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Urinetown

Urinetown: The Musical is a satirical musical that features a score by Mark Hollmann along with lyrics by Hollmann and Greg Kotis. The musical was one of the first shows to open in New York after the 9/11 attacks on the city, and went on to be one of the most popular shows of the season running for almost 1000 performances. The show satirizes everything from big businesses to the government and the role of the state in private life. The show also satirizes the genre of musicals themselves, using two internal narrators to set up the plot and let the audience know about key moments before they arrive. The musical is popular in the USA although no production has happened in the UK.

Music:

Mark Hollmann

Lyrics:

Greg Kotis

Book / libretto:

Greg Kotis

Producer:

The Araca Group and Dodger Theatricals (Des McAnuff, Michael David, Robin De Levita, Rocco Landesman, Ed Strong)

Director:

John Rando

Choreography:

John Carrafa

Productions

Original Broadway Production

Henry Miller Theatre - Opened 20 Sep 2001, closed 18 Jan 2001, 965 performances

Cast: Hunter Foster, Jeff McCarthy, Spencer Kayden, John Cullum, Nancy Opel

Original London Production

St James Theatre - Opened 22 Feb 2014, closed 3 May 2014

Cast: Marc Elliot, Richard Fleeshman, Madeleine Harland, Rosanna Hyland, Karis Jack, Aaron Lee Lambert, Mark Meadows, Jeff Nicholson, Simon Paisley Day, Adam Pearce, Jenna Russell, Jonathan Slinger Katie Bernstein, Cory English, Julie Jupp, and Matthew Seadon-Young Director: Jamie Lloyd

Urinetown West End transfer

Apollo Theatre - Opened 29 Sep 2014, closed 24 Jan 2015

Cast: Nathan Amzi, Katie Bernstein, Marc Elliott, Cory English, Madeleine Harland, Rosanna Hyland, Karis Jack, Julie Jupp, Aaron Lee Lambert, Mark Meadows, Jeff Nicholson, Simon Paisley Day Kane Oliver Parry, Jenna Russell, Matthew Seadon-Young and Jonathan Slinger Director: Jamie Lloyd

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Officer Lockstock is assisted by the street urchin Little Sally in introducing the audience to the show. They tell about a twenty seven year drought that created such a water shortage that private toilets are no longer available. All toilet activity is now regulated and done in public toilets so it can be controlled by a megacorporation known as Urine Good Company (UGC). People have to then pay to pee, and failure to do so ends up with the offender being sent to a penal colony known as ‘Urinetown’.

A poor community huddle together at the town’s dirtiest urinal, Public Amenity #9 which is run by Penelope Pennywise and her assistant Bobby Strong. Strong’s father does not have enough money to pee, and Bobby begs to let him have a free turn just once. Penelope refuses and he urinates on the street and is arrested by the Officers who escort him to Urinetown. At the UGC headquarters, CEO Caldwell is discussing fee hikes with the Senator. His beautiful daughter Hope Cladwell works at the office as a copy girl.
As the officers begin to discuss the journey to Urinetown and the mental torture it presents, Hope notices Bobby and the two fall instantly in love. They sing about their dreams for a new, free world.

Cladwell’s assistant announces the fee hikes across the public urinals and Bobby argues that the laws are wrong. He leads a rebellion based on the slogan ‘pee-for-free’. Cladwell is informed of the mini revolution and Hope is distressed at his attempts to squash Bobby. He tells his daughter that the poor need to remain repressed or they will rise up. As the Officers arrive at the amenity, Bobby realises that Hope is Cladwell’s daughter, and the rebels kidnap her as they rush off to hide in an underground sewer.

The second act opens as the rebels hold Hope for ransom. The police continue to look for her and the hideaway. Everyone begins to wonder what Urinetown actually is and everyone has their own opinions of what it is like there. As the pressure builds, Bobby reminds them of their mission of freedom with a rousing gospel song. Pennywise bursts in on the action to escort Bobby to the UGC headquarters, warning the poor that he will be escorted to Urinetown. Bobby and Hope part ways but promise each other that everything will be alright.

Bobby is offered a large amount of money to free Hope in return for him convincing the poor that the fee hikes are necessary. He refuses, and Pennywise and the other officers begin to see the corrupt evil in Cladwell’s government. Bobby is taken to the top of the building and realises that Urinetown doesn’t exist – instead everyone is just killed. He is thrown off the top of the building to his death.

Little Sally informs the rebels of his last words ‘tell her I love her’ which inspires them to continue to fight. As they prepare to kill Hope, Pennywise arrives and offers herself. Together they march on the UGC buildings and send Cladwell to Urinetown to avenge Bobby’s death. They rename the toilet in his honour, and allow anyone to pee anywhere for free.

They soon realise however that this utopia cannot last as the water supply dries up. The population continue to die as they realise that they have become the imaginary Urinetown themselves.

Songs

Act 1

Overture – Orchestra
Too Much Exposition – Company
Urinetown – Full Company
It’s a Privilege to Pee – Pennywise, Bobby, Old Man Strong, and the Poor
Mr. Cladwell – Cladwell, Hope, Mr. McQueen, and the Staff of UGC
Cop Song – Lockstock, Barrel, and Cops
Follow Your Heart – Bobby and Hope
Look at the Sky – Bobby
Don’t Be the Bunny – Cladwell and the Staff of UGC
Act One Finale – Bobby, Cladwell, Hope, and Company

Act II

What is Urinetown? – Little Becky Two Shoes, Hot Blades Harry, Bobby, Little Sally, Lockstock, and the Poor
Snuff That Girl – Hot Blades Harry, Little Becky Two Shoes, and the Poor
Run, Freedom, Run! – Bobby and the Poor
Follow Your Heart (Reprise) – Hope
Why did I Listen to that Man? – Bobby, Hope, Pennywise, Lockstock, Barrel, and Fipp
Tell Her I Love Her – Little Sally and Bobby
We’re Not Sorry – Little Sally, Hot Blades Harry, Josephine, Soupy Sue, Billy Boy Bill and Company
I See a River – Hope, Little Becky Two Shoes, and Company

Awards

2002 Tony Awards: Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Direction of a Musical

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International

The Phantom of the Opera

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The Phantom of the Opera is one of the world’s most successful musicals and the highest grossing entertainment event of all time. Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the original London and Broadway productions continue to run at their respective original theatres, where the Broadway production is the longest running show in New York. The London production is second only to Les Miserables, who is a year ahead, opening in 1985. Based on the famous French novel, a mysterious ghost falls in love with a young ballet dancer and trains her up to be an opera star. The haunting story along with impressive stage designs and a soaring score make this one of the biggest shows of all time.

The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-Broadway-Poster

Music:

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics:

Richard Stilgoe

Book / libretto:

Richard Stilgoe

Based on:

From the novel "Le Fantôme de L'Opéra" by Gaston Leroux;

Producer:

The Really Useful Group

Director:

Hal Prince

Choreography:

Gillian Lynne

Productions

Original London Production

Her Majesty's Theatre - Opened 27 Sep 1986, closed 26 Oct 2013

Cast: Sarah Brightman, Michael Crawford, Steve Barton, Rosemary Ashe all starred in the original London production at the Her Majesty’s Theatre, where the show continues to play into its 27th year, remaining as London’s second longest running musical behind ‘Les Miserables’.

Original Broadway Production

Majestic Theatre - Opened 26 Jan 1988, closed 29 Jun 2013

Cast: Sarah Brightman, Michael Crawford starred in the original Broadway cast, reprising their roles from London. The show is currently still running at the Majestic Theatre where it is about to enter its 25th year.

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

The show begins with a Prologue on the stage of the Paris Opera House in 1905. An auction is underway of theatre props used by the company as an elderly Raoul buys a music box in the shape of a monkey. The final lot is the pieces of the shattered chandelier that featured in the ‘famous disaster’ and as the dust sheet is taken off, the years roll back and the show begins with its famous Overture.

We are taken to 1881 as a dress rehearsal for the Opera House’s production of ‘Hannibal’ is underway. Carlotta, the resident Prima Donna threatens to walk out as a piece of scenery falls from the flies and the ballet girls talk of the phantom that haunts the theatre. At the same time new owners of the venue are introduced as Monsieur Firmin and Andre, and they try to detract attention away from the incident. As Carlotta walks, their only option is to let Christine Daae, a ballet girl, to attempt the role and sing.

Christine brings down the house and is noticed by childhood friend Raoul who instantly falls in love with her. Backstage, Christine’s friend Meg asks her about her vocal training and she confesses to taking lessons from an ‘Angel of Music’ who Christine believes is the spirit of her dead father. Raoul visits Christine and they bond over their past. Alone in her dressing room, Christine is visited by The Phantom who takes her through the mirror into his secret lair beneath the Opera House. He serenades her and she sees a mannequin of herself in a wedding dress and faints, and the Phantom puts her to rest. As she wakes up she hears him composing music and removes the mask, seeing his distorted face. He is angry at her curiosity and takes her back to the Opera House.

Onstage the stage hand Joseph Buquet is scaring the chorus girls with tales of the mysterious Phantom. Madame Giry, the ballet mistress reprimands him and tells him not to speak about what he knows. Andre and Firmin have receieved a series of notes from the Phantom telling them how to run his theatre, mainly saying that Carlotta must be taught to act and given the silent role in the next production. Carlotta is furious and as Christine returns she threatens to walk, instigating the managers to shower her with praise to win her back.

Every ignores the Phantom’s instructions and Carlotta is given a leading role over Christine. During the production she looses her voice and the dead corpse of Joseph Buquet falls from the flies. The opera is thrown into disarray and Raoul drags Christine to the roof where they confirm their love for one another. The Phantom overlooks their plans to escape and vows revenge, sending the venue’s impressive chandelier falling from the sky to crash onto the stage.

The second act opens six months later with a masquerade ball. The Phantom appears towards the end with his new opera in which he instructs Christine must play the lead. Raoul is furious and demands information from Madame Giry. The company begin to rehearse the opera as Raoul and the managers plan to trap the Phantom once and for all. Christine is led to the gravestone of her father where the Phantom appears and challenges Raoul once again.

Onstage the opera is underway and the police station themselves ready to capture the ghost. The Phantom takes over one of the roles in the show, and ends up singing with Christine before taking her down once more to his lair, escaping the trap. The Phantom forces Christine into a wedding dress and as Raoul arrives to save her he traps him with his magical lasso. He tells Christine that Raoul will only live if she agrees to live with him forever. Christine is shocked and tells him that is his personality that is ugly rather than his face, and as she kisses him the Phantom experiences compassion and kindness, setting them both free. As the police storm the lair the Phantom escapes under his cape, leaving only his mask behind him.

Songs

Act I

A Rehearsal for Hannibal:
- “Hannibal Comes!” – Carlotta, Piangi, Chorus and Ballet Girls
- “Think of Me” – Carlotta, Ballet Girls, André and Buquet
“Think of Me” – Christine and Raoul
“Angel of Music” – Meg and Christine
“Little Lotte” – Christine and Raoul
“The Mirror (Angel of Music)” – Christine, Raoul and Phantom
“The Phantom of the Opera” – Phantom and Christine
“The Music of the Night” – Phantom
“I Remember…/Stranger than You Dreamt It” – Christine and Phantom
“Magical Lasso” – Buquet, Meg, Madame Giry, and Ballet Girls
“Notes” – Firmin, André, Raoul, Carlotta, Madame Giry, Meg, Piangi, and Phantom
“Prima Donna” – Firmin, André, Raoul, Carlotta, Madame Giry, Meg, Piangi, and Phantom
Il Muto: “Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh” – Carlotta, Piangi and Company
“Why Have You Brought Us Here?/Raoul, I’ve Been There” – Raoul and Christine
“All I Ask of You” – Raoul and Christine
Act I Finale:
- “I Gave You My Music” – Phantom
- “All I Ask of You (Reprise)” – Raoul, Christine, and Phantom
- “Chandelier Crash” – Phantom

Act II

“Entr’acte”
“Masquerade” – Chorus
“Why So Silent” – Phantom
“Notes II” – Firmin, André, Carlotta, Piangi, Raoul, Christine, Madame Giry, and Phantom
“We Have All Been Blind/Twisted Every Way” – Raoul, Firmin, André, and Christine
A Rehearsal for Don Juan Triumphant – Carlotta, Piangi, Christine and Chorus
The Graveyard:
- “The Phantom of the Opera (Reprise)” – Christine
- “Little Lotte (Reprise)” – Christine
- “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” – Christine
- “Wandering Child/Bravo, Monsieur!” – Phantom, Christine, and Raoul
Première of Don Juan Triumphant:
- Music from Don Juan Triumphant – Piangi, Carlotta, Christine and Cast
- “The Point of No Return” – Phantom and Christine
- “All I Ask of You (Phantom’s Reprise)” – Phantom
Act II Finale:
- “Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer” – Phantom, Christine, Raoul, and Company
- “Be My Guest, Sir/The Point of No Return (Reprise)” – Phantom, Christine, and Raoul
- “Track Down This Murderer (Reprise)” – Phantom and Company
- “Masquerade (Reprise)” – Phantom
- “All I Ask of You (Final Reprise)” – Christine and Raoul
- “The Music of the Night (Reprise)” – Phantom

Awards

2004 Tony Awards: Best Actress in a Musical (Idina Menzel), Best Costume Design, Best Scenic Design

2010 Olivier Awards: Most Popular Show

Licensing

UK: Really Useful Group

USA: Really Useful Group

Scrooge

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Scrooge is a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ short story ‘A Christmas Carol’ and is based on the film musical of the same name. The original production opened in 1992 in Birmingham and enjoyed moderate success on UK tours. The show stopped off at the London Palladium in 2005 where aged stage veteran Tommy Steele took on the leading role. The production continued to tour as part of Bill Kenwright theatricals and is set to open at the London Palladium once again for the 2012/13 Christmas season. The musical features all the songs from the film, including the Oscar nominated song ‘Thank You Very Much’, written by Leslie Bricusse.

