Showtune (musical)
Encyclopedia
Showtune is an internationally popular Off Broadway musical revue celebrating the words and music of Broadway composer Jerry Herman
. Its title was inspired by Herman's autobiography 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).
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.
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
Act II
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
Curtain Call
Two versions of the show exist – The complete 2-act version, and an abridged 1-act.
ACT ONE
We are welcomed to the world of Jerry Herman, one of the Golden Age of Broadway's pre-eminent tunesmiths, with the glittering opening number from Mame – "It's Today!" Also included in this dazzling opening number is yet another optimistic view of life in Show Biz – "Big Time" from the 1974 hit Mack and Mabel – originally starring Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters.
"We Need A Little Christmas" opens the next section and tells us how to deal with the bad news we seem to find everywhere. If thinking of Christmas doesn't help, then all you have to do is "Put On Your Sunday Clothes!" The number ends with the cast in their Sunday finery simulating a train with the men's bowler hats becoming smokestacks and the ladies' parasols acting as the wheels.
We're taken backstage to a Cabaret where we find an actor sitting in front of his makeup mirror. He is "putting on his Sunday clothes" in the process of making no ordinary transformation – he is preparing to become "Zaza" the star of La Cage Aux Folles! ("A Little More Mascara"). Zaza makes "herself" right at home as a crescent moon descends for "The Man in the Moon" and deftly performs the obbligato. The scene ends with the full cast declaring the right of each individual to live their own life in "I Am What I Am."
"The Four Seasons" is the theme for a view of Herman's unique outlook on love. In the "Spring" of love we hear the plaintive "I Won't Send Roses" with both sides of the couples thoughts on the matter represented; the anticipation of love in "Ribbons Down My Back" and the preparation for dating with instruction in "Dancing."
A battle of the sexes ensues as we reach the hot "Summer" of love as the men sing the chauvinistic "It Takes A Woman" driving the women to announce that they're going "Wherever He Ain't!" The men counter with the fact that there are "Hundreds of Girls" to be had and take out their little black books as proof. The address books are quickly confiscated as the ladies bid the men "So Long, Dearie" and we approach the more reflective nature of "Autumn."
Recounting a memory of love we hear one woman confide to the others "And I Was Beautiful" prompting a gentleman to suggest that someone "Kiss Her Now" (While She's Young). The cast interlocks their thoughts and sing both songs in counterpoint segueing to the "Winter" of love where we discover that "Time Heals Everything."
What's that I hear down the street? Is that a parade? We'd better go and taste Saturday's high life "Before the Parade Passes By!" We quickly find out that "One Person" can beat a drum and change the world and that we need to "Open a New Window" everyday. After a breath-taking counterpoint section of all three we end the act with a jubilant reprise of "Before the Parade Passes By."
ACT TWO
Act Two begins with a visit to the movies and the world of silent film. Mack Sennett introduces us to the days when "Movies Were Movies" and we follow the Mack and Mabel love story through the eyes of a cameraman who sings "Look What Happened to Mabel" to inform us about her burgeoning career. Mabel enters dressed as one of Sennett's famous bathing beauties and dances a youthful Charleston to "That's How Young I Feel" before reprising "Look What Happened to Mabel" backed by Mack, the cameraman, a stage manager and a few extras.
Jeanette MacDonald, wearing a bonnet over her blonde curls, and Nelson Eddy, sporting his Mountie uniform, enter for Take 113 of "My Best Girl." At the end of the number, an exasperated Mack yells "Cut!!!" as Nelson exits. Jeanette, left sprawled on the floor wearing her hoop-skirt, sings of the difficulty of appearing opposite the talent-free Mr. Eddy ("Nelson").
The cast enters and sits facing the audience as if they were watching a movie. They ask the audience if they "need to relax? need to escape?" and advise "Go see Fay Wray in the palm of an ape" in "Just Go to the Movies" – a celebration of the Golden Age of Hollywood in a remarkable "list" song.
As the cast exits, a woman helps one of the men with a costume change and they exchange a glance – a moment of unrequited love ("It Only Takes a Moment"). As the beautiful ballad finishes, a very pregnant Agnes Gooch enters singing, "It only took a moment..." and segues into her big number "Gooch's Song." In response to Agnes' final question of "What do I do now?" a man enters wearing tap shoes and encourages Agnes to "Tap Your Troubles Away" and is soon joined by all the other men in a rousing tap number.
