They're Playing Our Song Tour 1981 - Articles Page 1.8

Opened: January 19, 1981
Closing: unknown

They're Playing Our Song - 1981 - US Tour History , Info & More

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.

Get They're Playing Our Song Email Alerts

Be the first to get ticket offers, news, photos & more.

Julie Benko, Amanda Green & More to Perform at Birdland in February
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 26, 2023


Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are open this February with a full slate of nightly performances! See Julie Benko, Amanda Green, and many more.

Emma Hatton, Sally Ann Triplett & More to Star in BERLUSCONI World Premiere Musical at Southwark Playhouse
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 24, 2023


The cast has been announced for the world premiere of BERLUSCONI at Southwark Playhouse. Rehearsals begin on 13 February with first preview on 25 March and press night on 29 March.

Graham Phillips & Krystina Alabado to Star in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at Pasadena Playhouse
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 12, 2023


Pasadena Playhouse has announced the cast for Sunday in the Park with George, the first production of the theater’s six-month-long celebration of Stephen Sondheim. See performances dates and how to purchase tickets!

Hugh Jackman, Joel Grey, Sharon D. Clarke & More Featured in 92NY Fall Theater Events
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 22, 2022


See Tom Stoppard on Leopoldstadt, Wendell Pierce, Sharon D. Clarke, André De Shields, and Miranda Cromwell on Death Of A Salesman, Joel Grey, Steven Skybell, and Zalmen Mlotek on Fiddler On The Roof In Yiddish and more at 92NY this fall.

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater Announce July 2022 Schedule
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 28, 2022


Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are open this July with a full slate of nightly performances! At Birdland Jazz Club, catch Jay Leonhardt and John Weber Duo, Remy LeBeouf Assembly of Shadows Orchestra and more. Birdland Theater will present Tony DeSare, Maurizio Spista Organ Trio and more.

Feature: The 101 GREATEST YACHT ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME for Your Summer Playlist - featuring Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross and Steely Dan
by Peter Nason - Jun 16, 2022


Reviewer Peter Nason counts down the greatest 101 YACHT ROCK HITS for your summertime listening pleasure.

Birdland Jazz Club to Present Steve Ross
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 4, 2022


BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB will present vocalist and pianist Steve Ross – widely heralded as “The Crown Prince of New York Cabaret” – in a special show celebrating spring on Monday, April 18 at 7:00 PM.

VSC and Norfolk State University Theatre Company's Present DREAMGIRLS
by Stephi Wild - Mar 29, 2022


Virginia Stage Company and Norfolk State University Theatre Company join forces again to present the Tony, Grammy, and Drama Desk Award-Winning musical Dreamgirls at The Historic Wells Theatre (108 E. Tazewell Street, Norfolk VA) from April 13th to May 1st, 2022.

THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG Comes to The Fellowship Cultural Arts Center in April
by Stephi Wild - Mar 29, 2022


The Fellowship Cultural Arts Center in Basking Ridge welcomes Trilogy Repertory Company to the stage for their production of the Neil Simon and Marvin Hamlisch musical They’re Playing Our Song. The show will run April 23, 24, 29, and 30 with evening and matinee performances. 

NEWSIES 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION & More Next Week at Feinstein's/54 Below
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 25, 2022


Next week, FEINSTEIN’S/54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club & Private Event Destination, will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

Birdland to Present Debbie Gravitte in Residency, Featuring Stephen Schwartz, Marc Shaiman & Harvey Fierstein
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 24, 2022


BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB will present Tony Award-winner Debbie Gravitte in a special residency “Debbie Plus One” starting Monday, April 11 at 7:00 PM. Gravitte has been in theater long enough to have made some very special friends, and she welcomes Stephen Schwartz (April 11), Marc Shaiman (May 9), and Harvey Fierstein (September 12).

Birdland Announces April 2022 Schedule
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 23, 2022


Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are open this April with a full slate of nightly performances! 

Meet the Cast of FUNNY GIRL on Broadway
by Stephi Wild - Mar 26, 2022


The highly anticipated Broadway revival of Funny Girl is beginning performances tonight, March 26, at the August Wilson Theatre, ahead of an official opening on April 24. Meet the cast bringing this iconic show back to the stage!

Karen Mason to Bring KANDER & EBB… AND ALL THAT JAZZ to Birdland
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 8, 2022


BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB will present Karen Mason in her show “Kander & Ebb…And All That Jazz” on Monday, March 28 at 7:00 PM. The evening honors John Kander and Fred Ebb, the Tony Award-winning songwriters behind Broadway’s Cabaret, Chicago and more.

