Legs Diamond (musical)
Encyclopedia
Legs Diamond is a musical
with a book by Harvey Fierstein
and Charles Suppon based on the Warner Brothers film "The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond" (screenplay by Joseph Landon). The music and lyrics are by Peter Allen
.
The Almost Totally Fictitious Musical History of Legs Diamond follows the travails of its title character, a depression-era mobster who wants to break into show business.
at the Mark Hellinger Theatre
on December 26, 1988 and closed on February 19, 1989 after 64 performances and 72 previews (far more than the usual 16-24 preview periods). Directed by Robert Allan Ackerman with choreography by Alan Johnson
, the scenic design was by David Mitchell, costume design by Willa Kim
, and lighting design by Jules Fisher
and Peggy Eisenhauer
(Associate). The cast included Peter Allen (Jack Diamond), Julie Wilson
(Flo), Randall Edwards
(Kiki Roberts), Brenda Braxton (Madge), Joe Silver (Arnold Rothstein), Jim Fyfe
(Moran), Christian Kauffmann (Bones), Pat McNamara (Devane), and Raymond Serra
(Augie).
The reviews were unanimously negative, with particular disbelief at Peter Allen's attempts to play so totally against type as a suave lothario. Frank Rich
commented that the evening's most compelling drama was watching Allen figure out "what do do with his hands". The failure of the musical was so total that it compelled the Nederlander Organization
to finally sell the beloved but flop-prone Mark Hellinger Theatre to the Times Square Church
, which still owns it.
Act Two
A song cut from the show "Come Save Me" had previously been recorded by Allen and Niki Gregoroff on Allen's 1985 Carnegie Hall album. It was later included in the Allen bio musical "The Boy From Oz".
on Allen's last album Making Every Moment Count. It was also included in the stage musical "The Boy From Oz" where the young Peter Woolnough (later Allen) sang it.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with a book by Harvey Fierstein
Harvey Fierstein
Harvey Forbes Fierstein is a U.S. actor and playwright, noted for the early distinction of winning Tony Awards for both writing and originating the lead role in his long-running play Torch Song Trilogy, about a gay drag-performer and his quest for true love and family, as well as writing the...
and Charles Suppon based on the Warner Brothers film "The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond" (screenplay by Joseph Landon). The music and lyrics are by Peter Allen
Peter Allen
Peter Allen was an Australian songwriter and entertainer. His songs were made popular by many recording artists, including Elkie Brooks, Melissa Manchester and Olivia Newton-John, with one, Arthur's Theme, winning an Academy Award in 1981...
.
The Almost Totally Fictitious Musical History of Legs Diamond follows the travails of its title character, a depression-era mobster who wants to break into show business.
Production
The musical opened on BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
at the Mark Hellinger Theatre
Mark Hellinger Theatre
The Mark Hellinger Theatre is a generally used name of a former legitimate Broadway theater, located at 237 West 51st Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City. Since 1991, it has been known as the Times Square Church...
on December 26, 1988 and closed on February 19, 1989 after 64 performances and 72 previews (far more than the usual 16-24 preview periods). Directed by Robert Allan Ackerman with choreography by Alan Johnson
Alan Johnson (choreographer)
Alan Johnson is an award winning choreographer, best known for his work on Mel Brooks films and for restaging Jerome Robbins original choreography in live productions of West Side Story in the United States and internationally. Johnson has been linked to West Side Story since making his Broadway...
, the scenic design was by David Mitchell, costume design by Willa Kim
Willa Kim
Willa Kim is an American costume designer for stage, dance, and film.Kim was born in Los Angeles, California and is a 1935 graduate of Belmont High School where she excelled in art and was an art editor for the 1935 Campanile...
, and lighting design by Jules Fisher
Jules Fisher
Jules Fisher is a lighting designer and producer. He is credited with lighting designs for more than 200 productions over the course of his 45 year career in Broadway and off-Broadway shows, as well extensive work in film, ballet, opera, television, and rock and roll concert tours...
and Peggy Eisenhauer
Peggy Eisenhauer
Peggy Eisenhauer is an American lighting designer for both theatre and films. She has designed more than twenty Broadway shows and frequently collaborates with Jules Fisher.-Career:...
(Associate). The cast included Peter Allen (Jack Diamond), Julie Wilson
Julie Wilson
Julie Wilson is an American singer and actress.Born in Omaha, Nebraska and first finding a musical outlet with local musical group Hank's Hepcats, Wilson headed to New York City during World War II and found work in two of Manhattan's leading nightclubs, the Latin Quarter and the Copacabana...
