Take Flight (musical)
Encyclopedia
Take Flight is a musical with book by John Weidman
, music by David Shire
and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr.
. The musical is inspired by the early history of aviation, interweaving the lives of the Wright Brothers
, Charles Lindbergh
, Amelia Earhart
and her publisher George Putnam
, along with such sundry luminaries as Otto Lilienthal
, the German "Glider King"; Commander Richard Byrd
; French flying aces Nungesser and Coli
, and various others. Its premiered at London's
award-winning Menier Chocolate Factory
in July 2007, directed by Sam Buntrock
. It is receiving its American Premiere at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ, in April, 2010.
Act II
in 2008 (ASIN: B000XUOLLQ). One Song, Pffft!, was made available only by digital download.
John Weidman
John Weidman is an American librettist. He is the son of librettist and novelist Jerome Weidman.He has written the books for a wide variety of stage musicals, three in collaboration with Stephen Sondheim: Pacific Overtures, Assassins, and Road Show...
, music by David Shire
David Shire
David Lee Shire is an American songwriter and the composer of stage musicals, film and television scores. The soundtrack to the movie The Taking of Pelham 123 and parts of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack such as Night on Disco Mountain, an adaptation of Modest Mussorgsky's Night on Bald...
and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr.
Richard Maltby, Jr.
Richard Eldridge Maltby, Jr. is an American theatre director and producer, lyricist, and screenwriter. He is also well known as a constructor of cryptic crossword puzzles. He has done this for Harper's Magazine, sometimes in collaboration with E. R...
. The musical is inspired by the early history of aviation, interweaving the lives of the Wright Brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
, Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
, Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
and her publisher George Putnam
George Putnam
George Putnam may refer to:*George Putnam , Los Angeles, California, television newsman*George D. Putnam , screenwriter*George F. Putnam, American historian...
, along with such sundry luminaries as Otto Lilienthal
Otto Lilienthal
Otto Lilienthal was a German pioneer of human aviation who became known as the Glider King. He was the first person to make well-documented, repeated, successful gliding flights. He followed an experimental approach established earlier by Sir George Cayley...
, the German "Glider King"; Commander Richard Byrd
Richard Byrd
Richard Byrd is the name of:*Richard C. Byrd , American politician*Richard Evelyn Byrd , admiral, polar explorer, aviator*Richard Byrd , American Olympic athlete...
; French flying aces Nungesser and Coli
Charles Nungesser
Charles Eugène Jules Marie Nungesser, MC was a French ace pilot and adventurer, best remembered as a rival of Charles Lindbergh...
, and various others. Its premiered at London's
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
award-winning Menier Chocolate Factory
Menier Chocolate Factory
The Menier Chocolate Factory is an award-winning 180 seat fringe studio theatre, restaurant and gallery. It is located in a former 1870s Menier Chocolate Company factory in Southwark Street, a major street in the London Borough of Southwark, central south London, England. The theatre stages plays...
in July 2007, directed by Sam Buntrock
Sam Buntrock
Sam Buntrock is an English stage director.Buntrock studied Drama at University of Bristol.Buntrock directed the first West End revival of the musical Sunday In The Park With George...
. It is receiving its American Premiere at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ, in April, 2010.
Musical numbers
Act I- Take Flight - Orville, Wilbur, Lindbergh, Amelia, Noonan and Company
- Equilibrium - Orville, Wilbur
- Sky! - Lindbergh, Company
- Like You, Say - Putnam, Amelia
- Throw It to the Wind - Amelia, Putnam
- Pffft! - Lilienthal, Company
- Lady in the Aeroplane - Amelia, Putnam, Burke, Company
- Lady Lindy - Reporters, Putnam, Amelia
- Solo/Sorry, Mr Lindbergh - Lindbergh, Bankers, Hall
- Earthbound - Putnam, Amelia
- What Are We Doing Here? - Wilbur, Orville, Lilienthal
- Before the Dawn - Wilbur, Orville, Lindbergh, Amelia, Putnam, Company
Act II
- A Part of Me - Amelia
- Back of the Line/Before the Dawn (Reprise) - Lindbergh, Company
- The Funniest Thing - Orville, Wilbur
- (The Farther You Go) Around the World/Papua - Putnam, Amelia, Noonan
- The Prize/The Landing - Company
- Finale - Company
Original Cast (in alphabetical order)
- George Putnam - Ian BartholomewIan BartholomewIan Bartholomew is an English actor who has worked widely in both theatre and television.In television Bartholomew's work has ranged from The Darling Buds of May, Rumpole of the Bailey, Minder, and more recently, Making Waves and Spooks....
- Otto Lilienthal - Clive CarterClive CarterClive Carter is a British actor and singer.Carter studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. His West End theatre credits include Someone Like You with Petula Clark, A Man for All Seasons with Martin Shaw, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Brendan Fraser and Ned Beatty, We Will Rock You, I...
- Noonan, Byrd, others - Christopher Colley
- Ray Page, others - Ian Conningham
- Hall, others - John Conroy
- Follies Amelia, others - Helen French
- Burke, others - Edward Gower
- Amy Phipps, others - Kaisa Hammarlund
- Charles Lindbergh - Michael JibsonMichael JibsonMichael Jibson is an English actor born in 1980, Hull, East Yorkshire, England. He is married to the stage actress Caroline Sheen. His father, Tim Jibson, was the programme director of KCFM in Hull. His brother is the actor Paul Jibson...
- Wilbur Wright - Sam Kenyon
- Orville Wright - Elliot LeveyElliot Levey-Biography:He is notable for his work in television, film and theatre - this has included the 2004 revival of the National Theatre production of His Dark Materials and the premieres of the musical Take Flight and the Bennett play The Habit of Art , along with Robespierre in Danton's Death...
- Mrs. Lindbergh, others - Liza PulmanLiza PulmanLiza Pulman is a Drama Desk Award-nominated singer and actress, best known as a third of the cabaret group Fascinating Aida.-Personal life:...
- Amelia Earhart - Sally Ann TriplettSally Ann TriplettSally Ann Triplett is a British singer and actress most famous for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest and many West End productions.-Eurovision:...
Cast Recording
The Original Cast Recording was released by PS ClassicsPS Classics
PS Classics is a record label that specializes in musical theatre and standard vocals. Founded in 2000 by Grammy-nominated freelance producer Tommy Krasker and singer/actor Philip Chaffin, their releases have been critically acclaimed for their meticulous sonic detail and high-quality packaging and...
in 2008 (ASIN: B000XUOLLQ). One Song, Pffft!, was made available only by digital download.
Theatregoers' Choice Awards 2007/8
- Best New Musical - nominee
- Best Supporting Actor in a Musical - Michael JibsonMichael JibsonMichael Jibson is an English actor born in 1980, Hull, East Yorkshire, England. He is married to the stage actress Caroline Sheen. His father, Tim Jibson, was the programme director of KCFM in Hull. His brother is the actor Paul Jibson...
— nominee