They're Playing Our Song 1980 - Articles Page 8

Opened: October 1, 1980
Closing: May 08, 1982

They're Playing Our Song - 1980 - West End History , Info & More

Shaftesbury Theatre
Holborn end of Shaftesbury Avenue London

Featuring book by Neil Simon, "They're Playing Our Song" follows the on-again, off-again romance of one very despondent composer and one very ditzy lyricist, as they try to create their own unique love song. Based on the real-life love affair of the show's composer, Marvin Hamlisch, and the show's lyricist, Carole Bayer-Sager, "They're Playing Our Song," ran 1,082 performances on Broadway.



After Sager and Hamlisch scored an international hit with "Nobody Does It Better" (the theme song from "The Spy Who Loved Me"), they began to work on a new musical based on some surprising subject matter -- their own romantic life -- with the most successful and popular playwright of the era, Neil Simon. They came up with an unusual, new form for a Broadway musical: a chamber musical with two main characters supported by a three-person Greek Chorus.



"They're Playing Our Song" had its world premiere as part of the Center Theatre Group series at the Ahmanson Theatre of the Music Center. It starred comic Robert Klein and Lucie Arnaz, who made her Broadway debut in the role and went on to star in Reprise's inaugural season's "Wonderful Town" in 1997.



Carole Bayer Sager has written the lyrics for "Don't Cry Out Loud," "Everything Old is New Again," "Come in From the Rain," "Heartbreaker," and "That's What Friends Are For," and has collaborated with Neil Diamond, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Peter Allen, Michael McDonald, and Burt Bacharach. In 1977 she was romantically involved with Marvin Hamlisch. Hamlisch followed winning three Academy Awards in 1973 for "The Way We Were" and the score of "The Sting", with the score for "A Chorus Line" which won nine 1975 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Score for Hamlisch and lyricist Edward Kleban.

They're Playing Our Song - 1980 - West End Cast

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They're Playing Our Song - 1980 - West End Articles Page 8

BWW Interviews: Just in Time for THE MUSIC MAN Opening, Pendzick, Murphy and Ruff Tackle THE FRIDAY FIVE
by Jeffrey Ellis - Jun 22, 2012


Today's spotlight hones in on a supremely talented trio of individuals from Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville. The altogether amazingly talented Ron Murphy is the company's resident music director (who truly has his work cut out for him since musicals are the stock in trade at CCP), the beautiful and vibrant Lindy Pendzick (who we first saw onstage in Brigadoon and most recently as Maria in The Sound of Music-and she stars opposite her husband Greg Pendzick in the nostalgic comedy See Rock City) and the versatile and charming Michael Ruff (whose burgeoning resume includes starmaking turns in Duck Hunter Shoots Angel, Dreamgirls, Brigadoon and, most recently, as Hoke in Driving Miss Daisy, opposite Carol Irvin and Daniel W. Black).

Kelrik Productions Presents GREASE, Now thru 7/8
by BWW News Desk - Jun 22, 2012


Rydell High visits San Luis Obispo as Kelrik Productions presents the 1950's musical, Grease. This gritty musical is packed with explosive energy, vibrant 1950's pop culture and all those unforgettable songs including Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted, Greased Lightnin', Beauty School Dropout, We Go Together and many more! Come see the 'Burger Palace Boys' and 'Pink Ladies' sing and dance their way across way across the stage of Unity tonight, June 22 - July 8.

Kelrik Productions Presents GREASE, 6/22-7/8
by BWW News Desk - Jun 17, 2012


Rydell High visits San Luis Obispo as Kelrik Productions presents the 1950's musical, Grease. This gritty musical is packed with explosive energy, vibrant 1950's pop culture and all those unforgettable songs including Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted, Greased Lightnin', Beauty School Dropout, We Go Together and many more! Come see the 'Burger Palace Boys' and 'Pink Ladies' sing and dance their way across way across the stage of Unity June 22 - July 8.

Celebrate Brooklyn! Performing Arts Festival Kicks Off Today, 6/5
by BWW News Desk - Jun 5, 2012


Celebrate Brooklyn! previously announced its lineup for this year, which begins today, June 5 with a free concert by reggae icon Jimmy Cliff.

Denis O'Hare to Play The Baker in Public Theater's INTO THE WOODS!
by Robert Diamond - May 31, 2012


The Public Theater announced today that Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare has been cast as The Baker in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel. INTO THE WOODS will be O'Hare's Shakespeare in the Park debut. Previews begin on Monday, July 23 at the Delacorte Theater and continue for five weeks through Saturday, August 25, with an official press opening on Thursday, August 9.

