Winter Garden, Florida — The late ’90s and early 2000s are back — and this time, they’re coming with a soundtrack and a story that’s never been told. Today, writer and creator Mark Kaley announces the release of the book/script for Those Days – A Rock Musical (https://mkaley.com/those-days-rock-musical/), an original theatrical project that captures the cultural zeitgeist of the turn of the millennium while telling a brand-new story for today’s audiences.

But there’s more: Kaley has also launched a GoFund Me Campaign to raise the funds needed to transform the script into a fully staged production.

The Story + The Soundtrack of a Generation

Set in a small working-class town, Those Days follows four childhood friends reuniting at their 10-year high school reunion, where old dreams, regrets, and secrets collide against a backdrop of love, grief, and redemption. Infused with the spirit of late ’90s and early 2000s rock, the musical echoes the energy of the songs, styles, and coming-of-age experiences that defined a generation.

“This is more than nostalgia,” says Kaley. “It’s about recreating what it felt like to come of age in that era — while telling a universal story that connects across generations. If you have ever looked at a picture and whispered ‘I miss those days’ then this show is for you.”

From Page to Stage

Currently, Those Days exists in its completed script format — with staging, dialogue, and integrated music. With public support through GoFundMe, Kaley hopes to bring the musical to life on stage, where its raw emotion and electrifying score can be experienced in full.

“Releasing the script is step one,” Kaley explains. “Now we’re inviting fans of rock, theater lovers, and anyone who’s ever blasted a mixtape on repeat to help us take the next step — making Those Days a live experience.”

Why Now?

As pop culture embraces the resurgence of nostalgia — from music playlists to Y2K fashion — Those Days offers a powerful mix of memory and originality. It’s a chance to both relive and reimagine a moment in time, with a story that speaks to the heart of what it means to grow up, move on, and look back.

Get Involved

The full script of Those Days – A Rock Musical is now available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Those-Days-Unproduced-Dramatic-Rehearsal/dp/B0FQ48KMXR/) for readers, theater professionals, and fans of original storytelling. Supporters can visit the official Those Days website (https://mkaley.com/those-days-rock-musical/) to learn more and donate through GoFundMe (https://www.gofundme.com/f/bringing-those-days-to-life-on-stage) to the project and help bring this one-of-a-kind rock musical to the stage.

For press inquiries, interviews, or more information:
Mark Kaley
407-394-5881 / [email protected]
www.mkaley.com

ABOUT MARK KALEY

Mark Kaley is a storyteller, strategist, and lifelong lover of live music and small-town truths. With a background in media, communications, and business, Mark has spent years helping others find and share their stories — from political campaigns to public relations, from pressrooms to boardrooms. He is an entrepreneur at heart, an advocate for small businesses, a passionate storyteller, and author of “From Pennies to Millions” and creator of “Those Days: A Rock Musical.”

But at heart, he’s always been drawn to the kinds of stories that unfold under string lights in backyards, over beers in dive bars, and between friends who know too much about each other to pretend. Those Days is his first dramatic work for the stage — a labor of love rooted in 2000s nostalgia, broken dreams, and the healing power of music.

Mark lives in Florida but writes from the places he’s lived in memory — a little bit of everywhere, and always with a soundtrack.