Music:

Leslie Bricusse

Lyrics:

Leslie Bricusse

Book / libretto:

Leslie Bricusse

Based on:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and the film of the same name

Producer:

Bill Kenwright

Director:

Bob Tomson

Choreography:

Lisa Kent

Productions

Original Production

Alexandra Theatre Birmingham - Opened 9 Nov 1992, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Anthony Newley, Stratford Johns, Tom Watt, Jon Pertwee and Jerome Wallington

Original London Production

London Palladium - Opened 9 Nov 2005, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Tommy Steele

London Revival

London Palladium - Opened 24 Oct 2012, closed 12 Jan 2013

Cast: Tommy Steele, Barry Harwood, Sarah Earnshaw

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

The musical begins on Christmas Eve in Victorian London. Ebenezer Scrooge’s business partner Jacob Marley has just died, leaving him alone in his accountancy firm. Scrooge despises Christmas and refers to it with his catch phrase ‘Bah, Humbug’. He refuses to donate to a charity when they ask for money for the poor and is rude to his nephew who invites him over for Christmas dinner. His clerk Bob Cratchit is overworked and underpaid and Scrooge resents giving him Christmas Day as a holiday.

As Scrooge returns home that evening his is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley who warns him against being a miser. He shows him chains that he earned in life by being mean hearted, saying he has come to give Scrooge a chance to redeem himself. Marley tells him that he will be visited by three ghosts that evening; the ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

The first ghost to arrive is the Ghost of Christmas Past who is the spirit of a young child. She takes him to scenes from his youth where he is growing up at school. She shows him how he was with other children and his heart begins to melt. This vision helps explore the roots of the miser’s hatred of Christmas, as all the other children leave for the holidays the young Scrooge was intent on working through them and staying alone.

The second spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Present who is a jolly giant. He welcomes Scrooge and shares his passion and love for life. Together they wander the streets of London and see how much joy the season brings to so many people that Scrooge encounters on a daily basis. They visit the house of Scrooge’s nephew who are having a jolly dinner and begin to make a joke out of Scrooge’s negative attitude. Scrooge is hurt to hear how people talk about him, including relatives.

They then visit the house of Bob Cratchit who is enjoying a very modest Christmas dinner with his family. Despite his horrible conditions, Bob refuses to be mean about his employer and is thankful for his job and regular income. The family settle down to enjoy a small goose when Scrooge notices Cratchitt’s son Tiny Tim who is seriously ill but cannot be treated as the family cannot afford to pay for it. Scrooge can’t believe how positive the family are despite their circumstances.

The final spirit is the sinister Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come who doesn’t speak to Scrooge, just shows him visions of the future. Scrooge asks if these are definite views of the future or premonitions of what could happen if he doesn’t change his ways. Scrooge is shown the death of Tiny Tim and finally his own neglected gravestone. Scrooge hears people talking about his death and sees a parade down the street on his coffin with everyone giving thanks for his death. He is shocked to hear how hated he is and begs to return to the present.

Scrooge wakes up in his own room and is a changed man. The evening has taught him that he needs to change his ways. He rushes to the window and yells to a boy on the street, realising he has made it back in time for Christmas Day. He rushes off with joy in his heart and takes gifts to his Nephew and surprises everyone with his new outlook on life. Finally he goes to Bob Cratchit’s house and takes them the biggest Turkey he can find. The show ends with a joyous message of Christmas cheer for all.

Songs

Act 1

Sing a Christmas Carol” – Company
“M.O.N.E.Y” – Scrooge
“Christmas Children” – Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Kathy Cratchit and Company
“Miser Christmas” – Tom Jenkins and Company
“I Hate People” – Scrooge and Company
“Make the Most of this World” – Jacob Marley and Phantoms
“It’s Not my Fault!” – Scrooge
“Sing A Christmas Carol” (Reprise) – Scrooge and Children
“December the Twenty-Fifth” – Fezziwigs and Company
“Happiness” – Ebenezer, Isabel, Scrooge and Christmas Past
“You…You” – Scrooge and Ebenezer
“Love While You Can” – Christmas Past
“It’s Not My Fault” (Reprise) – Scrooge
“I Like Life” – Christmas Present, Scrooge and Company

Act II

The Milk of Human Kindness” – Scrooge and Company
“The Beautiful Day” – Tiny Tim and Cratchits
“The Minister’s Cat” – Company
“Happiness” (Reprise) – Scrooge
“A Better Life” – Scrooge
“Thank You Very Much” – Scrooge, Tom Jenkins and Company
“The Beautiful Day” (Reprise) – Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit
“I’ll Begin Again” – Scrooge
“Finale” – Scrooge and Company
“I’ll Begin Again” (Reprise) – Scrooge and Company
“Curtain Calls” – Company
“Thank You Very Much” (Reprise) – Company

Licensing

UK: Samuel French

USA: Samuel French

Blood Brothers

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Blood Brothers is one of London’s most popular musicals and has been playing for just under 25 years. The show started out as a simple production in a school hall, before being developed further by Bill Kenwright. The show opened originally in Liverpool where it is set, and later came to the West End after many tours, featuring a wide range of celebrities in th leading roles. The show transferred to Broadway where it enjoyed modest success where Kiki Dee starred as Mrs Johnstone. The London production recently announced it was closing at the Phoenix Theatre, just shy of its 25th Birthday, putting it at the top alomgst other long running shows such as ‘Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘The Woman in Black’. The production will continue to delight audiences on tour around the UK.

Music:

Willy Russell

Lyrics:

Willy Russell

Book / libretto:

Willy Russell

Producer:

Bill Kenwright

Director:

Bill Kenwright and Bob Tomson

Choreography:

Bill Kenwright and Bob Tomson

Productions

Original London Production

The Lyric Theatre - Opened 11 Apr 1983, closed 22 Oct 1983

Cast: Barbara Dickson, and Con O’Neill.

The Albery Theatre - Opened 28 Jul 1988, closed 16 Nov 1991

Original London Production

The Phoenix Theatre - Opened 21 Nov 1991, closed 9 Nov 2012

Cast: The role of Mrs Johnstone has since been played by a wide variety of actresses such as Sarah Haye, Barbara Dickson, Stephanie Lawrence, Clodagh Rodgers, Kiki Dee, Lyn Paul, Linda Nolan, Bernie Nolan, Denise Nolan, Maureen Nolan, Melanie C, Niki Evans and Amy Robbins.

Original Broadway

The Music Box Theatre - Opened 25 Apr 1993, closed 30 Apr 1995

Cast: Kiki Dee

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Blood Brothers begins with a tableau of Mrs Johnstone crying over the bodies of twin sons Eddie and Mickey who both lie dead onstage. A sinister Narrator then begins to tell their story, starting with Mrs Johnstone’s likeness to Marilyn Monroe and her ability to give birth to children. In a rough part of Liverpool, Mrs Johnstone finds out she is pregnant once again, adding to her already heavy woes. She works as a cleaner for the wealthy Mrs Lyons and the two share an informal relationship. Mrs Johnstone is extremely superstitious and is scared of Mrs Lyons putting new shoes on the table. After a visit to the doctor she is told she is actually having twins and worries about how she will cope. Mrs Lyons, who can’t have children, begs her to give one to her as soon as they are born. They make a pact and swear on the Bible, and Mrs Lyons plays on Mrs Johnstone’s superstitious feelings.

As soon as the twins are born Mrs Lyons takes one of the boys and Mrs Johnstone instantly regrets her decision. She takes comfort in the fact that at least one of her children will live a life of luxury.

Time passes and Mrs Johnstone’s children play kids games in the street. Mickey has now grown up to 7 years old and is taunted by his older brother Sammy. Mickey’s twin Eddie comes to join in and the pair bond over their similar birthday. Mickey asks Eddie to be his best friend and they decide to be ‘blood brothers’ making a pact to stay together and be friends. Mickey introduces Eddie to Linda and the three get up to trouble in the park. As the police take Eddie home, they treat the Lyons’ family very differently to the Johnstone’s who are frequently getting in trouble with the law. Mrs Lyons is worried about Eddie spending time with Mickey and tells him he is not allowed to see him any more. She pesters her husband to move away.

Eddie goes to visit Mickey to tell him they are moving away. He finds Mrs Johnstone and she is emotional seeing her son all grown up. Eddie is sad to leave his new best friend behind. Mrs Johnstone is told by the council that they are being rehoused the country that coincidentally moves them closer to the Lyons family once again. The Johnstone’s are happy at the prospect of a new life and a ‘Bright New Day’.

Act Two opens some years later as Mickey and Eddie are now 14 and at school. Mickey is pursued by Linda and bumps into Eddie again and they continue their friendship. Mrs Lyons feels threatened by the Johnstone’s reappearance in her life and begins to go mad. She goes to visit Mrs Johnstone and tries to buy her off, attacking her with a kitchen knife. She is consumed by the guilt of taking a baby from its mother.

As Eddie and Mickey grow up they begin to get further and further apart. Eddie goes away to university whilst Mickey is stuck in a low paid job. Linda tells him she is pregnant and they struggle for money. Mickey resents Eddie’s lifestyle with his posh house and posh job, and after being laid off by the factory, Mickey is convinced by Sammy to act as an accessory in an armed robbery. The robbery goes wrong and Mickey is put in prison.

Mrs Johnstone tells how Mickey gets depressed after his stint in jail. He becomes addicted to pills. Eddie and Linda begin to spend time together and it is obvious to everyone that there is a spark between them. Mickey noticed and becomes jealous, grabbing a gun to threaten Eddie at work. Mrs Johnstone chases after him and in the council chamber of Eddie’s work tells Mickey not to shoot his brother. The boys are shocked at the news as she is forced to tell them they were separated at birth. Mickey yells at her, asking ‘why didn’t you give me away – I could have been him’ and shoots Eddie, and is shot by the police. Mrs Johnstone is left onstage with the two dead bodies.

Songs

Act 1

Overture – Orchestra, Company and Narrator
Marilyn Monroe – Mrs. Johnstone and Company
Marilyn Monroe (Reprise) – Mrs. Johnstone
My Child – Mrs. Johnstone and Mrs Lyons
Easy Terms – Mrs. Johnstone
Shoes Upon The Table – Narrator
Easy Terms (Reprise) – Mrs. Johnstone
Kids’ Game – Linda, Mickey and Ensemble
Bright New Day (Preview) – Mrs. Johnstone
Long Sunday Afternoon/My Friend – Mickey and Eddie
Bright New Day – Mrs. Johnstone and Company

Act 2

Entr’acte – Orchestral piece
Marilyn Monroe 2 – Mrs. Johnstone and Company
The Devil’s Got Your Number – Narration
That Guy – Mickey & Eddie
Shoes Upon the Table (Reprise) – Narrator
I’m Not Saying A Word – Eddie
Miss Jones – Mr Lyons, Miss Jones and Company
Marilyn Monroe 3 – Mrs. Johnstone
Light Romance – Mrs. Johnstone
Madman – Narrator
Tell Me It’s Not True – Mrs Johnstone

Awards

1983 Olivier Awards: Best New Musical, Best Actress (Barbara Dickson)

1988 Olivier Awards: Best Actor (Con O’Neill)

1993 Tony Awards: Nominated

Wicked

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Wicked is one of the biggest musicals of recent years. After a lengthy tryout period around the USA, the show opened on Broadway in late 2003. The show continues to play to packed houses in both New York and London, where it has set many records for box office gross receipts. Despite its success, the show did not win either the Tony Award or Olivier Award for Best Musical, but has won dozens of awards voted for by members of the public. The show has developed a number of dedicated fans around the world, and many people see it over and over again. Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel of the same name, the show acts as a prequel to the famous ‘Wizard of Oz’, developing the story to look at it from the perspective of the Witches. Stephen Schwartz’s score has become one of his most popular, and the songs have been released in the charts as well as featured on numerous TV shows and films. Although Universal Pictures own the rights to the film version, no official announcement has been made about a big screen adaptation, although many fans hope it will be in the near future.