Amy Spanger, Lee Roy Reams, 54 SINGS SARA BAREILLES and More Coming Up This Month At Feinstein's/54 Below
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 3, 2022


Next month, FEINSTEIN’S/54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

Coco Peru to Present BITTER BOTHERED & BEYOND at Birdland
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 2, 2022


BIRDLAND will present drag legend Coco Peru in the new show “Bitter Bothered & Beyond!” for two special performances. The first show at Birdland Jazz Club on Monday, March 21 at 7:00 PM quickly sold out, so an encore performance has been added for Tuesday, March 22 at 8:30 PM downstairs at the Birdland Theater.

Review Roundup: North American Tour of OKLAHOMA! Takes the Stage; What Are the Critics Saying?
by Stephi Wild - Nov 17, 2021


The North American tour of Rogers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! began performances at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, MN on November 9, 2021 and will continue to play over 25 cities during the 2021-2022 season including stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Chicago and Nashville, and more. Read the reviews!

Small Shows With Big Plots You Must See!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 14, 2021


While the large-scale musical tends to receive the most attention from audiences, oftentimes it's the small musicals that speak to us in the most impactful ways. For fans of emotional one act musicals and cult-classic Off-Broadway shows, we're rounding up what we think are some of the best small cast musicals out there!

Christina Bianco to Perform Farewell Show A LOT TO UNPACK at Birdland Theater
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 27, 2021


BIRDLAND THEATER will present Christina Bianco in her new show “A Lot to Unpack” on Friday, October 15 and Saturday, October 16 at 8:30 PM. Her bags are packed for London but before she leaves her hometown this globetrotting, genre-crossing, multi-voiced, multi-wig-wearing funny girl has some serious unpacking to do.

Darius de Haas, Ann Harada, Lesli Margherita & More to Take Part in AMANDA GREEN & FRIENDS 'VAXXED AF!'
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 21, 2021


BIRDLAND will present Amanda Green & Friends “Vaxxed AF!” on Monday, October 4 at 7:00 PM. Tony Award-nominated lyricist/composer and award-winning performer Amanda Green will be joined by some amazing Broadway friends, including Darius de Haas, Ann Harada, Lesli Margherita, Curtis Moore, Natalie Douglas, and Dan Finnerty of The Dan Band.

BWW CD Review: TRAVIS MOSER & DREW WUTKE- SO MANY PEOPLE: THE SONDHEIM SESSIONS Succeeds on Its Own Terms
by Ricky Pope - Aug 15, 2021


Travis Moser, a full-throated musical theatre baritone, sings five songs mostly from the first half of Sondheim's career. He is joined by his longtime musical director Drew Wutke, who has created stripped-down piano-only versions of the songs. Recorded about 6 months into the pandemic, Moser has used his mini song cycle to react to the pandemic from his own point of view using Sondheim's words. The aim was to record the songs just as Sondheim wrote them, without new arrangements and without altering pronouns or genders. It is clear Travis Moser holds Sondheim in great regard and has presented his songs quite faithfully.

BWW INTERVIEWS: SQUEEZE'S CHRIS DIFFORD at Express Live
by Paul Batterson - Jul 25, 2021


.

BWW Interview: Michael McAssey Talks About OPEN MAC, Don't Tell Mama's Anniversary, and 40 Years of NYC Cabaret
by Ricky Pope - Jul 8, 2021


What do you get when you combine the pianistic finesse of Michael Feinstein, the smooth phrasing of Tony Bennett, and the bawdy wit of Bette Midler? You get Michael McAssey, who for 40 years has reigned as the clown prince of New York cabaret, and has enchanted as one of its most talented troubadours. He calls what he does 'schtick.' But that's undervaluing his unique blend of beautiful ballad singing and standup, or rather 'sit down' comedy.

Virtual Theatre This Week: June 14-20, 2021- with Rita Moreno, Kerry Butler, and More!
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 14, 2021


This week (June 14-20) in live streaming: Rita Moreno visits Backstage Live, Show of Titles on demand, a Kerry Butler master class, a Guys and Dolls reunion, and so much more!

Student Blog: Zodiac Signs of Tony-Nominated Musicals
by Student Blogger: Madison Moore - Mar 22, 2021


The criteria are that these shows have been nominated for Best Musical from the 3rd Tony Awards (the ceremony that started the Best Musical category) in 1949 to the nominations of what will now be the 74th Tony Awards in 2021. I will be determining their signs based upon their Broadway premiere date. With those rules in mind, here we go!

Videos