Scene by Scene Breakdown

Act 1

(At Sea) We meet the Lobstermen of Crusty Isle, including Harry Krabbe, his sister (and sternman) Kitty Krabbe and Harry’s best friend, Seth. As they haul up their catch they sing “Traps Hung Down.” The lobstering turns into a fierce competition and Harry Krabbe, as always, bests them all.
(On the Dock) As Harry, Kitty unload their catch, their mother Caroline stops by on her way to the town museum. She admires Harry’s catch and jokes that he almost has Lobster ESP - he always knows where to find them. She foists a load of trinkets for the museum onto Seth, who is clearly fond of her, and then presses Harry to join her on the town council. He scoffs at the idea, and muses about what else he could do with his life if he wasn’t lobstering. Caroline shoots down the idea, and reveals that someone on the island has reached out to a developer to suggest Crusty Isle for the site of a new amusement park. She hurries off to the town council meeting, promising to soundly reject the idea. Kitty suspects that Harry might have been the one who contacted the developer. (Spoiler alert: He was.)
(At Sea, Research Vessel.) We meet Isabella (Izzy) Mundt and herassistant, Butch. Izzy sings “Izzy’s Song” and we see how she juggles TV appearances, research stardom and her current research project: Finding and understanding the Superlobster, who she sees as a kindred spirit. The only difference is that Izzy is constantly overshadowed by the men in her industry, while the Superlobster eats her mates. As a surprise, Izzy’s billionaire funder Billy shows up with updated plans for Lobsterworld. Izzy is concerned that his plans may be overwhelming her own research dreams, but he convinces her that it’s just a roadbump on the way to getting her ideal research lab - if only she can find the perfect island spot. Izzy agrees to check out Crusty Isle and the Lobsterman who reached out. Once Izzy exits, It’s revealed th
at Butch has a secret mission to help Billy with his plan to snatch the Superlobster as soon as Izzy finds it.
(Main St) Caroline and Harry are coming from the Town Council meeting where the council roundly vetoed any development on the island. Seth enters and Harry convinces him to distract Caroline with a made-up complaint of a bad back. Kitty enters, suspecting that Harry is up to something - and she’s right. Izzy and Butch are on the island and they meet. Izzy’s isn’t impressed with the island (or with Harry) and Harry goes into a nervous showman mode to help her admire the island (and himself) while Butch and Kitty have an immediate spark. Harry and the townsfolk sing “The Crusty Isle Song '' demonstrating that on the island everything is connected and that it’s the perfect ecosystem for her research and the Lobsterworld theme park. Harry and Izzy agree to talk further over dinner. When Butch tries to get to know Kitty, she shyly runs away.
(Kitty’s Bedroom) Kitty, shaken by her instant attraction to Butch is confronted by her mother Caroline, who suspects Harry is up to something. When Kitty accuses her mother of being overly protective, she attacks Kitty’s ambitions of being a Lobsterman. We learn that Harry and Kitty’s father had died in an accident at sea. Caroline argues that Kitty must put the island before her own dreams, and reveals that she had ambitions to be a clothes designer in her youth. Kitty realizes that Caroline has been using her position on the town council to block Kitty’s lobstering license. Furious, Kitty declares that she wants to get away from Caroline and the island and accidentally reveals that Harry’s been talking to the Lobsterworld developers.
(Main Street) Seth deflects Caroline from confronting Harry. Torn between his affection for Caroline and his friendship with Harry, Seth agrees to keep Caroline distracted so that Harry can meet Izzy that night. Meanwhile, Kitty is feeling more expressive and she and Butch flirt. Billy arrives on the island surprising Butch and Billy advises Butch not to get entangled with the locals. Butch scoffs at the idea, and they sing “Love is a Trap,” both convinced that they’re above romance. (Spoiler alert: They aren’t.)
(Museum of Lobstering) Harry takes Izzy to the town’s Museum of Lobstering. Izzy is impressed with the town’s history, including a memorial to the fallen lobstermen, and is almost charmed by Harry’s antics as they shift into a romantic dream ballet in a recreated 1950’s Kitchen diorama. She is almost pulled under Harry’s spell when suddenly her phone rings and she sprints away after agreeing to consider Harry for a role as ‘spokesperson’ for the new Lobsterworld. Suddenly, Caroline appears and confronts Harry, demanding that he turn away the developers.
(Main Street) Billy asks Izzy about her progress in convincing the locals to sign over to development and reassures Izzy that she’ll get her research center. Harry arrives telling them that the Town Council refuses to grant permission for development. Billy finds a loophole and in “The Catch'' convinces Harry to get allthe Lobstermen to sign a contract giving Biller permission to start developing Lobsterworld. Harry is back on board and agrees to use his influence to get the contracts signed. Kitty and Butch sing of their attraction in “I love your…”, but stop shy of declaring love for each other.
(The Town Bar) Caroline has a drink, thinking that she narrowly avoided a threat to the island. Meanwhile, Harry pressures Seth to sign his contract with images of being big stars in Lobsterworld and Butch encourages Kitty to follow her dreams of having her own boat. Izzy finds Harry, hoping to push him to sign so she can get on with her other work. Caroline discovers Seth’s contract and realizes that she’s been duped and the island is in jeopardy
. As a storm approaches the cast sings “Becoming,” each hopeful or terrified of what may come next. During the song, Harry signs his contract and the others follow his lead. Billy sings his Aria and reveals that Lobsterworld is the first step in his nefarious master plan to destroy the ecosystem for a profitable business enterprise and to capture his greatest prize: Titania, the Superlobster.

