Showtune (musical)
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| Showtune | |
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| Logo, 2003 New York Production | |
|---|---|
| Music | Jerry Herman |
| Lyrics | Jerry Herman |
| Book | Paul Gilger |
| Productions | 1985 San Francisco 1998 London 2003 New York City |
Showtune is a popular musical revue celebrating the words and music of Broadway composer Jerry Herman. Its name was inspired by Herman's memoir of the same name.
The forty songs featured in Showtune come from the Herman Broadway musicals Milk and Honey (1961), Hello, Dolly! (1964), Mame (1966), Dear World (1969), Mack & Mabel (1974), The Grand Tour (1979), A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine (1980), and La Cage aux Folles (1983). (Herman also contributed songs to Ben Franklin in Paris (1964).)
Conceived by California architect Paul Gilger, the songs in Showtune are juxtaposed into thematic scenes and song-cycles, placing a strong emphasis on Herman's lyrics and their optimistic messages. The song-cycle format creates dramatic sub-texts giving through-lines to the show, making Showtune unique among musical revues.
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[edit] Tune the Grand Up in California
Showtune was originally titled Tune the Grand Up, and premiered May 1, 1985 as a cabaret production at The 1177 Club on Nob Hill in San Francisco, California. It was directed by Paul Gilger and Barbara Valente, with choreography by Valente, musical direction by James Followell, and production management by Bill Perez. The production received unanimous rave reviews from 13 newspapers, including both the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Francisco Examiner. The show ran for 2 years, winning 11 awards including 3 awards for Best Musical from Hollywood Drama-Logue, Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, and the San Francisco Council on Entertainment. The original San Francisco cast was:
- John Nockels (Man 1)
- Darlene Popovic (Woman 1)
- James Followell (Man 2 and the Pianist)
- Alma Sayles (Woman 2)
- David Broussal (Man 3)
- Lise-Marie Thomas (Woman 3)
Cindy Herron joined the cast in the second year as Woman 3. Herron subsequently went on to star as one of the original four singers in the R&B female group En Vogue.
In March 1987, a second company of Tune the Grand Up opened for a special engagement at the Lyceum Space Theatre in San Diego, California, also receiving rave reviews, including Variety. The San Diego cast was:
- John Nockels
- Darlene Popovic
- James Followell
- Mimi Unser
- Tim Connell
- Cindy Herron
In 1996, New York producer Jennifer Strome optioned the rights to Tune the Grand Up and has produced all subsequent productions of the revue, beginning with the successful 1996 production in the Delta King Riverboat Theatre in Sacramento, California. The Sacramento cast was:
- John Nockels
- Mary Gannon
- Barry Lloyd
- Rachel Songer
- Ric Iverson
- Jennifer Russell
During the holiday season of 1996, Tune the Grand Up returned to San Francisco at the Alcazar Theatre. The production was supervised by Jerry Herman, directed by Jay Manley, choreographed by Barbara Valente, with musical direction by Barry Lloyd. It won critical acclaim and a number of Hollywood Drama-Logue Awards, including one for each member of the cast:
- Pierce Peter Brandt
- Michelle E. Jordan
- Barry Lloyd
- Jane Wasser
- Dan Johnson
- Marsha Mercant
[edit] The Best of Times in London
In 1998, the revue was produced twice in London, by Strome in association with Sharleen Cooper Cohen, with a new title, The Best of Times. It was directed and choreographed by Bill Starr, with musical direction and band orchestrations by Fiz Shapur. The cast of the first London production at the Bridewell Theatre was:
- Garth Bardsley
- Melanie Marshall
- Barry Lloyd
- Lindsay Hamilton
- Jamie Golding
- Karen Evans
The successful Bridewell production was transferred in late 1998 to the Vaudeville Theatre in the West End theatre district, again receiving rave reviews, including London's Sunday Times, Financial Times, Evening Standard, and Time Out London. The West End cast was:
- Garth Bardsley
- Kathryn Evans
- James Followell
- Sarah Payne
- Jamie Golding
- Lindsay Hamilton
Garth Bardsley went on to write the Anthony Newley biography, Stop the World.
[edit] Showtune in New York
In fall of 2002, the revue, now christened Showtune, had its New York out-of-town tryout at the Helen Hayes Theatre in Nyack, New York. The production was directed and choreographed by Joey McKneely, with musical direction by James Followell, set design by Klara Zieglerova, costume design by Tracy Christensen, lighting design by Brian Nason, sound design by Peter Fitzgerald, stage managed by Renee Lutz, casting by Cindi Rush, and general management by Peter Bogyo. The cast was expanded from six to seven:
- Martin Vidnovic (Man 1)
- Donna McKechnie (Woman 1)
- Paul Harman (Man 2)
- Sandy Binion (Woman 2)
- Tom Korbee (Man 3)
- Russell Arden Koplin (Woman 3)
- Bobby Peaco (Man 4 and the Pianist)
- James Sasser (Understudy)
- Jill Geddes (Understudy)
In February 2003, Showtune opened off-Broadway at the Theatre at St Peter's in the Citicorp Center Building, receiving numerous rave reviews, including Variety, United Press International and the Associated Press. Once again the revue was produced by Strome, in partnership with film producer David Brown. McKechnie was not available for the off-Broadway production due to prior commitments. The original NY cast and production staff were the same as the tryout, with Karen Murphy replacing McKechnie.
[edit] Los Angeles, Florida, and Subsequent Productions
In June 2003, Showtune had its Los Angeles premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse, again to rave reviews, including the Los Angeles Times. The production was directed by Bill Starr and Sheldon Epps, with choreography by Starr, and musical direction by James Followell. The LA cast was:
- Martin Vidnovic
- Mary Jo Mecca
- Robert Yacko
- Merle Dandridge
- Christopher Corts
- Stephanie Lynge
- Bobby Peaco
In December 2003, Showtune had its Florida premiere at the Caldwell Theatre in Boca Raton. The production was directed by Michael Hall, with choreography by Barbara Flaten and musical direction by Bobby Peaco. The Florida cast was:
- Martin Vidnovic
- Lourelene Snedeker
- Steve Wilson
- Connie SaLoutos
- Benjamin Schrader
- Stephanie Lynge
- Bobby Peaco
Numerous productions throughout the United States and overseas have followed, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland and the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre at the University of Miami.
[edit] Cast Recording
In 2004, a cast recording of Showtune was produced in New York City with most of the New York cast.
[edit] Scene and Song List
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
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Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
Curtain Call
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[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Showtune article New York Times
- Showtune article Playbill.com
- Showtune review United Press International
- Showtune review CurtainUp.com
- Showtune review Wolf Entertainment Guide
- Showtune review TheaterScene.net
- Showtune review Back Stage West, Los Angeles production
- Showtune review Entertainment News & Views, Florida production
- Showtune page JerryHerman.com
- Showtune page JorgePlace.com
- Showtune page Music Theatre International, United States
- Showtune page Josef Weinberger, England
- Showtune page Hal Leonard, Australia
- Showtune page New International Musicals Inc., Japan and Far East
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