Music:

Stephen Schwartz

Lyrics:

Stephen Schwartz

Book / libretto:

Winnie Holzman

Based on:

”Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West ” by Gregory Maguire

Producer:

Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt

Director:

Joe Mantello

Choreography:

Wayne Cilento

Productions

Original Broadway Production

George Gershwin Theatre - Opened 30 Oct 2003, closed 1 Sep 2013

Cast: Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Nobert Leo Butz, Michelle Federer, Christopher Fitzgerald, Joel Grey, Carole Shelley.

Original London Production

Apollo Victoria London - Opened 27 Sep 2006, closed 2 Nov 2013

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

The show begins as the citizens of the magical land of Oz are celebrating the death of the Wicked Witch of the West. Glinda arrives and confirms that the witch has indeed melted. One of the crowd asks Glinda if she knew the Witch and she hesitantly launches into a story that explains her conception through an affair between a Munchkin Lady and a mysterious stranger who courts her with a bottle of green elixir. Glinda tells the crowd to try and sympathise with her fate and begins a flashback that tells the events of how she and Elphaba, the Witch, met.

Glinda takes us back to Shiz University where Elphaba sticks out amongst her fellow classmates for being green. She is instantly judged and disliked by many and she looks after her sister Nessarose who is in a wheelchair. Galinda (as she was known at college) is shallow yet popular with her classmates for her looks and status. Elphaba and Galinda are roomed together through an admin error and the two instantly despise one another. Madame Morrible, headmistress of Shiz notices Elphaba’s innate talent for sorcery and tells he she will be going to meet the Wizard of Oz to study with him. In a history class led by Dr Dillamond, a Goat professor, the class learn about the anti-animal feelings being broadcast around Oz and the class is brought to a swift end when some anit-animal graffiti is found on the chalkboard. Elphaba tries to talk to Dr Dillamond about the changes and he tells her that something has happened to cause the animals in Oz to loose their power of speech. Elphaba listens to his concerns and promises to voice them to the Wizard when they begin to work together.

Meanwhile the school welcomes the arrival of Winkie Prince Fiyero who encourages the students to conform to his mindless and blasé student lifestyle. He is ready for the student dance, and a shy Munchkin named Boq invites Galinda to go with him. She refuses, and asks him to ask Nessarose instead, which he does. Elphaba is greatful to Galinda who gives her a mock gift of a black pointed hat, telling her that ‘black is this year’s pink’. Without realising her real motives, Elphaba asks Morrible if Galinda can accompany her to meet the Wizard, as it is her life long dream. At the dance, Elphaba is ridiculed until Galinda takes pity on her and joins her in dancing, bringing the pair together.

Galinda tries to give Elphaba a make over and teaches her about how to become ‘Popular’. The class are shocked to find that Dr Dillamond has been arrested and replaced by a new history teacher who keeps a lion cub in a cage. He tells them that all animals will eventually be dumbed down and silenced, which angers Elphaba who steals it and sets it free. Elphaba begins to fall in love with Fiyero but realises that she isn’t meant for him. Morrible finds her to tell her that she has been invited for an audience with The Wizard.

Galinda tries to impress Fiyero by changing her name to Glinda in memory of Dr Dillamond, which is the way he used to pronounce her name. Fiyero ignores her and Elphaba feels sorry for her and brings her along to discover the joys of the Emerald City. After meeting the Wizard Elphaba realises that he is a normal man after he tests her and makes her transform his pet monkey into a flying monkey using an ancient book of spells. They trick her into transforming a whole cage of monkeys into flying monkeys and Elphaba is furious, realising that the Wizard of Madame Morrible are behind the animal cruelty in Oz. She runs off with the spell book and enchants a broom to make it fly. Glinda tries to stop her and bring her back down to earth, but the girls decide they must go separate ways in order to fulfil their own dreams. As the Ozians try to capture her, Elphaba soars above them, ‘defying gravity’.

Months later and Morrible has made Oz turn against Elphaba, branding her as The Wicked Witch of the West. She uses her role as press secretary to spread rumours about her powers and potential dangers to the community. Glinda is used as a figurehead for the public as the Wizard’s assistant but Fiyero becomes increasingly tired of her. Elphaba travels to her hometown where her sister Nessarose is now Governor after their father died of shame. Nessa is upset that Elphaba hasn’t used her powers to help her, so she transforms some jewelled ruby slippers that help her walk. Boq is furious with her saying she is as wicked as her sister is, and Nessa tries to put a spell on him which takes away his heart. He calls her the Wicked Witch of the East as Elphaba tries to save him and turns him into a Tin Man. She leaves Nessarose and Boq flees, convinced that it was Elphaba who turned him into a Tin Man on purpose.

Elphaba returns to the Wizard to try and set the flying monkeys free. The Wizard confesses that he has no special powers and still managed to make people think he was the ‘wonderful’ Wizard of Oz. He tries to get her to join him, but she noticed Dr Dillamond locked in a cage and runs away, joined by Fiyero. Glinda realises she has been betrayed and is upset, leading her to plan a trap to get her back. Morrible creates a cyclone that brings Dorothy’s house to Oz, landing on Nessarose, the Wicked Witch of the East. Fiyero and Elphaba, now in exile, express their love for one another. Elphaba senses danger and flies to meet Glinda who has sent Dorothy and Toto off to Oz to see the Wizard. Fiyero is captured and dragged to a cornfield and tortured by palace guards as Elphaba tries any spell to try and save him. She manages to turn him into a Scarecrow so that they cannot physically hurt him. She begins to think it would be easier to accept her ‘wicked’ reputation.

The Scarecrow, The Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion (the Lion Elphaba freed from class) are sent to hunt down the Wicked Witch of the West. Elphaba captures Dorothy in her tower and forces her to give her the slippers she made for her sister. Glinda tries to convince her to let Dorothy go and they hatch a plan, admitting that they have both made mistakes. Elphaba promises to leave Oz if Glinda clears her name, and she gives her the spell book in order to do good. They admit that they are glad they knew each other and that they have become the best of friends. They stage a plan to pretend that she is dead as Dorothy throws a bucket of water over her and she melts. All that remains is the black hat and a vial of green elixir. The Wizard recognises it as one of his own vials and realises that Elphaba was indeed his biological daughter. He is forced to leave Oz in his balloon, and Morrible is sent to prison as Glinda clears Elphaba’s name, returning to the opening scene as she confronts the citizens of Oz.

Finally we learn that Fiyero who is now a Scarecrow staged the melting scene and he and Elphaba escape together as Glinda looks on.

Songs

Act I

“No One Mourns the Wicked” – Glinda and Citizens of Oz
“Dear Old Shiz” – Students and Glinda
“The Wizard and I” – Madame Morrible and Elphaba
“What is this Feeling?” – Glinda, Elphaba and Students
“Something Bad” – Doctor Dillamond and Elphaba
“Dancing Through Life” – Fiyero, Glinda, Boq, Nessarose, Elphaba and Students
“Popular” – Glinda
“I’m Not That Girl” – Elphaba
“One Short Day” – Elphaba, Glinda and Citizens of the Emerald City
“A Sentimental Man” – The Wizard
“Defying Gravity” – Glinda, Elphaba, Guards and Citizens of Oz

Act II

No One Mourns the Wicked” (reprise) – Citizens of Oz
“Thank Goodness” – Glinda, Madame Morrible and Citizens of Oz
“The Wicked Witch of the East” – Elphaba, Nessarose and Boq
“Wonderful” – The Wizard and Elphaba
“I’m Not That Girl” (reprise) – Glinda
“As Long as You’re Mine” – Elphaba and Fiyero
“No Good Deed” – Elphaba
“March of the Witch Hunters” – Boq and Citizens of Oz
“For Good” – Glinda and Elphaba
“Finale” – All

Awards

2004 Tony Awards: Best Actress in a Musical (Idina Menzel), Best Costume Design, Best Scenic Design

2010 Olivier Awards: Most Popular Show

Singin’ in the Rain

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Music:

Nacio Herb Brown

Book / libretto:

Betty Comden and Adolph Green

Based on:

The MGM Musical film of the same name

Screenplay:

Betty Comden and Adolph Green

Director:

Tommy Steele

Choreography:

Peter Gennaro

Productions

Original London Production

London Palladium - Opened 30 Jun 1983, closed 1 Sep 1985

Cast: Tommy Steele as Don, Roy Castle as Cosmo Brown, Danielle Carson as Kathy Seldon, and Sarah Payne as Lina Lamont.

Original Broadway Production

George Gershwin Theatre - Opened 2 Jul 1985, closed 1 Jan 1970

London Revival

Royal National Theatre - Opened 2 Jun 2000, closed 1 Jan 1970

London Revival

Palace Theatre - Opened 16 Feb 2012, closed 31 Aug 2013

Cast: Adam Cooper, Scarlet Strallen

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

The show starts at the premiere of Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont’s latest Hollywood blockbuster as crowds gather to see the celebrity couple who are the toast of the silent movie industry. The production company Monumental Pictures tells the crowd they are linked romantically in order to increase their appeal. Whilst this would suit Lina, it does not please Don. Whilst trying to escape fans, Don jumps into the car of Kathy Seldon. She is initially shocked and pretends not to recognise him or be impressed by his job. She tells him she is a professional actress and acts cold towards him.

Don continues to a party hosted by the studio boss R.F Simpson who begins by showing them the future of cinema with a talking movie. The guests are sceptical and do not feel threatened by the talkies’ arrival. A cake is wheeled on for the celebrations, and Kathy pops out of it as part of the entertainment troupe, much to her embarrassment when she sees Don. She is furious that she has been caught out as an out of work actor and when Don teases her she throws a cake at him, which mistakenly hits Lina in the face. Lina is furious and Kathy escapes, angry at Don.

Don enlists the help of his best friend Cosmo who also works at the studio as part of the music department. Together they try to track down Kathy. She arrives at the studio for an audition and Don spots her and they settle their differences. Lina is still angry at her outburst and wants Kathy to be fired.

A rival studio have a huge success with a talking picture, ‘The Jazz Singer’ which prompts R.F Simpson to compete in the same field and offer a rival talking picture. The studio is not set up for such a project and does not have the same level of expertise. Lockwood and Lamont’s latest film ‘The Dueling Cavalier’ is ready to be filmed and R.F decides to turn it into their first talking picture. The main difficulty is Lina’s voice, which is both grating and irritating and doesn’t match the beautiful persona her silent films have projected to her fans. Despite enlisting the help of various dialect coaches, Lina does not improve and her voice threatens to ruin the production. The production crew don’t know where to position any of the microphones to pick up the dialogue, and experiment placing them on the character’s body and in props.

The film is made and screened to a test audience, which is a disaster. The soundtrack does not run in sync with the picture and the audience are left in stitches. Cosmo suggests dubbing Lina’s voice with Kathy’s, and the trio convince R.F that the movie should become a musical version called ‘The Dancing Cavalier’. After they stay up all night to plan, Don and Kathy grow closer and closer and begin to fall in love. Lina is furious at the news and tells R.F that he needs to cancel Kathy’s screen credits and promotion, and he falls to her demands. Filming begins on the production which includes a contemporary ‘Broadway Melody’.

At the premiere of the movie, the musical is a roaring success. The audience cheer for Don and Lina and demand a live song from Lina. Cosmo improvises a plan to have Kathy lip sync behind a curtain as Lina performs to the audience, and as she does so they raise the curtain to reveal Kathy as the true voice of the picture. Lina is embarrassed when her fraud is exposed and as Kathy tries to run away Don presents her to the audience. They eventually kiss.

