The Music Man 1961 - Articles Page 16

On Thursday, three-time Tony Award-winning Broadway composer Richard Adler passed away at the ripe old age of 90. Responsible for two of the biggest Broadway smash hits of the 1950s, THE PAJAMA GAME and GAMN YANKEES, Adler never quite managed to equal his career-high double-hitter of that era, yet his earlier work with Tony Bennett ('Rags To Riches'), Doris Day ('Everybody Loves A Lover') and Marilyn Monroe (the iconic 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President') surely shall solidify his place in the firmament of entertainment history along with his two classic musicals from the Golden Age. Winning both Best Score and Best Musical for both THE PAJAMA GAME and DAMN YANKEES, Adler's partnership with lyricist Jerry Ross - which began on Broadway in 1953 with JOHN MURRAY ANDERSON'S ALMANAC - was tragically cut short just months after the DAMN YANKEES premiere when Ross was diagnosed with lung disease and passed away soon thereafter. Yet, thanks to the beloved film versions of THE PAJAMA GAME and DAMN YANKEES and continued interest in the entities as expressed in the revivals and reappraisals of both onstage from Broadway to Biloxi to Bombay year after year, the snappy, snazzy tunes of Adler and Ross live on eight times a week all around the world - even now, more than fifty years after they premiered. Unfortunately, Adler's subsequent shows with other collaborators post-1955 failed to capture the early magic of his previous projects with Ross and his earlier musical and theatrical endeavors in the pop arena, with the racially charged KWAMINA flopping on Broadway in 1961 (though he took home a Best Composer Tony Award for his efforts anyway) and the awkwardly titled MUSIC IS failing to recreate the magic of its source material, Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT, in 1976. A MOTER'S KISSES, starring Bea Arthur and a young Bernadette Peters, died on the road, as well. In the intervening years, Adler attempted musical adaptations taken from a number of intriguing sources - OF HUMAN BONDAGE and others among them - though only his ballet scores seemed to reach an audience; particularly his last, commissioned for a new production of Lorca's THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA in 1998. Of course, THE PAJAMA GAME has had two Broadway revivals - most recently the rapturously received Kathleen Marshall-directed production starring Harry Connick, Jr. and Kelli O'Hara; and DAMN YANKEES famously returned to the Great White Way with much ado in 1994 starring Victor Garber. Now seems particularly ripe for remounting YANKEES, as we approach twenty years in its absence - especially given the musical's seriously smashing showing at Encores! in 2007. Who knows, perhaps some risky producer will even take a chance on a new production of KWAMINA, MUSIC IS, A MOTHER'S KISSES or one of the bottom drawer shows someday soon to see if they possess any of the limitless potential shown by Adler's earlier work. Or maybe a stage treatment of his TV musical GIFT OF THE MAGI (originally composed for then-wife Sally Ann Howes)? Or, better yet, how about a revue? What a stupendous songstack Adler created over the course of his career - 'Whatever Lola Wants' to 'Hey There' to 'Hernando's Hideaway' to 'You Gotta Have Heart' to 'Steam Heat' to the aforementioned Bennett, Day and Monroe standards and so many more chestnuts.

Berkeley Playhouse closes its 2011-12 main stage season with a delicious adaptation of ROALD DAHL'S WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Berkeley Playhouse founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy helms this musical treat, based on Roald Dahl's stylish children's story about the world famous candy man, starring noted Bay Area singer/songwriter, musician, and recording artist Vernon Bush in the title role. ROALD DAHL'S WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY plays July 14 through August 19 at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.

Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie has set the 2012-2013 season at the CTG/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. In a season of contrasts - of surprising comedy and startling drama, the 2012-2013 season at the Kirk Douglas Theatre will include the magical and mystical hi-jinks of the CTG-commissioned "Elephant Room" by Trey Lyford, Geoff Sobelle and Steve Cuiffo; the acclaimed Gate Theatre Dublin production of the Beckett classic "Krapp's Last Tape" with one of Britain's greatest actors, John Hurt; the comic genius of The Second City with their unique, satirical twist on a Dickens's favorite - "A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!" written by Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort; the world premiere of the otherworldly drama "The Nether" by the 2012 Susan Blackburn Smith prize-winning playwright Jennifer Haley; and the world premiere of the powerful boxing drama "The Royale" by Los Angeles playwright Marco Ramirez.

Multi-award winning Foothill Music Theatre presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, a musical satire of 1960s corporate life, from the Tony-winning composer of Guys and Dolls.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic continues its collaboration with Deutsche Grammophon with the new release of two works by Shostakovich - the world premiere of the Prologue to Orango and Symphony No. 4. Both works, led by LA Phil Conductor Laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen, were recorded live at Walt Disney Concert Hall in December of 2011. The 2-disc set will be available June 19, 2012.

World-renowned Jazz and Rhythm & Blues Vocalist, Barbara Morrison will present top talent in The 1st Annual Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center Blues Festival to be performed on two stages at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center (BMPAC), 4305 Degnan Boulevard, #101, Los Angeles, CA 90036 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 18, 19 and 20, 2012.

