Ep 7. The Workshop

Karen and Ivy are both preparing for the workshop, a chance for them to perform in front of potential investors and Broadway producers. Karen is nervous about singing in front of people who could change her life. Ivy is confident that she will be chosen for the lead role, since the director, Derek, already told her to rehearse her lines.

Tom and Julia are dealing with the stress of the workshop. They’ve been up all night, trying to perfect the script, but it’s not quite there yet. Eileen is stressed about the poor attendance of the workshop. She decides to reach out to Jerry, an investor who is interested in putting money into the production.

Karen meets with a vocal coach to help her prepare. She sings a song that the coach thinks is too rigid and not suited for a musical. He suggests that she choose a more fun and upbeat song, something that will showcase her voice better.

Ivy rehearses her lines with Derek. They have a moment of intimacy, where Derek kisses Ivy. It's obvious that there’s some connection between them, but it’s not clear whether it’s purely professional or something more.

Tom and Julia finally finish the script, and they’re feeling good about it. However, when they receive feedback from a producer, they realize that the story lacks a clear dramatic arc. They scramble to make it work, but it seems like they’re just making changes for the sake of making changes.

Eileen meets with Jerry, trying to convince him to invest. He agrees to put some money into the show, but only if they cast a well-known actor in the lead role. Eileen is torn, knowing that the actor would be wrong for the part and would change the dynamics of the show.

Karen performs her new song for Derek, and he loves it. He suggests that she perform it at the workshop instead of the original song she had planned to sing. Karen is hesitant, not wanting to change her plans at the last minute.

At the workshop, Karen nervously performs her new song. The audience loves it, and Karen begins to feel like a real contender for the lead role. Ivy, on the other hand, struggles with her lines and her performance falls flat.

Tom and Julia watch from the sidelines, worried about the changes they made to the script. The feedback is positive overall, but they can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t quite right.

After the workshop, Derek pulls Karen aside and tells her that she was amazing. He also tells her that he sees her as the lead in the show. Karen is elated, but also wary, knowing that Ivy is still in the running.

Ivy, feeling defeated, confides in her best friend. She’s worried that the kiss with Derek may have been a mistake, and that it could end up hurting her chances.

The episode ends with Eileen talking to her team about what to do about the actor that Jerry wants to cast in the lead role. Everyone is torn, knowing that it could be a disaster for the show. But they also know that they need the money to make the show a reality.