The King of Colaraine, Edmund, lies asleep in his Chambers when suddenly he is awoken by the echoes of Ghosts (Do You Remember?), haunting his memories of the war with the neighboring Willowmere, over possession of The Great River. King Edmund remembers 20 years ago when he pointlessly sent thousands of soldiers to their death (As Long As We Shall Live). Edmund vows to his daughter Hannah that there will never be peace between Colaraine and Willowmere.
Hannah sneaks out of the Castle to secretly meet with her young love, a peasant boy named Ian. Although forbidden, Ian promises that one day he and Hannah will be wed (If I Were The King). This secret rendezvous is suddenly interrupted by Lord Garrett, Colaraine's Captain and Hannah's betrothed husband.
Once home, Ian it greeted by Ulrich, a royal official from Willowmere. Ulrich explains that Roland, Willowmere's King, has been murdered, and that his last testament revealed he had secretly conceived a son with a common woman of Colaraine and Ian is this son and now heir to the throne of his enemy country. Ian accepts Ulrich's proposition as king, in hopes that his new royal status will allow him to marry Hannah (Many Moons Ago).
After a heated argument with King Edmund over having to wed Lord Garrett, Hannah and Ian exchange love vows from a distance (Follow Our Hearts). Once in Willowmere, Ulrich explains Ian's royal lineage (The Family Tree), and is abruptly interrupted by Ian's "would be king" cousin Malcolm (Isn't It Funny?). On the outskirts of Willowmere, a wretched old man, Silas, is plotting vengeance on the new boy king (Piece Of Me). Meanwhile, Ulrich gives Ian a complete 'kingly' makeover (Here's And There's), clothing him in colorful garments. Ian doesn't feel his new appearance suits him (It's Just Not Me).
Lord Garrett tells King Edmund that a new boy king has been inaugurated in Willowmere and suggests, in light of their new circumstances, now may be the opportune time to attack. While King Edmund sleeps on it, he is visited by Pride who encourages the war (Do You Remember When? Pt2). Back in Willowmere, Ulrich toasts Ian at dinner and a wild royal rumpus ensues celebrating his new kingship (Long Live The King). During the rumpus, Malcolm and Silas meet by The Great River. It is revealed that they are Father and son, both plotting death upon the new king (That Boy Must Die).
In the Palace of Willowmere, Ian sits in THE ROOM OF KINGS, surrounded by portraits of his forefathers. Ulrich reminds him that royalty is in his blood (Things Aren't Always What They Seem To Be). Left alone with a traditional nightly glass of Brandy, King Roland's portrait comes to life discussing with Ian his purpose and destiny (A Shadow In A Light).
RIVERLAND Synopsis ACT 2:
Ulrich prepares Ian for the daily morning judgments before the Imperial Court. One criminal is brought forth to plead his case and receive judgment from the King (Judgement Day). The Royal Council frowns upon the unorthodox manner in which Ian finds the criminal innocent saving him from the death sentence.
In Colaraine, Lord Garrett reiterates the importance of resolution between the countries. King Edmund, still undecided, prays for an answer (In This Life). Willowmere's Royal Council tell Ulrich of their complete displeasure for the new King Ian (We've All Gone Mad). Silas and Malcolm meet again. Malcolm explains that he will sneak Silas into the palace so he can poison Ian's nightly goblet of Brandy. Silas is pleased (Peice Of Me reprise). Soon thereafter, a disguised Silas arrives in the Room of Kings, delivers Ian his goblet of brandy and quickly leaves. The portraits on the wall stop Ian from drinking the Brandy. Ulrich enters and tells Ian about Roland and Silas' dark past (Twenty Years Ago), explaining that Silas, once a best friend to Roland, was caught in a plot to kill him. Heart broken, Roland could not put Silas to death ,instead, he secretly visited a SIREN who put a dreadful curse upon him. In an instant, Silas was made an old decrepit man, robbed of his life. The only way to break the curse was to kill Roland's first born before his twentieth birthday (The Song Of The Siren). Faced with this new dilemma, Ian ponders his own destiny (Chosen).
In Colaraine, a sleeping King Edmund is visited by Pride, Guilt and Faith who battle it out for control of King Edmund. In the end, Pride wins out and demands that King Edmund go to war with Willowmere (Do You Remember pt3). King Edmund awakens and declares war on Willowmere. Hannah flees to Willowmere to warn Ian (Can It Be).
In The Palace of Willowmere, Ian awaits to judge his morning criminal. To his surprise, the morning criminal is a captured King Edmund and Hannah. In an effort to buy time from a riotous crowd, Ian sentences them both to death at dawn (Death Penalty). Back in the Room of Kings, Ian asks Ulrich for the keys to the dungeon. Malcolm overhears their conversation and wastes no time in making Silas aware of Ian's plans to free King Edmund and Hannah. Silas and Malcolm plan to intervene and kill them (In The Middle Of The Night).
In the Dungeons, King Edmund reconciles with Hannah and with God (Forgive Me Father). Ian quickly enters and unshackles them, only to be victims of a surprise attack by Malcolm and Silas who beat Ian repeatedly. Malcolm stabs King Edmund and then confesses to Ian that he killed Roland. In a burst of anger, Malcolm is thrown to his death from the Dungeon window. Silas proceeds to finish what he started. As Ian is about to meet his death, a new day dawns. It's Ian's birthday and Silas has run out of time (Twenty Years Ago). Silas painfully disintegrates. King Edmund dies in Ian's arms and is reunited with King Roland in the heavens where they both find peace. Ian and Hannah wed in front of both countries and unites the kingdoms (One Riverland).