Friday 5: 5 Completely Original Musicals I Love!

5 Completely Original Musicals I Love!

(21st Century Edition)

With the announcement of the new musical Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), a completely original show, it got me to thinking about other such properties that weren't already novels, short stories, movies, or music catalogs, etc. Here are 5 of my favorites that I've enjoyed over the recent years!

Urinetown (2001): The recent Encores! revival of this very unique piece rekindled my adoration for it. So absurd a premise, I had to see this one back in 2001. Turns out that writers Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis, choreographer John Carrafa and director John Rando knew exactly how to make a biting satire AND a send up of Broadway musicals into an exciting night of theater.

  

Next to Normal (2009): This musical made me truly feel electric from its opening notes to its emotional, inspiring finale. That Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey were able to make a musical about a variety of mental illnesses and their varied treatments, along with profound grief is truly an achievement. I have so many wonderful memories of this production, but what stands out for me is the absolutely fat-free book and brilliantly tight direction by Michael Greif. And, of course, the truly superb cast - and their replacements... I can't wait for a revival!

The Prom (2018): A rite of passage, Broadway flare, and important queer themes combined to make this adorable and riotously funny show a sentimental favorite. Witty and splashy, this tuneful comedy was full of toe-tappers, hummable tunes and production numbers, The Prom was aptly described as "musical comedy heaven!" A principal cast of personal favorites (I'm looking at you, Beth, Brooks, Christopher and Angie) and an exiting youthful ensemble were all icing on this fabulous cake!

Shucked (2023): I'm not particularly fond of corn, and I'm even less fond of old-fashioned style country music. So imagine my utter shock at how much I loved this show! I love a show that is smart and clever without overdoing it, and this little musical had me smiling from ear to ear (pun intended) and cheering for each song! Not since Hairspray, has director Jack O'Brien shown such a knack for musical comedy, and with such golden material by book writer Robert Horn and a delicious score by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, he had it made. Of course, when thinking about the many delights of this production, I'd be remiss not to mention the ground-breaking performance of Tony-winner Alex Newell. Brilliance all around!  

Maybe Happy Ending (2024): Who knew that a sci-fi musical about robots could be so utterly charming, genuinely sweet, and deeply affecting? And yet writers Will Aronson and Hue Park, along with director Michael Arden and a brilliant design team did just that. Romance, adventure, a sense of humor and an instantly hum-able score plus an amazing company of actors are the perfect combination for musical theater bliss!

Will Two Strangers join this list of original wonders? I hope so!!

REVIEW: ABBA and the Cold War: The History of Chess the Musical: Chapter 2

ABBA and the Cold War: The History of Chess the Musical

Chapter 2: The Exchange

NOTE: Our look at Chapter 1 can be found HERE.

In the aptly titled second chapter of this documentary, the genesis of Chess from concept recording to fully staged musical is presented, as "The Exchange" suggests,  as a multi-pronged detailing of triumph and tragedy, infighting and intrigue. In short, the mess that Chess became was probably more interesting than the end result.

Link to Chapter 2 HERE.

The start of this segment provides a lot of interesting material about two men behind the scenes, who today are the namesakes of two Broadway houses on 45th Street - Bernard Jacobs and Gerald Schoenfeld. At the very least it is nice to put a face to the name. By all accounts, these guys ran New York theater (and beyond), ruling with a cutthroat passion. Their other interest was in beating the other big name in town, The Nederlander Organization. With a tone that hovers somewhere between a 60 Minutes think piece and the he said/she said mentality of The National Enquirer, the film makers manage to keep this both informative and entertaining.

Though there is a preponderance of details that are momentarily interesting - Tim Rice gets left behind at a Long Island gas station after wondering off to see a Native American burial ground; Elaine Paige had her car stolen twice during rehearsals, etc etc., the piece gets bogged down, and I found myself looking at the clock more than once. It is when the film gets back to the process of musical making and the politics of the time that it really works.

A large chunk of this chapter details the rise and fall of Michael Bennett, the original director, both professionally and personally. Details of how A Chorus Line single-handedly saved the Shubert Organization from bankruptcy are balanced with the stinging betrayal of Bennett trying to buy a Nederlander theater (the Mark Hellinger). His drinking and drugging are pitted against his creative brilliance. I applaud the filmmakers for trying to paint a whole picture of the man; he was neither a saint nor sinner, not perfect, but still brilliant. 

Toward the end of this segment, there is a sharp look at the politics of journalism and how New York Times reporter Jeremy Gerard and his colleagues were forced to tell half-truths and flat out lies about AIDS, and particularly how Gerard is still anguished about how he had to tell Bennett's story.