Zooey Deschanel to Lead Broadway-Bound COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER as Loretta Lynn
by Kelsey Denette - May 11, 2012


In 1976, Coal Miner's Daughter, country star Loretta Lynn's autobiography (written with journalist George Vecsey) became a New York Times Bestseller; in 1980 the book was made into an Academy Award-winning film starring Sissy Spacek and Tommy Lee Jones. Now, it's headed for Broadway, with actress Zooey Deschanel playing Loretta Lynn.

Celebrate Brooklyn! Performing Arts Festival Announces Line-Up Beginning June 5 - 32 Shows Including SLOW FADE TO BLACK
by James T Harding - May 9, 2012


Celebrate Brooklyn! today announced its lineup for this year, which begins June 5 with a free concert by reggae icon Jimmy Cliff.

Photo Coverage: PERFECT CRIME Celebrates its 25th Anniversary
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - Apr 21, 2012


PERFECT CRIME, Warren Manzi's long-running funny, romantic thriller, celebrated its 25th anniversary Off Broadway last Wednesday, April 18, 2012, with performance number 10,233. PERFECT CRIME is the longest-running play in the history of New York theater. See photos from the celebration below!

PERFECT CRIME Celebrates 25th Anniversary
by BWW News Desk - Apr 18, 2012


PERFECT CRIME, Warren Manzi's long-running funny, romantic thriller, will celebrate its 25th anniversary Off Broadway today, April 18, 2012 with performance number 10,233. PERFECT CRIME is the longest-running play in the history of New York theater.

PERFECT CRIME To Celebrate 25th Anniversary Off-Broadway, 4/18
by Harmony Wheeler - Apr 11, 2012


PERFECT CRIME, Warren Manzi's long-running funny, romantic thriller, will celebrate its 25th anniversary Off Broadway on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 with performance number 10,233. PERFECT CRIME is the longest-running play in the history of New York theater.

1776, CLYBOURNE PARK, et al. Featured in Asolo Rep's 2012 Season
by Nicole Rosky - Mar 5, 2012


Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards and Managing Director Linda DiGabriele just announced Asolo Repertory Theatre's 54th season, containing four Pulitzer Prize winning plays, Three Tony Award® winners and one world premiere, all centering around the theme The American Character.

ATC Presents THE 39 STEPS Runs Thru 2/26
by BWW News Desk - Feb 26, 2012


The 39 Steps hits Arizona Theatre Company's stage at the Temple of Music and Art. Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps plays from January 14 - February 4, 2012 and continues its run in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center through February 26, 2012.

Review - Merrily We Roll Along: Back To Before
by Ben Peltz - Feb 13, 2012


The original Broadway cast album of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Merrily We Roll Along is one of those handful of recordings - like Mack and Mabel and Candide - that a musical theatre lover can listen to hundreds of times without hearing a clue as to why the show flopped.  The quick answer, and usually the most unfair one, is 'the book.'  More often, though, the more complete answer is ambition.

Charles Strouse Plays for TN Shakespeare Gala 2/10
by BWW News Desk - Feb 10, 2012


Tennessee Shakespeare Company, the Mid-South's professional classical theatre, features legendary Broadway composer Charles Strouse in performance for its Third Annual Valentine's Gala on Friday, February 10 at 6:00 pm at Germantown Performing Arts Centre.

ATC Presents THE 39 STEPS Runs 1/14-2/26
by BWW News Desk - Jan 14, 2012


The 39 Steps hits Arizona Theatre Company's stage at the Temple of Music and Art. Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps plays from January 14 - February 4, 2012 and continues its run in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center from February 9 - 26, 2012.

Charles Strouse Plays for TN Shakespeare Gala 2/10
by Gabrielle Sierra - Jan 9, 2012


Tennessee Shakespeare Company, the Mid-South's professional classical theatre, features legendary Broadway composer Charles Strouse in performance for its Third Annual Valentine's Gala on Friday, February 10 at 6:00 pm at Germantown Performing Arts Centre.

ATC Presents THE 39 STEPS Runs 1/14-2/26
by Gabrielle Sierra - Dec 16, 2011


The 39 Steps hits Arizona Theatre Company's stage at the Temple of Music and Art. Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps plays from January 14 - February 4, 2012 and continues its run in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center from February 9 - 26, 2012.

Performing Arts Fort Worth Welcomes Joan Rivers, Garrison Keillor, Lewis Black
by BWW News Desk - Nov 8, 2011


Performing Arts Fort Worth invites you to take 'A Spoonful of Magic' as it proudly announces the remainder of its 2011-2012 season at Bass Performance Hall.

