It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman

It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman is a musical composed by Charles Strouse, with lyrics by Lee Adams and book by David Newman and Robert Benton. It is based on the comic It's a Bird... It's a book character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. Plane... It's Superman

Contents

Synopsis Production history TV special Original Broadway cast Original West End cast Musical numbers Awards and nominations Original Broadway Cast Original Broadway production Recording References Music Charles Strouse External links Lyrics Lee Adams Book David Newman Synopsis Robert Benton Basis Superman The plot revolves around Superman's efforts to defeat Dr. Abner Sedgwick, a ten-time Nobel Prize-losing scientist who seeks to avenge the scientific world's dismissal of his brilliance by by Jerry Siegel attempting to destroy the world's symbol of good. Additionally, Superman comes into romantic conflict with Max Mencken, a columnist for the Daily Planet newspaper, who resents Lois and Joe Shuster Lane's attraction to Superman, and later teams up with Sedgwick to destroy Superman. Productions 1966 Broadway 1975 ABC TV Production history special 2007 Los The musical opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on March 29, 1966.[1] Directed by Harold Prince with choreography by Ernest Flatt, it starred Bob Holiday as Clark Kent and Angeles Concert Superman, Patricia Marand as Lois Lane, Jack Cassidy as Max Mencken, and Linda Lavin as Sydney. The production received generally positive reviews, but it failed to catch on with the 2010 Dallas theater-going public and closed on July 17, 1966 after 129 performances. The musical received three Tony Award nominations, for Best Actor in a Musical (Cassidy), Best Featured Actor in a 2013 New York Musical (Michael O'Sullivan, playing the main villain), and Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Marand). One of the songs from the score, "You've Got Possibilities" (introduced by Lavin), had City Encores! some success outside the show as a nightclub and cabaret standard. 2014 London Two productions were staged the next year. Both the St. Louis Municipal Opera and the Kansas City Starlight Theatre (in 1966, titled Superman)[2] re-staged the show, and Bob Holiday 2015 West End played Superman in both productions. Each was an open-air venue, requiring the use of a large crane to facilitate Superman's flights. Other cast members in these two productions were Karen 2016 Germany Morrow as Sydney and Charles Nelson Reilly as Dr. Sedgwick.[3]

The show was produced at the Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam, Connecticut, from June through July 3, 1992, with Gary Jackson (as Superman), Jamie Ross, Veanne Cox and Gabriel Barre.[4]

On May 14, 2007, the Reprise! Marvelous Musical Mondays program in Los Angeles presented a concert version of the musical. The cast featured Cheyenne Jackson as Superman, Jean Louisa Kelly as Lois Lane, Richard Kind as Dr. Sedgwick, Patrick Cassidy in his father's old role of Max Mencken, and composer Charles Strouse in a special appearance as Perry White.[5] From June 15–17, 2007, the musical was presented in concert by the York Theatre's Musicals at MUFTI series in New York City, with Jackson, Kelly, and Strouse reprising their roles from the Los Angeles concert. Others in the cast included Lea DeLaria as Dr. Sedgwick, Shoshana Bean as Sydney, and David Rasche as Max Mencken.[6] Bob Holiday, the original Broadway Superman, attended the June 16 matinee.

From June 18 to July 25, 2010, the Dallas Theater Center presented a revised version of It's a Bird..., starring Matt Cavenaugh in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Zakiya Young as Lois Lane, Patrick Cassidy as Max Mencken, and Cavenaugh's real life wife Jenny Powers as Sydney Sharp (Cassidy developed laryngitis during the run of the show, and choreographer Joel Ferrell took over the role until Cassidy recovered). The new book for the show was written by playwright and comic book writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.[7] Kevin Moriarty, the Dallas Theater's artistic director, believed that the show's campy, pop art-inflected book had "not dated well," and approached Charles Strouse in 2008 for permission to revise the musical.[8] Strouse acquiesced, and Moriarty hired Aguirre-Sacasa, a "lifelong fan" of the musical. Aguirre-Sacasa moved the musical's setting to 1939, and made the show's primary focus the "love triangle" between Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Superman. Songs were cut, new songs commissioned, the order of songs changed,[9] In November 2009, Moriarty and Aguirre-Sacasa held a private reading of the revised book with the show's surviving creators, Strouse, Adams, and Benton.[10]

A staged concert production took place as part of New York City Center's Encores! series from March 20–24, 2013. The cast included Edward Watts as Superman and Will Swenson as Max Mencken, with Jenny Powers playing Lois Lane. Powers had played Sydney Sharp in the 2010 Dallas revival.[11] On March 23, Bob Holiday, who originated the role of Superman on Broadway, attended the show and met with the cast.[12]

The show's UK premiere was played in London in March 2014 at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre and was produced by All Star Productions.[13] After positive reviews, "the real star of the show is Charles Strouse and Lee Adams’ delightful score..." wrote the musicaltheatrereview.com,[13] the show transferred to the Leicester Square Theatre in the West End for a limited run in February 2015.[14][15]

In September 2016, there was the first production in the German language in Braunschweig, Germany. The OnStage - school of musical is producing the German Premiere at the Brunsviga.

