Saving Aimee (musical)
Encyclopedia
Saving Aimee is a musical
with a book and lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford
and music by David Pomeranz
and David Friedman.
Based on early 20th century evangelist
and pop culture icon Aimee Semple McPherson
, it traces the trajectory of her life and career from her childhood to her controversial death in 1944, with focus on her mysterious kidnapping
and the ensuing trial. Other highlights include her becoming the first female to obtain a radio
broadcast licence in the United States
, her cross-country drive unaccompanied by a man, her multimedia
empire that included several newspapers, and her interactions with such contemporaries as Charles Chaplin and William Randolph Hearst
.
Saving Aimee debuted at the White Plains
Performing Arts Center in October 2005. A revised production, directed by Eric Schaeffer and choreographed by Christopher d'Amboise
, opened on April 10, 2007 at Arlington, Virginia's Signature Theatre for a limited run, with Carolee Carmello
in the title role. Currently, the show is scheduled to play at the 5th Avenue Theatre
in Seattle for a one month run, opening on September 30, 2011.
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 and lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford is an American television host, singer, songwriter and actress, best known for her 15-year run on the talk show Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, which she co-hosted with Regis Philbin...
and music by David Pomeranz
David Pomeranz
David Pomeranz is an American singer, composer, lyricist, and writer for musical theatre. He is also ambassador for Operation SmileBorn in Reno and raised on Long Island, Pomeranz expressed interest in music from an early age, singing in the synagogue choir, learning to play the piano, guitar, and...
and David Friedman.
Based on early 20th century evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
and pop culture icon Aimee Semple McPherson
Aimee Semple McPherson
Aimee Semple McPherson , also known as Sister Aimee, was a Canadian-American Los Angeles, California evangelist and media celebrity in the 1920s and 1930s. She founded the Foursquare Church...
, it traces the trajectory of her life and career from her childhood to her controversial death in 1944, with focus on her mysterious kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
and the ensuing trial. Other highlights include her becoming the first female to obtain a radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
broadcast licence in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, her cross-country drive unaccompanied by a man, her multimedia
Multimedia
Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
empire that included several newspapers, and her interactions with such contemporaries as Charles Chaplin and William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
.
Saving Aimee debuted at the White Plains
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
Performing Arts Center in October 2005. A revised production, directed by Eric Schaeffer and choreographed by Christopher d'Amboise
Christopher d'Amboise
Christopher d'Amboise is an American dancer, choreographer, writer, and theatre director.Born and raised in New York City, the son of dancers Jacques d'Amboise and Carolyn George, d'Amboise became a principal dancer in the New York City Ballet, where he worked closely with George Balanchine and...
, opened on April 10, 2007 at Arlington, Virginia's Signature Theatre for a limited run, with Carolee Carmello
Carolee Carmello
Carolee Carmello is an American actress best known for her performances in Broadway musicals.She made her Broadway debut in a small role in City of Angels...
in the title role. Currently, the show is scheduled to play at the 5th Avenue Theatre
5th Avenue Theatre
The 5th Avenue Theatre is a landmark theater building located in Seattle, Washington, USA. It has hosted a variety of theatre productions and motion pictures since it opened in 1926. The building and land is owned by the University of Washington and was once part of the original campus...
in Seattle for a one month run, opening on September 30, 2011.
Partial song list
- Stand Up!
- Why Can't I?
- He Will Be My Home
- That Sweet Lassie from Cork
- Follow Me
- Why Can't I Just Be a Woman?
- For Such a Time as This
- The Silent, Sorrowful Shadows
- A Girl's Gotta Do What a Girl's Gotta Do
- God Will Provide
- Emma Jo's Lament
- Letter from Home
- Demon in a Dress
- Saving Aimee
- Paying the Price
- I Had a Fire