9 to 5

Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton
Book by Patricia Resnick
Based on the 20th Century Fox Film

Opened April 30, 2009
Closed September 6, 2009 (148 performances)

Original Broadway Cast: Allison Janney (Violet Newstead), Stephanie J. Block (Judy Bernly), Megan Hilty (Doralee Rhodes), Marc Kudisch (Franklin Hart Jr.), Kathy Fitzgerald (Roz), Andy Karl (Joe), Ioana Alfonso (Maria), Dan Cooney (Dick), Jeremy Davis (Bob Enright), Van Hughes (Josh), and Michael X. Martin (Tinsworthy); Directed Joe Mantello; Choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler; Musical Direction by Stephen Oremus; Scenic Design by Scott Pask; Costume Design by William Ivey Long; Lighting Design by Judith Fisher and Kenneth Posner; Played at the Marquis Theatre

Songs include: "9 to 5," "Around Here," "Here for You," "I Just Might," "Backwoods Barbie," "Dance O' Death," "Cowgirl's Revenge," "Potion Notion," "Joy to the Girls," "Heart to Hart," "Shine Like the Sun," "One of the Boys," "5 to 9," "Always a Woman," "Change It," "Let Love Grow," "Get Out and Stay Out," and "Finale."

9 to 5 is a perfect example of the current trend of musicals being made from non-musical movies. It's kind of a curious choice for such a show, as the movie was twenty-nine years old when the musical opened, and I don't think it has remained popular among the generations that have come since it was released. It tells the story of three women working in an office in 1979 that decide to kidnap their sexist boss. In our age of stricter sexual harassment laws, the story does seem a bit dated. Dolly Parton, who made her acting debut in the film, as well as writing and performing its hit title song, composed her first songs for the stage with this show. Some of the songs she provided work surprisingly well, namely the two songs each given to Mr. Hart, the boss, and Roz, his sychophantic assistant, and the three songs sung by each of the central characters in an elaborate dream sequence. However, all of the others are mediocre at best. Many of the lyrics feature lots of forced rhymes that are incredibly distracting. It's clear that Parton's talents are much more suited to the world of pop music than the musical stage.

I had the opportunity to see a matinee performance of 9 to 5 on Broadway at the end of last summer, a couple of weeks before it closed. I went in having heard none of the music besides the title song, which is admitably catchy. I wasn't expecting to like the show at all, but at intermission, I was pleasantly surprised. The dream sequences were a lot of fun, and Roz's number "Heart to Hart" was a genuine show-stopper. I was not feeling as well at the end of the show. With two brief exceptions, the songs in Act II represent the worst of Parton's music, especially "Get Out and Stay Out," an empowerment anthem that comes right before the end of the show. It's not a bad song, and Stephanie J. Block gives a very good performance of it, but it's just so put of place in the comedic nature of the show, and I felt it brought things to a halt. One bright spot of the show was Allison Janney, famous for her work on The West Wing, making her Broadway musical debut. She has a real engaging stage prescence, and I hope she soon gets a project more worthy of her talents. That's it for 9 to 5. Next time, we're actually going to get to our first show that begins with a letter, The Act.

70, Girls, 70

Music by John Kander

Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Book by Fred Ebb and Norman L. Martin

Based on the play Breath of Spring by Peter Coke



Opened April 15, 1971

Closed May 15, 1971 (35 performances)



Cast: Hans Conried (Harry), Mildred Natwick (Ida Dodd), Lillian Roth (Gert), Joey Faye (Detective Callahan), Dorothea Freitag (Lorraine), Lillian Hayman (Melba), Henrietta Jacobson (Grandmother), Gil Lamb (Walter), Lucie Lancaster (Eunice), Goldye Shaw (Fritzi), and Coley Worth (Officer Kowalski); Directed by Paul Aaron; Choreographed by Onna White; Musical Direction by Oscar Kosarin; Scenic Design and Lighting Design by Robert Randolph; Costume Design by Jane Greenwood; Produced by Arthur Whitelaw; Played at the Broadhurst Theatre


Songs include: "Old Folks," "Home," "Broadway My Street," "The Caper," "Coffee in a Cardboard Cup," "You and I, Love," "Do We?," "Hit It, Lorraine," "See the Light," "Boom Ditty Boom," "Believe," "Go Visit Your Grandmother," "70, Girls, 70," "The Elephant Song," "Say Yes," and "Finale."

