They're Playing Our Song Tour 1981 - Articles Page 3.4

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.

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They're Playing Our Song - 1981 - US Tour Articles Page 3.4

BWW Exclusive: THE 101 GREATEST MOVIE SCENES of All Time - from CITIZEN KANE to PINK FLAMINGOS, from THE SOUND OF MUSIC to PARASITE
by Peter Nason - May 26, 2020


BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 101 greatest scenes in cinema from 1901 to 2020. See if your favorite movie moments made the list!

BWW Exclusive: THE BEATLES 101 GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME - Ranking the Best of John, Paul, George & Ringo (Including Their Solo Hits)
by Peter Nason - May 12, 2020


BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 101 greatest Beatles songs, including some of the fab four's solo works. They're all here: 'Twist and Shout,' 'In My Life,' 'Helter Skelter,' 'Imagine,' 'Something,' 'Maybe I'm Amazed,' 'Let It Be.' See if your favorites made the grade!

SING STREET'S Brenock O'Connor Discussed their First Day of Tech on STARS IN THE HOUSE
by BWW News Desk - Apr 30, 2020


Stars in The House, benefiting The Actors Fund, continued today (2pm) with Elaine Brier, Christian Hebel, Brenock O'Connor, Fred Lassen, and Miss Richfield 1981.

#BWWPrompts: What's Your Favorite Onstage Mishap?
by BWW Prompts - Apr 23, 2020


We want to hear from you! We're starting #BwayWorldPrompts, where each day we'll be asking our readers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram questions to spark some theater conversation.

BWW Exclusive: The 101 Greatest MOVIE MUSICALS of All Time
by Peter Nason - Mar 30, 2020


BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the best film musicals since the sound era began; see if your favorites made the list!

Popejoy Announces 2020-2021 Season Headlined by HAMILTON
by Stephi Wild - Mar 20, 2020


The wait is over! Popejoy Hall announces the 2020-2021 season headlined by HAMILTON.

The 101 Greatest Showtunes from 1920-2020
by Peter Nason - Mar 19, 2020


How do we make a list of the 101 greatest show tunes from the past 100 years? Well, we did the near-impossible task.  Check out our full list here! 

Toby Lightman, Elina Duni and More Are Heading to Joe's Pub This Week
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 11, 2020


The bright vibrancy of spring resonates at Joe's Pub. This week our stage features the sophisticated and unique urban pop sound of Toby Lightman; songwriter, composer, and creative director Sye Elaine Spense; the last performances of Ryan Raftery's IVANKA 2020 before he takes it on tour; Albanian singer and multi-instrumentalist Elina Duni; Pianist, composer, and Artistic Director for Cuba's Jazz Plaza Santiago Festival, Roberto Fonseca; and National Lampoon's satire of Coachella and modern music festival culture LEMMINGS: 21ST CENTURY.

Charlotte Martin, Maya Hawke and More Are Coming to Joe's Pub
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 4, 2020


Spring is coming in like a lion at Joe's Pub. This week our stage features Lebanese-American, New York-based pianist Tarek Yamani and the Tarek Yamani Trio; Becca Blackwell's latest deeply personal and deeply absurd solo show; Vietnamese pop star-turned protest singer Mai Khoi; Ryan Raftery's new satire IVANKA 2020; acclaimed lyricist and performer Charlotte Martin; celebrated comedienne Catherine Cohen; an album release concert from Divahn; a celebration of International Women's Day and Women's Month with ¡JEFAS!: A Celebration Of Latina Songwriters & Women In Music; and the return of Yemen Blues' brand of Yemenite chants swirled with jazz and rock grooves.