Still photos from the original Broadway production can be seen in the documentary Look, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman, as well as footage from the TV version.

Book authors Robert Benton and David Newman went on co-author the screenplay for the 1978 film Superman.

TV special

It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman was made into a TV special on February 1, 1975. Filmed on video over the course of 3 days,[16] the show was significantly shortened, the script significantly changed, and the ethnicity of a troupe of evildoers was changed from Chinese acrobats to Mafia-style gangsters. The musical numbers "Doing Good", "It's Super Nice", "So Long, Big Guy" and "We Don't Matter at All" were all dropped from this production, while the sound of the remaining musical numbers was updated to a more contemporary 1970s sensibility. In addition to these, a new musical number was made for the TV special: "It's a Great Country."[16] The show was broadcast on the ABC network under its Wide World of Entertainment late- night umbrella title to poor critical reception. It starred David Wilson as Superman/Clark Kent, Lesley Ann Warren as Lois Lane, Loretta Swit as Sydney Carlton, David Wayne as Dr. Abner Sedgwick, Allen Ludden as Perry White, and Kenneth Mars as Max Mencken. Viewers of this re-make felt that the TV production lacked the energy of the original Broadway show.[17]

Original Broadway cast David Wilson and Lesley Ann Warren as Superman and Lois Max Mencken – Jack Cassidy Lane in ABC's 1975 TV Jim Morgan – Don Chastain production of the musical. Superman/Clark Kent – Bob Holiday Lois Lane – Patricia Marand Perry White – Eric Mason Sydney Carlton – Linda Lavin Dr. Abner Sedgwick – Michael O'Sullivan Father Ling – Jerry Fujikawa William, the Exchange Student – Haruki Fujimoto Suspect #2 – Dick Miller

Original West End cast

Superman/Clark Kent – Craig Berry Lois Lane – Michelle LaFortune Dr. Abner Sedgwick – Matthew Ibbotson Max Mencken – Paul Harwood Sydney Carlton – Sarah Kennedy Jim Morgan – Charlie Vose Father Ling – Jonathan Chan Perry White – Andrew Truluck Tai Ling - Christina Harris Fan Po Ling - Thomas Widdop Ming Foo Ling / Ling Captain - Jade Nelson Ding Ling - William M. Lee Ensemble / Dance Captain – Charlotte Debattista Ensemble - Vicky Longley

Musical numbers

Act I Act II

Overture - Orchestra, Superman, Lois Entr'acte - Orchestra "Doing Good" - Superman "So Long Big Guy" - Max "We Need Him" - Company, Lois, Max, Superman "The Strongest Man in the World" - Superman "It's Superman" - Lois "Ooh, Do You Love You?" - Sydney "We Don't Matter at All" - Jim, Lois "You've Got What I Need" - Dr. Sedgwick, Max "Revenge" - Dr. Sedgwick "It's Superman" (reprise) - Lois, Superman, Sydney, Max, The Flying Lings, Jim, "The Woman for the Man" - Max, Lois Company "You've Got Possibilities" - Sydney "I'm Not Finished Yet" - Lois "What I've Always Wanted" - Lois "Pow! Bam! Zonk!" - Superman, The Flying Lings "Everything's Easy When You Know How" - The Flying Lings Finale - Company "Revenge" (reprise) - Dr. Sedgwick "It's Super Nice" - Company

"You've Got Possibilities" is generally considered the show's most memorable tune, and is the only one to be often performed outside the show.[18][19] It was recorded in 1966 by Peggy Lee (on the album Big $pender)[20] and Matt Monro (on the album Here's to My Lady),[21] and has been performed and recorded by many other singers. It was also featured in a 2005 TV commercial for Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits.[22]

Part of the overture from the original cast album was used as the opening and closing theme music for all the newscasts on WTOP-TV/WDVM-TV (Channel 9, now WUSA-TV) in Washington, DC, from 1970 until 1982.[22]

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

Year Award ceremony Category Nominee Result

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Jack Cassidy Nominated

1966 Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Michael O'Sullivan Nominated

