.gif)
La Strada (musical)
Encyclopedia
La Strada is a musical
with lyrics and music by Lionel Bart
, with additional lyrics by Martin Charnin
and additional music by Elliot Lawrence. It is based on the 1954 film of the same name
by Federico Fellini
. Bart wrote the score in 1967 and made a demonstration recording, although the musical was not produced until 1969, when it was famously cancelled after just one performance. The musical's book was written by Charles K. Peck, Jr., who also produced it on Broadway
.
strongman
, Zampanò, to be his assistant. She shows her abilities as a clown
and soon becomes the star of the show. She falls in love with Zampanò, despite his abuse of her. But tragedy strikes when she befriends a circus clown (Mario), who gives her advice and friendship, and Zampanò kills him in a jealous fit. Zampanò eventually leaves Gelsomina, who still loves him, to die on the road.
Act II
on Broadway
after 14 previews. The show was directed by Alan Schneider
, with choreography by Alvin Ailey
and Joyce Trisler. It closed the same night, losing $650,000.
There was a studio cast "concept album" produced in 1967 by Lionel Bart and Chris Curtis, with Madeline Bell
in the Gelsomina role. In 1994, Bayview Records re-released this recording. Only two or three songs remained in the final play as produced on Broadway. In discussing La Stradas problems, Steven Suskin wrote that Lionel Bart apparently did not go to the United States to assist during rehearsals, and neither the director (Alan Schneider) nor the choreographer (Alvin Ailey) had previously done a Broadway musical. Peters confirms that Bart never worked on the show in New York in this interview: "The script really wasn't ready, and Lionel Bart was never coming over. Marty Charnin and his partner at the time [composer Elliot Lawrence] rewrote it."
Ken Mandelbaum
wrote about La Strada in his book, Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Flops . During try-outs, the original strongman, Vincent Beck as Zampano, was replaced. He discusses that all but three of the original songs were replaced. Furthermore, "...it followed a relentlessly bleak, tragic screenplay, it emerged as one of the most depressing musicals ever... Bernadette Peters, in her first Broadway lead, did not let the show down...The score was not bad, particularly Peters haunting opening "Seagull, Starfish, Pebble" written by Lawrence and Charnin..."
Although bootleg live recordings of the score are known to exist, no original cast album was ever commercially released. Two songs from the show were later included on an obscure EP entitled Martin Charnin's Mini Album: 5 Great Songs from Not-So-Great Shows, which was released in 1976 by Take Home Tunes (later to become Original Cast
records). One of these songs, "Sooner or Later" was performed by Larry Kert, who had been an original cast member. A recording of "Starfish", as performed by Judy Kuhn
, was included on the anthology Unsung Musicals, released by Varèse Sarabande
in 1994.
wrote that the book was superficial and the music bland and trite. However, he praised Bernadette Peters, writing "In a different show the birdlike and croaky Bernadette Peters would have become a star overnight."
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with lyrics and music by Lionel Bart
Lionel Bart
Lionel Bart was a writer and composer of British pop music and musicals, best known for creating the book, music and lyrics for Oliver!-Early life:...
, with additional lyrics by Martin Charnin
Martin Charnin
Martin Charnin is an American lyricist, writer, and theatre director. Charnin's best-known work is as conceiver, director and lyricist of the hit musical Annie....
and additional music by Elliot Lawrence. It is based on the 1954 film of the same name
La Strada (film)
La Strada is a 1954 Italian neorealist drama directed by Federico Fellini in which a naïve young woman is sold to a brutish man and goes on the road as a part of his itinerant show....
by Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI , was an Italian film director and scriptwriter. Known for a distinct style that blends fantasy and baroque images, he is considered one of the most influential and widely revered filmmakers of the 20th century...
. Bart wrote the score in 1967 and made a demonstration recording, although the musical was not produced until 1969, when it was famously cancelled after just one performance. The musical's book was written by Charles K. Peck, Jr., who also produced it on 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...
.
Plot summary
The play follows the story of the film of the same name. Gelsomina, a young girl, is sold by her impoverished mother to a brutish circusCircus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
strongman
Strongman (circus)
The circus strongman is one of many acts found in a modern circus. The strongman demonstrates great strength, power and agility to the audience. The strongman and strongwomen were very popular attractions in the circus in the 19th century....
, Zampanò, to be his assistant. She shows her abilities as a clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
and soon becomes the star of the show. She falls in love with Zampanò, despite his abuse of her. But tragedy strikes when she befriends a circus clown (Mario), who gives her advice and friendship, and Zampanò kills him in a jealous fit. Zampanò eventually leaves Gelsomina, who still loves him, to die on the road.
Characters and original Broadway cast
- Gelsomina – Bernadette PetersBernadette PetersBernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
- Zampano – Stephen Pearlman
- Mother – Anne Hegira
- Mario – Larry KertLarry KertLarry Kert was an American actor, singer, and dancer. He is best known for creating the role of Tony in the original Broadway version of West Side Story.-Early life:...