As if Agnes Gooch weren't woman enough for these guys, Dolly Levi enters in her red feathered headdress as the men welcome her with "Hello, Dolly!" Not one to be outdone, Mame Dennis enters wearing her signature white satin turban and full-length gloves as the men greet her with an abbreviated chorus of "Mame."
The two women acknowledge each other in a biting little exchange, setting up the "friendly" rivalry that the two must have shared as leading ladies of the Broadway stage as they launch into "Bosom Buddies." The number ends in a hilarious cat-fight between the two!
Now that we've seen the funny side of Jerry Herman we visit the serious and deeply romantic side as one of the men, in a moment of optimistic denial, sings "I Don't Want to Know." As we are swept into his world we discover that there are more inhabitants here – bitter lovers with unresolved issues who, as we find out, still have beautiful memories of their love ("Song on the Sand"). The couples all embrace the beauty of the love that they have or once had.
As peace comes to their relationships, the audience is tenderly instructed in the various meanings of "Shalom" which is responded to by the stirring "I'll Be Here Tomorrow."
A woman enters and wonders about the way she conducted herself in the poignant "If He Walked Into My Life." She is consoled by a man who says, "I Promise You a Happy Ending" like the ones that you see on the screen, but before he finishes the last line the cast struts on in silk top hats for the Finale singing a rousing medley of "Mame," "The Best of Times" and topped with a reprise of "It's Today."
As if this hadn't been enough entertainment for one lifetime, the cast takes its bows singing "Hello, Dolly!" while encouraging the audience to join in and celebrate the remarkable music and career of Jerry Herman.
FOOTNOTES:
The entire show is quickly paced with brilliantly arranged medleys of Herman's wonderful songs, constructed so that each has its own unique dramatic commentary.
The complete show features 40 songs from Milk and Honey, Hello, Dolly!, Mame, Dear World, Mack and Mabel, The Grand Tour, A Day in Hollywood, and La Cage Aux Folles.
The abridged one-act version contains the same basic structure of the full show with condensed medleys, but still featuring a full 30 songs from the above-mentioned hits.
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:
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
.
. The San Diego cast was:
optioned the rights to Tune the Grand Up and produced all subsequent productions of the revue up through the 2003 New York production, beginning with the successful 1996 production in the Delta King
Riverboat Theatre in Sacramento, California
. The Sacramento cast was:
. 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:
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 went on to write the Anthony Newley
biography, Stop the World.
Jamie Golding went on to perform the role of Rusty the Steam Engine
in Starlight Express
in the Starlighthalle production in Bochum
, Germany, and in the New Zealand tour production.
. 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:
, 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.
, 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:
. The production was directed by Michael Hall, with choreography by Barbara Flaten and musical direction by Bobby Peaco. The Florida cast was:
premiere at the 2006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
. Produced by Strictly Songtime, the Edinburgh cast was:
on November 28. The Japanese-languaged production was produced by Emi Shinohara with Umeda Arts Theatre and directed by Akio Miki with the Takarazuka Revue Company, with musical direction by Masako Yoshida, and choreography by Miho Aoki, Norikazu Honma, and Kiyomi Maeda. The design team included sets by Syuusaku Nimura, costumes by Zirou Makoto, lighting by Toshiyuki Kasahara, sound by Masahito Ootsubo, and hair & makeup by Noriko Nakahara. Stage management by Teruhiko Nakanishi. The Japan cast was composed of alumni from the all-female Takarazuka Revue Company, performing both male roles (otokoyaku) and female roles (musumeyaku). The cast of 9, listed with their prior Takarazuka troupe affiliations, are:
Otokoyaku performers:
Musumeyaku performers:
(With the original title "Tune the Grand Up"):
1989
1991
1992
(With the title "The Best of Times"):
2001
2003
(With the title "Showtune"):
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Jerry Herman
Jerry Herman is an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway musical theater. He composed the scores for the hit Broadway musicals Hello, Dolly!, Mame, and La Cage aux Folles. He has been nominated for the Tony Award five times, and won twice, for Hello, Dolly! and La Cage...
. Its title was inspired by Herman's autobiography of the same name.
The forty songs featured in Showtune come from the Herman Broadway musicals Milk and Honey
Milk and Honey (musical)
Milk and Honey is a musical with a book by Don Appell and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. The story centers on a busload of lonely American widows hoping to catch husbands while touring Israel and is set against the background of the country's fight for recognition as an independent nation...
