Forgotten Musicals! One of the Best Things About the Theatre Scene Is
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Forgotten musicals! One of the best things about the theatre scene is that worthy shows that may not have succeeded the first time around for one reason or another are often brought back! Second chances are a big part of theatre. When was the last time a "flop" movie or TV show was remade 20 years later with a new concept or edited script? (And as long as we're getting started here, let me make it known that I don't like to use the word "flop". I prefer "underappreciated musical. It's more P.C.) Of course, when a theatre fan hears "forgotten musical", they may think of shows like Merrily We Roll Along or Mack and Mabel... Subways Are For Sleeping or Smile... For this column, we're going to go way more "forgotten" than that! Here are 10 buried treasures of musical theatre. Shows that either were never licensed or never got cast recordings. Shows that were on Broadway or at least announced for Broadway, but that never quite took off. Here are 10 fascinating musicals that you really may have forgotten... which deserve a second look! 1. Henry, Sweet Henry Video: https://youtu.be/6lyv67Peo4w Who Wrote The Show? Book by Nunnally Johnson, Music and Lyrics by Bob Merrill, Based on the novel by Nora Johnson What's It About? Valerie and Marian are ‘latchkey teens’ in 1960s NYC. They are pranksters and dreamers, all but ignored by their parents. They idolize avant-garde composer Henry Orient, and their hot pursuit of him leads to hijinx involving the police, hippies, a boys military school, and half of NYC. When Did It Run? 12 previews and 80 performances at the Palace in 1967 Why Did It Have a Short Run? The show is a bit unbalanced in terms of how the roles are written. While the adults have important parts, the audience has way more fun when we're following the kids' side of the story--- and the villain teenager walks away with the show in the end, rather than the sweet ingenue. It's nothing that a few rewrites and some workshopping couldn't adjust. Henry, Sweet Henry is a worthy musical that audiences loved during its quick run at the Palace. As William Goldman shares in his important book The Season, audiences loved it as much as they loved Mame, the smash musical of the time. The bad reviews were very much a circumstantial product of Henry, Sweet Henry since the show had the bad fortune of opening on the tails of Hair. Critic Clive Barnes was eager to assert that shows like Hair were on their way in and shows like Henry, Sweet Henry were on their way out. Had Henry, Sweet Henry opened a season or two earlier, there would've certainly been room for this rollicking hot air balloon ride of a musical. Why Should It Be Revived? The idea of "fangirling" a pop music icon, while certainly relevant for a generation who grew up with Elvis and The Beatles, is perhaps even more relevant in our wild age of social media pop culture fame. Two lovestruck girls stalking a musician? Conceive Henry Orient as a "rockstar" like those we worship today, and fill the show with scenes of angst and hero worship set against the backdrop of wild but candy- colored New York City... you have the recipe for a really entertaining, humanity-filled musical comedy. Also, the score is superb- this is a cast recording you will be addicted to, if you buy it! Who Would Be Cast In The Revival? Julia Mattison as Kafritz! She would bring the house down. Someone with a strong presence should be in the ingenue role of Valerie; I'd love to see Jenn Damiano do it. In the role of Henry, Will Swenson would have an interesting, charismatic take. Hidden Gem Of The Show: The role of Kafritz is a huge scene-stealer with show- stopping songs: a great opportunity for a young actress to really fly. And the original stopping songs: a great opportunity for a young actress to really fly. And the original Michael Bennett choreography!! This legend of musical theatre has shows like this one, with unique trademark choreography, that have never been revived. If his work could be recreated, it would be a magical thing to see. 2. Truckload Video: https://youtu.be/tGAm7qSytmA Who Wrote The Show? Book by Hugh Wheeler, Music by Louis St. Louis, Lyrics by Wes Harris What's It About? A concept musical about people on the road, on the move, on the freeway. Truckload was about real people traveling through America. When Did It Run? 6 previews at the Lyceum in September 1975 Why Did It Have a Short Run? The show's producers were the