Exclusive InDepth InterView: Lin-Manuel Miranda Talks BRING IT ON, MERRILY, HEIGHTS, HAMILTON & More
by Pat Cerasaro - Nov 3, 2011


Pioneer, innovator and the voice of an entire new musical theatre generation coming in the dawning of the age of GLEE, Tony Award recipient and Grammy-winning composer, lyricist and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda has merged the worlds of the two most significant of original American art forms - musicals and rap - in such a striking and surprisingly inventive way with his hit musical IN THE HEIGHTS - currently touring the country - and is setting out to do the same with his fresh collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning NEXT TO NORMAL composer Tom Kitt on their new musical BRING IT ON!, currently in previews out of town in Los Angeles as it eyes New York. In addition to discussing the development of IN THE HEIGHTS and BRING IT ON! in detail, Miranda and I also outline his experience working alongside the two modern-day masters of the musical theatre - Stephen Sondheim and the recently deceased Arthur Laurents - on the Spanish translation and new lyrics for the recent bilingual revival of WEST SIDE STORY - in addition to his forthcoming ALEXANDER HAMILTON project, which Miranda recently performed a medley from for President Obama himself at the White House Poetry Jam. As if all of that were not enough, we also delve into his thought process as he sets out to take on one of Sondheim's most challenging roles in all of musical theatre - that of Charley Kringas in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at Encores!, under the direction of James Lapine. Plus, news on his new feature film THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN, as well as recollections of his fondest Broadway shows, scores, cast albums, movie musicals and general musical and theatrical inspirations - and his favorite Shakespeare plays, too - as well as much, much more!

Indianapolis Symphony Performs Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg Music
by BWW News Desk - Oct 9, 2011


The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly will open the 2011-2012 Printing Partners Pops Series season with the world premiere of a new symphonic concert stage production titled Do You Hear The People Sing - The Dream Concert! featuring music from renowned Broadway lyricist Alain Boublil and Broadway composer Claude-Michel Schönberg, the creators of the hit musicals Les Misérables and Miss Saigon, in concerts Friday and Saturday, October 7 and 8, at the Hilbert Circle Theatre and Sunday, October 9, at The Palladium at the Center for Performing Arts in Carmel, Ind.

Indianapolis Symphony Performs Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg Music
by BWW News Desk - Oct 7, 2011


The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly will open the 2011-2012 Printing Partners Pops Series season with the world premiere of a new symphonic concert stage production titled Do You Hear The People Sing - The Dream Concert! featuring music from renowned Broadway lyricist Alain Boublil and Broadway composer Claude-Michel Schönberg, the creators of the hit musicals Les Misérables and Miss Saigon, in concerts Friday and Saturday, October 7 and 8, at the Hilbert Circle Theatre and Sunday, October 9, at The Palladium at the Center for Performing Arts in Carmel, Ind.

Reprise Theatre Company Presents Patti LuPone's GYPSY IN MY SOUL
by BWW News Desk - Oct 4, 2011


Reprise Theatre Company presents Patti LuPone 'Gypsy In My Soul' for one performance only tonight at 8:00 pm, at Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA.

Indianapolis Symphony Performs Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg Music
by Gabrielle Sierra - Sep 27, 2011


The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly will open the 2011-2012 Printing Partners Pops Series season with the world premiere of a new symphonic concert stage production titled Do You Hear The People Sing - The Dream Concert! featuring music from renowned Broadway lyricist Alain Boublil and Broadway composer Claude-Michel Schönberg, the creators of the hit musicals Les Misérables and Miss Saigon, in concerts Friday and Saturday, October 7 and 8, at the Hilbert Circle Theatre and Sunday, October 9, at The Palladium at the Center for Performing Arts in Carmel, Ind.

Tennessee Performing Arts Center 2011-2012 Broadway Series Begins With BLAST!
by BWW News Desk - Sep 27, 2011


Variety is what distinguishes the mix of styles and stories in the 2011-12 series of HCA/TriStar Broadway at TPAC.

Reprise Theatre Company Features Patti LuPone's GYPSY IN MY SOUL,10/4
by Gabrielle Sierra - Aug 26, 2011


Reprise Theatre Company presents Patti LuPone 'Gypsy In My Soul' for one performance only on Tuesday, October 4 at 8:00 pm, at Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA.

They're Playing Our Song FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of They're Playing Our Song have there been?
They're Playing Our Song has had 6 productions including Broadway which opened in 1979, Broadway which opened in 1979, US Tour which opened in 1979, West End which opened in 1980, US Tour which opened in 1981 and Off-Off-Broadway which opened in 1986.
What awards has They're Playing Our Song been nominated for?
They're Playing Our Song has been nominated for the Musical of the Year award at the Olivier Awards for both Neil Simon and Marvin Hamlisch.

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