70, Girls, 70 is an interesting failure from the team of John Kander and Fred Ebb, the musicians behind Cabaret and Chicago. It tells the story of a group of elderly friends who decide to turn to a life of crime so they can buy their retirement community, saving it from demolition. The show only lasted a month on Broadway, and except for a London run in the early 90s and an Encores concert in 2006, it has been largely forgotten. Part of this is probably because of the age requirements of the cast. A lot of musicals stay fresh in people's memories because of the countless productions that end up in schools and community theatres after its professional run ends. The need for an elderly cast makes the school productions impossible and the community theatre productions unlikely. The music from the show is good, though. "Coffee in a Cardboard Cup" has become a moderately recognizable standard, and other songs from the show give a demographic that does not often get a chance to shine on the musical stage the chance to show their energy. Perhaps the most notable distinction the show has is a dubious one. David Burns, the popular character actor who had played key roles in the original casts of shows such as The Music Man, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Hello, Dolly! was originally starring in the show. However, at a preview performance in Boston, Burns collapsed on stage and died soon after, ending one of the most prolific musical stage careers of all time. A quick entry this time. The next show I discuss will be the first one I post on here that I have seen a Broadway production of; 9 to 5.

42nd Street

Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Book by Mark Bramble and Michael Stewart

Opened August 25, 1980
Closed January 8, 1989 (3486 performances)
Revival opened May 2, 2001
Revival closed January 2, 1005 (1524 performances)

Original cast: Tammy Grimes (Dorothy Brock), Jerry Orbach (Julian Marsh), Wanda Richert (Peggy Sawyer), Joseph Bova (Bert Barry), Danny Carroll (Andy Lee), Robert Colston (Oscar), James Congdon (Pat Denning), Stan Page (Mac), Carole Cook (Maggie Jones), Don Crabtree (Abner Dillon), Karen Prunczik (Annie), and Lee Roy Reams (Billy Lawlor); Directed and Choreographed by Gower Champion; Musical Direction by John Lesko; Scenic Design by Robin Wagner; Costume Design by Theoni V. Aldredge; Lighting Design by Tharon Musser; Produced by David Merrick; Played at the Winter Garden Theatre, the Majestic Theatre, and the St. James Theatre

Revival cast: Michael Cumpsty (Julian Marsh), Christine Ebersole (Dorothy Brock), Michael Arnold (Andy Lee), David Elder (Billy Lawlor), Allen Fitzpatrick (Mac), Jonathan Freeman (Bert Barry), Mylinda Hull (Annie), Kate Levering (Peggy Sawyer), Michael McCarty (Abner Dillon), Richard Muenz (Pat Denning), Billy Stritch (Oscar), and Mary Testa (Maggie Jones); Directed by Mark Bramble; New Choreography by Randy Skinner; Musical Direction by Todd Ellison; Scenic Design by Douglas W. Schmidt; Costume Design by Roger Kirk; Lighting Design by Paul Gallo; Produced by Dodger Theatricals; Played at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts

Songs include: "Overture," "Audition," "Shadow Waltz," "Young and Healthy," "Go Into Your Dance," "You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me," "Getting Out of Town," "We're in the Money," "Dames," "Sunny Side to Every Situation," "Lullaby of Broadway," "About a Quarter to Nine," "Shuffle Off to Buffalo," "42nd Street," and "Finale." The revival also featured "Keep Young and Beautiful," "I Only Have Eyes to You," and "With Plenty of Money and You."

Harry Warren and Al Dubin wrote many songs that were featured in the lavish Busby Berkeley film musicals of the early days of talking pictures. Nearly fifty years later, "the abominable showman" David Merrick brought a show to Broadway that featured many of these songs factored into the plot of one of the most famous of these movies: 42nd Street. It's the quitessential "backstage musical," telling the story of a naive chorus girl who has to step into the spotlight when the star gets injured. The show has been a favorite since it premeired, giving theatre companies across the country the chance to show off their tap dancers.

This show deserves its status as a classic. It's not my favorite show, but it's pretty much the stereotypical musical. The songs are almost all recognizeable hits, and it provides countless opportunities for dancers. On the original cast recording, Jerry Orbach gives a timeless performance singing the lead in "Lullabye of Broadway." Because of the nature of the show, you're going to be seeing it for years to come. Next up will be a far less successful show, 70 Girls, 70.

3hree (The Mice, Lavender Girl, and The Flight of the Lawnchair Man)

The Mice:
Music by Laurence O'Keefe
Lyrics by Nell Dunbar Benjamin
Book by Julia Jordan
Inspired by a short story by Sinclair Lewis

Cast: Valerie Wright (Virga Vay), John Scherer (Allan Cedar), Herndon Lackey (Orlo Vay), Jessica Molaskey (Bertha Cedar), Roger E. DeWitt (Francis), Christopher Fitzgerald (Moseley), Donna Lynne Champlin, Will Gartshore, and Rachel Ulanet (Townspeople); Directed by Brad Rouse

Songs include: "Overture," "Mice!," "Two Hours Here," "What If," "That's All I Need," and "If You'd Be Mine."

