Friday 5: 5 Best Musicals That Need Their First Revival

 5 Best Musicals That Need Their First Revival

Believe it or not, this edition of F5 was actually brought about by the announcement of yet another revival of Glengarry Glen Ross, which feels like it comes around as often as Gypsy. And before that one gets here in a couple of months, I thought about other musicals that would be great to see in a revival. Of course, there are the usuals on the list like City of Angels, Grand Hotel and Kiss of the Spiderwoman. 

But what about true classics that have yet to see the light of day since their original Broadway runs. Surprisingly, there are several Tony Award-winning Best Musicals that have yet to be revived. Here are 5 I'd love to see be revived in the order they that they won the big prize:

Kismet - Best Musical 1954 (583 performances)

An all-star writing team - book by Luther Davis (Grand Hotel) and Charles Lederer, music by Alexander Borodin, music adapted by and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest (Song of Norway, Grand Hotel) - and a cast headed by Alfred Drake, Joan Diener, Richard Kiley and Doretta Morrow. Famous song: "Baubles, Bangles and Beads." Ancient Persia, princesses, a wazir, and a magician could be a nice retreat from reality (a grown-up Aladdin?) Creative staging, authentic casting and a script tweaking could bring this one back in a big way.

Redhead - Best Musical 1959 (452 performances)

The show that marked Bob Fosse's Broadway directorial debut was a Victorian era murder mystery involving an American chorus girl, a wax museum and a timeline shared with Jack the Ripper. Headlined by Gwen Verdon, Richard Kiley and Leonard Stone (all three won Tonys), the show had a score by Albert Hague and Dorothy Fields (Sweet Charity, Annie Get Your Gun), who also wrote the book with Sidney Sheldon and David Shaw. Fun fact: the original cast included a singer named Mame Dennis! In the right hands, this could be a load of fun!

Hallelujah, Baby!  - Best Musical 1968 (253 performances)

This concept musical tracing social injustice through the early to mid 20th century, it seems this show could be more relevant than ever. An updated book with a little more bite may do the trick. The original team behind it was no less than Arthur Laurents, Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. And it made a star out of Leslie Uggams, making her Broadway debut. To date, this remains the only Best Musical winner that was already closed when it won the award.

Applause - Best Musical 1970 (896 performances)

Comden and Green did it again, with one of my favorite scores of the 70s, and a book by the writing team that brought us Bye Bye Birdie and Annie, Charles Strouse and Lee Adams. An updated musical version of the film All About Eve, the show starred 

Lauren Bacall, Len Cariou, Penny Fuller and showstopper, Bonnie Franklin. Considering how much fandom, hero worship and the quest for fame has pervaded our Tik Tok/Instagram society, this could - with some updating - be a huge hit. Or it could go vintage as written, but with pointed direction and concept. Either way, I think Broadway is ready for another dose of Margo Channing and Eve Harrington!

Two Gentlemen of Verona - Best Musical 1972 (614 performances)

I'm dying to see the show that bested the now-classic Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease and Follies. I'm sure I'm not alone. With music by Hair's Galt MacDermott, lyrics by playwright John Guare, who also adapted Shakespeare with Mel Shapiro. It starred Clifton Davis and Raul Julia as the titular gentlemen, and featured the debut of a young lady named Stockard Channing. I wonder why this hasn't seen the light of day since it closed?