Songs

Act I

Overture – Orchestra
Fit As A Fiddle – Don Lockwood, Cosmo Brown
The Royal Rascal – Orchestra
You Stepped Out Of A Dream – Don Lockwood & Company
All I Do Is Dream Of You – Kathy Selden and Girls of the Coconut Grove
You Stepped Out Of A Dream (Reprise) – Don Lockwood
Make ‘Em Laugh – Cosmo Brown
Beautiful Girls – Production Tenor and Female Chorus (including Kathy Selden)
You Are My Lucky Star – Kathy Selden
You Were Meant For Me – Don Lockwood & Kathy Selden
Moses Supposes – Don Lockwood, Cosmo Brown
Moses Supposes (Reprise) – Company
Good Morning – Don Lockwood, Cosmo Brown, Kathy Selden
Singin’ In The Rain – Don Lockwood

Act II

Entr’acte – Orchestra
Good Morning (Reprise)- Company
Would You? – Kathy Selden
What’s Wrong With Me? – Lina Lamont
The Broadway Ballet (aka Broadway Rhythm) – Cosmo Brown, Don Lockwood and Full Company
Would You? (Reprise)- Kathy Selden (Voicing for Lina) & Cosmo Brown
You Are My Lucky Star (Reprise) – Kathy Selden and Don Lockwood
Singin’ In The Rain (Finale) – Full Company
Exit Music – Orchestra

Awards

1983 Olivier Awards: Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical

1986 Tony Awards: Nominated for Best Book of a Musical, Best Featured Actor

2001 Olivier Awards: Best Musical Revival

2012 Olivier Awards: Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical, Best Performance in a Supporting Role

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the first musical offering from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The show is based on the Book of Genesis in The Bible and the story of the ‘coat of many colours’. The show started life as a 30 minute long cantata written for a primary school. After the concept album was released and the success of their next musical collaboration, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, the show mounted a full scale production. The show continued to be modest in size and developed with each production, until the ‘definitive’ London Palladium version that starred Jason Donovan. This fantastic revival added new music and a mega-mix, becoming one of the most popular West End shows in the early 1990s. The show is currently performed all over the world by schools and youth groups and is instantly recognizable for generations of theatre fans.

Music:

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics:

Tim Rice

Book / libretto:

Tim Rice

Based on:

The Bible

Producer:

Robert Stigwood

Director:

Frank Dunlop

Productions

Original London Production

Albery Theatre - Opened 1 Feb 1973, closed 1 Jan 1970, 243 performances

Original Broadway Production

Royale Theatre - Opened 27 Jan 1982, closed 4 Sep 1983

First London Revival

London Palladium - Opened 1 Jan 1991, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Jason Donovan (replaced by Philip Schofield) and Linzi Hatley.

Broadway Revival

Minskoff Theatre - Opened 10 Nov 1993, closed 29 May 1994

Second London Revival

New London Theatre - Opened 1 Mar 2003, closed 1 Jan 1970

Third London Revival

Adelphi Theatre - Opened 6 Jul 2007, closed 1 May 2009

Cast: Lee Mead, Preeya Kalidas, Dean Collinson, Stephen Tate

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

The show begins with a Prologue in which the Narrator invites the audience to dream, as Joseph takes to the stage and tells the crowd that ‘Any Dream Will Do’. We then go back to the beginning of the tale in Canaan where Jacob lives with his many sons and wives. His favourite son Joseph is given a multicolored coat to wear than angers his brothers who want to take it from him. Joseph begins to tell them of the dreams the coat has made him have, which include his superiority over them in the future. The brothers are sick of hearing about his dreams and hatch a plan. They mug him and sell him to some travelling Israelites, then pretend that he has died by dipping his coat in blood. They tell Jacob who is distraught, although the brothers are happy that he is gone.

Joseph is sold to Potiphar and rises up to be one of his attendants. Potiphar’s wife makes advances on Joseph and he is cast out to prison. Whilst in jail he is approached by a Butler and a Baker who ask him to interpret their dreams. He predicts good things for the Bulter and a sinister end for the Baker.

The Narrator tells how Joseph’s fortunes change, as the Bulter recommends him to Pharaoh who has been suffering from bad dreams. Joseph comes from prison and interprets his dreams as meaning they will have seven years of bumper crops followed by years of nothing, and they must prepare for the years ahead. His predictions turn out right and Egypt survive due to his interpretation as the Pharaoh promotes him to his number 2.

Back in Canaan the famine has hit Joseph’s family hard. They decide to travel to Egypt to beg for food. The brothers fail to recognise Joseph and he plays a trick on them, hiding a cup in youngest brother Benjamin’s sack. As they are caught the brothers sacrifice themselves for Benjamin and Joseph realises they have now changed their ways and reveals his identity. The brothers are shocked and look for forgiveness. Joseph tells them to bring Jacob to Egypt and they are all reunited together.

Songs

Act I

Prologue – Narrator
Any Dream Will Do – Joseph, Children
Jacob and Sons – Narrator, Brothers, Wives, Children, Ensemble
Joseph’s Coat – Jacob, Narrator, Brothers, Wives, Children, Ensemble
Joseph’s Dreams – Narrator, Brothers, Joseph
Poor, Poor Joseph – Narrator, Brothers, Children
One More Angel in Heaven – Reuben, Narrator, Brothers, Wives, Jacob, Children
Potiphar – Children, Narrator, Male Ensemble, Mrs Potiphar, Potiphar, Joseph
Close Every Door – Joseph, Children
Go, Go, Go Joseph – Narrator, Butler, Baker, Ensemble, Joseph, Guru, Children

Act II

Pharaoh’s Story – Narrator, Children
Poor, Poor Pharaoh – Narrator, Butler, Pharaoh, Children
Song of the King – Pharaoh, Ensemble
Pharaoh’s Dream Explained – Joseph, Ensemble, Children
Stone the Crows – Narrator, Pharaoh, Children, Joseph, Female Ensemble
King of My Heart – Pharaoh
Those Canaan Days – Simeon, Jacob, Brothers
The Brothers Come To Egypt/Grovel, Grovel – Narrator, Brothers, Joseph, Female Ensemble, Children
Who’s the Thief? – Joseph, Brothers, Female Ensemble
Benjamin Calypso – Judah, Brothers (but Benjamin), Female Ensemble
Joseph All the Time – Narrator, Joseph, Children
Jacob in Egypt – Narrator, Jacob, Children, Ensemble
Any Dream Will Do (Reprise) – Joseph, Narrator, Ensemble, Jacob, Children
Give Me My Colored Coat – Joseph, Children, Ensemble
Joseph Megamix – Ensemble

Awards

1982 Tony Award: Nominated for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, Best Featured Actor, Best Featured Actress, Best Choreography

1992 Olivier Awards: Best Scenic Design (Mark Thompson)

Licensing

UK: Really Useful Group

USA: Really Useful Group

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

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Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was based on the successful MGM movie staring Howard Keel and Jane Powell. After the success of the film, is seemed a natural progression to bring the show to the Broadway stage, but the original production flopped – playing for only 5 regular performances. Despite the updated score and impressive choreography, audiences didn’t warm to it onstage. A more successful London production opened in 1985 at the Old Vic Theatre, along with a West End Revival in 2005/6 that has enjoyed numerous years on tour. The show continues to be a very popular choice for amateur groups and fringe companies due to the diverse casting opportunities. The original score by Johnny Mercer was expanded to include a number of new songs and dance arrangements, and has been captured on CD in the Original London Cast Recording.

Music:

Gene de Paul

Lyrics:

Johnny Mercer

Book / libretto:

Lawrence Kasha and David Landay

Based on:

”The Sobbin’ Women” by Stephen Vincent Benet

Producer:

Kaslan Productions, Inc.

Director:

Lawrence Kasha

Choreography:

Jerry Jackson

Productions

Original Broadway Production

Alvin Theatre - Opened 8 Jul 1982, closed 11 Jul 1982, 5 performances

Cast: Debby Boone, David-James Carroll, Jeanne Bates, Jeff Calhoun, Laurel van der Linde, Lara Teeter, Stephanie Stromer, Clark Sterling, Marykatherine Somers

Original London Production

Old Vic Theatre - Opened 2 Jul 1985, closed 1 Jan 1970, 45 performances

London Revival

Theatre Royal Haymarket - Opened 18 Aug 2006, closed 16 Nov 2006

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

The show begins in 1850s Oregon with a group of brothers who live disconnected away from the town. Eldest brother Adam travels into town to find him a wife, who he wants to take care of the family, wash, clean, cook and sew. He looks around town and comes across Milly working as a waitress in a restaurant. He decides she is suitable and makes her an offer. They rush into marriage and he takes her back up the mountains to their remote ranch. Milly is disgusted by the way they all live and Adam becomes boorish and mean towards her, encouraging his brothers to be the same. Milly tries to reform them and teaches them how to treat girls. She makes them wash, shave and gives them new clothes to go to a town barn raising. She teaches then how to court women and they each find a girl in town who is impressed with their new looks. Conflict arises between them and their girl’s town suitors and the barn raising ends in a huge fight. They return home and can’t stop thinking about the girls they have left behind. Adam tells them the tale of ‘The Rape of the Sabine Women’ in which the men just stole the women they wanted. He encourages them to go and kidnap the girls and bring them home.

As the boys steal the girls in the dead of night an avalance causes them to be trapped up the mountain. The suitors will have to wait until Spring to save them. Milly is shocked at their behaviour and makes all the men sleep outside in the barn. The girls are shocked and upset but Milly looks after them. Adam is furious with Milly and goes to live on his own in his hunting lodge. By the time Spring arrives the girls have fallen in love with the brothers and they seem happy. Milly has given birth to a baby girl and Adam returns, much softer now he is a father. As the suitors travel up the mountain they are shocked to see that their girls are now in love with the brothers. The show ends with many happy marriages.

Songs

Act 1

Bless Your Beautiful Hide – Adam
Wonderful, Wonderful Day – Milly and Brides
One Man – Milly
Goin’ Courtin’ – Milly and Brothers
Social Dance – Milly, Adam, Brides, Brothers, Suitors and Townspeople
Love Never Goes Away – Adam, Milly and Gideon
Sobbin’ Women – Adam and Brothers

Act 2

The Townsfolk’s Lament – Suitors and Townspeople
A Woman Ought To Know Her Place – Adam
We Gotta Make It Through The Winter – Brothers
We Gotta Make It Through The Winter (Reprise) – Milly and Brides
Spring Dance – Brides and Brothers
A Woman Ought To Know Her Place (Reprise) – Adam and Gideon
Glad That You Were Born – Milly, Brides, Brothers
Love Never Goes Away (Reprise) – Milly and Adam
Wonderful, Wonderful Day (Reprise) – Milly and Adam
Wedding Dance – Milly, Adam, Brides, Brothers and Townspeople

Awards

1983 Tony Awards: Nominated for Best Original Score

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International

Dames at Sea

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Dames at Sea features book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller with music by Jim Wise. The show is a parody of a flashy 1930s musical and follows an understudy who steps into a leading role on Broadway, ultimately becoming a star. It originated as a small sketch based on the Gold Diggers, and was expanded to become a full length book musical. The show had humble beginnings off-off-Broadway, and went on to upgrading to a Broadway and London run. The show marked Bernadette Peters’ Broadway début and she won a Drama Desk award for her performance.

Music:

Jim Wise

Lyrics:

George Haimsohn and Robin Miller

Book / libretto:

George Haimsohn and Robin Miller

Producer:

Jordan Hott and Jack Millstein

Director:

Neal Kenyon

Choreography:

Neal Kenyon

Productions

Original Off-Broadway Production

Caffe Cino - Opened 1 May 1966, closed 1 Jan 1970, 148 performances

Cast: Tamara Long (Mona Kent); Sally Stark (Joan); Steve Elmore (Hennessey, The Captain); Bernadette Peters (Ruby); David Christmas (Dick); Joseph R. Sicari (Lucky)

Off-Broadway Production

Bouwerie Lane Theatre - Opened 20 Dec 1968, closed 1 Jan 1970, 575 performances

Original London Production

Duchess Theatre - Opened 27 Aug 1969, closed 1 Jan 1970, 127 performances

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

At the dress rehearsal of a new Broadway musical, “Dames at Sea,” veteran diva Mona Kent is practicing her opening number when wide-eyed newcomer Ruby arrives at the theatre looking for a job. She has just got off a bus from her hometown in Utah and hasn’t eaten in three days. The manager, Hennessey dismisses her immediately, but one of the showgirls, Joan tells him that a girl in the chorus has just eloped with a millionaire so there is a vacancy. To save time, Hennessey gives the job to Ruby.

Excited and famished, Ruby faints and is caught by Dick, a songwriting sailor who found her suitcase and followed her to the theatre. They fall in love at first sight. When Joan takes Ruby to eat something, Mona sets her sights on Dick and he agrees to give her one of his songs to sing. One of Dick’s fellow sailors, Lucky, arrives and turns out to be the ex-boyfriend of Joan. They find their love starting to be rekindled while Ruby is falling even more in love with Dick.

Hennessey reveals disastrous news: just before opening night, the theatre has been sold is scheduled to be demolished immediately. The cast and crew pack up the set and search for a new home. Dick and Lucky have the brilliant idea to try to convince their Captain to allow the show to be performed on the deck of their ship. He is at first resistant, but becomes convinced by Mona’s sultry dancing.

On board the ship, Mona realizes the Captain is none other than her long lost love “Kewpie Doll.” They reminisce about the evening she served him chili con carne as a small-town waitress in Pensacola. Dick arrives as the Captain leaves, and Mona, desperate for another great song, convinces him to kiss her. Ruby walks in on them and is devastated.