Act 2

(Under the Sea) We finally meet Titania, the Superlobster, as she searches for her next mate in “Titania’s Tango” with a chorus of undersea creatures reminding her that she has a habit of eating her mates.
(A commercial/Lobsterworld studio) It’s six months after Izzy’s arrival and we see the characters perform a commercial for the new Lobsterworld, which is an overpriced Disney-fied version of Crusty Isle complete with a rollercoaster (‘rollerclawster’). As the commercial ends, we realize that everybody is miserable playing a shadow role of what they used to be on the island. Only Harry seems to be having the time of his life as the new Spokesman of Lobsterworld. Billy clearly wants to spend more time with Izzy and is jealous of how much time she spends with Harry, even as he loads her up with administrative duties managing the island. When Billy leaves, Harry and Izzy realize that there’s a mutual attraction but sing of their differences and how “This could never work”. They almost kiss when Izzy receives a call from Billy.
(Doorman’s Bar) Kitty tells Butch she’s still hoping to get her Lobstering license and describes her frustration and boredom with Lobsterworld. She tells her mother she’s leaving the island. Caroline blames Harry for ruining the town. Seth is drunk and he and Kitty, joined by the full cast, sing the “Lobster that needs catching” shanty describing all the things they miss from their previous lobstering life. At first, Harry protests claiming that their new life is great, but eventually even he joins in, loosened up by beers supplied by Butch, who seems to be trying to get him drunk.
(The Dock) Harry stumbles home drunkenly. Izzy finds him and is furious because he didn’t show up for an expensive photo shoot. It’s enough to push her over the edge. She realizes that her support for Lobsterworld has been a terrible mistake that has harmed Harry and the town and taken her from her research. She confirms that “this could never work” and Harry is left realizing that he has made a mess of things.
(Billy’s Boudoir) Billy communes with his collection of taxidermied animals, promising to add Titania to the collection. Butch enters and claims she wants to quit working for him. He threatens to expose her secrets to Kitty and commands her to assist in getting Izzy’s research on Titania. Izzy enters, just missing Butch, who slips away. Izzy pleads to be released from her Lobsterworld duties so that she can get back to her research. Billy is taken aback by her vulnerability and agrees to release her, but then goes one step further and proposes marriage. Izzy is shocked. She rejects Billy and appeals to him to keep Harry on as the spokesman. After she leaves, Billy realizes that Butch has also abandoned him. He becomes vengeful and promises his menagerie that he’ll soon add Titania to the collection
(Kitty’s bedroom) Kitty is packing. Butch appears and tells her they need to leave right away. Their escape is thwarted by Caroline, whose frequent entrances show that she is trying to do anything she can to slow Kitty’s escape. When Butch and Kitty slip out the window, Caroline sadly realizes she’s pushed her daughter away by trying to protect her. She sings a reprise of “Becoming.” Seth enters and comforts Caroline.
(The Museum) The Museum is under construction being converted into a tacky gift shop. Harry is sleeping off his drunkenness and wakes confused, or perhaps he’s still dreaming because he sees his father appear as a Ghost. Harry’s Ghost Dad reveals that he, too, wasn’t fulfilled with lobstering but didn’t have a choice in the matter, whereas Harry can choose to make things right. Harry seems frozen with regret, but the ghosts of the Fallen Lobstermen sing “Ode to the Fallen Lobsterman.” Harry shakes off his stupor and decides to face his mistakes and make things right in “Harry’s Ballad.”
(Izzy’s lab) Izzy is trying to restart her research, but she’s lost contact with the Superlobster and worries that Lobsterworld has destroyed her opportunity. Harry bursts in and finally says what he’s been too afraid to say all along: That he loves her. Izzy is swept up in his zeal and clearly feels the same. Harry and Izzy reprise their “Love Duet.” As they share a kiss, Billy appears and takes her hard drive of research and locks them in the lab so he can collect (and kill) the Superlobster. Harry finally reveals his lobster-connection powers and whistles for several lobsters to unlock the lab door, freeing them.
(The dock) Billy has trapped Titania and gloats about the conquest. Harry and Izzy run in just in time to stop him. Full of villainous rage, Billy releases the Superlobster to attack Harry and Izzy. Harry fights Titania and as their ferocious tussle turn into a tango, and this Superlobster is revealed to be Seth in a costume. Before Billy can try something else, Butch enters and reveals that she has protected Izzy’s research, preventing Billy from finding Titania. Billy is desperate for the research, but Izzy realizes saving the island is more important and she tosses the data drive into the ocean. Caroline shows up with a paper that’s revealed to be Kitty’s lobstering license which voids Billy’s ability to control the Island. As Billy rants he is suddenly dragged below by the real Superlobster, Titania. She has found her ideal mate after all. As the sun rises, everyone feels relief and hopeful.
(Main Street) Six months later Crusty Isle has been restored with some real improvements. Harry and Izzy return from their latest expedition and are greeted by Caroline and Seth and Kitty and Butch, both happy couples now, and they all sing “Welcome back to Crusty Isle.” In it, they recognize that they’ve all grown from the traps they’ve faced and the mistakes they’ve made along the way.