Lavender Girl:
Music and Lyrics by John Bucchino
Book by James D. Waedekin

Cast: Will Gartshore (Colin), Rachel Ulanet (Lavender), Christopher Fitzgerald (Mitch), John Scherer (Leroy), Donna Lynn Champlin (Louise), Valerie Wright (Rita), Roger E. DeWitt (Party-Goer), and Jessica Molaskey (Mama Sayer); Directed by Scott Schwartz

Songs include: "Overture," "Leavin' Town," "We've Got Time," "Dancing," "Foolish Dreamin'," "Something Beautiful," and "Real Enough to Change My Mind."

The Flight of the Lawnchair Man:
Music and Lyrics by Robert Lindsey Nassif
Book by Peter Ullian
Based on a concept by Robert Lindey Nassif

Cast: John Scherer (Big Jack Preston), Valerie Wright (Blaire), Donna Lynne Champlin (Gracie), Christopher Fitzgerald (Jerry), Jessica Molaskey (FAA Agent/ Mother), Will Gartshore (Reporter), Roger E. DeWitt (Leonardo Da Vinci/ Voice of Alex Trebek), Herndon Lackey (Charles Lindbergh/ NASA Official), and Rachel Ulanet (Amelia Earhart); Directed by Harold Prince

Songs include: "Overture," "To Tame the Sky," "What Is That?," "Tiny," "Genius," "The Air Is Free," "Never Finish Before You're Finished," "Creature of the Air," and "Finale."

As far as I can tell, 3hree, an evening of three one act musicals, has only been performed once: in November of 2000 at the Harold Prince Theatre in Philadelphia. Prince himself, one of the most successful Broadway producers and directors of all time, hosted the event. The first musical, The Mice, tells the story of Allan, and exterminator in a small Minnesota town in 1947. He is having an affair with the wife of the local dressmaker, who releases mice into the homes of other townspeople. When they call the exterminator, he and his lover go into the house to have a romantic rendezvous. They hatch a scheme to murder their spouses using Allan's poisons. They later decide that suicide is a better option than murder, and kill themselves in each others arms. Lavender Girl is the second show. It is set in the South in 1927, and a young man finds a beautiful girl walking along the street. He takes her to a lavish party, has a wonderful time, and finds himself falling for the girl. She runs home, and he finds his way to her house. The girl's mother greets him, and informs him that she had been hit by a car and killed ten years earlier. He sees the ghost again and tells her he is in love with her. The last show, directed by Prince himself, is The Flight of the Lawnchair Man, tells the story of Jerry Gorman, who flew over New Jersey in a lawnchair lifted in the air by hundreds of helium balloons. As the authorities on the ground and a cocky airline pilot try to bring Jerry to earth, famous aviators from throughout history, including Da Vinci, Lindbergh, and Amelia Earhart encourage him to continue his flight.

To say 3hree is unique would be an understatement. Besides identical casts, there doesn't seem to be anything connecting the three musicals. The Mice has a very bizarre subject matter for a musical comedy. The music is fine, but it's hard to sympathize with characters who terrorize an entire town with vermin so they can carry on an affair, no matter how lousy their spouses are. The story of Lavender Girl is familiar to the point of being too predictable, but "We've Got Time" is a nice lively dance number. The Flight of the Lawnchair Man is easily the best of the three musicals. That's not surprising, considering it was presented last and Prince decided to direct it himself. Any show that features an actor playing both Leonardo Da Vinci and the voice of Alex Trebek is bound to be interesting. It is the most innovative of the three shows, and it has the most memorable music. It also best displayed the talents of Christopher Fitzgerald, who played the title character, who has gone on to success in shows like Wicked, Young Frankenstein, and Finian's Rainbow. In today's world, where Pixar's Up was a total critical and commercial success following a similar plot, I wouldn't be surprised to see a full length version of The Flight of the Lawnchair Man to sprout up somewhere.

