The Magic Show
Encyclopedia
The Magic Show is a one-act musical
with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
and a book by Bob Randall. It starred magician Doug Henning
. Produced by Edgar Lansbury
, it opened in May 1974 at the Cort Theatre
and ran for 1,920 performances, closing on December 31, 1978. Henning was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and director Grover Dale
was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical
.
It originally began life as Spellbound produced by Ivan Reitman
with a book by David Cronenberg
and music by Howard Shore
at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto in 1973 starring Henning and Jennifer Dale. When Reitman took it to New York, the book and score were entirely replaced.
As of September 2008, The Magic Show is the 28th longest running musical in Broadway history.
Meanwhile, Doug pays little attention to Cal and decides that he needs a "beautiful assistant". Cal is hurt, as Doug conjures up the beautiful Charmin. Donna and Dina get jealous, and along with Feldman, plot to expose the secrets to Doug's tricks during the show. Doug finally realizes he loves Cal, and gets to her before she leaves. Charmin is sent back to wherever she came from, and all ends up well.
as a filmed performance of a production staged especially for the cameras from 1980, directed by Norman Campbell
at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto
. This production, originally intended for cinema release, differed notably from the original Broadway production, with several of the most memorable songs, such as "West End Avenue" and "Solid Silver Platform Shoes", removed. Doug Henning
reprised his original starring role, while Didi Conn
co-starred as Cal.
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 music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz (composer)
Stephen Lawrence Schwartz is an American musical theatre lyricist and composer. In a career spanning over four decades, Schwartz has written such hit musicals as Godspell , Pippin and Wicked...
and a book by Bob Randall. It starred magician Doug Henning
Doug Henning
Douglas James Henning was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician.-Early life:...
. Produced by Edgar Lansbury
Edgar Lansbury (producer)
Edgar Lansbury is an award-winning British theatre, film, and television producer.Born in London, Lansbury was the son of Belfast-born actress Moyna MacGill and Edgar Lansbury, a politician and businessman, and the grandson of former Labour Party leader George Lansbury...
, it opened in May 1974 at the Cort Theatre
Cort Theatre
The Cort Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 138 West 48th Street in the Theatre District of midtown Manhattan in New York City...
and ran for 1,920 performances, closing on December 31, 1978. Henning was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and director Grover Dale
Grover Dale
Grover Dale is an American actor, dancer, choreographer and theatre director.-Early years:Dale was born Grover Robert Aitken in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Ronal Rittenhouse Aitken, a restaurateur, and Emma Bertha Ammon...
was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical
Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical
This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical. Prior to 1960, category for direction included plays and musicals.-1950s:Note: this category was for both dramatic and musical productions...
.
It originally began life as Spellbound produced by Ivan Reitman
Ivan Reitman
Ivan Reitman, OC is a Canadian film producer and director. He is known for the comedies he has directed and produced, especially in the 1980s and 1990s.He is the owner of The Montecito Picture Company, founded in 2000.-Early life:...
with a book by David Cronenberg
David Cronenberg
David Paul Cronenberg, OC, FRSC is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter and actor. He is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror or venereal horror genre. This style of filmmaking explores people's fears of bodily transformation and infection. In his films, the...
and music by Howard Shore
Howard Shore
Howard Leslie Shore is a Canadian composer, notable for his film scores. He has composed the scores for over 80 films, most notably the scores for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, for which he won three Academy Awards. He is also a consistent collaborator with director David Cronenberg,...
at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto in 1973 starring Henning and Jennifer Dale. When Reitman took it to New York, the book and score were entirely replaced.
As of September 2008, The Magic Show is the 28th longest running musical in Broadway history.
