Merlin (musical)
Encyclopedia
Merlin was a musical
based on a concept by popular illusionist Doug Henning
and Barbara De Angelis, written by Richard Levinson
and William Link
, with music (and incidental music
) written by Elmer Bernstein
and lyrics by Don Black.
Merlin opened on Broadway
at the Mark Hellinger Theatre
on February 13, 1983 and closed on August 7, 1983 after 199 performances and 69 previews. It was directed by Ivan Reitman
and choreographed by Christopher Chadman
and Billy Wilson. The cast included Henning as Merlin, Chita Rivera
as an evil sorceress and, in supporting roles, newcomer Nathan Lane
and a young Christian Slater
.
The show was not a critical or financial success and is remembered today chiefly because of the number of "preview" performances it played: while most shows play a month or so prior to inviting critics and having an official opening, Merlin had 69, never inviting the critics and postponing the opening three times, despite charging full ticket prices. During the musical's troubled tryouts, the original director (Frank Dunlop) was replaced by Co-Producer Reitman and choreographer Billy Wilson was added. The tune for the song "Put a Little Magic in Your Life" had previously supported a different lyric: "These Are Not the Merriest of Days".
-like trilithons: Henning levitated beneath the lintels of these structures, which would have caught any wires hanging above him. In a battle sequence, Rivera's villainess character and her minions, in full view of the audience, assembled several large pieces of armor into a giant warrior, which immediately began walking and wielding a sword even though the armor had no discernible human occupant.
Act II
Drama Desk Award
(Magic Illusions Created by Doug Henning; Magic Consultant: Charles Reynolds; Magic Technical Supervisor and Designer: Glen Priest; Magic Designer and Creative Coordinator: Jim Steinmeyer; Illusion Development and Construction: John Gaughan; Scenic Design by Robin Wagner) (nominee)
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...
based on a concept by popular illusionist Doug Henning
Doug Henning
Douglas James Henning was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician.-Early life:...
and Barbara De Angelis, written by Richard Levinson
Richard Levinson
Richard Levinson was an American writer and producer who often worked in collaboration with William Link. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Economics in 1956. He served in the United States Army from...
and William Link
William Link
William Theodore Link is an American film and television writer and producer who often worked in collaboration with Richard Levinson.-Life and career:...
, with music (and incidental music
Incidental music
Incidental music is music in a play, television program, radio program, video game, film or some other form not primarily musical. The term is less frequently applied to film music, with such music being referred to instead as the "film score" or "soundtrack"....
) written by Elmer Bernstein
Elmer Bernstein
Elmer Bernstein was an American composer and conductor best known for his many film scores. In a career which spanned fifty years, he composed music for hundreds of film and television productions...
and lyrics by Don Black.
Merlin opened on Broadway
Broadway 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 February 13, 1983 and closed on August 7, 1983 after 199 performances and 69 previews. It was directed by Ivan Reitman
Ivan Reitman
Ivan Reitman, OC is a Canadian film producer and director. He is known for the comedies he has directed and produced, especially in the 1980s and 1990s.He is the owner of The Montecito Picture Company, founded in 2000.-Early life:...
and choreographed by Christopher Chadman
Christopher Chadman
Christopher Chadman was an American dancer and choreographer who was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards and was the winner of the Fred Astaire Award for his choreography for the 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls.Born in the Bronx, Chadman studied at the High School of...
and Billy Wilson. The cast included Henning as Merlin, Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera is an American actress, dancer, and singer best known for her roles in musical theater. She is the first Hispanic woman to receive a Kennedy Center Honors award...
as an evil sorceress and, in supporting roles, newcomer Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane is an American actor of stage and screen. He is best known for his roles as Mendy in The Lisbon Traviata, Albert in The Birdcage, Max Bialystock in the musical The Producers, Ernie Smuntz in MouseHunt, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to...
and a young Christian Slater
Christian Slater
Christian Michael Leonard Slater is an American actor. He made his film debut with a small role in The Postman Always Rings Twice before playing a leading role in the 1985 film The Legend of Billie Jean...
.
The show was not a critical or financial success and is remembered today chiefly because of the number of "preview" performances it played: while most shows play a month or so prior to inviting critics and having an official opening, Merlin had 69, never inviting the critics and postponing the opening three times, despite charging full ticket prices. During the musical's troubled tryouts, the original director (Frank Dunlop) was replaced by Co-Producer Reitman and choreographer Billy Wilson was added. The tune for the song "Put a Little Magic in Your Life" had previously supported a different lyric: "These Are Not the Merriest of Days".
Synopsis
The story focuses on the legendary wizard Merlin, not as an elderly man as he is usually depicted, but as a young man, still an apprentice learning the rules of magic. The storyline was barely more than a framework for the presentation of as many magic tricks as possible, some of them quite spectacular. During the production number "Put a Little Magic in Your Life", Henning mounted a white horse and rode it into a gigantic box, which was then closed and hoisted into the air above the stage. In midair, the box suddenly broke open, turning out to be empty. A moment later, Henning appeared at the opposite edge of the stage, still mounted on a horse. In another scene, Henning levitated and flew above the stage with no visible support. Anticipating the audience's suspicion that Henning was hanging on invisible wires, the set design for this scene included several large StonehengeStonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
-like trilithons: Henning levitated beneath the lintels of these structures, which would have caught any wires hanging above him. In a battle sequence, Rivera's villainess character and her minions, in full view of the audience, assembled several large pieces of armor into a giant warrior, which immediately began walking and wielding a sword even though the armor had no discernible human occupant.
Song list
Act I- It's Like Magic - Old Merlin, Young Merlin, Merlin, Philomena and Ensemble
- I Can Make It Happen - The Queen
- Beyond My Wildest Dreams - Ariadne
- Something More - Merlin and Ariadne
- The Elements - Merlin, Wizard and Ensemble
- Fergus' Dilemma - Prince Fergus and Ladies of the Court
- Nobody Will Remember him - The Queen and Wizard
Act II
- Put A Little Magic In Your Life - Old Merlin, Merlin, Philomena and Ensemble
- He Who Knows The Way - Wizard
- I Can Make It Happen (Reprise) - The Queen
- He Who Knows The Way (Reprise) - Wizard
- We Haven't Fought a Battle in Years - Prince Fergus and Soldiers
- Satan Rules - The Queen
- Nobody Will Remember Him (Reprise) - The Queen
- He Who Knows the Way (Reprise) - Merlin, Wizard and Arthur
Awards and nominations
Tony AwardTony Award
The 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...
- Best Musical (Produced by Ivan Reitman, Columbia Pictures Stage Productions, Inc., Marvin A. Krauss, James M. Nederlander) (nominee)
- Best Book of a Musical (Richard Levinson, William Link) (nominee)
- Best Original Score (Music by Elmer Bernstein; Lyrics by Don Black)(nominee)
- Best Actress in a Musical (Chita Rivera) (nominee)
- Best Direction of a Musical (Ivan Reitman) (nominee)
Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The 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...
- Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Rebecca WrightRebecca WrightRebecca Wright, , was a ballerina, teacher, choreographer and ballet school director....
)(nominee) - Outstanding Special Effects
(Magic Illusions Created by Doug Henning; Magic Consultant: Charles Reynolds; Magic Technical Supervisor and Designer: Glen Priest; Magic Designer and Creative Coordinator: Jim Steinmeyer; Illusion Development and Construction: John Gaughan; Scenic Design by Robin Wagner) (nominee)