I know it's been a while since I posted on here, and I'm not sure if anybody's reading, but this was a kind of three for one deal. I'll be back soon with a much more familiar show, the classic 42nd Street.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Music and Lyrics by William Finn
Book by Rachel Sheinkin

Opened May 2, 2005
Closed January 20, 2008 (1136 performances)

Original Broadway Cast: Derrick Baskin (Mitch Mahoney), Deborah S. Craig (Marcy Park), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Leaf Coneybear), Dan Fogler (William Barfee), Lisa Howard (Rona Lisa Peretti), Celia Keenan-Bolger (Olive Ostrovsky), Jose Llana (Chip Tolentino), Jay Reiss (Douglas Panch), and Sarah Saltzberg (Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre); Directed by James Lapine; Choreographed by Dan Knechtges; Musical Direction by Vadim Feichtner; Scenic Design by Beowulf Borritt; Costume Design by Jennifer Caprio; Lighting Design by Natasha Katz; Played at the Circle in the Square Theatre

Songs include: "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," "The Spelling Rules," "My Favorite Moment of the Bee," "My Friend, the Dictionary," "The First Goodbye," "Pandemonium," "I'm Not That Smart," "The Second Goodbye," "Magic Foot," "Pandemonium (reprise)," "My Favorite Moment of the Bee 2," "Why We Like Spelling," "Prayer of the Comfort Counselor," "My Unfortunate Erection (Chip's Lament)," "Woe Is Me," "I'm Not That Smart (reprise)," "I Speak Six Languages," "The I Love You Song," "Woe Is Me (reprise)," "My Favorite Moment of the Bee 3," "Second," "Finale," and "The Last Goodbye."

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is one of the more innovative musicals to come out of the first decade of the 21st Century. Employing six adult actors to play the precocious youngsters competing in the bee, as well as three others playing the adults in charge of the event, the show employs improvisation and audience participation much more than your standard musical. To call the characters quirky would be an understatement. They portray the extremes of adolescent angst as they strive to win this competition. The small cast and unit set have made the show a favorite of community theatres since it ended its run on Broadway, so it's a musical that will continue to please audiences for years to come.

The best word to describe Spelling Bee is fun. The humor is broad, and the actors have just as much fun playing them as the audience has watching them. Everyone can leave the theatre with a big smile on their face, and that's not something you can say about a lot of musicals. The music is lively, with surprising moments of poignancy, like "The I Love You Song." Chances are, a theatre near you will be performing this show sometime soon, so you should do yourself a favor and check it out. You won't regret it. Next on this little trip will be a show I know almost nothing about, 3hree.

1776

Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards
Book by Peter Stone

Opened March 16, 1969
Closed February 13, 1972 (1217 performances)
Revival opened August 14, 1997
Revival closed June 14, 1998 (333 performances)

Original Broadway Cast: William Daniels (John Adams), Howard Da Silva (Benjamin Franklin), Ken Howard (Thomas Jefferson), Clifford David (Edward Rutledge), Paul Hecht (John Dickinson), Ron Holgate (Richard Henry Lee), Betty Buckley (Martha Jefferson), Virginia Vestoff (Abigail Adams), William Duell (Andrew McNair), Henry Le Clair (Robert Livingston), David Vosburgh (Roger Sherman), Robert Gaus (Caesar Rodney), Roy Poole (Stephen Hopkins), David Ford (John Hancock), Ralston Hill (Charles Thomson), Scott Jarvis (Courier), B.J. Slater (Leather Apron), Edmund Lyndeck (Rev. John Witherspoon), Ronald Kross (Lewis Morris), Jonathan Moore (Dr. Lyman Hall), Emory Bass (James Wilson), Duane Bodin (George Read), Bruce MacKay (Col. Thomas McKean), Philip Polito (Samuel Chase), Dal Richards (Dr. Josiah Bartlett), and Charles Rule (Joseph Hewes); Directed by Peter Hunt; Musical Staging by Onna White; Musical Direction by Peter Howard; Scenic Design and Lighting Design by Jo Mielziner; Costume Design by Patricia Zipprodt; Produced by Stuart Ostrow; Played at the 46th Street Theatre, the St. James Theatre, and the Majestic Theatre

Revival Cast: Brent Spiner (John Adams), Pat Hingle (Benjamin Franklin), Paul Michael Valley (Thomas Jefferson), Gregg Edelman (Edward Rutledge), Michael Cumpsty (John Dickinson), Merwin Foard (Richard Henry Lee), Lauren Ward (Martha Jefferson), Linda Emond (Abigail Adams), MacIntyre Dixon (Andrew McNair), Daniel Marcus (Robert Livingston), John Herrera (Roger Sherman), Michael McCormick (Caesar Rodney), Tom Aldredge (Stephen Hopkins), Richard Poe (John Hancock), Guy Paul (Charles Thomson), Dashiell Eaves (Courier), Joseph Cassidy (Leather Apron), Jerry Lanning (Rev. John Witherspoon), Tom Riis Farrell (Lewis Morris), Robert Westenberg (Dr. Lyman Hall), Michael Winther (James Wilson), Kevin Ligon (George Read), Bill Nolte (Col. Thomas McKean), Ric Stoneback (Samuel Chase), Michael X. Martin (Dr. Josiah Bartlett), and David Lowenstein (Joseph Hewes); Directed by Scott Ellis; Choreographed by Kathleen Marshall; Musical Direction by Paul Gemignani; Scenic Design by Tony Walton; Costume Design by William Ivey Long; Lighting Design by Brian Nasson; Produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company; Played at Criterion Center Stage Right and the George Gershwin Theatre

