Synopsis

     Lilacs in the Valley is about a teenage young man named Alma Hale. Alma is especially close to his little sister, Emily. Alma also enjoys playing tricks on his Uncle Henry who is 35 years old and still single.

     Forced to leave their homes and head west they face the challenges and enjoy the humor of western life. When Emily dies Alma faces the greatest challenge of his life. The musical deals with Alma's struggle to understand about love and loss.

     Uncle Henry thinks Alma needs some spice put back in his life. He fills Alma's bedroll with snakes and lizards. When Alma finds out who did it he and his teenage buddies decide to play the greatest trick of all on Henry. They snooker him into marrying the big bossy German woman, Gertrude, whom Henry is trying to avoid.

     As Alma continues to struggle with his inner turmoil, it is Henry, the determined old bachelor, tricked into marriage, who helps Alma to understand about love and life. He says:      "...love is a strange thing. It's not always joyful and exciting, though it is sometimes. Love is pride in the accomplishment of someone you care about. Love is anger at the stupid things they do. Love is happy. Love is sad. Love is fear, and love is courage. And love, love is sorrow when someone you care about is gone. Perhaps grief is the greatest sign of love."

When Lilacs Are Blooming
I'll plant you a lilac in the valley,
In the valley wherever we go.
I'll plant you a lilac in the valley,
And carefully watch it grow.
And then when it blooms in the springtime
It'll bring back your memory.
I'll plant you a lilac in the valley,
If you'll say a prayer for me.
You always will be in my memory
The thoughts that are near to my heart
They will always be so sweet to me
You can never keep us far apart
As wind in lilacs whistles softly,
It will always whisper your name
The tune will be so sweet and lovely
My heart never will be the same
When lilacs are blooming in the springtime,
They bring life joyous and new.
Like sunrise that comes in the morning,
My love, someday I'll greet you.
And then we will be together,
And we'll never part again.
I'll plant you a lilac in the valley,
My sweetheart, my wife, my friend.