- Elsa – Lisa Belleran
- Eva – Mary Ann Robbins
- Sophia – Susan Goeppinger
- Castra – Lucille Patton
Musical numbers
Act I- Seagull, Starfish, Pebble—Gelsomina
- The Great Zampano—Gelsomina and Zampano
- What's Going on Inside? -- Zampano
- Belonging—Gelsomina
- Wedding Dance—Company
- I Don't Like You—Gelsomina
- Encounters—Gelsomina and Company
- There's a Circus in Town—Mario
- You're Musical—Mario and Gelsomina
- Only More! -- Gelsomina
Act II
- What a Man—Gelsomina and Mama Lambrini
- Everything Needs Something—Gelsomina
- Sooner or Later—Mario
- Sooner or Later (Reprise) -- Gelsomina
- Belonging (Reprise) -- Gelsomina
- The End of the Road—Company
Productions and background
The musical had its out of town tryouts at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit, Michigan starting on October 27, 1969. La Strada opened on December 14, 1969 at the Lunt-Fontanne TheatreLunt-Fontanne Theatre
The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 205 West 46th Street in midtown-Manhattan.Designed by the architectural firm of Carrere and Hastings, it was built by producer Charles Dillingham and opened as the Globe Theatre, in honor of London's Shakespearean playhouse, on...
on 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...
after 14 previews. The show was directed by Alan Schneider
Alan Schneider
Alan Schneider was an American theatre director and mentor responsible for more than 100 theatre productions. In 1984 he was honored with a Drama Desk Special Award for serving a wide range of playwrights...
, with choreography by Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey, Jr. was an American choreographer and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York. Ailey is credited with popularizing modern dance and revolutionizing African-American participation in 20th century concert dance...
and Joyce Trisler. It closed the same night, losing $650,000.
There was a studio cast "concept album" produced in 1967 by Lionel Bart and Chris Curtis, with Madeline Bell
Madeline Bell
Madeline Bell is an American soul singer, who became famous as a performer in the United Kingdom during the 1960s, having arrived from the US in the gospel show Black Nativity in 1962, with vocal group The Bradford Singers.-Career:She worked as a session singer, most notably backing for Dusty...
in the Gelsomina role. In 1994, Bayview Records re-released this recording. Only two or three songs remained in the final play as produced on Broadway. In discussing La Stradas problems, Steven Suskin wrote that Lionel Bart apparently did not go to the United States to assist during rehearsals, and neither the director (Alan Schneider) nor the choreographer (Alvin Ailey) had previously done a Broadway musical. Peters confirms that Bart never worked on the show in New York in this interview: "The script really wasn't ready, and Lionel Bart was never coming over. Marty Charnin and his partner at the time [composer Elliot Lawrence] rewrote it."
Ken Mandelbaum
Ken Mandelbaum
Ken Mandelbaum is an American columnist, critic, and author whose primary field of expertise is musical theatre.Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Mandelbaum was introduced to Broadway musical theatre by his parents and grandparents at an early age...
wrote about La Strada in his book, Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Flops . During try-outs, the original strongman, Vincent Beck as Zampano, was replaced. He discusses that all but three of the original songs were replaced. Furthermore, "...it followed a relentlessly bleak, tragic screenplay, it emerged as one of the most depressing musicals ever... Bernadette Peters, in her first Broadway lead, did not let the show down...The score was not bad, particularly Peters haunting opening "Seagull, Starfish, Pebble" written by Lawrence and Charnin..."
Although bootleg live recordings of the score are known to exist, no original cast album was ever commercially released. Two songs from the show were later included on an obscure EP entitled Martin Charnin's Mini Album: 5 Great Songs from Not-So-Great Shows, which was released in 1976 by Take Home Tunes (later to become Original Cast
Original Cast (record label)
Original Cast Records is a record label based in Georgetown, Connecticut, that specialises in obscure theatre recordings, primarily cast albums from little-known Broadway, off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway and other stage productions, but also theatre-related film scores, cabaret, concert and solo...
records). One of these songs, "Sooner or Later" was performed by Larry Kert, who had been an original cast member. A recording of "Starfish", as performed by Judy Kuhn
Judy Kuhn
-Life and career:Kuhn was born in New York City and grew up in Bethesda, Maryland. She attended Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C.She entered Oberlin College in 1976. Although she was very interested in singing and theater, she began Oberlin in the College, not the Conservatory. After taking...
, was included on the anthology Unsung Musicals, released by Varèse Sarabande
Varèse Sarabande
Varèse Sarabande is an American record label, distributed by Universal Music Group, which specializes in film scores and original cast recordings. It aims to reissue rare or unavailable albums as well as newer releases by artists no longer under a contract...
in 1994.
Critical responses
In his review in the New York Times, Clive BarnesClive Barnes (critic)
Clive Alexander Barnes, CBE was a British-born American writer and critic. From 1965 to 1977 he was the dance and theater critic for the New York Times, the most powerful position he had held, since its theater critics' reviews historically have had great influence on the success or failure of...
wrote that the book was superficial and the music bland and trite. However, he praised Bernadette Peters, writing "In a different show the birdlike and croaky Bernadette Peters would have become a star overnight."