Beatlemania was a
BroadwayBroadway Theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, is the theatre associated with the 40 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City...
musical
revueA revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th-century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from ca. 1916-32...
focused on the life and music of
The BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960 who became one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music...
. Advertised as "
Not the Beatles, but an incredible simulation", it ran from 1977 to 1979 for a total of 1006 performances.
Originally conceived and produced by Steve Leber and David Krebs, Beatlemania began previews on May 26, 1977 in Boston. It premiered on
BroadwayBroadway Theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, is the theatre associated with the 40 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City...
at the
Winter Garden TheatreThe Winter Garden Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 1634 Broadway in midtown-Manhattan.It was built by William Kissam Vanderbilt in 1896 to be the American Horse Exchange....
on May 31, 1977 (after previewing from May 26) and ran until October 17, 1979 for a total of 1006 performances.
Beatlemania was a
BroadwayBroadway Theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, is the theatre associated with the 40 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City...
musical
revueA revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th-century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from ca. 1916-32...
focused on the life and music of
The BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960 who became one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music...
. Advertised as "
Not the Beatles, but an incredible simulation", it ran from 1977 to 1979 for a total of 1006 performances.
History
Originally conceived and produced by Steve Leber and David Krebs, Beatlemania began previews on May 26, 1977 in Boston. It premiered on
BroadwayBroadway Theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, is the theatre associated with the 40 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City...
at the
Winter Garden TheatreThe Winter Garden Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 1634 Broadway in midtown-Manhattan.It was built by William Kissam Vanderbilt in 1896 to be the American Horse Exchange....
on May 31, 1977 (after previewing from May 26) and ran until October 17, 1979 for a total of 1006 performances. During its New York run, the show moved to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and finally the
Palace TheatreThe Palace Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 1564 Broadway in midtown-Manhattan.-History:Designed by architects Kirchoff & Rose, the theatre, built by California vaudeville entrepreneur and Broadway impresario Martin Beck, experienced a number of problems before it opened. E. F....
. The production was nominated for the 1978
Tony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American theatre and are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are for Broadway productions and...
for Best Lighting Design by designer Jules Fisher.
After closing on Broadway, the "Beatlemania Bus and Truck tour" began, running until 1983 and touring across the United States and worldwide. A lawsuit by the Beatles company "Apple Corps LTD" officially ended the show for a period of time but revival tours still continue today.
At its peak,
Beatlemania had several permanent shows in several cities around the world and several semi-temporary shows in many more cities in the U.S and the rest of the world.
As the show expanded in its formative years over 50 original cast members formed 10 bunks (or casts of a single set of four). As the New York show continued its run, shows were opened in Los Angeles, Chicago, Cincinnati, and London. Short term tours of Australia, Europe, Asia and Africa were produced after 1982 and revival tours continue today.
Beatlemania: The Album
In 1978,
Beatlemania released a self-titled soundtrack to the show which included contributions from the first and second cast of performers from the show (as well as a few additional off stage keyboardists and musicians). Released on
Arista RecordsArista Records is an American record label. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operates under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
in 1978, the album received warm audience reaction even placing on the
Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday; while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
for several weeks before falling into vinyl obscurity. Tracks from the album included most but not all of the original show's songlist and several of the tracks were either re-recorded entirely or partially re-recorded in the studio. Cast members that appear on the album include Mitch Weissman, Alan Lebeouf, Joe Pecorino, Randy Clark, Les Fradkin, Tom Teeley, Justin Mcneill, and Bobby Taylor.
Beatlemania: The Movie
After four years of production USA videos productions took an interest in making a film version of the
Beatlemania stage show. After a brief contract negotiation,
Beatlemania: The Movie began production in 1980 (shortly before the death of John Lennon). The film's cast featured Mitch Weissman (bass guitar), David Leon (rhythm guitar), Tom Teeley (lead guitar), and Ralph Castelli (drums). The reactions to
Beatlemania: The Movie were cold and plans for a followup film were immediately shelved after several poor reviews of the way the film was produced (several critics complained of the film being too art based and not worthy of being associated with the stageshow
Beatlemania).
Cast members
The first 50 cast are known as "Original" cast members as the show expanded beyond the first original lineup (Mitch Weissman, Joe Pecorino, Les Fradkin and Justin McNeill), Broadway Production Members and consequential Broadway movie lineup, into a country wide production with several touring casts, or what became known as "Bunks".
John Lennon
- Joe Pecorino
- Michael Palaikis (deceased)
- Randy Clark
- David Leon
- Marshall Crenshaw
Marshall Crenshaw is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he grew up in the northern suburb of Berkley, Michigan. Marshall graduated from Berkley High School in June of 1971. Crenshaw began playing guitar at age ten...
- Mark "Farquar" Vaccacio
- Peter McCann
- Bob Williford
- Robert Wirth
- Jim Riddle (deceased)
- Steve Landes
- Neil Harrison
Neil Harrison is a member of the Beatles tribute band The Bootleg Beatles, in which he plays John Lennon.-The Bootleg Beatles:Following the final show of the West End musical "Beatlemania", which Neil joined at the age of 28, Harrison formed The Bootleg Beatles with fellow cast members Andre...