(Flo), Randall Edwards
Randall Edwards (actress)
Randall Edwards is an American television actress. She may be best known for her role on Ryan's Hope as Delia Reid Ryan Ryan Coleridge .-Biography:...
(Kiki Roberts), Brenda Braxton (Madge), Joe Silver (Arnold Rothstein), Jim Fyfe
Jim Fyfe
-Filmography:Movies-Note:...
(Moran), Christian Kauffmann (Bones), Pat McNamara (Devane), and Raymond Serra
Raymond Serra
Raymond Serra was a character actor known for his many supporting roles in film and television over a 30 year career.-Films:* Gotti...
(Augie).
The reviews were unanimously negative, with particular disbelief at Peter Allen's attempts to play so totally against type as a suave lothario. Frank Rich
Frank Rich
Frank Rich is an American essayist and op-ed columnist who wrote for The New York Times from 1980, when he was appointed its chief theatre critic, until 2011...
commented that the evening's most compelling drama was watching Allen figure out "what do do with his hands". The failure of the musical was so total that it compelled the Nederlander Organization
Nederlander Organization
The Nederlander Organization, founded in 1912 by David T. Nederlander and based in Detroit, Michigan, is one of the largest operators of legitimate theatres and music venuesin the United States. Its first acquisition was a lease on the Detroit Opera House in 1912. The building was demolished in...
to finally sell the beloved but flop-prone Mark Hellinger Theatre to the Times Square Church
Times Square Church
Times Square Church is an inter-denominational church located at 237 West 51st Street in the Theatre District of Manhattan, New York City. A large number of people representing many nationalities gather to worship together every week...
, which still owns it.
Song list
Act One- Prelude/When I Get My Name in Lights - Orchestra, Jack, Ensemble
- Speakeasy - Madge, Ensemble
- Applause - Flo, The Hotsy Totsy Girls
- Knockers - Jack, The Hotsy Totsy Girls
- I Was Made for Champagne - Kiki, The Tropicabana Dancers
- Tropican Rhumba - Jack, Kiki
- Sure Thing Baby - Jack
- Speakeasy Christmas - The Hotsy Totsy Girls
- Charge It to A. R. - Augie, Bones, Moran, A. R., A.R.'s Gang
- Only an Older Woman - Jack, Flo
- Taxi Dancers' Tango - Jack, Ensemble
- Only Steal from Thieves - Jack, Kiki
- When I Get My Name in Lights (reprise) - Jack, Company
Act Two
- Cut of the Cards - Jack, Company
- Gangland Chase - Orchestra
- Now You See Me, Now You Don't - Jack, Kiki, Ensemble
- The Man Nobody Could Love - Kiki, Flo, Madge
- The Music Went Out of My Life - Flo
- Say It Isn't So - Jack, Company
- Say It Isn't So (reprise) - Ensemble
- All I Wanted Was the Dream - Jack
- Finale - Jack, Flo, Company
A song cut from the show "Come Save Me" had previously been recorded by Allen and Niki Gregoroff on Allen's 1985 Carnegie Hall album. It was later included in the Allen bio musical "The Boy From Oz".
Awards and nominations
- Tony AwardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Julie WilsonJulie WilsonJulie Wilson is an American singer and actress.Born in Omaha, Nebraska and first finding a musical outlet with local musical group Hank's Hepcats, Wilson headed to New York City during World War II and found work in two of Manhattan's leading nightclubs, the Latin Quarter and the Copacabana...
, nominee) - Tony Award for Best Costume Design (Willa Kim, nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Choreography (Alan Johnson, nominee)
- Drama Desk AwardDrama Desk AwardThe Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
for Outstanding Costume Design (Willa Kim, nominee)
Discography
The Original Broadway Cast recording was released by RCA Victor (RCA Victor 7983-2-RC), now out of print. The most famous song "When I Get My Name in Lights" was re-done by Allen and his friend Harry Connick, Jr.Harry Connick, Jr.
Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. is an American singer, big-band leader/conductor, pianist, actor, and composer. He has sold over 25 million albums worldwide. Connick is ranked among the top 60 best-selling male artists in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America, with...
on Allen's last album Making Every Moment Count. It was also included in the stage musical "The Boy From Oz" where the young Peter Woolnough (later Allen) sang it.