BACKSTORY Your behind-the-scenes look at TimeLine productions YESTERDAY’S STORIES. TODAY’S TOPICS. From Artistic Director PJ Powers a message Dear Friends, for many more weeks, had There is perhaps no greater Depression he defied logic also beating a little musical the schedule allowed. model to look at than and dreamed big, believing called Gypsy) and being one “Well, children, I’m back LaGuardia, a man who that government had an of only seven musicals ever again…!” Fiorello H. LaGuardia’s worked tirelessly on behalf obligation to the people awarded a Pulitzer Prize story — brought to life with These are the opening of the down-and-out and and that he could restore a for drama. Nearly 50 years Jerry Bock and Sheldon words of Fiorello!, and at the the forgotten — immigrants sense of respect and pride later, Fiorello! has yet to be Harnick’s knockout songs first rehearsal they gener- who struggled to build a in the city. A great lover of revived on Broadway. — sprouted amazing joy, ated not only a hearty laugh home for themselves and a the arts and a believer in laughter and discussion in Fiorello, man and musi- from the assembled cast lower class fighting to make inspiring the heart and soul our theater. It made us all cal, share similar traits. and design team but also a an honest living against of a populace, he vowed yearn for his style of politics, They’re surprising, power- feeling of great excitement the greatest of odds as to “provide more music and one that elevates public ful, efficient, gritty, packed and opportunity. well as the Great Depres- more beauty for the people, debate and expects the Artistic Director PJ Powers (left) with fire and passion and, sion. LaGuardia took on a more parks and more light It isn’t often that we get most from elected officials. with director Nick Bowling at the perhaps most significantly, big-city political machine 2007 Joseph Jefferson Citations. and air and all the things the to return to a piece of deserving of far greater As I write this in March, the stained with corruption and Fiorello! received a Citation for framers of the Constitution work. When a show closes, Outstanding Musical and Bowling attention and regard than is headlines are full of politi- brought about sweeping meant when they put in the the ideas, emotion and was honored for his direction. Also given them today. cal resignations, scandals, inspiration that infuse it are reform. And he did it all receiving awards: Doug Peck for phrase, ‘Life, liberty and the litigation and a presidential music direction and Terry Hamilton So it is an honor and a treat normally packed with the while standing 5 feet pursuit of happiness.’” He nomination process with no for supporting actor in a musical. to return to LaGuardia’s costumes and props, never 2 inches tall and with a wanted New York City to end in sight and getting tes- story. In the inspired hands to be accessed again. It’s funny voice, less-than-glam- be a leader not only in com- tier by the day. So it is with orous looks and the stigma temper, sweat and a flair for merce but also in the health of director Nick Bowling the dramatic. and spirit of its citizens. and music director Doug Peck once again, we have He rushed to New York City When I stepped into “Fiorello, man and musical, are surprising, powerful, gritty, approached this production fires to aid the fire depart- Fiorello’s shoes two years as something fresh and new. efficient, packed with fire and passion and deserving of far ment, publicly smashed slot ago (admittedly, with great Rather than merely going machines confiscated from trepidation) I devoured as greater attention and regard than is given them today.” to the trunk to retrieve the gambling racketeers with a much information as I could costumes, props and heart sledge hammer, read comics about his life and his style of our 2006 show, we have like a great romance you great delight that we turn of a being an outsider in over the radio to children of leadership. I couldn’t get attacked this production have at summer camp that again to “The Little Flower,” every way imaginable. during a newspaper strike, enough, and with each arti- with a renewed sense of ends not because the flame as he was called, a politician was a guest conductor with cle or book my admiration His story is worth trum- purpose, great additions to has died but because the who was often praised for the city orchestra at Carne- grew. Then and now, I don’t peting, and there is much the cast and an appetite for clock has run out. taking democracy from the gie Hall and brandished cuts understand why