As rehearsals on the ship are finishing, Mona becomes violently seasick and unable to perform. The entire cast is in a panic trying to figure out who can replace her, when all eyes turn to Ruby. She manages to go on and steal the show. Afterwards, Dick explains the misunderstanding and that he loves her. They decide to get married, as do Lucky and Joan and the Captain and Mona. All three get married on the ship to a 21-gun salute.

Songs

Overture
Wall Street
It’s You
Broadway Baby
That Mister Man Of Mine
Choo-Choo Honeymoon
Sailor Of My Dreams, The
Good Times Are Here To Stay
Dames At Sea
Beguine, The
Raining In My Heart
Singapore Sue
There’s Something About You
Echo Waltz, The
Star Tar
Let’s Have A Simple Wedding

Awards

1968 Drama Desk Awards: Outstanding Performance (Bernadette Peters), Outstanding Director, Outstanding Lyrics

Licensing

UK: Samuel French

USA: Samuel French

Mame

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Mame is based on the 1955 novel and subsequent play ‘Auntie Mame’ by Patrick Dennis. The musical version features a book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. The show is set in New York during the Great Depression and focuses on the eccentric bohemian Mame Dennis. Her ridiculous lifestyle is upset when her young nephew comes to stay with her, which leads to all sorts of misadventures. The musical was made into a film by Warner Brothers pictures which starred Lucille Ball, after taking over the role from Angela Lansbury.

Music:

Jerry Herman

Lyrics:

Jerry Herman

Book / libretto:

Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee

Based on:

the novel Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis and the play by Lawrence and Lee

Director:

Gene Saks

Choreography:

Onna White

Productions

Original Broadway Production

Winter Garden Theatre - Opened 24 May 1966, closed 3 Jan 1970, 1508 performances

Cast: Angela Lansbury, Beatrice Arthur, Jane Connell, Willard Waterman & Frankie Michaels

Original London Production

Theatre Royal Drury Lane - Opened 1 Jan 1969, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Ginger Rogers

Broadway Revival

George Gershwin Theatre - Opened 24 Jul 1983, closed 28 Aug 1983

Cast: Angela Lansbury

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Mame is a larger-than-life personality living the high life in the Roaring Twenties in New York City. She has a collection of eccentric, wealthy society friends and her life is one endless party. Her brother in Iowa dies suddenly, and she suddenly finds herself the guardian of his 10 year-old son, Patrick.

Mame is thrilled to have Patrick in her life, but the executor of her brother’s estate, the stuffy Dwight Babcock, is less than pleased about a child being raised as part of her bohemian lifestyle. Mame encourages Patrick to “Open a New Window” and enrols him in a liberal free-thinking school. When Babcock finds out, he has Patrick sent to a private boarding school far away from the bright lights of the city.

Devastated to lose Patrick, things are about to get even worse for Mame when the stock market crashes, and she loses her entire fortune. She tries to find a job for the first time in her life, by working in a theatre with her friend Vera Charles, but when she upstages Vera, she is fired. Mame is destitute, but her servants pay her bills to ensure she survives.

Not one to give up, Mame sings “We Need a Little Christmas,” which arrives in the form of a wealthy Southern gentleman, Beauregard Jackson Picket Burnside. He is immediately besotted and proposes marriage, but Mame must impress his Southern family. They are initially hostile to her, but she manages to win them over during “The Fox Hunt.” She and Beau get married and set off on an around-the-world tour.

Beau tragically falls off the Matterhorn on their honeymoon, and Mame returns to New York in a deep depression, only to be cheered up by her old friends. Patrick has become a member of the old boys club at his preppy boarding school and becomes engaged to stuffy society girl Gloria Upson. Mame visits her family and finds that they are deeply prejudiced against the lower classes or anyone who is different. Mame confronts Patrick, saying Gloria is not right for him, and he storms off.

Mame decides to make up with Patrick by hosting an engagement party for him and Gloria and invites her family along. They are unimpressed by her wild party of friends and outraged when Mame’s pregnant friend Agnes reveals she is unmarried. The Upson family’s reaction to Mame and her friends is enough to convince Patrick that Gloria is not right for him and he breaks off their engagement. He catches the eye of Mame’s decorator Pegeen instead, and it is revealed that they ultimately get married. The play ends with Mame embarking on an adventure to India with Patrick and Pegeen’s 10 year-old son.

Songs

Mame
Light The Candles
We Need A Little Christmas
St. Bridget
It’s Today
It’s Today (Reprise #1)
The Moon Song
We Need a Little Christmas (Reprise)
The Fox Hunt
Finale – Act I
Opening Act II
My Best Girl (Reprise)
Bosom Buddies
Bosom Buddies (Reprise)
Gooch’s Song
That’s How Young I Feel
It’s Today (Reprise #2)
Finale Act II
If He Walked Into My Life
Open A New Window
My Best Girl

Awards

1966 Tony Awards: Best Leading Actress (Lansbury), Best Featured Actor, Best Featured Actress

Licensing

UK: Music Scope UK

USA: Tams-Witmark

Song and Dance

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Song and Dance features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Don Black. The show was unique at the time as it combined a one woman musical with a danced second half. The first half, which went on to be called ‘Tell Me on a Sunday’ focuses on an English girl looking for love in New York. The second half involved a ballet choreographed to ‘Variations’ which was written for Andrew’s cellist brother Julian, based on the A Minor Caprice No. 24 by Paganini. The show was very popular with audiences and went on to be a success on Broadway, after some Americanization and changes to the script. Bernadette Peters played the role of The Girl for over a year, winning a Tony Award for her performance. The whole show has not been performed in recent years, instead the ‘Song’ section has been revived in a solo form, which opened in 2003 in London’s West End.

Music:

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics:

Don Black & Richard Maltby Jr.

Book / libretto:

Richard Maltby Jr.

Based on:

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Variations On Paganini’s A-Minor Caprice and Tell Me On A Sunday

Producer:

Cameron Mackintosh, Shubert Organization & FWM Producing Group

Director:

Richard Maltby Jr.

Choreography:

Peter Martins

Productions

Song and Dance - Original London

Palace Theatre - Opened 26 Mar 1982, closed 1 Jan 1970, 781 performances

Cast: Marti Webb (succeeded by Gemma Craven, Lulu, and Liz Robertson). Sarah Brightman starred in the video. Wayne Sleep and Jane Darling were featured in the Dance section.

Song and Dance - Original Broadway

The Royale Theatre - Opened 11 Sep 1985, closed 1 Jan 1970, 474 performances

Cast: Bernadette Peters (succeeded by Betty Buckley) Dance featured Christopher d’Amboise and Gregg Burge.

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Synopsis

An English girl moves to New York in search of love and a new life. She walks in to an argument with her boyfriend and the two decide to break up. She frequently writes to her mother in England with news of her travels. She meets a man named Sheldon Bloom and the pair move out to LA, as he is a Hollywood producer. Although initially excited at the new style of living, she realises it isn’t for her and that she is used as a ‘trophy girlfriend’. She ends their relationship and moves back to New York. She goes on to meet a younger man and falls in love once again. As he has to move away for work she learns of his infidelity from a girlfriend and she finds herself alone once again. In New York she becomes depressed and begins dating a married man. Although she knows this is morally wrong, he is in love with her but she realises she has just been using him. She comes to the conclusion that it isn’t the end of the world to have no one.

In the ‘Dance’ section of the show we see one of the men and examine their character. At the end, the man and girl come together and they make up, joining in the Song and Dance.

Songs

Overture
Take That Look Off Your face
Let Me Finish
So Much to Do in New York
First Letter Home
English Girls
Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad
You Made Me Think You Were in Love
Capped Teeth (reprise)
So Much to Do (II)
Second Letter
Unexpected Song
Come Back With the Same Look in Your Eyes
Take That Look (reprise)
Tell Me on a Sunday
So Much to Do (reprise)
Married Man
Third Letter
Nothing Like You’ve Ever Known
Finale

Awards

1986 Tony Awards: Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Bernadette Peters)

Licensing

UK: Really Useful Group

USA: Really Useful Group

City of Angels

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City of Angels features music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by David Zippel. The book by Larry Gilbert weaves together two plots – a writer attempting to turn a novel into a screenplay and the world of the fictional film. The show harks back to the 1940s film noir genre that was popular in Hollywood, and provides an interesting look at the film making industry. The show was extremely popular on Broadway, winning a number of Tony Awards and running for an impressive 2 years. An LA production proved to be similarly successful, although the London version did not take off as hoped when it opened in 1993. The show has not yet had a professional Broadway revival, but is popular amongst amateur theatre groups in both the USA and UK.

Music:

Cy Coleman

Lyrics:

David Zippel

Book / libretto:

Larry Gelbart

Producer:

Nick Vanoff, Roger Berlind, Jujamcyn Theaters, Suntory International Corp. & The Shubert Organization

Director:

Michael Blakemore

Choreography:

Walter Painter

Productions

Original Broadway Production

Virginia Theatre - Opened 11 Dec 1989, closed 19 Jan 1992, 878 performances

Cast: Gregg Edelman, James Naughton, Rene Auberjonois, Dee Hoty, Kay McClelland, and Randy Graff.

Original London Production

Prince of Wales Theatre - Opened 1 Mar 1993, closed 13 Nov 1993

Cast: Susannah Fellows, Martin Smith, Roger Allam, Maurice Clarke, Haydn Gwynne, Fiona Hendley, Henry Goodman, and David Schofield

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Synopsis

In 1940’s Hollywood, two plots are unfolding at once: a detective film noir and the writer putting that story together. Characters within the film are dressed in black-and-white while actors wearing colour indicate the real world.

Detective Stone is in his office when the beautiful Alaura Kingsley interrupts him. She hires him to find her stepdaughter, and he agrees, only to find himself beaten up by two mobsters and framed for murder. The plot continues to become overcomplicated, and it is revealed that the reason is the author, Stine, hasn’t finished writing it.

Stine is adapting his hit novel City of Angels as a screenplay, but is forced to fend off the meddling of the overbearing director Buddy Fidler, who demands constant rewrites. Things aren’t much better in Stine’s personal life as his wife Gabby discovers he is having an affair with Buddy’s secretary Donna. She promptly leaves him and heads to New York.

Meanwhile, after Buddy persuades Stine to make one change too many, Stine’s protagonist Stone begins to fight back, bemoaning his creator’s lack of integrity. Stine responds by writing another scene in which Stone is beaten up. Stine flies to New York to try to win Gabby back, but he is unsuccessful.

When he returns to LA, he is enraged to find Buddy has made drastic changes to the movie’s ending and given himself a co-writing credit. Moreover, he has hired a popular musical star who is completely unsuitable to play Stone. Stine quits the project and rips up the script, taking Stone with him. He gets into an altercation with security guards, before a role-reversal sees Stone write a scene where Stine escapes the guards and manages to get back together with his wife Gabby, living happily ever after.

Songs

ACT I

Prologue (“City Of Angels” Theme)
Stone On Gurney (Instrumental)
Stone’s Office (Instrumental)
Alaura’s Theme No. 1
Double Talk – Stone
Double Talk – Alaura & Stone
Alaura’s Exit (Instrumental)
Double Talk – Buddy
Double Talk – Stine
What You Don’t Know About Women
Stay With Me (pre-recorded)
You Gotta Look Out For Yourself (pre-recorded)
You Gotta Look Out For Yourself
Look Out Stone
The Buddy System
After Buddy (Instrumental)
Flashback To Breath (Instrumental)
With Every Breath I Take
After With Ev’ry Breath (Instrumental)
Sucker’s Wobble (Instrumental)
Donna Á Basier (Instrumental)
Pay Phone (Instrumental)
Alaura’s Rubdown (Instrumental)
Multiple Doors (Instrumental)
The Tennis Song
Everybody’s Gotta Be Somewhere
Lost And Found
Lost And Found – Furniture (Instrumental)
Flash Pictures (Instrumental)
Stone Surrenders (Instrumental)
With Ev’ry Breath (Underscore)
Buddy’s Massage (Instrumental)
Morgue No. 2 (Instrumental)
All You Have To Do Is Wait
You’re Nothing Without Me

ACT II

Entr’acte
Stay With Me No. 2
Stay With Me No. 3 (pre-recorded)
Jail Cell No. 1 (Instrumental)
You Can Always Count on Me
Nondescript Noodle (“You Can Always Count On Me” Underscore)
Double Talk – Brunch
More Nondescript (“All You Have To Do Is Wait” Underscore)
What You Don’t Know About Women (Underscore)
Jail Cell No. 2
Lost And Found (Underscore)
The Tennis Song (Underscore)
All Tied Up (Instrumental)
Stone’s Amazing Escape (Instrumental)
Stay With Me – Party (Underscore)
Stay With Me – Party
You Gotta Look Out For Yourself (Underscore)
Del Experiments (Underscore)
This Is Alaura’s Theme
The Kiss
Shoot First (Instrumental)
New York City (Instrumental)
It Needs Work
To Margie’s Place – Red Room (“L.A. Blues”) (Instrumental)
With Ev’ry Breath I Take
Oolie’s Last Telephone Call (Instrumental)
Alaura’s Heartbeat (Instrumental)
Three Gun Shots/Two Clients (Instrumental)
Funny
Stone’s Entrance (Instrumental)
Fight With The Cops (Instrumental)
I’m Nothing Without You
Bows
Exit Music

Awards

1990 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score, Best Leading Actor, Best Featured Actress, Best Scenic Design.

