The Most Happy Fella
Encyclopedia
The Most Happy Fella is a 1956 musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Frank Loesser
. The story, about a romance between an older man and younger woman, is based on the play They Knew What They Wanted
by Sidney Howard
. The original Broadway
production ran for 14 months and it has enjoyed several revivals, including one staged by the New York City Opera
.
The Most Happy Fella frequently has been described as an opera
, but some have qualified the term. In his book The World of Musical Comedy, Stanley Green noted that the musical is "one of the most ambitiously operatic works ever written for the Broadway theatre...Loesser said 'I may give the impression this show has operatic tendencies. If people feel that way - fine. Actually all it has is a great frequency of songs. It's a musical with music.' " In an article in the Playbill
Magazine for the original Broadway production, Loesser wrote, "What was left seemed to me to be a very warm simple love story, happy ending and all, and dying to be sung and danced." Brooks Atkinson
, theatre critic (The New York Times
), called it a "music drama," noting Loesser "has now come about as close to opera as the rules of Broadway permit." Composer, conductor, and musical theatre teacher Lehman Engel
and critic/author Howard Kissel called it a "fresh musical (perhaps opera)".
In the Golden Gate Restaurant in San Francisco in 1927, the young tired and harassed waitresses Cleo and Rosabella commiserate with each other. Cleo's feet hurt ("Ooh My Feet") and Rosabella has fended off the cashier's advances ("I Know How It Is"). As they clean up ("Seven Million Crumbs"), Rosabella finds a tie pin and a note addressed to her, written in odd broken English. The writer is not sure of his English ("I Don't Know (The Letter)"), but Rosabella decides to answer, thinking of the possibilities ("Somebody, Somewhere").
In Napa
, the mailman has another letter for Tony Esposito, who has been enjoying a "mail order love affair" for the past four months. Tony, an Italian grape farmer who is a large and hearty older man, happily shows the crowd his "girlfriend"'s picture ("The Most Happy Fella").
Since Tony realizes he cannot send a picture of himself in return, he asks the younger and handsome Joe, the farm foreman, for one of himself. When Rosabella arrives at the town a few weeks later, Joe confesses he is not Tony, and she, upset at the subterfuge, tries to leave. However, Tony has been injured in a truck accident, and pleads with Rosabella to stay and marry him immediately, in case he does not live. She relents and they marry. Joe is upset but tries to comfort her ("Don't Cry"), and Rosabella realizes that she has feelings for him as well — they embrace.
Act 2
Tony's jealous sister Marie tries to convince Tony that the age difference between him and Rosabella is too great. Cleo now lives in Napa because Tony has hired her, mainly to keep Rosabella company. She urges Rosabella to tell Tony of her feelings, as Tony is treating her like a child rather than a wife ("I Love Him/I Know How it Is"). Tony, overjoyed by her expression of love, discards his cane ("My Heart Is So Full of You"). Later Rosabella collapses at a party ("Hoedown"), and the doctor tells her she is pregnant. She is uncomfortable with this news, and Cleo rushes her away before she can tell Tony.
Act 3
In Tony's barn a short time later, the preparations for the wedding party are taking place ("Abbondanza"). Rosabella finally tells Tony she is pregnant and is returning to San Francisco. Tony understands he is not the baby's father. She and Cleo leave, but when Tony discovers Joe is leaving as well, he becomes very angry because he believes they are leaving together. He rushes to the bus station with a gun to confront them, but Joe has already left, and Rosabella is waiting for the bus. Marie begs her brother to let her go ("Nobody's Ever Gonna Love You"), but Cleo has a physical fight with Marie. Tony convinces Rosabella to return to their home, where they will tell their friends and the townspeople Tony is the father.
