Manilow's musical "Harmony"

[David10086]

In one of the reviews I read of Manilow's opening night this week, the critic (who enjoyed the show) was disappointed that Manilow didn't perform any songs from the musical he's been working on titled 'Harmony' didn't even mention the musical he's been working on for so long.  The critic also hinted that it may finally get produced for it Broadway run sometime next year.

 

Does anyone have more info on this project? I didn't know he was working on a musical. Will it be a juke-box musical of his life? 

[castlestreet]

Harmony is not a jukebox musical - it is an original score by Manilow for the theater. Barry has been performing the title song and “Every Single Day” in concert for the last ten to fifteen years.

He was involved in a very long and drawn out court battle with the original producer to get the rights back to his show. I know they did a full production I think in Atlanta, and somewhere there is a great video of Barry and Brian D’Arcy James (who was originally attached to the production) singing “Every Single Day” back-to-back (literally) in concert.

There is an album called Scores in which Barry does songs from Copacabana and Harmony that is actually quite good.

[CATSNYrevival]

Copacabana might have been fun on Broadway. It played London and toured the US but never made it to New York for some reason.

[chrishuyen]

I saw the production of Harmony when it was in LA and I remember it being a pretty interesting story but I can't remember anything about the music (and I think Tony Yazbeck was in that production).  Though I was fairly young at the time so not sure if that's an accurate indicator of how good the songs actually were.  But I'm hoping to see what another incarnation of this would be like so many years later.

[chrishuyen]

Well it's officially coming to New York now! https://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/barry-manilow-musical-harmony-new-york-debut_89566.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=16aug2019

[Wayman_Wong]

I saw a reading of ''Harmony'' many years ago, and enjoyed Manilow's score. And it was done at the Alliance in Atlanta and at the Ahmanson in L.A. in 2013. Why has it taken so long to get to New York? And why isn't it opening on Broadway? Given Manilow's connections, you would've imagined that it should've happened years ago. Anyway, here's Shayne Kennon singing the beautiful ''Every Single Day'' from ''Harmony''::

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpJ_Yz4vqZk

[bk]

Yes, it's coming to NY - some group is doing it, presumably in a small theater for four weeks.  As to  "why isn't it opening on Broadway?" well, gee, I wonder.  How many decades has this thing been around?  But, here's why - read the Variety review: https://variety.com/2014/legit/reviews/l-a-theater-review-barry-manilows-harmony-1201131954/

Or the LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-harmony-review-story.html

Or the Hollywood Reporter: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/harmony-theater-review-690136

Not exactly "bring it to B'way" reviews.  But at least folks who venture to wherever this theater is will get to see it.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

"Some group" is the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, which premiered the Yiddish production of FIDDLER. So, not exactly a run at the Public or MCC, but it's playing there for 7 weeks with backing from Ken Davenport and commercial producers, and it will be seen/reviewed by New York audiences and critics. We can assume Broadway is ultimately the goal.

[bk]

Well, Ken Davenport...

[Robbie2]

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: ""Some group" is theNational Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, which premiered the Yiddish production of FIDDLER. So, not exactly a runat the Public or MCC, but it's playing there for 7 weeks with backing from Ken Davenport and commercial producers, and it will be seen/reviewed by New York audiences and critics. We can assume Broadway is ultimately the goal."

NYTF in Battery Park City is tiny around 200 seats

[Robbie2]

Wayman_Wong said: "I saw a reading of ''Harmony'' many years ago, and enjoyed Manilow's score. And it was done at the Alliance in Atlanta and at the Ahmanson in L.A. in 2013. Why has it taken so long to get to New York? And why isn't it opening on Broadway? Given Manilow's connections, you would've imagined that it should've happened years ago. Anyway, here's Shayne Kennon singing the beautiful ''Every Single Day'' from ''Harmony''::

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpJ_Yz4vqZk"

 

Ahmanson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjfPMzWWrDk

[HugoP]

I saw the Atlanta production 5 or 6 years ago-- at the Alliance-- and loved it.   The score was beautiful, the story was quite interesting (and true) and I would have sworn it was going to Broadway.   I actually went back to see it several times during its run...I thought it was quite powerful.      

You can, indeed, hear several of the songs on Manilow's Scores album, and I'd recommend them, though they are immensely more meaningful in the context of the show.   Over the last 5 years I've seen most of the original musicals that have premiered in New York and in Atlanta (including many pre-Broadway runs at the Alliance) and I would put HARMONY in the top 10.    The problem is the pedestrian book, which was OK but not sufficient to the power and scope and showmanship of the rest of it.   I am excited for the upcoming off-Broadway production, done by a group I admire so much for their FIDDLER.

[Wick3]

I recall Will Blum singing one of his favorite songs from the show (even though he himself didn't sing it in the show) at 54Below a few years ago. He was in the Alliance production of Harmony and is currently the understudy at Beetlejuice.

 

 

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

I saw this in Los Angeles and it was pretty bad - the reviews were more or less spot on. Between that and the producer involved, I'm hoping it as least crosses into so bad its good territory.

[HugoP]

I just re-read some of the main LA reviews (LA Times and Variety) and, while they weren't raves, they were the kind of out-of-town reviews that would still encourage you to work on a show.    Far from "so bad it's good".   Reviewers liked the score a lot and felt there were lots of good things in the production.   The book, though, really needed work (I agree-- and as much as I loved the version I saw in Atlanta, I admit the book needed much attention).     Anyway, I hope it's gotten better and that the upcoming NY production is worthy of this subject and this score.

[Wayman_Wong]

The N.Y. Post's Page Six reports that ''Harmony'' recently got a private reading at Sardi's. It said  Jarrod Spector, Rob McClure, Reeve Carney, Nicholas Barasch, John Behlmann, Kate Baldwin and Jessie Mueller joined director Warren Carlyle. 

[RippedMan]

Judging by the salary, none of these people will be in the actual show.