Synopsis
The setting for the show is a seedy nightclub, the Top Hat, where an aging alcoholic magician, "Feldman the Magnificent," chews the scenery in his overly grand performance. Manny, the Top Hat owner wants to replace him and brings in Doug. Doug is very unconventional and has an assistant named Cal. Cal is in love with Doug, but he is focused on advancing his career. Donna and Dina are the rock act in the club. One of them dates the nephew of a big agent named Goldfarb. Goldfarb is coming to the club to check out Donna and Dina's act, and everyone is excited.Meanwhile, Doug pays little attention to Cal and decides that he needs a "beautiful assistant". Cal is hurt, as Doug conjures up the beautiful Charmin. Donna and Dina get jealous, and along with Feldman, plot to expose the secrets to Doug's tricks during the show. Doug finally realizes he loves Cal, and gets to her before she leaves. Charmin is sent back to wherever she came from, and all ends up well.
Musical numbers
- Up to His Old Tricks - Entire Company
- Sold Silver Platform Shoes - Dina and Donna
- Lion Tamer - Cal
- Style - Feldman and Company
- Charmin's Lament - Charmin
- Two's Company - Dina and Donna
- The Goldfarb Variations - Dina, Feldman, Donna, Manny and Charmin
- Doug's Act - Doug
- A Bit of Villainy - Feldman, Dina and Donna
- West End Avenue - Cal
- Sweet, Sweet, Sweet - Charmin, Manny, Mike and Steve
- Before Your Very Eyes - Dina, Donna and Feldman
Opening night cast
- Cheryl Barnes, Dina
- Doug HenningDoug HenningDouglas James Henning was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician.-Early life:...
, Doug (later replaced by Jeffrey MylettJeffrey MylettJeffrey Mylett was an American actor and songwriter. Born in North Canton, Ohio, he attended Hoover High School there, and studied theater at Carnegie Mellon University....
and the character name was changed to "Jeff".) - Robert LuPone, Manny
- Annie McGreevey, Donna
- Anita MorrisAnita Morris-Career:Among many roles, Morris's most prominent film role was as Carol Dodsworth, the mistress to Danny DeVito, in Ruthless People and for her sensual performance as Carla in the musical Nine opposite Raul Julia. While nominated for a Best Featured Actress Tony Award as Carla, she lost to Liliane...
(later replaced by Loni AckermanLoni AckermanLoni Ackerman is an American Broadway musical theatre performer and cabaret singer.Born in New York City, she made her Broadway debut in George M! in 1968, then replaced Bernadette Peters in the hit off-Broadway production of Dames at Sea.In 1971, Ackerman was cast in the revival of No, No Nanette...
), Charmin - Lloyd Sannes, Steve
- Sam Schacht, Goldfarb
- Dale Soules, Cal
- Ronald Stafford, Mike
- David Ogden StiersDavid Ogden StiersDavid Ogden Stiers is an American actor, director, vocal actor, and musician, noted for his roles in Disney movies, as well as his performances in the television series M*A*S*H as Major Charles Emerson Winchester III and the science fiction drama The Dead Zone as Reverend Gene Purdy...
, Feldman
Opening night band
- Stephen Reinhardt, keyboards, musical director
- Paul ShafferPaul ShafferPaul Allen Wood Shaffer, CM is a Canadian musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian, and composer who has been David Letterman's sidekick since 1982.-Early years:...
, keyboards - Steve Manes, bass
- Brian McCormick, guitar
- Gerry Weiner, guitar
- Joey Saulter, drums
DVD-version
In 2001, The Magic Show was issued on DVD from Image EntertainmentImage Entertainment
Image Entertainment, Inc. is an independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming and film & television productions in North America, with approximately 3,000 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 250 exclusive CD titles in domestic release, and approximately 450...
as a filmed performance of a production staged especially for the cameras from 1980, directed by Norman Campbell
Norman Campbell
Norman Kenneth Campbell, was a Canadian composer, television producer, and television director best known for co-writing Anne of Green Gables - The Musical....
at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. This production, originally intended for cinema release, differed notably from the original Broadway production, with several of the most memorable songs, such as "West End Avenue" and "Solid Silver Platform Shoes", removed. Doug Henning
Doug Henning
Douglas James Henning was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician.-Early life:...
reprised his original starring role, while Didi Conn
Didi Conn
Didi Conn is an American film, stage and television actress.-Personal life:Conn was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of a clinical psychologist. "Didi" was her childhood nickname...
co-starred as Cal.