Act II
Act III
and choreographed by Dania Krupska
, the original Broadway
production was produced by Kermit Bloomgarden
and opened on May 3, 1956 at the Imperial Theatre, transferred to The Broadway Theatre
on October 21, 1957 and closed on December 14, 1957 after 676 performances. The cast included Robert Weede
as Tony, Jo Sullivan
as Rosabella, Art Lund
as Joey, Susan Johnson
as Cleo, Shorty Long as Herman, Mona Paulee as Marie, and Zina Bethune
as Tessie. The scenic and lighting design was by Jo Mielziner
.
The original production was partially bankrolled by Lucille Ball
and Desi Arnaz
. The 1957 I Love Lucy
episode "Lucy's Night In Town" focuses on the Ricardos and Mertzes going to a sold-out performance. Three songs from the show are heard in scenes showing the characters sitting in the theater. At one point, Fred Mertz
is inspired by the title to remark, "The guy is not married."
The New York City Center
staged a limited run of 16 performances from February 10 through February 22, 1959.
The West End
production, directed by Jerome Eskow, opened at the London Coliseum on April 21, 1960 and ran for 288 performances. The cast included Inia Wiata as Tony, Helena Scott as Rosabella, Art Lund as Joey, Libi Staiger
as Cleo, Jack De Lon as Herman, and Nina Verushka as Marie.
A Broadway revival began previews at the Majestic Theatre
on September 20, 1979, officially opened on October 11, and closed on November 25, 1979 after 53 performances and 23 previews. Directed by Jack O'Brien
, set design by Douglas W. Schmidt, costumes by Nancy Potts, lighting by Gilbert Vaughn Hemsley, Jr., orchestrations by Don Walker
, and choreographed by Graciela Daniele
, it starred Giorgio Tozzi
as Tony, Frederick Burchinal as Tony (Wed. and Sat. matinees), Sharon Daniels as Rosabella, Linda Michelle as Rosabella (Wed. and Sat. matinees), Adrienne Leonetti as Marie, Steven Alex-Cole as Max, Dennis Warning as Herman, Dean Badolato as Clem, David Miles as Jake, Kevin Wilson as Al, Stephen Dubov as Sheriff, Gene Varrone as Guiseppe, Darren Nimnicht as Pasquale, Tim Flavin
as Busboy, Dan O'Sullivan as Postman, Franco Spoto as Ciccio, Joe McGrath as Doctor, Lawrence Asher as Priest, Michael Capes as Bus Driver, Bill Hastings as Cashier/brakeman, Louisa Flaningam as Cleo, and Richard Muenz
as Joe. The production was filmed and later broadcast by PBS in 1980. A 2-DVD set of this PBS performance was preserved and is for sale to the public - see http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289344/usercomments for details.
A New York City Opera
production ran from September 4 through October 18, 1991. Directed by Arthur Alan Seidelman, it starred Louis Quilico
as Tony, Elizabeth Walsh as Rosabella, and Karen Ziemba
as Cleo.
The Goodspeed Opera House presented the musical, directed by Gerald Gutierrez
, in May and June 1991. This production had two pianos instead of a full orchestra, using a Loesser-approved piano arrangement by Robert Page. The production was then staged by the Center Theatre Group
at the Ahmanson Theatre
in Los Angeles
for ten weeks starting in October 1991. In exchange for mounting the show, the Center Theatre Group was able to share in potential Broadway profits.
Based on the Goodspeed production, with most of the cast and creative team intact, a Broadway revival began previews at the Booth Theatre
on January 24, 1992, officially opened on February 13, and closed on August 30 after 229 performances. Again directed by Gerald Guttierrez, the cast included Spiro Malas
as Tony, Sophie Hayden as Rosabella, Charles Pistone as Joe, Claudia Catania as Marie, Liz Larsen
as Cleo, and Scott Waara
as Herman.
The Ravinia Festival in Chicago
presented a concert version with George Hearn
as Tony and Rod Gilfry
as Joe on July 20, 2007.
The New York City Opera
presented a limited engagement with Paul Sorvino
as Tony and Lisa Vroman
as Rosabella between March 7-25, 2006.