(1961), Hello, Dolly!
Hello, Dolly! (musical)
Hello, Dolly! is a musical with lyrics and music by Jerry Herman and a book by Michael Stewart, based on Thornton Wilder's 1938 farce The Merchant of Yonkers, which Wilder revised and retitled The Matchmaker in 1955....
(1964), Mame (1966), Dear World
Dear World
Dear World is a Broadway musical with a book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. With its opening, Herman became the only composer-lyricist in history to have three productions running simultaneously on Broadway...
(1969), Mack & Mabel
Mack & Mabel
Mack & Mabel is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. The plot involves the tumultuous romantic relationship between Hollywood director Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand , who became one of his biggest stars...
(1974), The Grand Tour
The Grand Tour (musical)
The Grand Tour is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman.Based on S. N. Behrman's play Jacobowsky and the Colonel, the story concerns an unlikely pair. S.L. Jacobowsky, a Polish-Jewish intellectual, has purchased a car he cannot drive....
(1979), A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine
A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine
A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine is a musical comedy consisting of two essentially independent one-act plays, with a book and lyrics by Dick Vosburgh and music by Frank Lazarus...
(1980), and La Cage aux Folles (1983).
Conceived by California architect Paul Gilger
Paul Gilger
Paul Gilger is an American architect, set designer, and playwright. He conceived the 2003 off-Broadway Jerry Herman musical revue Showtune....
, 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.
Scene and Song List
Act IScene 1
- It's Today! (Mame)
- Big Time (Mack & Mabel)
Scene 2
- We Need a Little Christmas (Mame)
- Put On Your Sunday Clothes (Hello, Dolly!)
Scene 3
- Little More Mascara (La Cage aux Folles)
- The Man In The Moon (Mame)
- I Am What I AmI Am What I Am (Broadway musical song)"I am what I am" is a song originally introduced in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles . The song is the finale number of the musical's first act, and performed by the character of Albin Mougeotte, first played by George Hearn...
(La Cage aux Folles)
Scene 4
- Song On The Sand – Prelude (La Cage aux Folles)
- I Won't Send Roses (Mack & Mabel)
- Ribbons Down My Back (Hello, Dolly!)
- Dancing (Hello, Dolly!)
- It Takes A Woman (Hello, Dolly!)
- Wherever He Ain't (Mack & Mabel)
- Hundreds Of Girls (Mack & Mabel)
- So Long Dearie (Hello, Dolly!)
- It Takes A Woman – Reprise
- And I Was Beautiful (Dear World)
- Kiss Her Now (Dear World)
- And I Was Beautiful / Kiss Her Now – Counterpoint
- Time Heals Everything (Mack & Mabel)
Scene 5
- Before The Parade Passes By (Hello, Dolly!)
- One Person (Dear World)
- Open A New Window (Mame)
- Counterpoint March
- Before The Parade Passes By – Reprise
Act II
- "Hello, Dolly!Hello, Dolly! (song)"Hello, Dolly!" is the title song of the popular 1964 musical of the same name. Louis Armstrong's version was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001....
" – Entr'acte (Hello, Dolly!)
Scene 1
- Movies Were Movies (Mack & Mabel)
- Look What Happened To Mabel (Mack & Mabel)
- That's How Young I Feel (Mame)
- Look What Happened to Mabel – Reprise
- My Best Girl (Mame)
- Nelson (A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine)
- Just Go To The Movies (A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine)
Scene 2
- It Only Takes A Moment (Hello, Dolly!)
- What Do I Do Now? (Mame)
- Tap Your Troubles Away (Mack & Mabel)
Scene 3
- Bosom Buddies (Mame)
Scene 4
- I Don't Want To Know (Dear World)
- I Don't Want To Know – Reprise
- Song On The Sand (La Cage aux Folles)
Scene 5
- Shalom (Milk and Honey)
- I'll Be Here Tomorrow (The Grand Tour)
- If He Walked Into My Life (Mame)
- I Promise You A Happy Ending (Mack & Mabel)
- Mame (Mame)
- The Best of Times (La Cage aux Folles)
- It's Today! – Reprise
Curtain Call
- Hello, Dolly! – Encore
Synopsis
Courtesy of Music Theatre InternationalTwo versions of the show exist – The complete 2-act version, and an abridged 1-act.
ACT ONE
We are welcomed to the world of Jerry Herman, one of the Golden Age of Broadway's pre-eminent tunesmiths, with the glittering opening number from Mame – "It's Today!" Also included in this dazzling opening number is yet another optimistic view of life in Show Biz – "Big Time" from the 1974 hit Mack and Mabel – originally starring Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters.
"We Need A Little Christmas" opens the next section and tells us how to deal with the bad news we seem to find everywhere. If thinking of Christmas doesn't help, then all you have to do is "Put On Your Sunday Clothes!" The number ends with the cast in their Sunday finery simulating a train with the men's bowler hats becoming smokestacks and the ladies' parasols acting as the wheels.
We're taken backstage to a Cabaret where we find an actor sitting in front of his makeup mirror. He is "putting on his Sunday clothes" in the process of making no ordinary transformation – he is preparing to become "Zaza" the star of La Cage Aux Folles! ("A Little More Mascara"). Zaza makes "herself" right at home as a crescent moon descends for "The Man in the Moon" and deftly performs the obbligato. The scene ends with the full cast declaring the right of each individual to live their own life in "I Am What I Am."
"The Four Seasons" is the theme for a view of Herman's unique outlook on love. In the "Spring" of love we hear the plaintive "I Won't Send Roses" with both sides of the couples thoughts on the matter represented; the anticipation of love in "Ribbons Down My Back" and the preparation for dating with instruction in "Dancing."
A battle of the sexes ensues as we reach the hot "Summer" of love as the men sing the chauvinistic "It Takes A Woman" driving the women to announce that they're going "Wherever He Ain't!" The men counter with the fact that there are "Hundreds of Girls" to be had and take out their little black books as proof. The address books are quickly confiscated as the ladies bid the men "So Long, Dearie" and we approach the more reflective nature of "Autumn."
Recounting a memory of love we hear one woman confide to the others "And I Was Beautiful" prompting a gentleman to suggest that someone "Kiss Her Now" (While She's Young). The cast interlocks their thoughts and sing both songs in counterpoint segueing to the "Winter" of love where we discover that "Time Heals Everything."
What's that I hear down the street? Is that a parade? We'd better go and taste Saturday's high life "Before the Parade Passes By!" We quickly find out that "One Person" can beat a drum and change the world and that we need to "Open a New Window" everyday. After a breath-taking counterpoint section of all three we end the act with a jubilant reprise of "Before the Parade Passes By."
ACT TWO
Act Two begins with a visit to the movies and the world of silent film. Mack Sennett introduces us to the days when "Movies Were Movies" and we follow the Mack and Mabel love story through the eyes of a cameraman who sings "Look What Happened to Mabel" to inform us about her burgeoning career. Mabel enters dressed as one of Sennett's famous bathing beauties and dances a youthful Charleston to "That's How Young I Feel" before reprising "Look What Happened to Mabel" backed by Mack, the cameraman, a stage manager and a few extras.
Jeanette MacDonald, wearing a bonnet over her blonde curls, and Nelson Eddy, sporting his Mountie uniform, enter for Take 113 of "My Best Girl." At the end of the number, an exasperated Mack yells "Cut!!!" as Nelson exits. Jeanette, left sprawled on the floor wearing her hoop-skirt, sings of the difficulty of appearing opposite the talent-free Mr. Eddy ("Nelson").
The cast enters and sits facing the audience as if they were watching a movie. They ask the audience if they "need to relax? need to escape?" and advise "Go see Fay Wray in the palm of an ape" in "Just Go to the Movies" – a celebration of the Golden Age of Hollywood in a remarkable "list" song.
As the cast exits, a woman helps one of the men with a costume change and they exchange a glance – a moment of unrequited love ("It Only Takes a Moment"). As the beautiful ballad finishes, a very pregnant Agnes Gooch enters singing, "It only took a moment..." and segues into her big number "Gooch's Song." In response to Agnes' final question of "What do I do now?" a man enters wearing tap shoes and encourages Agnes to "Tap Your Troubles Away" and is soon joined by all the other men in a rousing tap number.
As if Agnes Gooch weren't woman enough for these guys, Dolly Levi enters in her red feathered headdress as the men welcome her with "Hello, Dolly!" Not one to be outdone, Mame Dennis enters wearing her signature white satin turban and full-length gloves as the men greet her with an abbreviated chorus of "Mame."
The two women acknowledge each other in a biting little exchange, setting up the "friendly" rivalry that the two must have shared as leading ladies of the Broadway stage as they launch into "Bosom Buddies." The number ends in a hilarious cat-fight between the two!
Now that we've seen the funny side of Jerry Herman we visit the serious and deeply romantic side as one of the men, in a moment of optimistic denial, sings "I Don't Want to Know." As we are swept into his world we discover that there are more inhabitants here – bitter lovers with unresolved issues who, as we find out, still have beautiful memories of their love ("Song on the Sand"). The couples all embrace the beauty of the love that they have or once had.
As peace comes to their relationships, the audience is tenderly instructed in the various meanings of "Shalom" which is responded to by the stirring "I'll Be Here Tomorrow."
A woman enters and wonders about the way she conducted herself in the poignant "If He Walked Into My Life." She is consoled by a man who says, "I Promise You a Happy Ending" like the ones that you see on the screen, but before he finishes the last line the cast struts on in silk top hats for the Finale singing a rousing medley of "Mame," "The Best of Times" and topped with a reprise of "It's Today."
As if this hadn't been enough entertainment for one lifetime, the cast takes its bows singing "Hello, Dolly!" while encouraging the audience to join in and celebrate the remarkable music and career of Jerry Herman.
FOOTNOTES:
The entire show is quickly paced with brilliantly arranged medleys of Herman's wonderful songs, constructed so that each has its own unique dramatic commentary.
The complete show features 40 songs from Milk and Honey, Hello, Dolly!, Mame, Dear World, Mack and Mabel, The Grand Tour, A Day in Hollywood, and La Cage Aux Folles.
The abridged one-act version contains the same basic structure of the full show with condensed medleys, but still featuring a full 30 songs from the above-mentioned hits.
San Francisco, premiere
Showtune was originally titled Tune the Grand Up, and premiered May 1, 1985 as a cabaret production at The 1177 Club in the Gramercy Towers on Nob Hill in San Francisco. It was directed by Paul Gilger and Barbara Valente, with choreography by Valente, and musical direction by James Followell. The show was produced by Eve Stoddard with production management by Gene Price and stage management by Bill Perez. The production received unanimous rave reviews from 13 newspapers, including both the San Francisco ChronicleSan Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
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
Cindy Herron
Cindy Herron-Braggs , is an American singer and actress, who is best known as a founding member of the R&B/Pop quartet En Vogue.-Early life:...
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
En Vogue
En Vogue is an American female R&B vocal group from Oakland, California assembled by music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy.The group has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, a total of seven, along with four Soul Train Awards, six American Music...
.
San Diego
In March 1987, a second company of Tune the Grand Up opened at the Lyceum Space Theatre in San Diego, also receiving rave reviews, including VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
. The San Diego cast was:
- John Nockels
- Darlene Popovic
- James Followell
- Mimi Unser
- Tim Connell
- Cindy Herron
Sacramento
In 1996, New York producer Jennifer StromeJennifer Strome
Jennifer Strome is a producer and writer. Her interest is in script and show development. Among many others, Strome produced the hit musical revue, Showtune , on five separate occasions beginning in San Francisco at the Alcazar Theatre followed by two London productions, one at the fringe...
optioned the rights to Tune the Grand Up and produced all subsequent productions of the revue up through the 2003 New York production, beginning with the successful 1996 production in the Delta King
Delta King
The Delta King is a . The Delta King is the sister ship to the Delta Queen, both christened May 20, 1927, traveling between Sacramento, California and San Francisco, California on 10-hour trips.-History:...
Riverboat Theatre in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. The Sacramento cast was:
- John Nockels
- Mary Gannon
- Barry Lloyd
- Rachel Songer
- Ric Iverson
- Jennifer Russell
San Francisco, encore
During the holiday season of 1996, Tune the Grand Up returned to San Francisco at the Alcazar TheatreAlcazar Theatre (1976-present)
The Alcazar Theatre is a 511-seat theatre located at 650 Geary Street, San Francisco, California. The venue is host to many touring productions of Broadway and Off Broadway plays, as well as variety, cabaret, comedians, and other theatrical events of varying quality.Built in 1917 as a Shriner's...
