Tomorrow Morning
Encyclopedia
Tomorrow Morning is a musical
by British composer
and lyricist
Laurence Mark Wythe
. The story concerns the relationships of two couples separated by a span of time; one couple is getting married, while the other is getting divorced.
The musical was first seen in London in 2006 at the New End Theatre
. It was presented at Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater in Chicago
where it won a 2009 Jeff Award for Best Musical. Further productions have been given, including an Off-Broadway
production by the York Theatre
in 2011. The show has been nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award
for Best Musical, among others.
The show premiered in London in 2006 at the New End Theatre
and was later presented at Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater in Chicago
in 2008. Several changes were made when the show moved to Chicago. The song The Time is Coming was replaced by The Pool Guy, Chapter 17 replaced by Self Portrait and the finale Suddenly by All About Today. The plot was also extensively re-written by Wythe to introduce a pregnancy for the character of Kat. Also, the song Look What We Made was originally sung by the characters of Jack and Catherine, but in Chicago it became a song for the two men, Jack and John, thinking about their son and the son of the future respectively.
An Australian production of the show opened in Melbourne on 1 September 2010 at the Treble Clef Jazz Lounge, directed by Joel Baltaha and later transferred to Chapel of Chapel in downtown Melbourne. A London production played at the Landor Theatre in October 2010 starring Julie Atherton
and Jon Lee
.
An Off-Broadway
production began previews at the York Theatre
in New York City on 21 March 2011, and officially opened on 30 March, in a limited engagement that closed on 23 April 2011. Directed by Tom Mullen, with choreography by Lorin Latarro, it starred D.B. Bonds, