Photo Flash: BACK TO BACHARACH AND DAVID
By: Reynard Loki Mar. 25, 2009
The Off-Broadway hit “Back to Bacharach and David” will have a short 23 performance engagement at The Music Box @ Fonda April 15 to May 17 (opening April 19).
“Back to Bacharach and David” is a night of amazing voices, comedy, and a tribute to the brilliant songs that Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote from 1960 to 1970.
Kathy Najimy, who directs and conceived the show with musical arranger Steve Gunderson said, “These songs defined 'cool’ then and define ‘cool’ now. Every generation since this music was created, has found relevance in it, been drawn to it, and recreated it. This show is a blast to work on -- sexy, moving and funny -- with brilliant arrangements.”
“We approach the Bacharach-David catalogue with tons of humor and awe, updated with a modern twist -- with four of the most kick ass voices around -- and we are thrilled to have the encouragement of Mr. Bacharach and Mr. David themselves for our new production.”
Burt Bacharach said, “I saw this show in San Diego a couple of years ago and was quite impressed with the presentation and the musicality. I have always been very particular about how my music is presented on stage and have had some disappointments in the past. Steve Gunderson's musicality and Kathy Najimy's direction makes this a very exciting prospect for me.”
The cast includes “American Idol” and Broadway star Diana DeGarmo, West End musical actor and “American Idol” contestant Tom Lowe, Broadway actress and original “Back to Bacharach and David” cast member Susan Mosher, and musical and film actress Tressa Thomas. “We searched for four ultra-superstars for this show,” said Najimy, "funny, fantastic, with fabulous voices -- and we found them! It is the perfect ‘Back to Bacharach and David’ cast -- the show they were each meant to star in."
Bacharach and David had more than thirty Top 40 US singles including “Don’t Make Me Over,” “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” “Walk On By,” “Message to Michael,” “Trains and Boats and Planes,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Alfie,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,” “What’s New Pussycat,” “Wives and Lovers,” “Always Something there to Remind Me,” “Promises, Promises,” and “I'll Never Fall in Love Again,” -- all of which are heard in “Back to Bacharach and David.”
Of the original production Stephen Holden wrote in The New York Times, “It is too good a show not to have many other lives. Three decades ago, Burt Bacharach and Hal David began creating a series of hits for Dionne Warwick that fused the worlds of Cole Porter and Motown in songs so supercharged they threatened to jump out of their skins. And in ‘Back to Bacharach and David,’ Steve Gunderson, a gifted arranger, has stitched about thirty of these songs into a spirited musical tribute … directed by long time friend Kathy Najimy, it regards 1960’s pop with playful eyes … what lifts it, is the show’s nearly perfect balance between tribute and comedy.”
In 1992 Newsday said, “Back to Bacharach and David” is “A pinball game that whizzes, rings and lights up with high spirits from beginning to breathless end.” The New York Native said, “Under the innovative direction of the multi-talented Kathy Najimy, this celebration of the team of Bacharach and David, while at times wildly irreverent, is so filled with high points that, this new musical revue may prove to be the most outstanding offering this year - on or off Broadway. This is one glorious pastiche, deliciously packaged. It deserves to run forever - it's that good.”
Gunderson said, "After Burt saw the show, I didn't know what he would make of it. The original recordings are masterpieces of arrangements. But he just took me aside and became our instant champion. The next thing I knew, we were chatting about those 'crazy chords' I used in 'Walk On By.'"
"Soon after, Kathy and I then found ourselves in a meeting with Burt and his agent. Burt put in a call to Hal David, who had been a supportive force behind the original New York production. And then both Bacharach and David were behind this new production.”
The three original creators of “Back to Bacharach and David” - co-conceiver-arranger Steve Gunderson, co-conceiver-director Kathy Najimy, and choreographer Javier Velasco - are reuniting to give the production a fresh vision for 2009. For this new version, Najimy, Gunderson and Velasco give a new dose of comedy and a new life to their work.
The designers include Obie Award winning set designer Myung Hee Cho, Tony Award winning Broadway costumer Gregg Barnes, Ovation Award winning sound designer Martin Carrillo and theatre/rock concert lighting guru -- Anne Militello
Tickets are available at www.etix.com. “Back to Bacharach and David” is produced by
Jim Gunderson, Steve Gunderson, and Kathy Najimy. The executive producer is Joan Stein.
Tressa Thomas
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