(ASIN: B0000027TC). The 1992 Broadway revival cast album was produced by RCA Victor Broadway (ASIN: B000003FBK) and released on June 9, 1992. Jay Records released a "complete" studio recording (CDJAY2 1306), including material that had been cut, on July 11, 2000. The recording featured Louis Quilico as Tony.
1979 Broadway revival
1992 Broadway revival
Frank Loesser
Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for...
. The story, about a romance between an older man and younger woman, is based on the play They Knew What They Wanted
They Knew What They Wanted (play)
They Knew What They Wanted is a 1924 play written by Sidney Howard that tells the story of Tony, an aging Italian winegrower in the California Napa Valley, who proposes by letter to Amy, a San Francisco waitress who waited on him once. Fearing that she will find him too old and ugly, Tony sends her...
by Sidney Howard
Sidney Howard
Sidney Coe Howard was an American playwright and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1925 and a posthumous Academy Award in 1940 for the screenplay for Gone with the Wind.-Early life:...
. The original 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...
production ran for 14 months and it has enjoyed several revivals, including one staged by the New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
.
Background and history
A friend of Loesser's recommended the Howard play They Knew What They Wanted as material for a musical in 1952. After he read it, he agreed it had musical potential, but decided to omit the political, labor, and religious material. It took him four years to complete the musical.The Most Happy Fella frequently has been described as an opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, but some have qualified the term. In his book The World of Musical Comedy, Stanley Green noted that the musical is "one of the most ambitiously operatic works ever written for the Broadway theatre...Loesser said 'I may give the impression this show has operatic tendencies. If people feel that way - fine. Actually all it has is a great frequency of songs. It's a musical with music.' " In an article in the Playbill
Playbill
Playbill is a monthly U.S. magazine for theatregoers. Although there is a subscription issue available for home delivery, most Playbills are printed for particular shows to be distributed at the door...
Magazine for the original Broadway production, Loesser wrote, "What was left seemed to me to be a very warm simple love story, happy ending and all, and dying to be sung and danced." Brooks Atkinson
Brooks Atkinson
Justin Brooks Atkinson was an American theatre critic. He worked for The New York Times from 1925 to 1960...
, theatre critic (The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
), called it a "music drama," noting Loesser "has now come about as close to opera as the rules of Broadway permit." Composer, conductor, and musical theatre teacher Lehman Engel
Lehman Engel
Lehman Engel was an American composer and conductor of Broadway musicals, television and film.-Work in theatre, television and films:...
and critic/author Howard Kissel called it a "fresh musical (perhaps opera)".
Synopsis
Act 1In the Golden Gate Restaurant in San Francisco in 1927, the young tired and harassed waitresses Cleo and Rosabella commiserate with each other. Cleo's feet hurt ("Ooh My Feet") and Rosabella has fended off the cashier's advances ("I Know How It Is"). As they clean up ("Seven Million Crumbs"), Rosabella finds a tie pin and a note addressed to her, written in odd broken English. The writer is not sure of his English ("I Don't Know (The Letter)"), but Rosabella decides to answer, thinking of the possibilities ("Somebody, Somewhere").
In Napa
Napa County, California
Napa County is a county located north of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is coterminous with the Napa, California, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 the population is 136,484. The county seat is Napa....
, the mailman has another letter for Tony Esposito, who has been enjoying a "mail order love affair" for the past four months. Tony, an Italian grape farmer who is a large and hearty older man, happily shows the crowd his "girlfriend"'s picture ("The Most Happy Fella").
Since Tony realizes he cannot send a picture of himself in return, he asks the younger and handsome Joe, the farm foreman, for one of himself. When Rosabella arrives at the town a few weeks later, Joe confesses he is not Tony, and she, upset at the subterfuge, tries to leave. However, Tony has been injured in a truck accident, and pleads with Rosabella to stay and marry him immediately, in case he does not live. She relents and they marry. Joe is upset but tries to comfort her ("Don't Cry"), and Rosabella realizes that she has feelings for him as well — they embrace.