BWW Review: The Best of the Decade - Reviewer Peter Nason Picks the Top 25 Local Shows & Performances of the Past 10 Years
by Peter Nason - Dec 21, 2019


25 Shows & Performances in the Tampa Bay Area That Rocked Our World from 2010 to 2019!

Rational Youth Release 'Cold War Night Life' LP
by Sarah Jae Leiber - Dec 6, 2019


New wave pioneers Rational Youth are releasing a deluxe expanded and remastered edition of their seminal 1982 debut album 'Cold War Night Life' on both CD and double gatefold vinyl. This special edition is being issued via Universal Music Canada, the country's leading music company.

Rational Youth Releases Expanded Edition of 'Cold War Night Life' LP
by Sarah Jae Leiber - Nov 7, 2019


New wave pioneers Rational Youth are releasing a deluxe expanded and remastered edition of their seminal 1982 debut album 'Cold War Night Life' on both CD and double gatefold vinyl. This special edition is being issued via Universal Music Canada, the country's leading music company.

COME FROM AWAY Becomes The Most Successful Musical Ever Staged At Melbourne's Comedy Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Oct 20, 2019


Global hit COME FROM AWAY has been named the most successful musical in the Comedy Theatre's 91-year history, this week surpassing the box office records of all other musicals staged at the theatre since it opened in 1928.

BWW Exclusive: Theater Critic Matt Windman Returns to French Woods for All-Female 1776
by Matt Windman - Oct 13, 2019


Two years ago, I revisited French Woods Festival of the Arts (which I attended from 1999 to 2002 as a camper/teen actor and then as an assistant director/stage manager) and BroadwayWorld kindly published an article I wrote about the experience. In light of my responsibilities at work (attorney by day, theater critic by night) and at home (including a hyperactive toddler and commuting daily between NY and NJ), I was not planning on visiting again this past summer, but that instantly changed when I learned that the camp was planning on presenting 1776 for the first time in nearly two decades - and with an all-female cast.

Ladies of Soul Rule September with Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Oleta Adams, Jody Watley and Many More at Blue Note
by Sarah Jae Leiber - Aug 29, 2019


September brings some of music's most iconic female performers including Motown stars Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Lady of Soul Oleta Adams and '80s icon Jody Watley. Local artists include the Honolulu Jazz Quartet, Henry Kapono presenting his Artist 2 Artist Concert Series featuring Blayne Asing, Elijah Sky and Mike Lewis's 2nd Annual Tribute to the Great City of New York. The Blue Note Comedy Series continues with comedian Esther Ku and '90s Alternative super group 10,000 Maniacs makes their Blue Note debut. We're celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Eddie Ortiz & Son Caribe and Yvette Moore presents a tribute to Gloria Estefan. Stef Mariani's invites you to her album release celebration of 'Highway of Love' and local favorites Good Foot Hawaii! take the stage. The Hawaii News Now Jazz Legends Series continues with Keiko Matsui and Lightnin' Larry Dupio presents an eclectic night of traditional and original Big Island blues. Willie K returns, electric blues guitar powerhouse Robben Ford takes the stage and the month rounds out with singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin.

CROSSING THE LINE Festival 2019 Announced At FIAF
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 20, 2019


The French Institute Alliance Fran aise (FIAF), New York's premier French cultural and language center, today announced the 2019 Crossing the Line Festival, featuring 11 performances and a gallery exhibition from a geographically, generationally, and artistically diverse group of artists whose work transcends genres and boundaries. All performances are world, US, or New York premieres; they are united by their convention-breaking fearlessness as they confront topics from social injustice to personal demons. Many of the performances pay homage to legendary artists of our time and previous eras, while the theme of migration and its transformational effects on identity informs several others. The festival runs from September 12 to October 12. Ticket are available at crossingtheline.org.

Toronto LGBT Film Festival, Inside Out, Announces Lineup
by Stephi Wild - May 3, 2019


The 29th annual Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival (Inside Out), championing innovative LGBTQ filmmakers from across the globe, revealed its full feature and short film lineup. The announcement was made today by Inside Out's Executive Director Andria Wilson and the festival's Director of Programming Andrew Murphy. Inside Out, which launched the first ever annual LGBTQ Film Finance Forum, has established itself as an international home and incubator for LGBTQ emerging and established filmmakers. This year's festival will take place May 23 to June 2, 2019.

