Ballad of Dreams, A New Musical

Audrey McKenna, a vibrant grandmother and mother of thirteen, is reminded of her unfulfilled dream of
performing at Carnegie Hall when her boyfriend, Dr. O’Connor, proposes at Thanksgiving. Reflecting on
her life and aspirations, she expresses a desire for more than mere dependence on a husband. Alongside
her best friend and cousin Rose, Audrey revisits the New York theater scene of their youth, exploring the
choices and sacrifices that have defined their lives. The story unfolds across two eras—the 1940s and
the 1990s—shared by Audrey and Rose as they recount their journey to their granddaughter, Amelia.
Back in the 1940s, Audrey and her boyfriend Vic prepare for a Carnegie Hall audition, but their plans are
disrupted by personal tragedies and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Vic enlists, leaving Audrey
heartbroken and without an engagement ring. She finds solace in her friendships with Rose, Oscar
(Rose’s husband), and Ted. Ted, loyal and supportive, eventually wins her heart, and they marry.
Audrey's dream of performing is rekindled, but she is dismissed from her role at Carnegie when her
pregnancy is discovered. Meanwhile, Rose faces challenges as her once-perfect marriage begins to
unravel.
Devastated, Audrey says goodbye to her dream of the stage and hello to the dream of motherhood.
Commiserating with Ted, a knock on the door reveals a very much alive Vic to find his two best friends
married and expecting their first child. Audrey goes on to have thirteen children, while Rose, still
suffering the loss of a child, never has children of her own. While their paths are drastically different, the
one constant is their friendship.
Following the deaths of their husbands, Audrey and Rose, now in their sixties, navigate new beginnings
contemplating their memories and seeking paths of independence. As they ponder whether to pursue
new dreams or revisit old passions, "Ballad of Dreams" by Allyson Hernandez chronicles their journey
through different societal eras from the 1930s to the early 2000s, questioning whether it’s ever too late
to chase a new dream.

Ballad of Dreams, a novel with music was published in January 2022 through New Degree Press and was an Amazon #1 Best Seller and new release in Musicals. It can also be found at Barnes and Noble, Indigo, and The Drama Book Shop in New York. The novel with music is also available on Audible, narrated by Allyson Hernandez and Amanda Ferguson with the music woven throughout. In March of 2022, Allyson Hernandez appeared on the Tamron Hall Show to discuss her book Ballad of Dreams, a novel with music and performed one of her original songs from the show, “It’s Never Too Late.”

The concept album of Ballad of Dreams, produced by Macy Schmidt, is available on all music
streaming platforms. A sold-out staged concert of "Ballad of Dreams" was performed at The
Triad Theater in December of 2022. In partnership with LDK General Management, Allyson
produced and starred in a 29-hour reading of Ballad of Dreams at Pearl Studios, NY, with several Broadway performers including Hunter Parrish, Erin Davie, Alan H Green, Nicholas Rodriguez, Robb Sapp, Emily Jewel Hoder, Sharon Wheatley, Emily Walton, and others.