infamous, future- convict for larceny and fraud, Adela Holzer as well as first-time Broadway guy Dick Clark from American Bandstand. The money was mismanaged, and when the show needed $500,000 to go on, after its first few previews, it was forced to close. Why Should It Be Revived? The music, by Louis St. Louis, is some of the most diverse, boisterous, colorful music ever heard on Broadway. Pat Birch, who created the show with him, had inventive ideas that couldn't be fully realized due to the circumstances of the production. “Depending on how you look at it,” book writer Hugh Wheeler said in an interview, “the show has either no plot of 12 plots. It’s about the road- it’s all centered on a highway with a yellow line down the middle, with gas pumps, and ordinary people meeting.” The creators also articulated Truckload as “a musical tribute in this age of overmobility to all those countless Americans in restless transit across the U.S., some looking ahead eagerly; some looking back sadly; some uncertain of the future; some haunted by the past; all of them caught in mid- flight between yesterday evening and tomorrow morning.” This kind of off-kilter, worthy story deserves a second shot. Who Would Be Cast In The Revival? David Larsen, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Molly Pope, Kyle Beltran... a slew of great Broadway singer-actors who are skilled at portraying 'real' people. Hidden Gem Of The Show: The show was meant to be immersive, with audience members invited on stage to dance and take part in the action. People think that immersive theatre was recently invented, but it was certainly alive in the 1970s. This kind of presentation would be interesting to audiences today. 3. Leader of the Pack Video: https://youtu.be/ApJgpoqhUq0 Who Wrote The Show? Original concept by Melanie Mintz, "Liner Notes" by Anne Beatts, Additional material by Jack Heifner, Music and Lyrics by Ellie Greenwich, Featuring songs with music and lyrics by Jeff Barry, Phil Spector, Tony Powers, George "Shadow" Morton, Jeff Kent and Ellen Foley What's It About? An autobiographical jukebox musical about the life and work of Ellie Greenwich, whose songs topped the charts in the 1960s. When Did It Run? 53 previews and 120 performances at the Ambassador in 1985 Why Did It Have a Short Run? I like to call Leader of the Pack the first jukebox musical, but of course the form has been evolving for a very long time. However, Leader of the Pack was the first modern Broadway musical of its kind to tell the story of a real person through their songs- a precursor to Jersey Boys and Beautiful before the genre was popular or well-worn. While Leader of the Pack was nominated for Best Musical, it just didn't catch on during the mid-1980s lull of Broadway theatergoing. Frank Rich also opened his New York Times review with: Although there are as yet no candidates in the competition for best musical of the Broadway season, the race for most calamitous musical has gained a strong new contender with 'Leader of the Pack,' a purported tribute to golden rock-and-roll oldies at the Ambassador. While not as pointless as ''The Three Musketeers'' or as lengthy as Harrigan 'n Hart or as becalmed as Quilters, this show does Musketeers'' or as lengthy as Harrigan 'n Hart or as becalmed as Quilters, this show does lead the pack in such key areas as incoherence (total), vulgarity (boundless) and decibel level (stratospheric, with piercing electronic feedback)." OUCH. There were audience members who loved the show, but most critics sure didn’t. Why Should It Be Revived? Since Leader of the Pack opened, we've had many many successful musicals that have been enjoyed and acclaimed for all of the same aspects that were criticized about this early jukebox show. Audiences would definitely find a lot to enjoy in the story of Ellie Greenwich today - from the fun and joyous way her lovable songs are integrated into the story, to the feminism inherent in this tale of a woman rising to the top and fighting her own battles in the turbulent 1960s. Who Would Be Cast In The Revival? Bring Annie Golden and Darlene Love back to reprise their roles! Zak Resnick would be great as suave Jeff Barry and Donna Vivino would be a swell young Ellie Greenwich. Hidden Gem Of The Show: The show is a minefield of opportunity for a choreographer who excels at lively 1960s movement. And every song is a winner- from "Be My Baby" to "Chapel of Love" to the title song. Also, Ellie Greenwich really was a pioneer of popular music - and this woman's story deserves to be told.