Wake Up With BWW 4/11: THE LION KING Trailer, and More!
by Stephi Wild - Apr 11, 2019


Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Power through the end of your week by catching up on the latest Broadway news!

The B-52s 40th Anniversary Tour With Special Guests OMD and Berlin Comes To San Antonio
by Tori Hartshorn - Apr 9, 2019


Now over 20 million albums into their career, there can be no doubt as to why The B-52s remain one of rock music's most beloved and enduring bands. As The B-52s continue to celebrate their 40th Anniversary, the band announced a world-wide tour today that is expected to cover more than 10 countries and will include a headlining North American summer tour, including a stop at the Majestic Theatre (224 E. Houston St.) in San Antonio, TX on August 21, 2019 at 7PM. Special guests OMD and Berlin will open the show. Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 12 at NOON.

Throwing Out My CDs by Ben Rimalower: FALSETTOS
by Ben Rimalower - Mar 1, 2019


Okay, this week, I only have to throw out two CDs, but it hurts! I'll never forget May 31, 1992--the 46th Annual Tony Awards. I had just turned 16 and was eagerly tuning in to absorb the Broadway of it all. I didn't really know much about any of the shows, other than that friends and family in New York had flipped for Guys And Dolls and that my parents had loved an earlier incarnation of Jelly's Last Jam when it played the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. Glenn Close was hosting and Patti LuPone was presenting and I was not moving from my seat on the couch until I had a ranked list of the shows I wanted to see when I got to New York to visit my grandparents for Thanksgiving.

Throwing Out My CDs by Ben Rimalower: THE WIZ
by Ben Rimalower - Feb 15, 2019


This week's decluttering is only freeing up a tiny bit of space in my collection, but it represents an enormous place in my heart. The only version of The Wiz I have on CD is the AMAZING/IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, YOU'RE NOT A REAL BROADWAY FAN original cast album starring Stephanie Mills. I do have the movie soundtrack in my iTunes and the soundtrack of 'The Wiz Live!' is on Apple Music, so let's dive in.

Lucie Arnaz & Robert Klein Will Benefit The Actors Fund Tonight with Reunion Concert of THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG
by Nicole Rosky - Feb 11, 2019


A 40th Anniversary reunion benefit concert of the 1979 hit Broadway production of They're Playing Our Song will be held on Monday, February 11th at 7:30 pm at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th St.) and will star the Broadway cast members Lucie Arnaz as 'Sonia Walsk' and Robert Klein as 'Vernon Gersch'.

Wake Up With BWW 1/7: Sara Bareilles and Gavin Creel Begin in WAITRESS, and More!
by Stephi Wild - Jan 7, 2019


Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: Sara Bareilles and Gavin Creel begin in Waitress, and more!

From the Artistic Director/CEO Todd Haimes: Merrily We Roll Along
by Roundabout Theatre Company - Jan 3, 2019


When the Broadway debut of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Merrily We Roll Along closed in 1981 after only 16 performances, few would have thought that the story of Merrily was only just beginning. In the coming decades, Merrily would continue to captivate audiences revival after revival, growing and evolving every step of the way. It is quite the testament to the enduring power of Sondheim that this musical, so many years after an initial failure, not only still captures imaginations, but continues to be shaped by them as well.

The Legendary Jim Messina And His Band Come to the Harris Center
by BWW News Desk - Nov 3, 2018


Jim Messina's legacy spans five decades and three acclaimed rock super groups: Loggins & Messina, Buffalo Springfield, and Poco. And he's had a vibrant solo career, plus a dizzying array of producing and engineering credits for such luminaries as The Doors, Joni Mitchell, and Herb Alpert. Performing with his band in Folsom, the concert will include songs we all know and love, from across his storied career. Get ready for "…a splendid good-timey sensibility and professionalism" (Los Angeles Times).

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