#1SENATOR JOE
Posted: 4/28/16 at 8:06pm
Did anyone see this monstrous bomb about Joe McCarthy in 1989?
The music was by HAIR director Tom O'Horgan, and the show was sung-through as was popular at the time. It played three previews before being shut down due to "financial problems." Reportedly only 11% of the seats for its three performances were sold and backer Adela Holzer was later arrested for fraud due to her backdoor funding of the show.
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#2SENATOR JOE
Posted: 4/28/16 at 8:15pm
This was one train wreck I regretfully missed.
Poster Emeritus
Wilmingtom
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
#3SENATOR JOE
Posted: 4/29/16 at 2:51am
I saw the 3rd and final preview because I heard it was closing. What I remember is Michel Leslie being a hoot, not being sure if it was supposed to be satirical with no consistent tone to give a clue, the score being...I'd already forgotten by the curtain call, a but ugly physical production top to bottom, and the actors, all in flop sweat, visibly counting the minutes until they could flee the theater. Not one for the ages,
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#4SENATOR JOE
Posted: 4/29/16 at 7:09am
"Not one for the ages,"
Actually, I thought it was, by its awfulness, which was stunning. In hindsight, though, I much preferred sitting through it to the critically-acclaimed bores and juvenilia we are forced to endure nowadays.
LittleShopGuy2
Swing Joined: 12/31/15
#5SENATOR JOE
Posted: 9/5/19 at 9:52am
I was in the show and things always seem different when your are inside of a production like this rather than looking from the outside. There were problems, not the least of which was a Producer arrested for embezzlement, but it had an extraordinary cast. Jp Daugherty as Joe McCarthy, Rick Ryder as Roy Cohn were wonderful. The late Tom O'Horgan discovered me and was responsible for my subsequent career. After all these years, it still hurts that we did not open.
Wilmington: Thank you very much for your kind words. I needed to see them at this time.
Michael James Leslie
SharksVsJets
Stand-by Joined: 4/22/17
#7SENATOR JOE
Posted: 9/5/19 at 12:09pm
TheSassySam said: "Wasn't there a scene that took place in McCarthy's stomach?"
According to IBDb there's a song called "Joe's Liver" and in the cast list are the characters of "Enzyme" and "Fatty Deposit".
#8SENATOR JOE
Posted: 9/5/19 at 3:32pm
SharksVsJets said: "TheSassySam said: "Wasn't there a scene that took place in McCarthy's stomach?"
According to IBDb there's a song called "Joe's Liver" and in the cast list are the characters of "Enzyme" and "Fatty Deposit"."
Omg I just want to see what my high school theater department would have done with this musical.
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
#9SENATOR JOE
Posted: 9/5/19 at 3:58pmThis show sounds so terrible. I’d love to see a revival!
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
SouthernCakes
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/19
#10SENATOR JOE
Posted: 9/5/19 at 4:38pmIf the show never opened does it count as a broadway credit? Just curious.
MemorableUserName
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/27/19
#11SENATOR JOE
Posted: 8/13/20 at 12:58pm
Today's article in Vulture's flops series is about this show. Fun read.
https://www.vulture.com/article/senator-joe-broadway-musical-joseph-mccarthy-failed.html