. 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
Fringe
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 supervision by Julian Kelly and with musical direction and band orchestrations by Fiz Shapur. The cast of the first London production at the Bridewell Theatre was:- Garth Bardsley
- Melanie E. Marshall
- Barry Lloyd
- Lindsay Hamilton
- Jamie Golding
- Karen Evans
West End
The successful Bridewell production was transferred in late 1998 to the Vaudeville TheatreVaudeville Theatre
The Vaudeville Theatre is a West End theatre on The Strand in the City of Westminster. As the name suggests, the theatre held mostly vaudeville shows and musical revues in its early days. It opened in 1870 and was rebuilt twice, although each new building retained elements of the previous...
in the West End theatre district, again receiving rave reviews, including London's Sunday Times, Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
, Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
, and Time Out London. The West End cast was:
- Garth Bardsley
- Kathryn Evans
- James Followell
- Sarah PayneSarah Payne (actor)Sarah Payne is a British actress and singer. She has worked extensively in London’s West End, and has played various roles in theatre, comedy, musical theatre, and opera.Payne initially trained as a musician, and studied music at Durham University...
- Jamie Golding
- Lindsay Hamilton
Garth Bardsley went on to write the Anthony Newley
Anthony Newley
Anthony George Newley was an English actor, singer and songwriter. He enjoyed success as a performer in such diverse fields as rock and roll and stage and screen acting.-Early life:...
biography, Stop the World.
Jamie Golding went on to perform the role of Rusty the Steam Engine
Rusty the Steam Engine
Rusty is a fictional character from the musical Starlight Express. He is the protagonist of the musical. Rusty is a steam engine, relegated to the sidings, who dreams of winning the Championship Engine of the World races. He is roundly mocked for this ambition, as steam is old fashioned, and...
in Starlight Express
Starlight Express
Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber , Richard Stilgoe and Arlene Phillips , with later revisions by Don Black and David Yazbek . The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life; famously the actors perform wearing roller skates...
in the Starlighthalle production in Bochum
Bochum
Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...
, Germany, and in the New Zealand tour production.
NY Tryout
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 YorkNyack, New York
Nyack is a village in the towns of Orangetown and Clarkstown in Rockland County, New York, United States, located north of South Nyack; east of Central Nyack; south of Upper Nyack and west of the Hudson River, approximately 19 miles north of the Manhattan boundary, it is an inner suburb of New...
. 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 VidnovicMartin VidnovicMartin Vidnovic is an American actor and singer.Born in Falls Church, Virginia, Vidnovic made his Broadway debut in the ill-fated Home Sweet Homer which, following a one-year tour, closed on opening night...
(Man 1) - Donna McKechnieDonna McKechnieDonna McKechnie is an American musical theater dancer, singer, actress, and choreographer. She is known for her professional and personal relationship with choreographer Michael Bennett, with whom she collaborated on her most noted role, "Cassie" from the musical A Chorus Line, for which she...
(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)
Off Broadway
In February 2003, Showtune opened Off Broadway at the Theatre at St Peter's in the Citicorp Center BuildingCitigroup Center
The Citigroup Center is one of the ten tallest skyscrapers in New York City, United States, located at 53rd Street between Lexington Avenue and Third Avenue in midtown Manhattan...
, receiving numerous rave reviews, including Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
, United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
and the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. Once again the revue was produced by Strome, in partnership with film producer David Brown
David Brown (producer)
David Brown was an American film producer.-Early life and career:Brown was born in New York City, the son of Lillian and Edward Fisher Brown. He was best known as the producing partner of Richard D. Zanuck. They were jointly awarded the Irving G...
. 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.
Los Angeles
In June 2003, Showtune had its Los Angeles premiere at the Pasadena PlayhousePasadena Playhouse
The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engagements each year.-History:...
, again to rave reviews, including the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
. The production was directed by Bill Starr and Sheldon Epps
Sheldon Epps
Sheldon Epps is an American television and theatre director.-Career:Sheldon Epps was born in Los Angeles, California. He moved to Teaneck, New Jersey when he was 11 years old, where he attended the local public schools, and was first drawn to the stage while at Teaneck High School...
, with choreography by Starr, and musical direction by James Followell. The LA cast was:
- Martin Vidnovic
- Mary Jo Mecca
- Robert Yacko
- Merle DandridgeMerle DandridgeMerle Dandridge is an American actress who was born in Okinawa, Japan. Her father was an African-American US serviceman from Memphis and her mother was a local Okinawan of Korean and Japanese descent. Dandridge is primarily a stage actress, but has had several roles in television...
- Christopher Corts
- Stephanie Lynge
- Bobby Peaco
Florida
In December 2003, Showtune had its Florida premiere at the Caldwell Theatre in Boca RatonBoca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
. 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
Edinburgh
Showtune had its ScottishScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
premiere at the 2006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
2006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
-Events:2006 was the first Fringe following the introduction of the new legislation banning smoking indoors. During a photocall at the Assembly Rooms for a play in which he was playing Winston Churchill, the actor Mel Smith lit a cigar, flouting the ban...
. Produced by Strictly Songtime, the Edinburgh cast was:
- Greig W.W.Hill
- Geraldine McDade
- Ian McInnes
- Anne Diack
- Matthew Brown
- Aileen Scott Johnson
- Iain Rowbotham
Tokyo
In 2008, the Umeda Arts Theatre Co. LTD presented the Japan premiere of Showtune at the Galaxy Theatre in Tokyo on November 14, and then subsequently at the Hyogo Performing Arts Center in Nishinomiya, HyogoNishinomiya, Hyogo
is a city located in Hyōgo, Japan, between the cities of Ōsaka and Kōbe. On April 1, 2005, the city of Nishinomiya celebrated its 80th anniversary. It is best known as the home of Kōshien Stadium, where the Hanshin Tigers baseball team plays home games and where Japan's annual high school baseball...
on November 28. The Japanese-languaged production was produced by Emi Shinohara with Umeda Arts Theatre and directed by Akio Miki with the Takarazuka Revue Company, with musical direction by Masako Yoshida, and choreography by Miho Aoki, Norikazu Honma, and Kiyomi Maeda. The design team included sets by Syuusaku Nimura, costumes by Zirou Makoto, lighting by Toshiyuki Kasahara, sound by Masahito Ootsubo, and hair & makeup by Noriko Nakahara. Stage management by Teruhiko Nakanishi. The Japan cast was composed of alumni from the all-female Takarazuka Revue Company, performing both male roles (otokoyaku) and female roles (musumeyaku). The cast of 9, listed with their prior Takarazuka troupe affiliations, are:
Otokoyaku performers:
- Saki Asaji 1983–1986 Moon, 1986–1998 Star (Takarazuka Top Otokoyaku Star 1994–1998)
- Midori Hatsukaze 1988–1997 Flower, 1997–2000 Moon, 2000–2005 Senka
- Saki Kaede 1990–1998 Snow, 1998–2002 Flower
- Miran Ooma 1999–2006 Star
Musumeyaku performers:
- Miyuki Tsurugi 1978–1990 Moon (Takarazuka Top Otokoyaku Star 1985–1990)
- Aya Izumo 1983–1997 Star, 1998–2005 Cosmos, 2005–2006 Senka, 2006–2008 Moon
- Mai Kazahana 1990–1999 Moon (Takarazuka Top Musumeyaku Star 1996–1999)
- Haruka Mebae 1998–2005 Cosmos
- Tsugumi Yukina 1999–2001 Moon
Cast Recording
In 2004, a cast recording of Showtune was produced in New York City with members from the New York (NY), Los Angeles (LA) and Florida (FL) productions:- Martin Vidnovic (NY, LA & FL) (Man 1)
- Karen Murphy (NY) (Woman 1)
- Paul Harman (NY) and Steve Wilson (FL) (Man 2)
- Sandy Binion (NY) (Woman 2)
- Tom Korbee (NY) (Man 3)
- Stephanie Lynge (LA & FL) (Woman 3)
- Bobby Peaco (NY, LA & FL) (Man 4 and the Pianist)
Licensed Productions
Showtune has been licensed for numerous productions throughout the United States and overseas, and has been particularly popular with university and college theatre departments. A partial list:(With the original title "Tune the Grand Up"):
1989
- Bakersfield Civic Light Opera, Bakersfield, California
- Back Alley Theatre, Van Nuys, California
1991
- Brandywine Cabaret, Atlanta, Georgia
1992
- Richland Academy of the Arts, Mansfield, Ohio
(With the title "The Best of Times"):
2001
- Sutton Coldfield Musical Theatre Company, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
2003
- Gloc Musical Theatre, Ealing, West London, England
(With the title "Showtune"):
2003
- Caldwell Theatre Company, Boca Raton, Florida
2004
- Desert Opera Theatre, Palmdale, California
- Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota, Florida
- Livestock Musical Theatre, Greensboro, North Carolina
- Riverside Theatre, Vero Beach, Florida
- Springfield Community Players, Springfield, Vermont
- Vandervort Center Theatre, Springfield, Missouri
- University of Miami, at the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre, Coral Gables, Florida
2005
- Cypress College, Cypress, California
- Knutsford Amateur Operatics Society, Knutsford, England
- Montgomery CollegeMontgomery CollegeMontgomery College is a public, open access community college located in Montgomery County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. in the United States. The college has three campuses, the largest of which is in Rockville; the other campuses are in Takoma Park/Silver Spring and Germantown...