Act 2
Tony's jealous sister Marie tries to convince Tony that the age difference between him and Rosabella is too great. Cleo now lives in Napa because Tony has hired her, mainly to keep Rosabella company. She urges Rosabella to tell Tony of her feelings, as Tony is treating her like a child rather than a wife ("I Love Him/I Know How it Is"). Tony, overjoyed by her expression of love, discards his cane ("My Heart Is So Full of You"). Later Rosabella collapses at a party ("Hoedown"), and the doctor tells her she is pregnant. She is uncomfortable with this news, and Cleo rushes her away before she can tell Tony.
Act 3
In Tony's barn a short time later, the preparations for the wedding party are taking place ("Abbondanza"). Rosabella finally tells Tony she is pregnant and is returning to San Francisco. Tony understands he is not the baby's father. She and Cleo leave, but when Tony discovers Joe is leaving as well, he becomes very angry because he believes they are leaving together. He rushes to the bus station with a gun to confront them, but Joe has already left, and Rosabella is waiting for the bus. Marie begs her brother to let her go ("Nobody's Ever Gonna Love You"), but Cleo has a physical fight with Marie. Tony convinces Rosabella to return to their home, where they will tell their friends and the townspeople Tony is the father.
Song list
Act I- Overture - Orchestra
- Ooh! My Feet! - Cleo
- I Know How It Is - Rosabella and Cleo
- Seven Million Crumbs - Cleo
- I Don't Know (The Letter) - Rosabella
- Maybe He's Kind of Crazy - Cleo
- Somebody, Somewhere - Rosabella
- The Most Happy Fella - Tony and Company
- A Long Time Ago - Marie and Tony
- Standing on the CornerStanding on the Corner (show tune)"Standing on the Corner" is a popular song written by Frank Loesser and published in 1956. It was introduced by Shorty Long, Alan Gilbert, John Henson, and Roy Lazarus in the Broadway musical, The Most Happy Fella....
- Herman, Jake, Clem and Al - Joey, Joey, Joey - Joe
- Soon You Gonna Leave Me, Joe - Tony
- Rosabella - Tony
- Abbondanza - Pasquale, Giuseppe and Jake
- Plenty Bambini - Tony
- Sposalizio - Giuseppe, Jake, Pasquale and Company
- Special Delivery! (I Seen Her at the Station) - The Postman
- Benvenuta - Pasquale, Jake and Giuseppe
- Aren't You Glad? - Rosabella
- No Home, No Job - Rosabella
- Don't Cry - Joe
Act II
- Fresno Beauties / Cold and Dead - Ensemble, Joe and Rosabella
- Love and Kindness - The Doctor
- Happy to Make Your Acquaintance - Tony, Rosabella and Cleo
- I Don't Like This Dame - Marie and Cleo
- Big DBig D (song)"Big D" is a song about Dallas, Texas written by Frank Loesser in 1956 for the musical The Most Happy Fella. It repeatedly spells out the name of Dallas with the refrain: Big D, little A, double L, A, S....
- Herman, Cleo and Ensemble - How Beautiful the Days - Tony, Rosabella and Joe
- Young People - Marie, Tony and Ensemble
- Warm All Over - Rosabella
- Old People Gotta - Tony
- I Like Everybody - Herman and Cleo
- I Love Him / I Know How It Is - Rosabella and Cleo
- Like a Woman Loves a Man - Rosabella and Tony
- My Heart Is So Full of You - Tony and Rosabella
- Hoedown - Tony, Rosabella and Ensemble
- Mamma, Mamma - Tony
Act III
- Abbondanza (Reprise) - Pasquale, Giuseppe and Ciccio
- Goodbye, Darlin' / I Like Everybody (Reprise) - Cleo and Herman
- Song of a Summer Night - The Doctor and Ensemble
- Please Let Me Tell You - Rosabella
- Tell Tony and Rosabella Goodbye for Me (Tony's Thoughts) - Joe
- She Gonna Come Home Wit' Me - Tony
- Nobody's Ever Gonna Love You - Marie and Tony
- I Made a Fist - Cleo and Herman
- Finale - Tony, Rosabella and Ensemble
Productions
Directed by Joseph AnthonyJoseph Anthony
Joseph Anthony was an American playwright, actor, and director. He made his film acting debut in the 1934 film Hat, Coat, and Glove and his theatrical acting debut in a 1935 production of Mary of Scotland...