1994 Laurence Olivier Awards: Best Musical.

Licensing

UK: Music Scope UK

USA: Tams-Witmark

Victor/Victoria

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Victor/Victoria is based on the 1982 film of the same name. The musical features a book by Blake Edwards along with music by Henry Mancini and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. Composer Mancini dies before the show was completed, so Wildhorn was brought on-board to finish off the score. The original Broadway production in 1995 starred Julie Andrews, who famously turned down her Tony Award nomination, as she thought the whole show had been overlooked. During her break with the production Liza Minelli took over the role. Andrews was taken to hospital for surgery on her voice, after she suffered with nodules, leaving her with bad vocal problems for the rest of her life. The musical follows a soprano Victoria who disguises herself as a man, Victor, becoming the toast of Paris.

Music:

Henry Mancini & Frank Wildhorn

Lyrics:

Leslie Bricusse

Book / libretto:

Blake Edwards

Based on:

the screenplay of Blake Edwards 1982 Film

Director:

Blake Edwards

Choreography:

Rob Marshall

Productions

Original Broadway Production

Marquis Theatre - Opened 25 Oct 1995, closed 27 Jul 1997

Cast: Julie Andrews, Tony Roberts, Michael Nouri, Rachel York, Robert B. Shull, Adamn Heller, Michael Cripe & Gregory Jbara.

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

In 1934 Paris we first see Richard Di Nardo, a young rent boy get up out of the bed of the gay middle aged Toddy’s bed. Richard takes money from his wallet and leaves whilst Toddy is asleep. Toddy works as a performer at the Chez Lui in Paris, and sees the club manager Labisse auditioning an impoverished soprano by the name of Victoria Grant. Labisse writes her off, but she sings a note high enough to shatter his wine glass. Richard arrives at the club that night as part of a straight group of four and Toddy insults him in front of the women, getting himself fired from the club. Leaving in a rush, he notices Victoria dining at a nearby restaurant and joins her. They are both poor and so try to avoid paying the bill by dumping a cockroach in their food, which results in mayhem.

Victoria goes to stay with Toddy and borrows his clothes after hers are ruined by the rain. Richard stops by to pick up his things, and is confused when he sees Victoria in Toddy’s clothes, mistakenly thinking she is a man. This gives Toddy an idea and he presents her to Andre Cassell talent agency to pass her off as a female impersonator. He accepts her as Count Victor Grazinski – a gay Polish female impersonator and boyfriend of Toddy. She begins a nightclub show and catches the eye of King Marchand, a club owner from Chicago. He refuses to believe that she is man.

He sneaks into Victoria’s suite and sees her getting undressed but keeps his knowledge secret. They all go back to Chez Lui where Victoria is welcomed as a star, but a fight breaks out once again and Toddy is arrested leaving King and Victoria to slope off together. Squash, King’s bodyguard finds the two in bed together and as King tries to explain the situation, Squash reveals himself to also be gay. Labisse hires an investigator to find out the truth about Victor. As Victoria and King continue to live together, his girlfriend Norma tells his club partner that King is having a gay affair with Victor.

Victoria decides to give up the persona in order to live together with King, but King’s partner forces him to sign over his half of the business. Victoria shows Norma that she really is a woman to stop King from losing his career. Toddy and Victoria discover that Labisse has complained that Victor is a fraud, but the Inspector confirms that he is a man.

Victoria performs at King’s club as her real self an goes down a storm. Toddy masquerades as Victor, but is a disaster and he claims this will be his last performance.

Songs

Act I

Paris By Night ………. Toddy & Les Boys
If I Were a Man ………. Victoria
Trust Me ………. Toddy & Victoria
Le Jazz Hot! ………. Victor and Ensemble
The Tango ………. Victor & Norma
Paris Makes Me Horny………. Norma
Crazy World ………. Victoria

Act II

Louis Says ………. Victor & Ensemble
King’s Dilemma ………. King
Apache ………. Les Boys
You And Me ………. Toddy and Victor
Paris By Night (reprise) ………. Street Singer
Almost a Love Song ………. King and Victoria
Chicago, Illinois ………. Norma & The Girls
Living In the Shadows ………. Victoria
Victor/Victoria ………. Victoria, Toddy & Company

Awards

1996 Tony Award Nominations: Julie Andrews caused controversy by turning down the only Tony Nomination for Best Actress. She felt the whole production had been overlooked and didn’t want to be the only person singled out of the show.

Licensing

UK: Music Scope UK

USA: Tams-Witmark

Jesus Christ Superstar

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Jesus Christ Superstar is one of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s most popular musicals. The show began life as a concept recording which become popular in America and the UK charts. Due to the scale of the show, Producers were scared to take it on, but the original production opened on Broadway in 1971, before opening in London in 1972. The musical is a loose account of the Gospels in the final week leading up to Jesus’ death, ending with the crucifixion. The main focus is on the relationship between Judas and Jesus that have been invented for the musical. Despite some controversy all over the world, the show has been successful in various countries and is a popular choice to be performed by amateur and church companies. Numerous revivals have thought of different ways to present the story and have updated the events to a modern setting.

Music:

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics:

Tim Rice

Book / libretto:

Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Tom O’Horgan

Based on:

The Bible

Producer:

Robert Stigwood

Director:

Tom O’Horgan

Productions

Jesus Christ Superstar Original Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Mark Hellinger Theatre - Opened 12 Oct 1971, closed 1 Jul 1973, 711 performances

Cast: Jeff Fenholt, Yvonne Elliman, Ben Vereen, Barry Dennen & Anita Morris.

Original London Production

Palace Theatre - Opened 1 Jan 1972, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Paul Nicholas as Jesus, Stephen Tate as Judas and Dana Gillespie as Mary.

Jesus Christ Superstar 1st Broadway Revival

First Broadway Revival

Longacre Theatre - Opened 23 Nov 1977, closed 12 Feb 1978

Jesus Christ Superstar London Revival Lyceum

First London Revival

Lyceum Theatre - Opened 1 Sep 1996, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Steve Balsamo and Zubin Varla as Jesus and Judas, and Joanna Ampil

Jesus Christ Superstar 2nd Broadway Revival

Second Broadway Revival

Ford Centre of Performing Arts - Opened 16 Apr 2000, closed 3 Sep 2000

Jesus Christ Superstar 3rd Broadway Revival

2012 Broadway Revival

Neil Simon Theatre - Opened 22 Mar 2012, closed 1 Jul 2012

2012 Stadium Tour

02 Arena - UK National Tour - Opened 21 Sep 2012, closed 28 Mar 2013

Cast: Ben Forster, Mel C, Tim Minchin

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Son of God causes stir in Jerusalem. Loved by a prostitute, betrayed with a kiss. A camp Herod and dreamy Pilate + angry mob = crucifixion

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Jesus Christ Superstar follows the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ. Beginning with a rock Overture, we are introduced to Jesus’s supporters as they clash with the officials of Jerusalem. We are introduced first to Judas who delivers an internal monologue about the dangers Jesus is getting himself into ‘Heaven on their Minds’. He is critical of Jesus’s celebrity status. During ‘What’s the Buzz’ we see how his followers hang off his every word, although Judas tries to ground him and openly criticise him. Mary Magdalene jumps to his defence and tries to relax Jesus by telling him ‘Everything’s Alright’. The Priests meet together to discuss the Jesus problem and the best way of getting rid of him ‘This Jesus Must Die’. Jesus rides the donkey into town, and is greeted by palms and crowds of people, ‘Hosanna’. Simon Zealotes tries to spur him into action, but Jesus tells the crowd they must be patient, as God has plans for the whole of ‘Poor Jerusalem’. On an empty stage, Pilate wakes from a dream in which he has been warned of Jesus and sees his fate played out in front of him as he takes the blame for killing the Son of God. It’s market day and ‘The Temple’ becomes a den of thieves. Jesus overthrows the tables and throws everyone out. He is swamped by lepers trying to get help from him. Mary relaxes him and confesses that ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’. The Priests approach Judas and offer him ‘Blood Money’ for betraying Jesus. He accepts.

At ‘The Last Supper’ Jesus tells his disciples that he knows he will be betrayed, first by Peter and then by someone else. After arguing with Judas, they settle down to sleep and Jesus visits the garden of ‘Gethsemane’ to question God alone. This leads to ‘The Arrest’ and ‘Peter’s Denial’ of seeing Christ that evening. Jesus is taken to Pilate who torments him, sending him to Herod to explain himself. Herod delivers a camp over the top showbiz number and tells him to ‘get out’, sending him back to Pilate to meet his fate. Mary and Peter ask ‘Could We Start Again Please’ along with the other Apostles. Judas is overcome with what he has done and kills himself in shame. Jesus stands trial before Pilate and is lashed 39 times for not speaking up. The mob turn against him and demand for him to be crucified. Judas renters and asks Christ if it was all worth it in ‘such a strange land’ and sings ‘Superstar’. Jesus is put on the cross and dies.

Songs

Act I

“Overture” – Orchestra
“Heaven on Their Minds” – Judas
“What’s the Buzz” / “Strange Thing Mystifying” – Apostles, Jesus, Mary, Judas, Peter, Woman
“Everything’s Alright” – Mary, Women, Judas, Jesus, Apostles
“This Jesus Must Die” – Annas, Caiaphas, Apostles, Priests
“Hosanna” – Apostles, Caiaphas, Jesus, Ensemble
“Simon Zealotes” / “Poor Jerusalem” – Apostles, Simon, Jesus, Ensemble
“Pilate’s Dream” – Pilate
“The Temple” – Ensemble, Jesus
“Everything’s Alright (reprise)” – Mary, Jesus
“I Don’t Know How to Love Him” – Mary
“Damned for All Time” / “Blood Money” – Judas, Annas, Caiaphas, Chorus

Act II

“The Last Supper” – Apostles, Jesus, Judas
“Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)” – Jesus
“The Arrest” – Judas, Jesus, Peter, Apostles, Ensemble, Annas, Caiaphas
“Peter’s Denial” – Maid by the Fire, Peter, Soldier, Old Man, Mary
“Pilate and Christ” – Pilate, Annas, Jesus, Ensemble
“King Herod’s Song (Try it and See)” – Herod, Dancers
“Could We Start Again Please?” – Mary, Apostles, Peter
“Judas’ Death” – Judas, Annas, Caiaphas, Chorus
“Trial Before Pilate (Including the Thirty-Nine Lashes)” – Pilate, Caiaphas, Annas, Jesus, Ensemble
“Superstar” – Judas, Soul Sisters, Angels
“The Crucifixion” – Jesus, Ensemble
“John Nineteen: Forty-One” – Orchestra

Awards

1972 Tony Award Nominations: Best Score, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Performance in a Leading Role.

1997 Laurence Olivier Nomination: Best Musical Revival

2012 Tony Award Nomination: Best Musical Revival

Licensing

UK: Really Useful Group

USA: R & H Theatricals

Leave it to Jane

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Leave It to Jane was written in 1917 and premiered at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway. The musical features a score by Jerome Kern along with book and lyrics by Guy Bolton and P.G Wodehouse. The show is based on the 1904 play ‘College Widow’ and concerns two rival schools who fight to win the football season. The seductive Jane is sent by the school to lure away the rival’s key new player, going against her father’s wishes. The original production had moderate success, but the off-Broadway revival in 1959 ran for almost 2 years. The show features famous songs such as ‘Cleopatterer’, ‘A Peach of Life’ and ‘Leave it to Jane’.

