Redhead, starring Gwen Verdon

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 1:00pm

I came across this on Wikipedia and it sounds awesome. Fosse's directorial debut. Gwen Verdon. Dorothy Fields. What could be better?

"Set in London in the 1880s, around the time of Jack the Ripper, the musical is a murder mystery in the setting of a wax museum."

Has anyone heard the score? Pictures?

Any info would be great.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 1:02pm

There is a cast album.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UMROXC/ref=dm_sp_alb?ie=UTF8&qid=1376413350&sr=8-8

It won 5 Tonys including Best Musical, Actor, and Actress.

But by most accounts, the show is pretty dated.

Updated On: 8/13/13 at 01:02 PM

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 1:09pm

" The original production was called THE WORKS (as in Wax Works) and was started in 1950 by Herbert and Dorothy Fields. Back then, they wanted Beatrice Lillie to play Essie. By 1956, however, with Sidney Sheldon now on board, they rewrote it for Gwen Verdon, fresh from two smashes with DAMN YANKEES and NEW GIRL IN TOWN. A contract clause added David Shaw to the list of writers. Verdon also took the lead on the condition that Bob Fosse would be the director as well as choreographer, making this his debut as a director.

REDHEAD opened on February 5, 1959 at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rodgers). It went on to a 452-performance run. Richard Kiley played Tom Baxter. With REDHEAD, the price of an orchestra seat reached a new high: $9.20. Sidney Sheldon, as you know, went from this and other Broadway musicals into fame in a new arena as a novelist. "

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 3:50pm

I only saw it in summer stock about a year after it closed. At the time the show opened, its only competition for the Tony was Flower Drum Song and Redhead won the Tony. Based on my experience with the show, it's not a very good show, nor does it have a very good score. Interestingly, becuase of the cut off rules at the time, both Gypsy and Destry Rides Again had not opened in time for 1958-1959 Tony consideration. I'm sure Gypsy would have taken everything (except choreography), including Best Musical and Best Actress in a Musical (funny, I can't remember her name, Ethel something-or-other, I believe). IMO, the show doesn't hold -- the Verdon/Fosse combo must have been fantastic -- but as a piece all and of its own, nothing spectacular.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/13/13 at 3:52pm

New Girl in Town was a "smash"? Do they mean like Smash was a "smash"?

[Dr. Kitchell]

Posted: 8/14/13 at 4:34pm

Goodspeed did a production about 10 or so years ago. It was entertaining enough. The production and the cast were excellent. It was interesting to see the show, but I would never need to see it again. I am sure the Miss Verdon and Mr Fosse made more out of the show than what is there on paper.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 8/14/13 at 5:17pm

I find the OBCR very difficult to get into. It's hard to decipher much of a plot or even character development from the lyrics and all the tracks seem to be 2 minutes, creating a sense of snippets rather than full songs.

I've always wanted to see this at Encores because I assume there's more to the show than what the album has to offer.

[brldisteach2]

Posted: 8/14/13 at 6:05pm

It has a really cute song towards the end of the show called "I'll try" that they play on the Broadway Station on Sirius XM once in a while. It was enough that I checked out the rest of the score. It was clear that "I'll try" was the best song. I agree with Whizzer...that it's difficult to tell the plot from the score.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/14/13 at 7:34pm

I've given up hope that Encores! will do REDHEAD, since they've put on popular shows like Hair, The Pajama Game, and Bye Bye Birdie.

Updated On: 8/14/13 at 07:34 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/14/13 at 10:09pm

I saw a summer stock production of the show 'way back when. A gal named Ellie Ross played the Gwen Verdon role. I was a high school kid then and enjoyed it very much. I don't know if I'd feel the same way now.

I do think it would be an interesting choice for an Encores! production.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/14/13 at 10:33pm

Considering the Tonys it won (Best Musical, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Choreography, and Best Costumes), it's a shame that it's really faded away over the years.

And Albert Hague, aka Mr. Sharofsky, aka The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, wrote the music.

It would be a great one for Encores!

[Jay94]

Posted: 8/15/13 at 1:25am

Here's a clip,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCB_r7iSoEY&feature=player_detailpage&t=3159

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/15/13 at 7:36am

EDIT: Never mind. I see what you did. It didn't play at first, but now it does.

Cute song. And I love Gwen and Richard.

Updated On: 8/15/13 at 07:36 AM

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 8/15/13 at 10:57am

I looked into producing a benefit concert of this show once. It's an interesting show and could be very fun and cute with the right cast. However, what stopped me from doing it, and could very well be stopping Encores, is the need for expensive custom-made large props.

The majority of the action takes place in a wax museum, and the climax of the show revolves around a faceless wax figure that later is revealed to have the face of the murderer. Not an easy prop to get, and not worth it for such a short run. It's not like you could use it for another show later.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/15/13 at 11:02am

LOL

I think it would be funny if a wax mannequin of a murderer just happened to find its way into other shows as a rental prop ... like Wicked ... A Chorus Line ... The Man Who Came to Dinner ... Rent ...

... you know, for that Weekend At Bernie's extra kick.

Updated On: 8/15/13 at 11:02 AM

[tazber]

Posted: 8/15/13 at 11:37am

I find the OBCR very difficult to get into. It's hard to decipher much of a plot or even character development from the lyrics and all the tracks seem to be 2 minutes, creating a sense of snippets rather than full songs.

I had this same reaction, Whizzer. I have really tried to get into it and played it multiple times but it just never appeals to me.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 7/12/14 at 12:19am

I was looking for threads of this show because I found a great clip of Gwen Verdon performing a dance-heavy song on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxdmCL9XJ64

Although the show may not be much, this performance shows why Verdon and Fosse received accolades for it.

I think this performance really shows why Gwen Verdon was one of the best. Although, it's pretty much a comedic song played for silly laughs, there's a moment where she's trying to sell a line (the "I like your face, she washes it!") and it falls flat (like the rest of the performance she's giving) and she looks heartbroken for a moment. It was really well-done.