Led by Music Director Mary‐Mitchell Campbell, Artistic Director Lear deBessonet, and Creative Producing Director Clint Ramos, the Tony‐honored Encores! series returns in 2025 with a season of musical theater revivals to captivate both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers alike. The long‐awaited Love Life takes the City Center stage March 26 through 30. Originally scheduled as part of the 2019 – 2020 season, the performances were cancelled at the start of the Covid‐19 shutdown. The only collaboration between Kurt Weill and Alan Jay Lerner, this rarely staged 1948 musical depicts a love story that takes place over 200 years of American history, seen through the eyes of a family who never ages. Directed by Tony winner Victoria Clark with Guest Music Director Rob Berman, the musical explores the epic and intimate aspects of a marriage through a juxtaposition of heartfelt scenes and satirical vaudeville acts. Considered by some to be the first concept musical, Love Life is an inspiration for musical theater favorites such as Cabaret, Chicago, and Company.
But Love Life is not one of those lost gems; were it not for the participation of composer Weill, the show likely would have disappeared along with other flops of the time. Sleepy Hollow, anyone? Which is not to say that there aren’t some elements on hand that work. Baldwin and Mitchell, both, are consummate actor/singers. Just about every one of their songs lands exceptionally well. Child actors Jordan and Guzman, who appear to have more than twice as much to do in this version as their counterparts in 1948, are both delightful. Singer John Edwards—who walks on stage from out of nowhere, story-wise—makes a strong case for one of the two stunning songs in the show, “Love Song.” (The other number that deserves high ranking in Weill’s catalog is the exquisite “Here I’ll Stay.”) And there’s the Encores! Orchestra, with longtime music director Rob Berman returning for the occasion. Berman has a keen understanding of the score, and the players know just how to play it. But Love Life, the musical, simply isn’t very good.
The grandfather of the concept musical, nearly lost to time without a published book or recording, promises the niche, almost academic experience Encores! has lately forgone in favor of guaranteed crowd-pleasers. Handsomely directed by Victoria Clark and with stellar lead performances from Kate Baldwin and Brian Stokes Mitchell, the production likely makes the best possible case for the material, which follows a never-aging married couple through three centuries of American innovation. But after its run ends on Sunday, it’s probably best to put this one back on the shelf. Which is not to say it doesn’t offer certain pleasures. Vocals aside, most come from seeing Lerner (who wrote the book and score) attempt to bust through typical narrative structures while mending his then-recently broken heart, and hearing Weill’s (who co-wrote the music and lyrics) musical take on America writ large. And there’s a naughty thrill in noting where their successors clearly took note.
1948 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
1991 | London Fringe |
Lost Musicals Concert London Fringe |
1996 | Regional (UK) |
Regional Revival Regional (UK) |
2020 | Off-Broadway |
Encores! Concert Revival Off-Broadway |
2025 | Off-Broadway |
Encores! Concert Revival Production Off-Broadway |
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