Music:

Jerome Kern

Lyrics:

P.G. Wodehouse

Book / libretto:

Guy Bolton & P.G. Wodehouse

Based on:

The College Widow By George Ade

Producer:

William Elliot, F. Ray Comstock & Morris Gest

Director:

Edward Royce

Choreography:

Edward Royce

Productions

Original Broadway Production

Longacre Theatre - Opened 28 Aug 1917, closed 19 Jan 1918, 167 performances

Off-Broadway Revival

Sheridan Square Playhouse - Opened 25 May 1959, closed 1 Jan 1970, 958 performances

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

A Flirtatious College girl is assigned the takes of getting a star quarterback to switch to her college so they will win the big game. The show opens on the first day of term at ”Good Old Atwater” College in Indiana, and the football season is expected to beat rival school Bingham in the all important Thanksgiving Day match. The school President has news of a new quaterback who is an ex-piano mover and will increase the team’s chances of success. All they need to do is convince everyone he is a real student. Jane Witherspoon is sought after by all of the college football team, and he father is a donor of her rival school. A bet is set up between the two school Presidents and the game is on. The news of Bingham College’s new signing comes as Billy Bolton of Minnesota. It is left to Jane to lure him to Atwater College with the prospects of academics and possible romance.

Songs

Wait Till Tomorrow
Just You Watch My Step
Leave It To Jane
The Crickets Are Calling
The Siren’s Song
There It Is Again
Cleopatterer
The Sun Shines Brighter
I’m Going to Find A Girl

Awards

Winner of no major awards

Licensing

UK: Music Scope UK

USA: Music Scope UK

Lil Abner

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Li’l Abner is based on the famous Al Capp comic strip and was a popular musical of the 1950s. The show features music by Gene De Paul and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, along with a book by Norman Panama. Many attempts were made to musicalize the comic strip, but the deal was finally won by Paramount Pictures who wanted to turn the stage musical into a film. The show brings the famous characters to life from the comic strip, providing a spoof of hillbillies, whilst at the same time criticising the federal government through its satirical book. The original production was praised for its acting talent onstage, although no formal revival has been made of the show, or London transfer.

Music:

Gene de Paul

Book / libretto:

Norman Panama & Melvin Frank

Based on:

Al Capp's creations

Producer:

Norman Panama, Melvin Frank & Michael Kidd

Director:

Michael Kidd

Choreography:

Michael Kidd

Productions

Original Broadway Production

St James' Theatre - Opened 15 Nov 1956, closed 12 Jul 1958

Cast: Stubby Kaye, Edith Adams, Peter Palmer, Stanley Simmonds, George Reeder, Ralph Linn, Marc Breaux, Howard St. John, Carmen Alvarez, Pat Creighton, Lillian D’Homan, Bonnie Evans, Hope Holiday and Dee Dee Wood

Encores! Production

City Centre Encores - Opened 26 Mar 1998, closed 1 Jan 1970

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Synopsis

In Dogpatch, U.S.A., it’s “A Typical Day” as bombshell Daisy Mae is trying to convince Li’l Abner Yokum to be her boyfriend. Handsome Abner has no interested in girls or getting a job, so Abner’s mother Mammy tells Daisy Mae to get Abner to come to the Cornpone Meetin’ in the centre of town. Abner is content with his simple life and enjoys fishing with his friends (“If I Had My Druthers”). Daisy Mae arrives to tell the boys about the meeting, and they head into town.

At the Cornpone Meetin’, Senator Fogbound, the town’s congressman, announces that Congress has decided Dogpatch is the most unnecessary town in the country and will therefore become a testing site for a nuclear bomb. The town is thrilled that it has been recognised for any title at all (“Rag Offen the Bush”). However, Earthquake McGoon brings up the fact that if they all leave Dogpatch, they will be unable to have the annual Sadie Hawkins day race. This race is the only way anyone in the town can get married, and a prospective bride must catch a boy during the race in order to be hitched. The town agrees that Sadie Hawkins Day is worth saving the town for, so they plan to prove that Dogpatch has some necessary qualities.

Daisy Mae’s trailer trash family, the Scraggs, decide to accept Earthquake’s $1 to allow him to be caught by Daisy Mae on Sadie Hawkins Day. Meanwhile, Daisy Mae finally manages to make Abner realise that she should be with him (“Namely You”). Reality sets in and the town begins to reject the idea of being an “Unnecessary Town.” Mammy Yokum reveals that it is her Yokumberry Tonic that has given Abner his perfect all-American looks. An unattractive government scientist arrives and upon taking one spoonful he is transformed into a tall beefcake of a man. Abner takes the tonic to Washington to make a case that there is something special about Dogpatch. Greedy General Bullmoose hears of the potion and wants it for himself. He decides to have his voluptuous girlfriend Apasionata Von Climax catch Abner on Sadie Hawkins Day, and then kill Abner once they are married so Appasionata will inherit the formula.

Abner returns home and assures everyone that “The Country’s in the Very Best of Hands.” General Bullmoose, Apasionata, and their cohort Evil Eye Fleagle arrive just in time for Sadie Hawkins Day, as the women begin chasing the men in the annual race. Daisy Mae nearly catches Abner, but when Evil Eye Fleagle freezes everyone in the race, Apasionata manages to catch Abner first.

After the race, 17 year-old Daisy Mae is worried that she failed to win Abner because she is not young and beautiful enough (“I’m Past My Prime”). Mammy Yokum dreams of Bullmoose’s plot to kill Abner and asks Daisy Mae to head to Washington to save him. Daisy Mae requests that Earthquake accompany her and agrees to marry him if he does.

In Washington, Bullmoose realises he will not have to have Abner marry Apassionata and can instead use Fleagle’s evil eye to still Abner’s secret and then convince him to commit suicide. Mammy and Pappy Yokum arrive with Daisy Mae and Earthquake to stop him, and Earthquake inadvertently bounces the beam from Fleagle’s evil eye with a mirror. Mammy is able to get Bullmoose to confess and he and his crew are promptly arrested.

The women of Dogpatch head to the factory in Washington where their husbands have been test subjects for the Yokumberry Tonic. They find them transformed into virile specimens, but unfortunately they no longer have any interest in their wives. The scientists reveal that while the potion makes men handsome, it also removes their romantic desire. The women ask the scientists to “Put ‘Em Back” to the way they were. Daisy Mae confesses to Abner that she has now agreed to marry Earthquake but would prefer to marry him. Pappy Yokum tells Abner that he has a special tonic that will make Abner want to marry Daisy Mae.

When they return to Dogpatch, Daisy Mae and Earthquake proceed with their wedding. Daisy Mae’s relatives arrive and on being informed they will be moving in with the couple, Earthquake begins to have second thoughts. Pappy gives Abner the potion, which is secretly just water, and Abner immediately rushes in to stop the wedding. Earthquake happily allows Abner to marry Daisy Mae instead. The government arrive to evacuate the town before the bomb testing begins, but as they move a statue of the town’s most famous citizen Jubilation T. Cornpone, they discover that as a result of Conrpone’s many military blunders on behalf of the South during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln has declared Dogpatch a national heritage site. The bomb testing is cancelled and Dogpatch returns to its simple, happy life.

Songs

Act I

Overture
A Typical Day
If I Had My Druthers
If I Had My Druthers (reprise)
Jubilation T. Cornpone
Jubilation T. Cornpone (encore)
Rag Off’n The Bush
Dogpatch Dance
Namely You
Unnecessary Town
What’s Good For General Bullmoose
There’s Room Enough For Us
The Country’s In The Very Best Of Hands
The Country’s In The Very Best Of Hands (encore)
Sadie Hawkins Ballet

Act II

Entr’acte
Oh, Happy Day
I’m Past My Prime
Love In A Home
Progress Is The Root Of All Evil
In Society
Progress Is The Root Of All Evil (reprise)
Put ‘em Back
Namely You (reprise)
The Matrimonial Stomp
Put ‘Em Back (reprise)
The Matrimonial Stomp (reprise)
Jubilation T. Cornpone (Finale)

Awards

1957 Tony Awards: Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Edith Adams), Best Choreography (Michael Kidd)

Nominated for: Best Costume Design (Alvin Colt)

1957 Theatre World Awards: Peter Palmer, Wynne Miller

Licensing

UK: Music Scope UK

USA: Tams-Witmark

Of Thee I Sing

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Of Thee I Sing features music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin, along with a book by George S Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. The show was the first ever musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The plot follows John P Wintergreen who runs for President of the USA. Whilst his manifesto stands up on the ‘love’ platform, he falls for the wrong woman and finds himself in a difficult political situation. The original production was a critical and commercial success and has led to numerous revivals and concerts over the past 75 years. It was the longest running Gershwin musical of their lifetime.

Music:

George Gershwin

Lyrics:

Ira Gershwin

Book / libretto:

George S. Kaufman

Producer:

Sam H. Harris

Director:

George S. Kaufman

Choreography:

George Hale

Productions

Original Broadway Production

46th Street Theatre - Opened 26 Dec 1931, closed 14 Jan 1933

Cast: William Gaxton, Lois Moran, Victor Moore, Grace Brinkley, George Murphy, June O’Dea, Florenz Ames

Broadway Revival

Imperial Theatre - Opened 15 May 1933, closed 10 Jun 1933

Broadway Revival

Ziegfeld Theatre - Opened 5 May 1952, closed 5 Jul 1952

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

In America during the 1930s, a campaign is underway supporting ‘Wintergreen for President’. John P Wintergreen has been nominated alongside his Vice Presidential candidate Alexander Throttlebottom. As they meet together to discuss party tactics, they ask a room cleaner what issues are important to her. She initially says money, but changes her mind and says that love is the most important thing. The politicians decide that the campaign should run on the principle of love. They decide that Wintergreen needs to find a perfect wife, and set up a nationwide pageant to find the ideal candidate.

John is not particularly happy wit the event and instead falls for Mary, the event organiser. The judges select Diana Devereaux, a southern belle to be his wife, but John refuses and runs off with Mary, whose corn muffins keep the judges at bay.

The theme of love begins to sweep the nation, and as the crowds gather John proposes to Mary and she accepts. He leads the crowds in a rendition of the title number. Wintergreen wins the election by a landslide and holds the wedding on the same day as the inauguration. Just as they are about to tie the knott, Diana appears from the crowd to hold him for breech of contract, saying she was supposed to be marrying him. The Supreme Court rule against her saying Mary’s corn muffins are more important and once again they sing a victorious rendition of the title song.

As John and Mary settle into life in the White House, Throttlebottom realises he has to govern over the senate. Diana is generating support throughout the USA telling anyone who will listen that she has been wronged by the President. Diana is revealed to be a descendant of Napoleon and therefore has French blood. The French ambassador insists that Wintergreen marry Diana to maintain good diplomatic relations between the two countries. Everyone can do nothing but agree, leaving Mary and John to declare their eternal love for each other.

Diana brings the President up in front of the Senate saying she was jilted and a contract was breached. Mary declares she is pregnant and the senators decide they cannot arrest an expectant father. The French Ambassador reveals that because of this event, the birth rate in France has decreased and says that the child should be given over to France as a symbolic gesture.

The baby is born and everyone begins to celebrate. The French Ambassador delivers his final ultimatum as they find out that Mary has actually given birth to twins. Wintergreen has an idea, reminding everyone that the constitution says that if the President is unable to fulfil his duties, then the Vice President has to step up to the mark. He suggests that Throttlebottom then marries Diana instead of him. Everyone is happy and sings a rousing chorus of ‘Of Thee I Sing’.

Songs

Act I

Wintergreen for President
Who is the Lucky Girl to Be?
The Dimple on Your Knee
Don’t Worry, Little Girl
Because, Because
As the Chairman of the Committee
How Beautiful
Never Was There a Girl So Fair
Some Girls Can Bake a Pie
Love is Sweeping the Country
Of Thee I Sing
Entrance of the Supreme Court Judges
A Kiss for Cinderella
Is It True or Am I Dreaming?
I Was the Most Beautiful Blossom
Some Girls Can Bake a Pie (reprise)
Of Thee I Sing (reprise)

Act II

Hello, Good Morning
Who Cares?
Garcon, S’il Vous Plait
Entrance of the French Ambassador
The Illegitimate Daughter
We’ll Impeach Him
Who Cares? (reprise)
The Senatorial Roll Call
The Impeachment Trial:
Wheras
The Illegitimate Daughter (reprise)
Jilted, Jilted!
I’m About to Be a Mother
Posterity is Just Around the Corner
Trumpeter, Blow Your Horn
On That Matter No One Budges
Of Thee I Sing (reprise)

Awards

1932 Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International

No No Nanette

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No, No, Nanette is one of the most popular musicals of the 1920s and enjoyed a fantastic revival in 1971 on Broadway. Featuring music by Vincent Youmans and lyrics by Irving Caesar, the show is based on the 1919 play ‘My Lady Friends’ by Frank Mandel, who also wrote the book of the musical. The plot involves three couples who come together in Atlantic City in the midst of a blackmail scheme and follows typical farce conventions. The show was successful in its original US tour, before opening in London and later on Broadway. Two film versions have been made, and adaptations continue to be created. The 1971 revival was updated by Burt Shevelove who also directed the production. It is now a favourite piece for American school groups and amateur theatre companies.

