Edward Padula
Encyclopedia
Edward Padula was an American
theatre producer, stage manager, and occasional director and writer
.
Born in Newark, New Jersey
, Padula began his theatrical career by directing the book for the early Lerner and Loewe
collaboration The Day Before Spring
in 1945. A full decade passed before he returned to Broadway
as a stage manager, working on such productions as No Time for Sergeants
, Rumple, God and Kate Murphy, and Saratoga
.
In 1958, Padula began to audition songwriting teams for a musical about American teenagers he hoped to produce. Lee Adams
and Charles Strouse
won the job on the third tryout, and Padula linked them with book writer Michael Stewart
. Bye Bye Birdie (1960) not only proved to be the producer's most successful project, but also won him the Tony Award
for Best Musical.
Following All American (1962) and Bajour
(1964), producer Padula donned the hats of book writer and director as well for the ill-fated A Joyful Noise
(1966), which closed after four previews and twelve performances. Its major distinction was the introduction of choreographer Michael Bennett
to the theatrical community. Padula continued his losing streak with the political satire Red, White and Maddox (1969) and the musical Park (1970) before rebounding with the hit Micki Grant
African American
revue
Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope
, which earned him a Tony nomination for Best Musical. It was his last Broadway production.
Paudila died of a heart attack in Bridgehampton, New York
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theatre producer, stage manager, and occasional director and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Born in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, Padula began his theatrical career by directing the book for the early Lerner and Loewe
Lerner and Loewe
Lerner and Loewe are the duo of lyricist and librettist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe, known primarily for the music and lyrics of some of Broadway's most successful musical shows, including My Fair Lady, Camelot, and Brigadoon....
collaboration The Day Before Spring
The Day Before Spring
The Day Before Spring is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe.-Productions:The 1945 touring production closed in Chicago after three days due to a crippling coal strike...
in 1945. A full decade passed before he returned to Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
as a stage manager, working on such productions as No Time for Sergeants
No Time for Sergeants
No Time for Sergeants is a 1954 best-selling novel by Mac Hyman, which was later adapted into a teleplay on The United States Steel Hour, a popular Broadway play and 1958 motion picture, as well as a 1964 television series. The book chronicles the misadventures of a country bumpkin named Will...
, Rumple, God and Kate Murphy, and Saratoga
Saratoga (musical)
Saratoga is a musical with a book by Morton DaCosta, lyrics by Johnny Mercer, and music by Harold Arlen.Based on Edna Ferber's sprawling novel Saratoga Trunk, it focuses on Clio Dulaine, an "illegitimate" Creole woman who seeks revenge on the New Orleans family who exiled her mother when she became...
.
In 1958, Padula began to audition songwriting teams for a musical about American teenagers he hoped to produce. Lee Adams
Lee Adams
Lee Richard Adams is an American lyricist best known for his musical theatre collaboration with Charles Strouse.Born in Mansfield, Ohio, Adams received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio State University and a Master's from Columbia University.Adams won Tony Awards in 1961 for Bye Bye Birdie...
and Charles Strouse
Charles Strouse
Charles Strouse is an American composer and lyricist.-Life and career:Strouse was born and raised in New York City, the son of Ira and Ethel Strouse...
won the job on the third tryout, and Padula linked them with book writer Michael Stewart
Michael Stewart (playwright)
Michael Stewart was an American playwright and librettist.Born Michael Stuart Rubin in Manhattan, Stewart attended Queens College, and is a graduate of Yale School of Drama with a Master of Fine Arts from 1953. Michael Stewart (August 1, 1924 – September 20, 1987) was an American playwright...
. Bye Bye Birdie (1960) not only proved to be the producer's most successful project, but also won him the Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Best Musical.
Following All American (1962) and Bajour
Bajour (musical)
Bajour is a musical with a book by Ernest Kinoy and music and lyrics by Walter Marks. The musical is based on the Joseph Mitchell short stories The Gypsy Women and The King of the Gypsies published in The New Yorker...
(1964), producer Padula donned the hats of book writer and director as well for the ill-fated A Joyful Noise
A Joyful Noise
A Joyful Noise is a musical with a book by Edward Padula and music and lyrics by Oscar Brand and Paul Nassau. The 1966 Broadway production was a flop but introduced choreographer Michael Bennett in his Broadway debut....
(1966), which closed after four previews and twelve performances. Its major distinction was the introduction of choreographer Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett was an American musical theater director, writer, choreographer, and dancer. He won seven Tony Awards for his choreography and direction of Broadway shows and was nominated for an additional eleven....
to the theatrical community. Padula continued his losing streak with the political satire Red, White and Maddox (1969) and the musical Park (1970) before rebounding with the hit Micki Grant
Micki Grant
Micki Grant is an American singer actress, writer and composer. She performed in Having Our Say , Tambourines to Glory and Jericho-Jim Crow, The Gingham Dog, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope and has received three Tony Award nominations for her writing...
African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope
Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope
Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope is a musical revue with music and lyrics by Micki Grant. It was originally produced by Edward Padula.The all-singing, all-dancing show focuses on the African American experience with songs on such topics as tenements, slumlords, ghetto life, student protests, black...
, which earned him a Tony nomination for Best Musical. It was his last Broadway production.
Paudila died of a heart attack in Bridgehampton, New York
Bridgehampton, New York
Bridgehampton is a hamlet in the South Fork of Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 1,381 at the 2000 census....
.