Songs include: "Sit Down, John," "Piddle, Twiddle, and Resolve," "'Til Then," "The Lees of Old Virginia," "But, Mr. Adams," "Yours, Yours, Yours," "He Plays the Violin," "Cool, Cool, Considerate Men," "Momma Look Sharp," "The Egg," "Molasses to Rum," "Is Anybody There?," and "Finale"

1776 is the musicalization of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It primarily follows John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson as they struggle to compose the document and convince the holdouts in Congress to sign it. A successful movie was made from the musical in 1972, featuring many members of the original Broadway cast. The movie even caught the attention of Richard Nixon, who objected to the depcition of conservatives in the song "Cool, Cool Considerate Men." His objection was so pronounced that the song was cut from the movie until it was restored for a special edition decades later. The show and the movie do not seem overly political by today's standards, but it's still interesting to note what kind of impact a musical can have.

As someone who loves American history and musical theatre, 1776 has always been one of my favorites. William Daniels, known to everyone from my generation as Mr. Feeney from Boy Meets World, gives a great performance as the unlikeable John Adams, and Brent Spiner, a.k.a Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation, succeeds him admirably in the revival recording. The songs are good, and provide a different view of some of the best-known figures in history. It's also the rare musical that can be used as an educational tool. It can be hard to get young students interested in historical events, but putting songs around them can capture their attention. I know countless friends who watched this movie in their junior high history classes. The creators of the show were smart in making a musical out of one of the most important events in our country's history, so 1776 will always be relevant. Next up, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. See you then.

13

Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown

Book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn

Broadway:

Opened October 5, 2008

Closed January 4, 2009 (105 performances)

Original Broadway Cast: Graham Phillips (Evan), Corey Snide (Evan alternate), Eric Nelsen (Brett), Allie Trimm (Patrice), Delaney Moro (Kendra), Aaron Simon Gross (Archie), Malik Hammond (Malcolm), Al Calderon (Eddie), and Elizabeth Gillies (Lucy) Directed by Jeremy Sams; Choreographed by Christopher Gattelli; Musical Direction by Tom Kitt; Scenic Design and Costume Design by David Farley; Lighting Design by Brian MacDevitt; Played at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre

Songs include: "13/ Becoming a Man," "The Lamest Place in the World," "Hey Kendra," "Get Me What I Need," "What It Means to Be a Friend," "All Hail the Brain/ Terminal Illness," "Getting Ready," "Any Minute," "Here I Come," "Opportunity," "Bad Bad News," "Tell Her," "It Can't Be True," "If That's What It Is," "A Little More Homework," and "Brand New You."

13 is a musical about young teenagers, featuring actors who are young teenagers, and even musicians that are young teenagers. Most shows featuring children also feature seasoned adult actors to take some of the pressure off the youngsters. This show is the exception. These kids need to carry the whole show. The plot is rather immaterial, dealing with a kid preparing for his bar mitzvah as he moves from New York City to Indiana, and the various romantic entanglements adolescents get into.

13 was a nice surprise. In a world where High School Musical is so popular, I wasn't sure what to expect from a show featuring an entire cast from the Miley Cyrus generation. However, I've been a big fan of Jason Robert Brown since I listened to The Last Five Years when I was starting college in 2004, so I was hopeful that the score might be a success. It was. The songs are surprisingly sophisticated without losing their believablity. The problem with the show, and the probable reason for it's relatively brief run, is that Broadway audiences are not going to flock to see a show that essentially has a plot reminiscent of your basic Nickelodeon sitcom, even with a good score being sung by a talented cast. It's something that's hard to take seriously, even without considering the quality of the piece. That being said, it's an interesting idea. The show manages to depict young people without over-intellectualizing them, but also showing that they are real people with problems that are just as important as adults' problems are to them. I really like most of the songs a lot, as Brown continutes his interesting work. I think that if 13 is remembered, it will probably be looked at as a noble experiment that ultimately failed. It's definitely worth a listen if you can get your hands on a copy of the score. Thanks for checking this out. Next up is 1776.