Elway: The Musical Book, Music & Lyrics by Keith Varney
Synopsis (based on a true story… with a ton of liberties taken)
John Elway is the son of a poor farmer in Colorado . John’s dream is to of play quarterback in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and win the Superbowl. He’s not so bright, but he’s got a big heart and thrives on childlike optimism. His father, who was also a big dreamer but had faced nothing but failure, sends him off to college to redeem the Elway name. John is drafted by his beloved Broncos and arrives in Denver to discover that the city is mired in misery and depression on every level.
John’s head coach Dan Reeves has a reputation for being a terrifying hard-ass coach, but comes in spouting new-age peace & love anger management techniques that have been court ordered after an incident in which Dan bit off the ear of the Broncos’ previous quarterback on national television.
Meanwhile, the love story emerges as John falls for Julie, a young resident who works for the Broncos team doctor. She was a nerd in school and can’t stand dumb jocks. John, being a jock…and dumb… has some work to do. The team, because Dan would rather hold hands and pass the energy while doing whale chants than teach football, has a complete lack of structure and discipline. Luckily, John has a ton of natural talent and he leads them to the Superbowl. Which they lose.
A new assistant coach, Mike Shanahan, is brought in to help give the Broncos a shot of energy and a killer instinct. He is Dan’s polar opposite and does nothing to help Dan’s anger management. John throws himself into Mike’s new philosophy which turns out to be very successful. However, the killer instinct causes them to unnecessarily humiliate another team who subsequently faces the Broncos in the next Superbowl looking for revenge. Naturally, the Broncos lose again.
John is now becoming world famous for losing Superbowls. He is incredibly distressed because he believes he is letting his father down. After trying to win Dan’s way, then Mike’s way, he decides to stop listening to anybody (including his now, girlfriend Julie) and doing everything his way. The team is torn in three different directions (Dan, Mike and John) and naturally loses a third Superbowl by an even greater margin. Dan melts down and streaks the Superbowl and is promptly fired.
At John’s lowest moment, Janet brings John and his father together. John has been afraid to talk to his father because he was too ashamed of being a loser. John’s father explains that John isn’t a loser at all and that he has revitalized an entire city with the Bronco’s success. The economy has improved because of the team, and the people of Denver have something to collectively root for and feel good about. He also explains that winning was never important, the Elway name is saved by John being a good man.
In a montage, seven years pass as John refocuses on his relationship with Janet (they get married and have a kid) and football becomes less and less important as he accepts and embraces his life as an adult, husband and father.
After 14 years of playing John decides, back at the farm at his father’s funeral, that he’s ready to retire. John is happy with his life and satisfied with his career. Julie convinces him that now that he’s taken care of his family and grown into a mature and responsible man that he should take one more shot at his little-kid dream before he retires. Just for fun. Of course, revitalized and refocused, John takes the Broncos back to one final Superbowl where he faces a team (ironically, but it’s true!) coached by Dan Reeves. On the last play of the game, John heroically scores a touchdown securing the Broncos victory and his place in NFL history. Confetti.