The rest of Chapter 2 details the exchange from Bennett to Trevor Nunn, who inherited a piece he didn't believe in and how he hammered out his vision within the framework of Bennett's physical creation. No one involved was left unscathed. Dancers were made to stand on chess squares and not move. Whole pieces of scenery were scrapped. Major things like computer programming screens (184 of them!) and a light up chess board floor and extensive filmed sequences were left until the last minute. The 3 Knights were pretty much left out of the process.

And yet, after some tinkering (and by that I mean a complete rewrite - and tonal shift - of act 2) Chess was a hit in London in spite of itself. Nunn is portrayed as less a savior of the piece, though, when he used his leverage against the Shuberts when a New York transfer was inevitable. What a perfect chess analogy. You'll have to watch to see what he did.

The final moments are taken up with the tragic death of Michael Bennett and the impending doom of an ill-fated Broadway transfer.

Some cheesy visuals - a picture of Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly when Calvin Klein is mentioned, for one - and an increasingly labored overuse of chess (the game) as a metaphor are starting to wear thin, but I still recommend the film to this point. True fans of musical theater will lap this up, and students stand to learn some practical history. (There is life on Broadway before Hamilton!)

COMING SOON: A review of Chapter 3: The Endgame (but of course...)

Broadway Games: Shows By Picture - Round 4

Broadway Games:

Shows By Picture - Round 4

It's been a while since we played this game! This one's pretty simple. Identify each show from the production photos below. Good luck!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

 

We're Taking a Vacation! Be Back August 11!

Unfortunately, we aren't headed for Donna's taverna like these guys, but we are taking a week off for some fun & relaxation.

We'll be back as usual next Monday, August 11th!

In the meantime, why not explore what we have here from the last 15 years or so of content?

See you soon! And thanks, as always for sticking with us!

Broadway Quiz: 50 Questions For 50 Years of A Chorus Line

Broadway Quiz:

50 Questions For 

50 Years of A Chorus Line

50 years ago, A Chorus Line opened on Broadway and the rest is history. To celebrate, here's a little quiz. There's a bit of something for everyone - from Line novice to Line expert. (The skill level of the questions is mixed up.) Good luck!

1. The original production began life at:

   A. The Shubert Theatre   B. The Public Theater   C. Playwright's Horizon

2. The original Broadway production opened at:

   A. The Shubert Theatre   B. The Majestic Theatre   D. The Broadhurst Theatre

3. TRUE or FALSE: A Chorus Line won the 1975 Tony Award for Best Musical.

4. TRUE or FALSE: A Chorus Line was the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

5. TRUE or FALSE: The original production of A Chorus Line won 9 Tony Awards.

6. TRUE or FALSE: The original production of A Chorus Line won every Tony Award it was nominated for.

7.  At the end of the opening number, how many dancers are holding up their head shots?

   A. 15  B. 16  C. 17  D. 19

8. Who sings the number "I Can Do That"?

   A. Mike   B. Larry   C. Zach   D. Paul

9. When Val swiped her dance card after an audition, what was the score on it?

   A. Dance: 7, Looks: 3   B. Dance: 3, Looks: 10   C. Dance: 10, Looks: 3

10. Who was Diana Morales' drama teacher that made her feel "Nothing"?

   A. Mr. Cox   B. Mr. Bennett   C. Miss Lopez   D. Mr. Carp   E. Mrs. Bishop

11. What are the dancers auditioning for?

   A. a new Broadway musical

   B. a national tour

   C. a TV special

   D. a cruise ship musical

12. "One" is the finale of A Chorus Line, but what is that number really supposed to be?

   A. the opening number of a new Broadway musical

   B. the number in a Broadway musical about the star of the show

   C. a number that was cut from a national tour

13. "What if I'm next? What if I'm next?" is from what song?

   A. "I Hope I Get It"

   B. "What I did For Love"

   C. "And..."

   D. "Nothing"

14. The assistant director/choreographer in A Chorus Line is a character named:

   A. Zach   B. Bob   C. Michael   D. Larry

15. Who is the 4'10" former cheerleader on the line

   A. Christine   B. Connie   C. Diana   D. Mark

16. Who, as a kid, turned to the church when he thought he had gonorrhea?

   A. Don   B. Al   C. Bobby   D. Mark

17. All of the following sing "At the Ballet" EXCEPT:

   A. Sheila   B. Bebe   C.  Maggie   D. Connie

18. TRUE or FALSE: Paul was performing in a drag show when his parents discover what kind of dancer he was.

19. TRUE or FALSE: Richie was going to be a basketball player instead of a dancer.

20. TRUE or FALSE: In the opening number, the boy in the headband struggled to keep the tempo of the number with the rest of the dancers.