Summer in Chicago continues this July with the Grant Park Music Festival, led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Carlos Kalmar and the Grammy Award-nominated Grant Park Orchestra, along with Chorus Director Christopher Bell and the Grant Park Chorus in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Millennium Park. The Festival will bring performances by outstanding guest conductors and guest artists from around the world, in a month of exciting programming that includes a world premiere commission, a live concert screening of Frozen Planet, the latest hit series from BBC/Discovery Channel, a tribute concert to Broadway and Hollywood legend, Frank Loesser and other Festival favorites.

5th Avenue Theatre Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong yesterday announced the seven productions making up the celebrated Seattle musical theater's 2012-13 season. The program features a mix of contemporary musicals and timeless classics, plus Seattle's first peek at some of Broadway's greatest new hits.

The Finborough Theatre's 'Celebrating British Music Theatre' series follows Perchance to Dream with Ivor Novello's last musical.

The Finborough Theatre's 'Celebrating British Music Theatre' series follows Perchance to Dream with Ivor Novello's last musical.

Henry Higgins, Eliza Doolittle and the rest of the iconic characters from MY FAIR LADY will transform The Morrison Center to 1912 London in this Broadway classic.

Elizabeth Swados' new music theatre work THE LA MAMA CANTATA -- given its world-premiere for two performances in November -- returns by popular demand to the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) for two additional performances during the holiday season on December 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m., it has been announced by La MaMa's artistic director Mia Yoo.

History repeats itself as the cabaret provocateur Mark Nadler extends his mile-a-minute musical survey of 1961 into 2012. The special 51st anniversary of "Crazy 1961" plays three consecutive Sundays at 1pm - January 15, 22, 29 - at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street.

Elizabeth Swados' new music theatre work THE LA MAMA CANTATA -- given its world-premiere for two performances in November -- returns by popular demand to the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) for two additional performances during the holiday season on December 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m., it has been announced by La MaMa's artistic director Mia Yoo.

The international cabaret star Mark Nadler, who opened his new club act, 'Crazy 1961,' on December 1 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, was drenched by the time he came off stage. Nadler, a whirling dervish if there every was one, tops off his mile-a-minute survey of the year 1961 with a ten-minute 50-song medley of the 50 top hits of the year. All told, Nadler packs over 61 songs and 61 newsworthy events in an hour-long show.

The international cabaret star Mark Nadler packs over 61 songs and 61 newsworthy events in his new show, "Crazy 1961," a celebration of the year of his birth. The show's New York premiere opens on Thursday December 1 at 7pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, and runs to Sunday December 18. The world premiere took place in June on the other side of the planet at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival where Nadler is a regular headliner.

Call him crazy, but the international cabaret star Mark Nadler is packing over 61 songs and 61 newsworthy events in his new show, 'Crazy 1961,' a celebration of the year of his birth that has its New York premiere at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, in a three-week engagement from December 1 to 18.

Henry Higgins, Eliza Doolittle and the rest of the iconic characters from MY FAIR LADY will transform The Morrison Center to 1912 London in this Broadway classic.

The international cabaret star Mark Nadler packs over 61 songs and 61 newsworthy events in his new show, "Crazy 1961," a celebration of the year of his birth. The show's New York premiere opens on Thursday December 1 at 7pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, and runs to Sunday December 18. The world premiere took place in June on the other side of the planet at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival where Nadler is a regular headliner.

The ABC Television Network and the Country Music Association have extended their broadcast agreement through 2021, it's been announced by ABC Entertainment Group President Paul Lee and CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore.

For the 40th year, Peter Schumann's Bread and Puppet Theater (www.breadandpuppet.org) will return to Theater for the New City with two new works, one for adults and one for family audiences.

Call him crazy, but the international cabaret star Mark Nadler is packing over 61 songs and 61 newsworthy events in his new show, 'Crazy 1961,' a celebration of the year of his birth that has its New York premiere at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, in a three-week engagement from December 1 to 18.

When we first meet Rita Lyons, she's sitting in a hospital room casually thumbing through a furniture catalogue, asking her husband, Ben, who lies in bed, dying of cancer, to help her come up with ideas for redecorating the living room after he's gone.

A near-perfect blend of story, lyrics, score and movement, the terrific 2009 Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY--now playing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County through September 18--bursts forth with a kind of style and intelligence that arguably reiterates its place as one of the greatest musicals of all time. This stirring, energetic reboot--spearheaded by the late original book author Arthur Laurents--has been smartly touched up with an awareness of current sensibilities and a healthy dose of heightened reality. Do yourself a favor and see this important stage musical while it's still here.

Becoming Judy tackles both issues of homophobia and domestic abuse. It also delves into the reasons for Garland's everlasting and cross-generational appeal -- both in and out of the gay community. Based upon the hit Off B'way play Judy and Me and the forthcoming documentaryBecoming Judy.