Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
#1Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:22am
Today marks 50 years since the Rodgers/Sondheim/Laurents collaboration DO I HEAR A WALTZ opened.
Based on the Arthur Laurents play THE TIME OF THE CUCKOO the show has a reputation of being a rather business-decision type show that wasn’t very good. Sondheim himself has said that the play should never have been musicalized and that he only took the job to work with Richard Rodgers, who was in quite a state during the gestation period.
Nonetheless the score is full of lovely Rodgers melodies, though Sondheim’s lyric work is none too special. The physical production seems to have been gorgeous as these (color!) production photos attest. Very watercolory and all pastels in the costumes.
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#2Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:23am
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
#2Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:23am
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
#3Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:24am
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#4Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:24am
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
#5Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:24am
Owners of the original LP may remember this photo appeared in a blurry form on the back of the sleeve. The color of the recording was also inverted from black background to white (perhaps to facilitate cheaper printing?).
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
Updated On: 3/18/15 at 12:24 AM
#6Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:24am
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#7Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:25am
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#8Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:25am
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#9Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:25am
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#10Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:25am
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#11Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:25am
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#12Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:27am
Some video Goodies:
Color rehearsal footage:
Do I Hear a Waltz? - rehearsal footage from Gorilla Factory Productions on Vimeo.
And an interview with the creative team
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Updated On: 3/18/15 at 12:27 AM
Fantod
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/3/14
#13Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:31amI've always loved the poster art for this show, though I don't think Rodger's music blends well with Sondheim's lyrics.
MarkBearSF
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/25/11
#14Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:47am
Saw a delightful small production of this starring Emily Skinner at 42nd St Moon in San Francisco last Summer.
There have been numerous discussions on what Sondheim meant by a "why musical" specifically what it misses - and unfortunately, the piece sorta' validates all of 'em.
That all said, I was totally charmed by Emily Skinner and even the most pointless of a Rodgers or Sondheim toss-off still can have charm or interest. I went in with trepidation and left floating on air.
Updated On: 3/18/15 at 12:47 AM
#15Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 4:04pmDidi anyone on the board actually see the original production?
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Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#16Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 4:25pm
I may be in the minority here but I thoroughly enjoy the score
A movie of this shot in Venice would be something else.
Poster Emeritus
#17Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 4:30pm
^^^^^^
Have you seen the film of the original play with Katherine Hepburn? It was shot on location and is pretty good from what I recall.
I can imagine it being a glorious film musical.
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Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#18Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 4:45pm
Yes we did see it. One of our favorite all time movies
In one of our frequent trips to Venice, we saw the spot where Hepburn falls into the canal right next to the mask shop.The store still exists but now just sells touristy stuff. They have pictures from the movie in the window
It may be really too touristy now to shoot especially with the big cruise ships sailing into the harbor
We also saw the Lincoln Center production of the play it is based on a few years ago.
Poster Emeritus
#19Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 4:46pm
Summertime, the film, pops up on TCM a lot and is worth watching.
I love that TV interview clip and always found it...interesting..that the major collaborator missing is Richard Rodgers--who would have been most familiar to tv viewers of the time.
I love this show--of course I've never seen it, but own both recordings (I like some of the changes made for the Pasadena production though I miss the full orchestra,) and have read thelibretto. And the sets are beautiful--designer Beni Montressor knew his Italy obviously (and was pretty beautiful himself.) I wonder why he didn't do more musicals--he did a LOT of opera but his only other Broadway musical credit is for Rags, a design I seem to recall some didn't like.
Oh, and the original lyrics for Gonna Be Alright should never ever have been changed. I know why they were (Dorothy Rodgers, bla bla,) but the new ones are so bland that they barely make sense.
#20Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 7:50pmThank you, Mr. Nowack, these are great pics. Waltz has a terrific score, but the book is a bit dull. There was rumor that Encores was going to do it this season, but the holder of the flame of Laurents' estate, made things difficult. But, as I said, that was a rumor that had circulated.
Wilmingtom
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
#21Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 8:14pmDavid Lee's production at Pasadena Playhouse was terrific. He eliminated the chorus, which the intimate story never really wanted anyway. The score, while not a top-drawer classic, has lots of charm as do the chracters and the simple, heartfelt story.
#22Happy 50th Anniversary to DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Posted: 3/18/15 at 9:46pmI came close to seeing the show. In fact it's the only time my mother's check that was stuffed in an envelope was returned. As a kid it was my job to order theatre tickets for the family. In those days you either purchased tickets at the box office, through the mail, through a ticket broker or at Macy's Department Store at a funny little booth with flashing neon lights. I would always ask for seats in the first ten rows center orchestra for a Saturday matinee with whatever future date would accommodate my request. It never ever failed to work except once for "Do I Hear A waltz?". I guess Rodgers name was a big hit with the theatre party ladies even though it ran barely more than 200 performances.
