Mufti this Summer: Minnie's Boys, Grind, Goodtime Charley

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 9:12pm

I must say, I'm very excited about Minnie's Boys...but A New Revue??? blah.


YORK THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES ITS SUMMER MUSICALS IN MUFTI SERIES:
FOUR SHOWS BY COMPOSER LARRY GROSSMAN

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is delighted to announce its Summer 2008 Musicals in Mufti Series -- the York’s acclaimed series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances. The dates and shows are as follows:

MINNIE’S BOYS (May 30-June 1) Music by Larry Grossman, Lyrics by Hal Hackady, Book by Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher. The early true-life adventures of the Marx Brothers and their indefatigable mother inspired this heartfelt, tuneful laugh fest. The long-suffering Minnie Marx, has five teenage sons who keep her life in perpetual chaos. Unwilling to settle for a life of poverty, she encourages the boys to follow their dreams of vaudeville stardom, touring with them through good times and bad. Then Adolph, Leonard, Milton, Herbert and Julius develop their stage personas, and become known to the world as Harpo, Chico, Gummo, Zeppo and Groucho. (Broadway, 1970)


GRIND (June 13-June 15) Original book by Fay Kanin, Music by Larry Grossman, Lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh, New Book by Brad Rouse. In the depths of the Great Depression, a Chicago burlesque house draws customers with a daring mix of white and African American performers. Hard times, human passions and ingrained bigotry make for a volatile atmosphere. As tension grows, tempers flare and lives hang in the balance, but the show must go on – or will it? This Mufti production features a new libretto and songs cut from the Broadway production. (Broadway, 1985)


GOODTIME CHARLEY (June 27-June 29) Book by Sidney Michaels, Music by Larry Grossman Lyrics by Hal Hackady. Legendary figures come to life in this touching story of friends torn apart by the forces of history. Easygoing milquetoast Charley is technically the monarch of France, but his country is actually controlled by two corrupt, manipulative courtiers. Then a simple peasant girl named Joan appears. Defying convention, she befriends Charley, debunks the phonies, dons armor, and leads Charley’s once-inept armies to surprising victories in the field. As Joan’s fame grows, her relationship with King Charles VII succumbs to political intrigue and mutual suspicion. (Broadway, 1975)


A NEW REVUE (July11-13) with music by Larry Grossman and lyrics by a stellar lineup of collaborators will feature the composer himself at the piano. For this revue (title to be announced), Mr. Grossman is reaching into his “trunk” for songs he created for Broadway musicals, television, revues, cabaret acts and even a presidential inauguration! Culled from an ongoing career spanning four decades, this material runs the gamut from sweeping ballads to raucous showstoppers. While some of these numbers will be familiar to musical theatre fans, many have never been heard on a New York stage before.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 9:20pm

What? No Paper Moon?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 9:58pm

This looks great

Saw Minnie & Charley on Broadway. There were so many song changes with Minnie it will be interesting to hear what may have made the final cut.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 12:41am

Wow, I'm kinda shocked they are doing GOODTIME CHARLEY. There are two songs in the score that I love "One Little Year" and "You Still Have a Long Way to Go." Wonder who they are gonna get for the Ann Reinking role.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 12:51pm

I love the score for Goodtime Charley - it sounds suoerb on the recording and I can't understand why it failed - well I can because so many musicals with good scores failed in the 1970s. My personal favourites are To Make the Boy a Man and Merci, Bon Dieu. The opening number is very funny and sets the scene very well.

What is Mufti like? Do they do things on a large scale - big cast, big orchestra? Will it be worth crossing the Atlantic for?