and choreographed by Dania Krupska
Dania Krupska
Dania Krupska is a Tony Award-nominated dancer and choreographer.Krupska originally trained for the ballet and began her professional career in the 1930s in such companies as the Philadelphia Ballet...
, the original 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...
production was produced by Kermit Bloomgarden
Kermit Bloomgarden
Kermit Bloomgarden was an American theatrical producer, who had started out as an accountant, before producing plays on Broadway including Death of a Salesman, Look Homeward, Angel, The Music Man and Equus.Bloomgarden was born in Brooklyn to Zemad and Annie Groden Bloomgarden, where he attended...
and opened on May 3, 1956 at the Imperial Theatre, transferred to The Broadway Theatre
The Broadway Theatre
The Broadway Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 1681 Broadway in midtown-Manhattan....
on October 21, 1957 and closed on December 14, 1957 after 676 performances. The cast included Robert Weede
Robert Weede
-Biography:Born Robert Wiedefeld in Baltimore, Maryland, Weede studied voice at the Eastman School of Music and in Milan. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1937, as Tonio in Pagliacci...
as Tony, Jo Sullivan
Jo Sullivan
Elizabeth Josephine "Jo" Sullivan Loesser is an American soprano and the widow of composer Frank Loesser. Her daughter, Emily Loesser, is also a singer-actress....
as Rosabella, Art Lund
Art Lund
Art Lund was an American baritone singer, initially with bandleaders Benny Goodman and Harry James, and was also a television and stage actor.-Biography:...
as Joey, Susan Johnson
Susan Johnson (American musical theatre actress)
Susan Johnson , also known as Susan Johnson-Kehn, was an American actress and singer. She appeared primarily in musical theatre, but also appeared in films and television.-Stage and film roles:...
as Cleo, Shorty Long as Herman, Mona Paulee as Marie, and Zina Bethune
Zina Bethune
Zina Bethune is an American actress, dancer and choreographer.Bethune started formal ballet training at age 6 at George Balanchine's School of American Ballet. By age 14 she was dancing with the New York City Ballet...
as Tessie. The scenic and lighting design was by Jo Mielziner
Jo Mielziner
Joseph "Jo" Mielziner was an American theatrical scenic, and lighting designer born in Paris, France. He is "the most successful set designer of the Golden era of Broadway", and worked on both stage plays and musicals.-Career:He was the son of artist Leo Mielziner, Sr...
.
The original production was partially bankrolled by Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
and Desi Arnaz
Desi Arnaz
Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-born American musician, actor and television producer. While he gained international renown for leading a Latin music band, the Desi Arnaz Orchestra, he is probably best known for his role as Ricky Ricardo on the American TV series I Love Lucy, starring with Lucille Ball, to...
. The 1957 I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
episode "Lucy's Night In Town" focuses on the Ricardos and Mertzes going to a sold-out performance. Three songs from the show are heard in scenes showing the characters sitting in the theater. At one point, Fred Mertz
Fred Mertz
Frederick Hobart Mertz, born in 1887 is a fictional character in the 1950s American sitcom I Love Lucy, originally from Indianapolis before his relocation to New York City. He is a World War I veteran and often talks about his times in the war. He is married to Ethel Mae Potter Mertz , and they...
is inspired by the title to remark, "The guy is not married."
The New York City Center
New York City Center
New York City Center is a 2,750-seat Moorish Revival theater located at 131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan, New York City. It is one block south of Carnegie Hall...
staged a limited run of 16 performances from February 10 through February 22, 1959.