21. Zach had a previous personal (and physical) relationship with:

   A. Greg   B. Sheila   C. Cassie  D. Val

22. "Give me a chance to come through!" is from which song?

   A. "Dance: 10, Looks, 3"   B. "I Hope I Get It"   C. "Nothing"   D. "The Music and the Mirror"

 

23. Who is the only married couple on the line?

   A. Paul and Diana   B. Bobby and Greg   C. Al and Kristine   D. Don and Connie

24. When the show opened, it took place "Now." What year was that?

   A. 1975   B. 1985   C. 1965   D. 1974

25. When A Chorus Line became the longest-running show in Broadway history, which show did it overtake?

   A. Hello, Dolly!   B. My Fair Lady   C. Grease   D. Life with Father

26. TRUE or FALSE: Donna McKechnie was once married to Michael Bennett.

27. TRUE or FALSE: A Class Act is a musical about Edward Kleban, lyricist of A Chorus Line.

28. TRUE or FALSE: Priscilla Lopez was nominated for, but did not win, a Tony Award for her performance as Diana Morales.

29. TRUE or FALSE:  Though uncredited, Neil Simon helped doctor the book of the show, including having Cassie get chosen for a role in the new show.

30. In addition to A Chorus Line, Marvin Hamlisch wrote the scores for all of these Broadway shows EXCEPT:

   A. Ballroom   B. They're Playing Our Song   C. Smile   D. The Goodbye Girl

31. Which dancer made it to the line, but didn't finish the audition?

   A. Don   B. Val   C. Paul   D. Mark

32. Finish the lyrics: "Kiss today goodbye..."

   A. ..."the gift was ours to borrow"

   B. ..."don't forget, don't regret what I did for love"

   C. ..."and point me toward tomorrow"

33. In acting class, Diana had to act like each of the following EXCEPT:

   A. riding a bobsled

   B. a chair

   C. a table

   D. an ice cream cone

34. In "I Can Do That," how did Mike get his sister's tap shoes to fit?

   A. He couldn't so he danced with tacks on the bottom of his sneakers.

   B. He stuffed her shoes with balled up newspaper.

   C. He couldn't, so he borrowed some from another boy in the class.

   D. He stuffed her shoes with extra socks.

35. TRUE or FALSE: The original production moved to a smaller theater toward the end of its run.

36. TRUE or FALSE: It is Al who can't sing.

37. TRUE or FALSE: A Chorus Line is meant to be performed without an intermission.

38. TRUE or FALSE: A Chorus Line is meant to be performed without a curtain call.

39. Which character worked at a strip joint?

   A. Don   B. Mike   C. Greg   D. Bobby

40. Which song is this lyric from: "loaded with charisma is my jauntily sauntering, ambling shambler"?

   A. "Hello, Twelve, Hello, Thirteen, Goodbye Love"

   B. "Nothing"

   C. "Dance: Ten, Looks: Three"

   D. "One"

41. TRUE or FALSE: Despite being a cultural icon, A Chorus Line was never a part of the "I ❤ NY" commercial campaign.

42. TRUE or FALSE: Terrence Mann played Larry in the film version, a part he also played on Broadway.

43. TRUE or FALSE: Although she played Cassie in the Broadway revival, Charlotte d'Amboise was never in the original Broadway run.

44. TRUE or FALSE: Ann Reinking appeared in the original Broadway productions of both A Chorus Line AND Chicago.

45. TRUE or FALSE: At one time there was an overture written for A Chorus Line, but it was never used.

46. What show took the title of "Longest-running Show in Broadway History" from A Chorus Line?

   A. Cats   B. Les Miserables   C. Oh! Calcutta!   D. The Phantom of the Opera

47. What was "up a steep and very narrow stairway?"

   A. the rehearsal room   B. a ballet class   C. the star dressing room

48. A Chorus Line is:

   A. based on an unfilmed sequel to the movie All About Eve.

   B. based on recorded sessions of Broadway dancers gathered to tell their stories.

   C. based on the life of director/choreographer Michael Bennett

   D. based on a series of articles by Walter Kerr that appeared in Backstage Magazine.

49. Who says, "Can we smoke? Can the adults please smoke?

   A. Maggie   B. Cassie   C. Diana   D. Sheila 

50. The song "The Music and The Mirror" features how many dancers?

   A. 4   B. 3   C. 1   D. 1, but the entire company is in the background

STOP HERE

if you don't want to see the answers yet!

Keep scrolling for the answers...

1. The original production began life at:

   B. The Public Theater

2. The original Broadway production opened at:

   A. The Shubert Theatre   

3. FALSE: A Chorus Line won the 1975 Tony Award for Best Musical. (It won in 1976.)

4. FALSE: A Chorus Line was the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. (There were several before, including Of Thee I Sing, Fiorello!, South Pacific and How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying!)

