Northwestern University's world premiere workshop production of David H. Bell's musical The Bowery Boys is a lyrical tale of homeless youth in the Bowery section of 19th century New York in search of the American dream. The show is loosely based on the "rags-to-riches" works of American author Horatio Alger Jr. and the songs of George M. Cohan.

The Bowery Boys features contemporary adaptations of Cohan's songs with adapted lyrics and an original book written by Bell, an associate professor of theater at Northwestern, and adapted music by Northwestern alumnus Jeremy Cohen.