- Vincent Belus
Paul McCartney
- Mitch Weissman
- Reed Kailing
- Lenie Colacino
The Cast of Beatlemania is a U.S. tribute band to The Beatles, one of the best known and longest running in the world. The group currently features Lenie Colacino, a former cast member of the 1977 Broadway musical Beatlemania. The group has performed in all contiguous U.S...
- Alan LeBoeuf
- Glen Burtnick
- Tony Kishman
Tony Kishman is an American bassist, most noted for his work with Wishbone Ash and in the musical Beatlemania.-Early career:Kishman began his musical career playing in cover bands in the Tucson, Arizona area. While playing lead guitar in a band in South California, his booking agent – Fred...
- Joey Curatolo
- Jim Odom
- John Babcock
John F. Babcock is a singer, songwriter and musician who currently performs and records in the central Florida area. Babcock has produced 10 studio albums spanning different styles, thoughts, hobbies and moments of his life, some having been recorded in the famed Abbey Road Studios...
- David Grahame
- Don Linares
- Jim Cushing
- John Redgate
- Billy J. Ray
- David Catlin-Birch
David Catlin-Birch is a British musician, most notably as the World Party bassist, including their "Is It Like Today" track from No.1 album Bang, and the original and most recent "Paul" for leading Beatles tribute The Bootleg Beatles....
George Harrison
- Les Fradkin
Les Fradkin is a guitarist, composer and record producer. He is best known for being a member of the original cast of the hit Broadway show Beatlemania...
- Tom Teeley
- Rob Laufer
- P.M. Howard
- Richie Gomez
- Jimmy Pou
- Bob Miller
- Peter Santora
- Chris Gavin
- Joe Bithorn
- Richi Ray
- Andre Barreau
Andre Barreau is a member of the world acclaimed tribute band The Bootleg Beatles in which he plays George Harrison.-The Bootleg Beatles:Following the final show of the West End musical "Beatlemania", Barreau formed The Bootleg Beatles with fellow cast members Neil Harrison and David Catlin-Birch...
Ringo Starr
- Justin McNeil
- Bennett Gale
- Louie Colucci
- Bobby Taylor
- Ralph Castelli
- Sy Goraieb
- Bobby Forte
- Al Sapienza
Al Sapienza is an American actor, who has had numerous roles in television and film productions. He is most well known for his role as Mikey Palmice on the HBO series The Sopranos.-Early life:...
- Rick Bloom
- Phil Lomedico
- Jack Ehrenreich
- Jack Lee Elgood
- Neil Floyd
Post 1984 cast members
Casts and Casting became independent after 1984 as revival and current casts tour under many different Beatle related nomenclatures.
An alphabetical listing of members (those not part of the first run of
Beatlemania ) who have worked with its cast members and/or in a revival or current touring cast include:
(As John Lennon/Rhythm guitar)
Mark Benson,
Carlo CantamessaThe Cast of Beatlemania is a U.S. tribute band to The Beatles, one of the best known and longest running in the world. The group currently features Lenie Colacino, a former cast member of the 1977 Broadway musical Beatlemania. The group has performed in all contiguous U.S...
,
Ron McNeilThe Fab Four is a California-based tribute band paying homage to The Beatles. Founded in 1997 by Ron McNeil, John Lennon impersonator and President of The Fab Four Corp., the group began performing Beatles music throughout Southern California...
(As Paul McCartney/Bass guitar)
Gary Grimes,
Frank MendoncaThe Fab Four is a California-based tribute band paying homage to The Beatles. Founded in 1997 by Ron McNeil, John Lennon impersonator and President of The Fab Four Corp., the group began performing Beatles music throughout Southern California...
,
Ardy SarrafThe Fab Four is a California-based tribute band paying homage to The Beatles. Founded in 1997 by Ron McNeil, John Lennon impersonator and President of The Fab Four Corp., the group began performing Beatles music throughout Southern California...
,
Ricky Vacca
(As George Harrison/Lead guitar)
Michael AmadorThe Fab Four is a California-based tribute band paying homage to The Beatles. Founded in 1997 by Ron McNeil, John Lennon impersonator and President of The Fab Four Corp., the group began performing Beatles music throughout Southern California...
,
Jim FilgateThe Cast of Beatlemania is a U.S. tribute band to The Beatles, one of the best known and longest running in the world. The group currently features Lenie Colacino, a former cast member of the 1977 Broadway musical Beatlemania. The group has performed in all contiguous U.S...
,
Gavin PringThe Fab Four is a California-based tribute band paying homage to The Beatles. Founded in 1997 by Ron McNeil, John Lennon impersonator and President of The Fab Four Corp., the group began performing Beatles music throughout Southern California...
(As Ringo Starr/Drums)
Michael Bellusci,
Joe Bologna,
John DelgadoThe Cast of Beatlemania is a U.S. tribute band to The Beatles, one of the best known and longest running in the world. The group currently features Lenie Colacino, a former cast member of the 1977 Broadway musical Beatlemania. The group has performed in all contiguous U.S...
,
Rolo SandovalThe Fab Four is a California-based tribute band paying homage to The Beatles. Founded in 1997 by Ron McNeil, John Lennon impersonator and President of The Fab Four Corp., the group began performing Beatles music throughout Southern California...