5. TRUE: The original production of A Chorus Line won 9 Tony Awards.

6. FALSE: The original production of A Chorus Line won every Tony Award it was nominated for. (It was nominated for 12, and it lost 3.)

7.  At the end of the opening number, how many dancers are holding up their head shots?

   C. 17

8. Who sings the number "I Can Do That"?

   A. Mike

9. When Val swiped her dance card after an audition, what was the score on it?

   C. Dance: 10, Looks: 3

10. Who was Diana Morales' drama teacher that made her feel "Nothing"?

   D. Mr. Carp

11. What are the dancers auditioning for?

   A. a new Broadway musical

12. "One" is the finale of A Chorus Line, but what is that number really supposed to be?

   B. the number in a Broadway musical about the star of the show

13. "What if I'm next? What if I'm next?" is from what song?

   C. "And..."

14. The assistant director/choreographer in A Chorus Line is a character named:

   D. Larry

15. Who is the 4'10" former cheerleader on the line

   B. Connie

16. Who, as a kid, turned to the church when he thought he had gonorrhea?

   D. Mark

17. All of the following sing "At the Ballet" EXCEPT:

   D. Connie

18. TRUE: Paul was performing in a drag show when his parents discover what kind of dancer he was.

19. FALSE: Richie was going to be a basketball player instead of a dancer. (He was going to be a kindergarten teacher.)

20. FALSE: In the opening number, the boy in the headband struggled to keep the tempo of the number with the rest of the dancers. (He struggled to keep his head up.)

21. Zach had a previous personal (and physical) relationship with:

   C. Cassie

22. "Give me a chance to come through!" is from which song?

   D. "The Music and the Mirror"

 

23. Who is the only married couple on the line?

   C. Al and Kristine

24. When the show opened, it took place "Now." What year was that?

   A. 1975

25. When A Chorus Line became the longest-running show in Broadway history, which show did it overtake?

C. Grease

26. TRUE: Donna McKechnie was once married to Michael Bennett.

27. TRUE: A Class Act is a musical about Edward Kleban, lyricist of A Chorus Line.

28. TRUE: Priscilla Lopez was nominated for, but did not win, a Tony Award for her performance as Diana Morales.

29. TRUE:  Though uncredited, Neil Simon helped doctor the book of the show, including having Cassie get chosen for a role in the new show.

30. In addition to A Chorus Line, Marvin Hamlisch wrote the scores for all of these Broadway shows EXCEPT:

   A. Ballroom 

31. Which dancer made it to the line, but didn't finish the audition?

   C. Paul

32. Finish the lyrics: "Kiss today goodbye..."

   C. ..."and point me toward tomorrow"

33. In acting class, Diana had to act like each of the following EXCEPT:

   B. a chair

34. In "I Can Do That," how did Mike get his sister's tap shoes to fit?

   D. He stuffed her shoes with extra socks.

35. FALSE: The original production moved to a smaller theater toward the end of its run. (It never played anywhere but the Shubert Theatre.)

36. FALSE: It is Al who can't sing. (His wife, Kristine, couldn't sing.)

37. TRUE: A Chorus Line is meant to be performed without an intermission.

38. TRUE: A Chorus Line is meant to be performed without a curtain call.

39. Which character worked at a strip joint?

   A. Don

40. Which song is this lyric from: "loaded with charisma is my jauntily sauntering, ambling shambler"?

   D. "One"

41. FALSE: Despite being a cultural icon, A Chorus Line was never a part of the "I ❤ NY" commercial campaign. (It was actually in the first Broadway themed ads for that campaign.)

42. FALSE: Terrence Mann played Larry in the film version, a part he also played on Broadway. (He never appeared in ACL on Broadway.)

43. TRUE: Although she played Cassie in the Broadway revival, Charlotte d'Amboise was never in the original Broadway run.

44. TRUE: Ann Reinking appeared in the original Broadway productions of both A Chorus Line AND Chicago. (She was a replacement Cassie and a replacement Roxie.)

45. TRUE: At one time there was an overture written for A Chorus Line, but it was never used.

46. What show took the title of "Longest-running Show in Broadway History" from A Chorus Line?

   A. Cats

47. What was "up a steep and very narrow stairway?"

   B. a ballet class

48. A Chorus Line is:

   B. based on recorded sessions of Broadway dancers gathered to tell their stories.

49. Who says, "Can we smoke? Can the adults please smoke?

   D. Sheila 

50. The song "The Music and The Mirror" features how many dancers?

   C. 1