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Patricia Marand Nominated

References

1. Cronin, Brian (February 15, 2010). "The Man of Steel returns to the musical stage" (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=24851). Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 16, 2010. 2. "History, 1960s" (https://www.kcstarlight.com/about-us/history/broadway-shows) kcstarlight.com, retrieved December 13, 2017 3. Bob Holiday and Chuck Harter, Superman on Broadway, c. 2003 4. Holden, Stephen. "Review/Theater; Superman as Dimwit in 1966 Parable" (https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/20/theater/review-theater-superman-as-dimwit-in-1966-parable.html?pagewanted=), The New York Times, June 20, 1992, retrieved December 13, 2017 5. Gans, Andrew. "Superman! Concert — with Cassidy, Kind and Jackson — Presented May 14" (http://www.playbill.com/article/superman-concert-with-cassidy-kind-and-jackson-presented-may-14-com-140 749#) Playbill, May 14, 2007, retrieved December 13, 2017 6. Gans, Andrew. Jackson Is Man of Steel in Mufti It's a Bird. . . It's a Plane. . . It's Superman, June 15-17" (https://archive.is/20120909015203/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/108837.html), playbill.com, June 15, 2007. 7. Wilonsky, Robert (February 15, 2010). "A Musical Even the Fanboys Are Geeked Over: A Word With DTC's It's Superman Writer" (http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2010/02/a_musical_even_the_f anboys_are.php). Unfair Park. Dallas Observer. Retrieved February 16, 2010. 8. Wilonsky, Robert (April 17, 2009). "The Singing Superman: DTC's Kevin Moriarty Talks About Tackling the Man of Steel" (http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2009/04/the_defining_moment_of_supe rhe.php). Dallas Observer. Retrieved January 16, 2010. 9. Taitte, Lawson (2010-06-26). "Theater review: Dallas Theater Center's reshaped 'Superman' is almost super | Lawson Taitte Columns and Reviews - Entertainment News for Dallas, Texas - The Dallas Morning News" (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/062710dngdsuperman.dcee3680.html). Dallasnews.com. Retrieved 2011-01-30. 10. Wilonsky, Robert (November 23, 2009). "Up, Up and Away: DTC's Kevin Moriarty on the Status of the "New" Superman Musical" (http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2009/11/when_i_look_back_to. php). Dallas Observer. Retrieved January 16, 2010. 11. New York City Center "Encores!" (http://www.nycitycenter.org/tickets/productionNew.aspx?performanceNumber=6631) Nycitycenter.org 12. [1] (http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Original-Broadway-Superman-Bob-Holiday-Visits-Encores-ITS-A-BIRDITS-A-PLANEITS-SUPERMAN-20130324#) broadwayworld.com 13. " 'It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman' – Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre" (http://musicaltheatrereview.com/its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-superman-ye-olde-rose-and-crown-theatre/) musicaltheatrereview.com, March 8, 2014 14. "Superman musical transfers to Leicester Square Theatre" (https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/superman-musical-transfers-to-leicester-square-theatre?_ga=2.134229621.522442467.15 13169748-1833703405.1513169748) londontheatre.co.uk, 4 August, 2014 15. It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman (http://www.whatsonstage.com/off-west-end-theatre/shows/its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-superman_41059/) whatsonstage.com, retrieved December 13, 2017 16. Scivally, Bruce (2007). Superman on Film, Television, Radio and Broadway. McFarland. p. 70. ISBN 978-0786431663. 17. Superman Reviews & Ratings - IMDb (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339210/usercomments) 18. Ben Brantley (March 21, 2013). "He's the Man of Steel, as Well as a Man of Song" (https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/22/theater/reviews/its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-superman-at-city-center.html). New York Times. Retrieved February 14, 2017. ""Possibilities", the one number from the score that has had any significant afterlife." 19. Joe Leydon (June 28, 2010). "Review: 'It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman!' " (https://variety.com/2010/legit/news/it-s-a-bird-it-s-a-plane-it-s-superman-1117943076/). Variety. Retrieved February 14, 2017. 20. "Peggy Lee – Come Back To Me / You've Got Possibilities" (https://www.discogs.com/Peggy-Lee-Come-Back-To-Me-Youve-Got-Possibilities/release/4895457) . Discogs. Retrieved February 14, 2017. 21. "Matt Monro – Here's To My Lady" (https://www.discogs.com/Matt-Monro-Heres-To-My-Lady/master/393661). Discogs. Retrieved February 14, 2017. 22. Paul Young (June 15, 2014). "16 Actors Who Have Portrayed Superman" (http://screenrant.com/superman-actors-trivia-list/). ScreenRants. Retrieved February 15, 2017.

External links

It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/3137) at the Internet Broadway Database It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339210/) on IMDb for the 1975 TV production Lyrics (http://users.bestweb.net/~foosie/superman.htm) Bob Holiday's web site (http://www.SupermanBobHoliday.com)

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This page was last edited on 26 August 2018, at 14:44 (UTC).

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