The West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production, directed by Jerome Eskow, opened at the London Coliseum on April 21, 1960 and ran for 288 performances. The cast included Inia Wiata as Tony, Helena Scott as Rosabella, Art Lund as Joey, Libi Staiger
Libi Staiger
Libi Staiger is an American actress, primarily on stage. Her promising career, which included roles on Broadway from 1953, was cut short by the failure of her first starring vehicle, 1963's Sophie, a musical-comedy life of entertainer Sophie Tucker.-Theatre:* Sophie , Winter Garden Theatre, New...
as Cleo, Jack De Lon as Herman, and Nina Verushka as Marie.
A Broadway revival began previews at the Majestic Theatre
Majestic Theatre
The Majestic Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 245 West 44th Street in midtown Manhattan.The Majestic, one of the largest Broadway theatres with 1,607 seats, traditionally has been used as a venue for major musical theatre productions...
on September 20, 1979, officially opened on October 11, and closed on November 25, 1979 after 53 performances and 23 previews. Directed by Jack O'Brien
Jack O'Brien (director)
Jack O'Brien is an American director, producer, writer and lyricist. He served as the Artistic Director of the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California from 1981 through the end of 2007....
, set design by Douglas W. Schmidt, costumes by Nancy Potts, lighting by Gilbert Vaughn Hemsley, Jr., orchestrations by Don Walker
Don Walker (orchestrator)
Don Walker was a prolific Broadway orchestrator, who also composed music for musicals and one film and worked as a conductor in television.-Biography:...
, and choreographed by Graciela Daniele
Graciela Daniele
Graciela Daniele is an Argentine-American dancer, choreographer, and theatre director.-Biography:Born at Buenos Aires, Daniele began her dance training at the age of seven at Teatro Colón, Argentina's equivalent of Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre...
, it starred Giorgio Tozzi
Giorgio Tozzi
Giorgio Tozzi was for many years a leading bass with the Metropolitan Opera, as well as playing lead roles in nearly every major opera house worldwide.-Career:Tozzi was born George John Tozzi in Chicago, Illinois...
as Tony, Frederick Burchinal as Tony (Wed. and Sat. matinees), Sharon Daniels as Rosabella, Linda Michelle as Rosabella (Wed. and Sat. matinees), Adrienne Leonetti as Marie, Steven Alex-Cole as Max, Dennis Warning as Herman, Dean Badolato as Clem, David Miles as Jake, Kevin Wilson as Al, Stephen Dubov as Sheriff, Gene Varrone as Guiseppe, Darren Nimnicht as Pasquale, Tim Flavin
Tim Flavin
Tim Flavin is an American actor. He is the first American actor to receive the Laurence Olivier Award in 1984 for his performance in the musical On Your Toes.- References :* biography for "Singn' in the Rain", UK Productions....
as Busboy, Dan O'Sullivan as Postman, Franco Spoto as Ciccio, Joe McGrath as Doctor, Lawrence Asher as Priest, Michael Capes as Bus Driver, Bill Hastings as Cashier/brakeman, Louisa Flaningam as Cleo, and Richard Muenz
Richard Muenz
Richard Muenz is an American actor and baritone who is mostly known for his work within American theatre. Muenz has frequently performed in musicals and in concerts. He has also periodically acted on television.-Biography:...
as Joe. The production was filmed and later broadcast by PBS in 1980. A 2-DVD set of this PBS performance was preserved and is for sale to the public - see http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289344/usercomments for details.
A New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
production ran from September 4 through October 18, 1991. Directed by Arthur Alan Seidelman, it starred Louis Quilico
Louis Quilico
Louis Quilico, CC was a Canadian opera singer. One of the leading dramatic baritones of his day, he was an ideal interpreter of the great Italian and French composers, especially Giuseppe Verdi. He was often referred to as "Mr Rigoletto" in reference to the Verdi opera...
as Tony, Elizabeth Walsh as Rosabella, and Karen Ziemba
Karen Ziemba
Karen Ziemba is an American actress, singer and dancer, best known for her work in musical theatre.-Biography:Ziemba was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, and went on to attend the University of Akron , where she studied dance and joined the Ohio Ballet in her sophomore year.Her Broadway debut was in...
as Cleo.
