush, Eudora builds "Paradise," the fanciest dance hall in the Yukon. Fanning the flames of the fevered gold rush, "Paradise," is every man's dream of heaven. Here the women are extolled as angels and the barroom rings with song. Ike keeps the dance hall swinging with his raggedy rhythm piano playing. The dance hall girls, Rose and Lily, entertain the men and in return, are showered with golden nuggets. Eudora has found the love of her life in the now injured, but once boisterous Captain McNally. She's living the realization of her dream.

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And then, her past walks through the door. His name is Barker Jones, a man filled with vengeance, desire and greed. Obsessed with Eudora and everything she holds dear, Barker's goal is to either control, or destroy her.

Sabotaging Eudora's business, Barker gains control of her whiskey supply. He then turns his attentions on Lily. Weaving a web of lies, jealousy, and promises, Barker pits Lily against Eudora. In a subtle but dangerous move Barker sways the dance hall to his favor and breaks the already fragile thread Rose holds on her sanity. For Rose is haunted by the ghost of a Tlingit Indian girl. When Barker kills the Captain, the trap is sprung.

Barker forcefully takes his place as Eudora's new partner. Infuriated with the injustice, still reeling from the Captain's death, Eudora finds herself battling for truth in a lawless land. Fighting for freedom in the heart of Paradise, Eudora discovers that gold neither outweighs, nor is as precious as the strength of the human spirit.

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The Adventure

1898 - Klondike Gold Rush. - Sex and Gold. Hope and Despair. Greed and Charity. Where Joy and Sorrow meet. A time very much like our own - a nation burning with gold fever. Where the quest for power and the disease of greed reign. Paving the way to both rule and ruin. Where passionate splendor and violent obsession meet. In a moment lifting human spirits to the heights of glory and then tumbled to the depths of despair. Here on the gold fields a company of women and men strive for freedom and gamble on hope; and in that struggle recognize where true riches lie.

In July 1897 a few adventurous miners arrived in San Francisco with two tons of gold. The news topped the headlines of papers around the world, and within days, tens of thousands of men, driven by the promise of immediate and unimaginable wealth, were racing to the Klondike.

In search of their own riches, a courageous group of women joined the fevered rush. Setting up dance halls in the middle of the wilderness these actresses, singers and ladies of the night provided the men with all the comforts of home.

Mining their own fortunes in the gold fields, they were women on the fringe of society, seeking freedom and riches in the frozen wilds. Our musical the "Gold Rush Girls" is a tribute to these noble-hearted entrepreneurs, known as the good time girls.