Broadway Bound: The Musicals That Never Came to Broadway – Part 6
Rob Schneider, Charles Kirsch
Yes, there are that many musicals, most by otherwise bankable authors, that never made it to Broadway from out of town. Rob Schneider and Charles Kirsch, who might’ve been a vaudeville team back in the day, deliver illuminating and humorous commentary. Much of the time a show’s halt had nothing to do with quality, we’re told. A few of tonight’s performers were original cast members. We also hear from two writers. A treat. The series is full of surprises.
Jessica Threet, Stuart Zagit, Nicole Weizman
From 2005’s Waiting For the Moon (Frank Wildhorn/Jack Murphy), a success in – wait for it – Tokyo, we hear Jessica Threet perform “Everything and More” as Zelda Fitzgerald. Threet has an exuberant, somewhat nasal voice. “Don’t tell me to be quiet/I only laugh louder…” she sings. It’s easy to imagine a stage full of dancers. William Finn’s 2018 The Royal Family was a second adaptation after one by Jerry Herman deflated. Stuart Zagnit plays the iconic theater family’s agent. “Gloriously Imperfect” is an ode to matriarch Fanny Cavendish. Despite having to refer to lyrics, Zagnit imbues the song with low key charm.
In 1995, the Sherman Brothers’ Busker Alley was meant to star the great Tommy Tune. Unfortunately, the dancer broke his foot among a stage full of lampposts and proved irreplaceable. Nicole Weizman offers an animated “When Do I Get Mine?”
Richard Maltby, Jr., Jenny Lee Stern
Surprise guest Richard Maltby, Jr. tells us about 1967’s ill fated How Do You Do, I Love You written with collaborator David Shire. “Even in the sixties, a musical about computer dating was an old idea,” he says, self-depreciatingly, “but Liza Minnelli was going to be in it. Instead, we had Phyllis Newman, a wonderful talent, but a decade older and not Liza.” Jenny Lee Stern’s “When He Marries Me” sets off personality sparks. The show’s out of town review headline read Goodbye, I Hate You. “If your first review is that bad, and you get up the next morning to go back to work – then, no one can touch you.” Maltby, Jr. is, as usual, wise and wry.
Mark William, Eric Milligan
Early in the 1950s, Vernon Duke decided to write music and lyrics for Dilly, a Hollywood story about the heroine’s crush on her boss. Mark William plays the movie executive in “Look At Me.” Gestures are appropriate, but I don’t believe a word. Both Stephen Sondheim and Charles Strouse adapted Rachel Noble’s book and subsequent film Marty, but Sondheim dropped out. In 2002, Strouse and Lee Adams opened the musical in Boston. Eric Milligan plays Marty after a first date. “She Likes Who I Am” is a sweet song, but the vocalist never shares, looking over our heads. A missed opportunity.
Carlos Franzetti, Christiane Noll
Oscar Hijuelos’ The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love won the 1990 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It was turned into a film, then a musical. Having scored the former, guest Carlos Franzetti was asked to do so for the latter. Lyrics were written by art gallerist Arne Glimcher who produced both iterations. The composer tells us that not having control over his work was a revelation. Original cast member Christiane Noll is convincing with a polished “Alone in the Dark.” The talented vocalist might’ve taken it down a bit to engender empathy.
Top: Michael Levine
Bottom: Andrew Leggieri, Bryan Austermann and Sean Stephens
After On the Town, Betty Comden and Adolph Green wrote several musicals that never got on their feet. One of these was 1947’s Bonanza Bound (with Saul Chaplin) about the Alaskan Gold Rush. Michael Lavine (remember, he can sing too) leads a rousing “Fill Er Up.” Brian Austerman, Andrew Leggieri, and Sean Stephens stagger onstage in plaid shirts, drinks in their hands, two with apt accents; feigning inebriation. Voices are strong and good; the number is terrific fun.
Eric Michael Gillett, Mary Callahan
Mordecai Richler’s The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz was a book, a film, then, produced in 2015, a stage musical by David Spencer and Alan Menken. Eric Michael Gillett interprets “Unfinished Business.” The actor approaches lyrics like real time thoughts. Phrasing is impeccable. A lovely song is enhanced and moving in this performance. “I tumble into bed/The sheets are cold…” (his voice breaks).
In 1987, Menken completed a musical version of The Honeymooners (television show) only to be refused rights. Stephen Weiner and Peter Mills secured them in 2017 and the musical opened at Paper Mill Playhouse. Dressed in an apron, replete with Brooklyn accent, Mary Callahan gives us “A Woman’s Work,” Alice’s 11 o’clock number. “When there’s a man made mess/There’s a dame in a dress/Who will wash it away…” She’s brassy, sassy and renders great scat.
Robbie Rozelle, Amy Jo Jackson
Cyrano was written for Douglas Sills by Michael J. Lewis and Anthony Burgess after the actor’s successful run in The Scarlet Pimpernel. Singer Robbie Rozelle offers “Bring Me Giants,” the only song tonight that lacks context. Like several others, it would’ve been more effective if quiet. My sole caveat with this evening is indiscriminate volume. Inspired by Kaufman and Hart’s Once in A Lifetime, David Zipple/Jonathan Shiffer’s Going Hollywood began and ended at Paper Mill Playhouse. Amy Jo Jackson sings “Another Mister Right Left.” The vocalist yells her blues, a pity as she clearly has both pipes and inflection.
Diane Findlay
In 2011, Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City (book and television series) became a musical by Jakes Shears and John Garden. Original cast member Diane Findlay ends the program playing a Madam “educating” her ladies of the night with “Ride ‘Em Hard.” The song is risqué; the performer marvelous – tongue-in-cheek, credible, never-going-over-the-top funny. Brava.
Michael Lavine’s accompaniment and arrangements arrive bespoke to every show and vocalist.
A good time was had by all.
Photos by Maryann Lopinto
Broadway Bound: The Musicals That Never Came to Broadway – Part 6
Hosts/Writers: Rob Schneider, Charles Kirsch
Music Director/Piano/Director- Michael Lavine
54/Below
254 West 54th Street