The Goodspeed Opera House presented the musical, directed by Gerald Gutierrez
Gerald Gutierrez
Gerald Gutierrez was an American Tony Award-winning stage- and film director.-External links:...
, in May and June 1991. This production had two pianos instead of a full orchestra, using a Loesser-approved piano arrangement by Robert Page. The production was then staged by the Center Theatre Group
Center Theatre Group
Center Theatre Group is a non-profit arts organization located in Los Angeles, California. It is one of the largest theatre companies in the nation, programming subscription seasons year-round at the Mark Taper Forum, the Ahmanson Theatre and the Kirk Douglas Theatre...
at the Ahmanson Theatre
Ahmanson Theatre
The Ahmanson Theatre is one of the four main venues that comprise the Los Angeles Music Center.Through the generosity of philanthropist Robert H. Ahmanson, construction began on March 9, 1962. The theatre opened on April 12, 1967 with a production of More Stately Mansions starring Ingrid Bergman,...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
for ten weeks starting in October 1991. In exchange for mounting the show, the Center Theatre Group was able to share in potential Broadway profits.
Based on the Goodspeed production, with most of the cast and creative team intact, a Broadway revival began previews at the Booth Theatre
Booth Theatre
The Booth Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 222 West 45th Street in midtown-Manhattan, New York City.Architect Henry B. Herts designed the Booth and its companion Shubert Theatre as a back-to-back pair sharing a Venetian Renaissance-style façade...
on January 24, 1992, officially opened on February 13, and closed on August 30 after 229 performances. Again directed by Gerald Guttierrez, the cast included Spiro Malas
Spiro Malas
Spiro Malas is an American bass-baritone opera singer.Malas made his operatic debut in 1959 in his native Baltimore and in 1960 he won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He made his New York debut at the New York City Opera where he came to the attention of Joan Sutherland and her...
as Tony, Sophie Hayden as Rosabella, Charles Pistone as Joe, Claudia Catania as Marie, Liz Larsen
Liz Larsen
Liz Larsen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is an American actress. She is best known for playing Jessica Reed on Law & Order....
as Cleo, and Scott Waara
Scott Waara
Scott Waara is an American actor. He made his Broadway debut as a member of the ensemble for the musical Wind in the Willows, and performed in Welcome to the Club and City of Angels. He won the Best Featured Actor Tony Award for his performance of Herman in The Most Happy Fella in 1992.Waara...
as Herman.
The Ravinia Festival in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
presented a concert version with George Hearn
George Hearn
George Hearn is an American actor and singer, primarily in Broadway musical theatre.-Early years:Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Hearn studied philosophy at Southwestern at Memphis, now Rhodes College before he embarked on a career in the theater, training for the stage with actress turned acting...
as Tony and Rod Gilfry
Rod Gilfry
Rodney Gilfry is a leading American opera baritone. After launching his career at Frankfurt Opera in 1987, Gilfry quickly established a reputation for stylish singing and acting...
as Joe on July 20, 2007.
The New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
presented a limited engagement with Paul Sorvino
Paul Sorvino
Paul Anthony Sorvino is an American actor. He often portrays authority figures on both sides of the law, and is possibly best known for his roles as Paulie Cicero, a portrayal of Paul Vario in the film Goodfellas and Sgt. Phil Cerreta on the police procedural and legal drama television series Law...
as Tony and Lisa Vroman
Lisa Vroman
Lisa Vroman is an American lyric soprano and stage actress. She graduated from South Jefferson Central School in New York State in 1975, the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam in 1979, and she did her graduate work at Carnegie Mellon University....
as Rosabella between March 7-25, 2006.
