Chapter 5 Tradition

Overture Irving Berlin Mr. President – not a success President Kennedy – Camelot Written by Lerner and Loewe JFK enjoyed that musical Camelot now synonymous with Kennedys

The Musical in the 1960s and 1970s Beginning of the 60s, a changing of the guard Hammerstein, Porter, and Loesser die in the 60s Lerner and Loewe partnership ends in 1960 Gives way to new songwriters like Jerry Herman, Charles Strouse, Lee Adams, Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, Fred Ebb, Stephen Sondheim

The Musical in the 1960s and 1970s, cont. Success of My Fair Lady ushers in era of adaptations Oliver Twist, Sherlock Holmes, Superman, Snoopy, Cleopatra, Ben Franklin, etc 60s events – Vietnam war, civil rights, drug use, political corruption – not found on the musical stage Films, not plays or musicals, were speaking to the public about what was going on

Gypsy Producer David Merrick Star Ethel Merman CoProducer Leland Hayward Director Jerome Robbins Lyricist Stephen Sondheim Music by Jule Styne Memoirs of stripper Gypsy Rose Lee

Gypsy, cont. Merman played Gypsy’s mother, Rose Song “Everything’s Coming up Roses” Ran 702 performances A Broadway classic, but lost all 9 Tony nominations

Fiddler on the Roof Composer Jerry Bock Lyricist Sheldon Harnick Joseph Stein – book Based on series of short stories about Tevye, by Yiddish writer Sholom Aleichem Director Jerome Robbins Star Zero Mostel

Fiddler on the Roof, cont. Tradition Songs “Tradition”, “Sunrise, Sunset”, “If I were a Rich Man” First musical to run more than 3000 performances (3,242) International success

The Blockbuster Musical and the Sound of Money Blockbuster musical = performances 10 musicals reached in the 1960s 3 passed 2,000 (Hello Dolly) One past 3,000 (Fiddler) Bye, Bye Birdie A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

The Blockbuster Musical and the Sound of Money, cont. Julie Andrews starred in films: Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Camelot Sound of Music highest grossing film until Star Wars Barbra Streisand Funny Girl, On a Clear Day you can See Forever, Hello Dolly Funny Girl – biography of Fanny Brice

The Blockbuster Musical and the Sound of Money, cont. Hello Dolly Starred many as Dolly, including: Carol Channing Pearl Bailey Mary Martin Barbra Streisand Ethel Merman Ginger Rogers

Hal Prince and Cabaret Cabaret, first musical to deal with emergence of Nazi Germany Based in Christopher Isherwood’s Berlin Stories John Kander – composer Fred Ebb – lyricist Set in the fictional Kit Kat Klub

Hal Prince and Cabaret, cont. Master of Ceremonies – Joel Gray, defining role (played on stage and in movie) Songs “Cabaret” and “Wilkommen” Won 8 Tonys Filmed in 1971

Who’s Who Angela Lansbury Mame, Sweeney Todd Joel Gray Cabaret, George M!, Wicked Zero Mostel Fiddler on the Roof, A Funny Thing Happened… Chita Rivera West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago

Hair and the Rock Musical Broadway basically tried to ignore the sixties Hair – full rock score Ran 1,742 performances Intermingled with the audience Nude scene at end of first act Songs “Aquarius”, “Let the Sunshine”, “Hair”

Company and the Urban Angst of Stephen Sondheim Stephen Sondheim A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum – lyrics and music Set in NYC Robert, a bachelor, and his 5 married couple friends 2 working elevators on set

Company and the Urban Angst of Stephen Sondheim, cont. Songs – “Barcelona”, “The Ladies who Lunch” 706 performances Won Tonys Hal Prince – director Stephen Sondheim – music and lyrics

Times Square in the ’70s Times Square was nasty X rated movies, drugs, peep shows, etc Causing customers to stay away from theatre district Grease – rock ‘n roll nostalgia Longest running at that point 3,388 TKTS booth – discount theatre tickets

Michael Bennett and A Chorus Line Michael Bennett – choreographer (also did Company, Promises Promises and Follies) Bennett also directed Chorus Line Story of a dancer’s life Songs – “One”, Music – Marvin Hamlisch Producer – Joseph Papp

Michael Bennett and A Chorus Line, cont. Lyrics – Edward Kleban Story is 25 dancers auditioning for 8 spots In the end, they are all dancing, dressed alike, singing alike Shows the anonymity of the chorus performer Ran a record breaking 6,137 performances Won the Pulitzer, Tonys Minimal set – just some mirrors, few costumes – just leotards, no main star

New Audiences for Broadway Looking for a black audience The Wiz – black version of The Wizard of Oz Composer/Lyrics – Charlie Smalls Producer – Ken Harper Also became a movie starring Michael Jackson The Wiz ran 1,672 performances Song “Ease on Down the Road”

Bob Fosse and Chicago Bob Fosse won Triple Crown Tony, Academy Award, Emmy Married to Gwen Verdon Producer/choreographer – Bob Fosse Music – John Kander Lyrics – Fred Ebb Story of murder, greed, corruption, and violence

Bob Fosse and Chicago, cont. Stars – Chita Rivera, Jerry Orbach, Gwen Verdon Mixed reviews Ran 923 performances 11 Tony nominations – no wins became much more popular with 90’s revival and movie Songs – “All That Jazz”, “Razzle Dazzle”

Sweeney Todd Hal Prince and Stephen Sondheim shows Pacific Overtures Company Follies A Little Night Music Sweeney Todd About a murderous barber that seeks revenge on his clients, then baked into pies

Sweeney Todd, cont. Star – Angela Lansbury, Len Cariou Songs – “Pretty Women”, “A Little Priest” Opened March 1979, 8 Tonys Ran 558 performances