the musical to learn from his brand of new possibilities. I hope you politicians and restoring it of raw pork on the floor of and the man it portrays are I’ve often felt a sense governing. Fierce in the will share our enthusiasm to the people. the U.S. Congress in impas- so underappreciated. For of frustration and loss pursuit of his goals and and appreciation for this sioned speeches about the some inexplicable reason, watching a show slip away LaGuardia’s story is a fitting often characterized as a great American musical and escalating cost of meat. This Fiorello! never joined the too soon, and that was cap to our 2007-08 season, royal (albeit likable) pain in the great American whom was a man who once said ranks of the oft-revived, definitely the case with our a year in which we looked the ass, he once barked at he “would rather be right it honors. 2006 production of Fiorello!. at the role of the average one of his staff, “If you were household-name “great than regular.” He more than American musicals,” despite Best wishes, It was the fastest-selling citizen and how the “little any dumber, I’d make you a fulfilled that proclamation! show in TimeLine’s history guy” responds to extraordi- commissioner.” He led with tieing The Sound of Music and could have continued nary circumstances. passion, charisma, a volatile While governing during for the Tony Award for the darkest days of the Best Musical in 1960 (and About Fiorello! Weidman, Abbott, Bock & Harnick the history the creators TIMELINE: The life and times of Fiorello H. LaGuardia iorello! is a classic Fiorello! opened on Broad- erome Weidman, born Bock was born in 1928 in FBroadway musical way November 23, 1959, Jin 1913 in New York City, New Haven, Conn. He 1882 Fiorello Enrico (“Enrico” with heartbreaking ballads at the Broadhurst Theatre made his debut as a novelist began his career composing later Americanized to “Henry”) (“When Did I Fall in Love”), with Tom Bosley in the title at 22 with I Can Get It for and contributing songs to LaGuardia is born in New York City on December 11. rousing chorus numbers role. It received seven Tony You Wholesale. He went on musical revues and shows in (“Politics and Poker”) and Award nominations and to publish more than 30 New York. Harnick, born in 1885 When he is 3, his family moves to North Dakota, then melodic showstoppers won three: Best Featured novels and volumes of short Chicago in 1924, started out to upstate New York. The family (“Little Tin Box”) that tell Actor — Tom Bosley, Best stories, among them The writing lyrics and complete finally settles in Arizona for the story of an honest man’s Direction — George Abbott Enemy Camp, The Sound of songs for others’ Broad- many of LaGuardia’s formative struggle against corruption and Best Musical (tieing Bow Bells and The Fourth way-bound musicals before years. in big-city politics. At a time with The Sound of Music). Street East. He made his teaming with Bock. They 1900 LaGuardia joins the when New York City was Fiorello! also has the distinc- debut in the theater with remained writing partners American Consular Service, awash in vice and corrup- tion of being one of only Fiorello!, co-authored with for nine other shows, includ- serving first in Budapest tion with the Tammany Hall seven musicals to have won George Abbott, Jerry Bock ing Tenderloin (1960) and (Hungary), then Trieste (Italy), and Fiume (Italy) where he political machine, Fiorello the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. and Sheldon Harnick. He The Apple Tree (1966). Their establishes a humane, orga- H. LaGuardia put a bright, After an impressive 795 teamed with them again most famous work is Fiddler nized system to deal with the new shine on the city and performances, the original on the musical Tenderloin on the Roof (1964), which growing number of emigrants to became one of the most production closed October (1960) and continued to won nine Tony Awards and America. enduring figures of the 28, 1961. write novels and books into has been revived on Broad- 1904 LaGuardia’s father dies 20th Century. the 1980s. He died at the way twice. It was made into from complications after eating age of 85 in 1998. a Hollywood film in 1971, rotten beef sold to the Army by crooked contractors. This is the starring Topol and directed George Abbott, born in main event that motivates him by Norman Jewison. Bock Special Events and Resources 1887 in Forestville, N.Y., to fight against corrupt bureau- and Harnick ended their crats and politicians who prey studied playwriting at Har- professional relationship on defenseless citizens.