Full Synopsis

Full Synopsis

During a meeting of the Founding Fathers regarding the Declaration of Independence, an elderly Benjamin Franklin falls asleep and begins to dream. He awakens to find that he has transformed into a fifteen-year-old Ben. When his older brother, James, starts yelling at him to get to work, Ben decides that he must find a way to get his brother to listen. Slowly, Ben's Alter Egos – Mrs. Silence Dogood, Alice Addertongue and Poor Richard – appear to give Ben confidence and encouragement ("Frankly Ben") so that he can declare independence from his brother.

Ben isn't sure what is happening, but Richard convinces him to form a club with the Alter Egos that will be useful and help improve the world ("Junto Together"). The Alter Egos are helping Ben on his way to independence. Ben discusses how he likes to solve problems and invent things ("Science and Invention"), but the group agrees that Ben needs to learn more if he is to gain his independence.

The first meeting of the club materializes as a game show, with Ben as the contestant. The stakes are high. If Ben loses, he must suffer the abuse of his brother forever. If he wins, though, he will make the world a happier, more prosperous place. During the game, Ben learns from Silence that he must work hard and know right from wrong ("The Art of Virtue") if he wants to declare independence. However, Alice takes over to show Ben how he can get ahead by making others look bad ("Scandal"). Before winning the game, Ben must guess the point of Alice's song. Ben answers incorrectly, and the fun quickly ends.

Ben finally meets Polly, a girl who has been hanging around the Alter Egos the whole time, but kept herself separate from Ben. Polly explains that she is from Ben's future and that she is there to teach him about the world ("Know Your World"). Ben is in love. He has found a girl who likes science. James quickly interrupts them and tells Polly to stay away from Ben because he is a waste of time. Ben is embarrassed by how James treats him and realizes that Alice's song about making others look bad was a trick. The Alter Egos cheer for Ben. He is learning. As Richard congratulates him with a song of famous quotes, Ben decides that the quotes would be more interesting if Richard "hipped it up" a little ("Poor Richard's Rap").

Just when Ben is gaining the knowledge he needs to become an independent person, James comes and apologizes to Ben. Ben listens and decides to play it safe, sticking to printing papers. The Alter Egos try to rally Ben ("It's Up to You) and make him believe that, even though he's young, he can still make a difference in the world. Ben looks within himself ("You'll See") and learns that he can stand up against his brother and tyranny.

Old Benjamin Franklin wakes up. His dream has helped him organize his thoughts and inspires him to make an important change to the Declaration of Independence. As the Founding Fathers acknowledge Benjamin's great idea, Ben, the Alters and Polly celebrate their independence together ("Our Junto, Our World")!