, Rockville, MarylandRockville, MarylandRockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S... - Oldham Metropolitan Amateur Operatic Society, Oldham, England
- Plaza Theatrical Productions, Oceanside, New York
- St. Mark Players, Washington, D.C.
- Temple Sinai, Dresher, Pennsylvania
2006
- Applause Community Center, Burnsville, Minnesota
- Athens Creative Theatre, Athens, Georgia
- Bankstown Theatrical Society, Sydney, Australia
- Community Players of Streator, Inc., Streator, Illinois
- Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Garden State Chorale, Moorestown, New Jersey
- Red Barn Theatre, Key West, Florida
- St. Louis Community College, Florissant Valley Campus, Missouri
- Star Playhouse, Suffolk Y-JCC, Commack, New York
2007
- California State University, Chico, California
- Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk, North Carolina
- Savannah Community Theatre, Savannah, Georgia
- Spotlight Musical Productions, North York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- St. Mary's University, Winona, Minnesota
- Village Theatre Guild, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
2008
- Broward Stage Door Theatre, Coral Springs, Florida
- Falkirk Bohemians Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
- Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York
- Landmark Musicals, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Umeda Arts Theatre Company, at the Galaxy Theatre, Tokyo, Japan, & at the Hyogo Performing Arts Center, Nishinomiya, Japan
- University of Chichester, at the Alexandra Theatre, Chichester, West Sussex, England. Directed by West End Cast member Garth Bardsley, with Musical Supervision by Julian Kelly.
- University of South Carolina, Beauford, South Carolina
2009
- American Hebrew Academy, Greensboro, North Carolina
- Backwell Playhouse, Backwell, Bristol, England
- Illinois Theatre Center, Park Forest (Chicago), Illinois
- La Salle Academy, Providence, Rhode Island
- Manhattanville College, Purchase, New York
- Miami-Dade College Opera/Musical Theatre Ensemble, Miami, Florida
- The Musical Theater Center, North Bethesda, Maryland
- Theatre Company of Rhode Island, at the Assembly Theatre, Harrisville, Rhode Island
- Uxbridge Musical Theatre, at the Compass Theatre, Uxbridge, Middlesex, England
2010
- Actors Theatre of Indiana, Carmel (Indianapolis), Indiana
- Canberra Philharmonic Society, at Teatro Vivaldi, Canberra, Australia
- Forest Musical Productions, at the Kenneth More Theatre, Ilford (Northeast London), England
- The Park Players, Edgewater, New Jersey
- Schuylerville Community Theatre, Schuylerville, New York
- South Puget Sound Community College, at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Olympia, Washington
- Spotlight Theatre Company, at the John Hand Theatre, Denver, Colorado
- University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2011
- Footlighters, Inc., at the Stained Glass Theatre, Newport, Kentucky (Greater Cincinnati Area)
- Herne Bay Musical Society, at the Playhouse Theatre, Whitstable, Kent, England
- High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, Houston, Texas
- Just Cause Productions, at the Aberdeen Arts Centre, Aberdeen, Scotland
- St Thomas More Theatre Company, Middleton, Manchester, England
- Tip Top Productions, at The Forum Studio Theatre, Chester, Cheshire, England
- WEK: Youth Music Theatre, at the Mitre Theatre, Croydon, Surrey, England
External links
- Showtune article New York Times
- Showtune article Los Angeles Times
- Showtune article Playbill.com
- Showtune synopsis page at The Guide to Musical Theatre, United Kingdom website
- 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 page JerryHerman.com
- Showtune page JorgePlace.com
- Showtune page Music Theatre International, United States licensing
- Showtune page Josef Weinberger, United Kingdom licensing
- Showtune page Hal Leonard, Australia licensing