Music:

Vincent Youmans

Lyrics:

Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach

Book / libretto:

Frank Mandel and Otto Harbach

Producer:

H. H. Frazee

Director:

H. H. Frazee

Choreography:

Sammy Lee

Productions

Original London Production

Palace Theatre - Opened 11 Mar 1925, closed 1 Jan 1970, 665 performances

Original Broadway Production

Globe Theatre - Opened 16 Sep 1925, closed 1 Jan 1970, 321 performances

Cast: Louise Groody, Charles Winniger, Josephine Whittell, Wellington Cross, Eleanor Dawn, Georgia O’Ramsey, Mary Lawlor, John Barker

Broadway Revival

46th Street Theatre - Opened 19 Jan 1971, closed 3 Feb 1973, 861 performances

Cast: Helen Gallagher, Bobby Van, Jack Gilford, Patsy Kelly, Susan Watson, Dana Swenson

New York Concert Revival

Encore! City Center - Opened 1 May 2008, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Sandy Duncan, Beth Leavel, Rosie O’Donnell

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Jimmy Smith is a millionaire Bible publisher who loves giving his money away to philanthropic causes, much to the displeasure of his wife, Sue, who tries to keep a tight reign on the family’s finances. Their friends Lucille and Billy are the opposite, with Lucille spending every penny Billy earns. Jimmy and Sue are raising a feisty young girl named Nanette, who they have tried to bring up in a respectable way. Unbeknownst to Sue, Jimmy is also giving money to three young girls in a naively platonic way.

Nanette is the subject of a lot of male attention, and has attracted a number of suitors. While visiting Sue, Lucille takes the opportunity to tell Nanette that too much flirtation is not a good thing (“Too Many Rings Around Rosie”). Nanette finally falls in love with Billy’s straitlaced nephew, Tom (“I’ve Confessed to the Breeze”), who wants to get married as soon as possible, but Nanette is not ready to settle down just yet.

Jimmy’s three lady friends attempt to blackmail him, and reluctant for Sue to discover he has been wasting money again, he enlists Billy’s help to get rid of them. Billy arranges to bring the girls to the family’s summer home in Atlantic City, but as both men have told their wives they’ll be away on business, Lucille and Sue decide to leave for the cottage as well.

Things are further complicated when Nanette decides to run off to Atlantic City as well, and gets $200 for the trip from Jimmy (“I Want to Be Happy”). Nanette becomes a “Peach on the Beach,” while Jimmy is confronted by the three girls who remind him of his broken promises (“The Three Happies”). Tom also arrives in Atlantic City and finds Nanette, and they imagine a happy life as a married couple (“Tea for Two”). Meanwhile, Lucille runs into Billy, who manages to convince her that nothing amiss is happening, and Lucille assures him he can “Dance With Any Girl at All” as long as he returns to her.

Sue finds Nanette has come to Atlantic City against her wishes and furiously sends her home. She also comes across the three girls talking to Billy and assumes he is having an affair with them. She tells Lucille, who confronts Billy, and in an effort to protect Jimmy, he does not deny it. Meanwhile, Tom has had enough of Nanette’s partying antics and ends their relationship.
Everyone heads back to New York City after the events on the coast. Billy attempts to reconcile with Lucille but is interrupted by the three meddling girls (“Telephone Girlie”). Lucille is devastated by her perception of Billy’s betrayal and sings the “Where-Has-My-Hubby-Gone Blues.”

Finally Tom finds his love for Nanette again and proposes to her; Nanette resolves to leave her single days behind and agrees to get married (“Waiting for You”). Jimmy arrives and unravels the confusion with the three girls, and both couples make up. Sue decides that in order to prevent Jimmy from wasting his money, she should spend it all on herself and buys a fabulous party dress. The entire cast join in the jubilant finale “Take a Little One-Step.”

Songs

Overture
Too Many Rings Around Rosie
I’ve Confessed to the Breeze
Call of the Sea
I Want to be happy
No no Nanette
Peach on the Beach
Tea for Two
You Can Dance With Any Girl at All
Telephone Girlie
Finaletto Act II
Where Has My Hubby Gone Blues
Waiting for You
Take a Little One Step

Awards

1971 Tony Awards: Best Actress in a Musical (Helen Gallagher), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Patsy Kelly), Best Costume Design (Raoul Pene Du Bois), Best Choreography (Donald Saddler).

Nominated for: Best Actor in a Musical (Bobby Van), Best Direction (Shevelove)

Licensing

UK: Music Scope UK

USA: Tams-Witmark

Easter Parade

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Easter Parade is yet to surface on the stage, but remains one of the most popular musical films of the ‘golden age’. Released in 1948, the film starred Judy Garland and Fred Astaire, who were at the time two of the biggest names in Hollywood musicals. The film features a score by Irving Berlin and includes standards such as ‘Seppin Out With My Baby’, ‘We’re a Couple of Swells’ and ‘Snooky Ookums’, which have gone on to be covered by artists around the world in stage shows, films and albums. The film was the highest grossing musical of the year and the most financially successful show for both Astaire and Garland, and remains popular with each new generation.

Music:

Irving Berlin

Book / libretto:

Irving Berlin

Screenplay:

Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, Sidney Sheldon

Producer:

Arthur Freed

Director:

Charles Walters

Productions

Original Film

Film - Opened 8 Jul 1948, closed 18 Dec 2012

Cast: Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford, Ann Miller

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

It’s Broadway in 1912 and stage star Don Hewes goes to buy Easter gifts for his girlfriend Nadine, which include flowers, a hat and a cuddly bunny rabbit. He takes the presents to Nadine who is also his dancing partner. She tells him that she has had an offer to join a show where she would be a solo star, and Don attempts to persuade her to stay. His friend Johnny arrives and Nadine tells him that they are not going to be dancing together any more and it is clear she has feelings for Johnny.

Don is upset and drinks in a local bar. Johnny tries to convince him that everything will be okay, but Don brags and says he will make the next girl he meets a star and picks out one of the girls from the chorus. Hannah Brown attends rehearsal with him the next day and he tries to make her a copy of Nadine, giving her fancy dresses and the stage name ‘Juanita’. At their first outing Hannah can’t handle the pressure and their dance is a disaster.

Hannah and Johnny seem to hit it off straight away and Don is immediately jealous. Don realises he made a mistake trying to turn Hannah into Nadine and starts from scratch to make routines to suit her personality. They become a duo called ‘Hannah & Hewes” and perform a montage of successful performances. They audition for the Ziegfeld Follies where Nadine is working as a dancer and Hannah demands to know if Don and her were ever in love. Johnny arrives and takes Hannah out for dinner and tells her that he is in love with her. She is flattered but tells him she is actually in love with Don and has been deliberately been making mistakes in order to make their rehearsals last longer. Don tells her that he turned down the Follies gig, saying that Hannah and Nadine are not meant to be in the same show.

Don goes to see Nadine’s show and is unimpressed. He invites Hannah to dinner where he suggests a dance rehearsal and Hannah is furious that he hasn’t noticed her new clothes and only sees her as a pair of dancing shoes. As she goes to leave Don kisses her and they realise they are in love. Their double act continues to get booked for variety shows and they regularly perform together. As they leave to celebrate they end up watching Nadine perform and the audience give Don and Hannah an ovation as they walk in which angers Nadine. She gets Don to perform with her for old time’s sake which makes Hannah jealous and she runs out. She feels used and yells at Don as he arrives at her apartment. She throws him out and consults Johnny who tells her to take him back. The next morning she goes to meet him, and Don starts receiving gifts such as a top hat and a rabbit. Hannah arrives and they join together in the Easter Parade as Don proposes to her.

Songs

Happy Easter
Drum Crazy
It Only Happens When I Dance With You
I Want To Go Back To Michigan (Down On the Farm)
A Fella With An Umbrella
I Love a Piano
Snookey Ookums
The Ragtime Violin
When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam’
Shaking the Blues Away
Steppin’ Out With My Baby
Mister Monotony
A Couple of Swells
The Girl on the Magazine Cover
Better Luck Next Time
Easter Parade

Awards

Academy Awards: Best Scoring of a Musical Picture.

Kismet

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Kismet is a musical that features musical adaptation along with an original score. The show uses themes of Alexander Borodin, with word setting and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest. The most famous themes come from Borodin’s ‘Prince Igor’, such as the Polovtsian Dances, adapted into ‘Stranger in Paradise’. The plot concerns a wily poet whose beautiful daughter meets and falls in love with a young Prince, and is set in a fictional town in Baghdad around the same time of ‘Arabian Nights’. The original production was well received on both Broadway and in London, and has enjoyed numerous revivals by Opera companies, due to it’s heavily classical score. A film version was also very popular and was released in 1955 under the MGM label.

Music:

Robert Wright and George Forrest, Based on the music of Alexander Borodin

Lyrics:

Robert Wright

Book / libretto:

Charles Lederer and Luther Davis

Based on:

The themes of Borodin

Producer:

Charles Lederer & Edwin Lester

Director:

Albert Marre

Choreography:

Jack Cole

Productions

Original Broadway Production

Ziegfeld Theatre - Opened 3 Dec 1953, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Alfred Drake, Richard Kiley, Joan Dienner, Doretta Morrow & Henry Calvin

Original London Production

The Stoll Theatre (Now the Peacock Theatre) - Opened 1 Apr 1955, closed 14 Dec 2012

Kismet Broadway Revival

New York City Opera - Opened 22 Jun 1965, closed 1 Jan 1970

London Revival

ENO London Coliseum - Opened 1 Jun 2007, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Michael Ball and Alfie Boe

What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

In Baghdad, a poet sits outside a Mosque attempting to sell his verses. His daughter Marsinah attempts to help him but goes off the Bazaar to steal her breakfast. As the poet begins to beg, he curses those who do not give him money. Jawan kidnaps him thinking he is Hajj and demands he lift a curse placed on him 15 years ago, resulting in the loss of his son. The poet sees an opportunity and pretends to do so in return for 100 golden pieces.

The evil Wazir enters along with his seductive wife-of-wives Lalume and they discuss a loan that he needs. In return for the money that has been lent from the King of Ababu, the Caliph has to marry one or all three of the Princesses of Ababu. The Princesses tell Lalume they wish to return home.

Marsinah is chased by a market seller who knows she has stolen from them. Her father bails her out and gives his daughter half of the money. Whilst she considers how to spend it, the Caliph, who has disguised himself is taken with her beauty. The poet is arrested for setaling as Marsinah has found a house for her and her father to live. The Caliph disguises himself as a gardener and enters the house and the two instantly fall in love. They promise to meet later by moonlight.

Hajj is on trial for stealing and the Wazir sentences him to lashes and his right hand cut off. He begs that as a poet this will ruin his career. Lalume is attracted to the poet and begs the Wazir to spare him just as Jawan is brought in and it is revealed that the Wazir is his son. Jawan praises the poet and his ability to lift curses, but the Wazir sentences his own father to death. The Wazir is worried that the poet has cursed him and is about to kill him when the Caliph enters and says he has found a bride that he will marry that evening. The Wazir realises that if the Caliph doesn’t marry one of his daughters then his life will be ruined. He begs Hajj to right this wrong with his magic powers, promising him a reprieve and an important title. Hajj agrees and causes a diversion, escaping and leaving the Wazir with his cloak.

The Caliph sets off to be married but Marsinah thinks only of the gardener. Hajj returns and says they must flee but she refuses to go. They fight and run off, meaning that the Caliph enters the garden and finds his love not ther.

The Wazir finds out that the bride has gone and thinks that Hajj’s magic has worked. He tells his wife to make Hajj happy and gives him the title of Emir. The Caliph tells the Wazir that they must find his love just as Marsinah enters with the Harem and asks her father to help find her love. The Caliph sees Marsinah in the Harem and is upset that she is apart of the Wazir’s troop. The Wazir claims her as one of his wives. He is heartbroken and finally agrees to choose his wive-of-wives that evening. The Wazir marries Marsinah against her will.

The candidates for the Caliph’s hand dance for him but he is unmoved. Hajj realises what has happened and takes a blank plaque from his turban and throws it into the pool. He says that when it is retrieved, it will say the name of his intended bride. As The Wazir enters the pool, Hajj holds him underwater until he drowns. The Caliph realises what has happened and is reunited with Marsinah. Hajj is reunited with Lalume and is banished to an Oasis with her.

Songs

Act I

Sands of Time
Rhymes Have I
Fate
Bazaar Of The Caravans
Not Since Nineveh
Baubles, Bangles And Beads
Stranger In Paradise
He’s in love
Gesticulate

Act II

Night of My Nights
Was I Wazir?
Rahadlakum
And This Is My Beloved
The Olive Tree
Zubbediya
Bored
The Hand of Fate
Stolen Oranges
Paradise Garden
The Poets Meet

Awards

1954 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Drake), Best Conductor and Musical Director.

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International