Recordings
The Original Broadway cast album was re-released on November 15, 1991 by SonySony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
(ASIN: B0000027TC). The 1992 Broadway revival cast album was produced by RCA Victor Broadway (ASIN: B000003FBK) and released on June 9, 1992. Jay Records released a "complete" studio recording (CDJAY2 1306), including material that had been cut, on July 11, 2000. The recording featured Louis Quilico as Tony.
Awards and nominations
1956 Broadway production- Tony Award for Best MusicalTony Award for Best MusicalThis is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Musical, first awarded in 1949. This award is presented to the producers of the musical.-1940s:* 1949: Kiss Me, Kate – Music and lyrics by Cole Porter, book by Samuel and Bella Spewack...
(nominee) - Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a MusicalTony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a MusicalThe Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical is awarded to the actor who was voted as the best actor in a musical play, whether a new production or a revival...
(Robert Weede, nominee) - Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a MusicalTony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a MusicalThis is a list of the winners and nominations of the Tony Award for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical. The award, introduced in 1950, was previously named as Best Performance by a Featured or Supporting Actress in a Musical until 1976....
(Jo Sullivan, nominee) - Tony Award for Best ChoreographyTony Award for Best Choreography-1940s:* 1947: Agnes de Mille – Brigadoon / Michael Kidd – Finian's Rainbow* 1948: Jerome Robbins – High Button Shoes* 1949: Gower Champion – Lend An Ear-1950s:* 1950: Helen Tamiris – Touch and Go* 1951: Michael Kidd – Guys and Dolls...
(Dania Krupska, nominee) - Tony Award for Best Conductor and Musical DirectorTony Award for Best Conductor and Musical DirectorThe Tony Award for Best Conductor and Musical Director was first presented in 1948, and later discontinued after 1964.-1940s:* 1948: Milton Rosenstock – Finian's Rainbow* 1949: Max Meth – As the Girls Go-1950s:...
(Herbert Greene, nominee) - Tony Award for Best Direction of a MusicalTony Award for Best Direction of a MusicalThis 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...
(Joseph Anthony, nominee - Theatre World AwardTheatre World AwardThe Theatre World Award, first awarded for the 1945-46 season, is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway.-History:...
(Susan Johnson, winner)
1979 Broadway revival
- Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Giorgio Tozzi, nominee)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a MusicalDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a MusicalThe Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical was first awarded at the 1974-1975 Drama Desk Awards and has been awarded every year since...
(Giorgio Tozzi, nominee)
1992 Broadway revival
- Tony Award for Best RevivalTony Award for Best RevivalThe Tony Award for Best Revival was presented from 1977 until 1994, when it was split into the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. If there are not enough revivals, it is possible under the current Tony rules for the "Best Revival of a Play or...
(nominee) - Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Sophie Hayden, nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a MusicalTony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a MusicalThis is a list of the winners and nominations of Tony Award for the Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. The award has been presented since 1947...
(Scott Waara, winner) - Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Liz Larsen, nominee)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Spiro Malas, nominee)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a MusicalDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a MusicalThe Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical was first awarded at the 1974-1975 Drama Desk Awards and has been awarded every year since...
(Sophie Hayden, nominee) - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a MusicalDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a MusicalThe Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical was first awarded at the 1974-1975 Drama Desk Awards and has been awarded every year since...
(Scott Waara, winner) - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a MusicalDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a MusicalThe Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical was first awarded in the 1974-1975 Drama Desk Awards and has subsequently been awarded every year. In the 1993-1994 Drama Desk Awards the award was given under the name of Outstanding Supporting Actress - Musical...
(Liz Larsen, nominee) - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a MusicalDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a MusicalThe Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical was first awarded at the 1974–1975 Drama Desk Awards and has been awarded every year since...
(Gerald Gutierrez, nominee) - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding RevivalDrama Desk Award for Outstanding RevivalThe Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival is presented by the Drama Desk, a committee of New York City theatre critics, writers, and editors. It honors the Broadway, off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway, or legitimate not-for-profit theater revival of a production previously staged in New York City.It...
(nominee) - Theatre World Award (Spiro Malas, winner)