42nd Street Moon Presents Tribute to Harburg
42nd Street Moon offers a glorious musical salute to lyrical whiz, E. Y. Yip Harburg, with the world premiere of Peddling Rainbows, a revue celebrating Harburg's poetry and songs. It previews May 15 and 16, opens May 17 and runs through May 25. Season subscribers are offered a discount for this production, which is not part of the subscription series.
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg (1896–1981) began writing lyrics during the 1930s, including standards like "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" the classic anthem of the Depression. He went on to create the lyrics for The Wizard of Oz and such musicals as Finian's Rainbow, Bloomer Girl, Jamaica, and numerous other hits of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Altogether he wrote the lyrics to over 600 songs with a variety of composers, as well as two volumes of satiric light verse. He was dedicated to social justice, and was often referred to as "Broadway's social conscience," which landed him in trouble with the Un-American Activities Committee during the 1950s.
His noted composer-collaborators included luminaries like Harold Arlen, Burton Lane, Jerome Kern, and Vernon Duke. Peddling Rainbows will includes his most beloved hits like "It's Only a Paper Moon," "April in Paris," "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?," "Lydia the Tattooed Lady," "Happiness is Just a Thing Called Joe," "Over the Rainbow," "Down with Love," and "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?," as well several lesser-known gems spotlighting Harburg's renowned wordplay including" Salome" and "Never Trust a Virgin."
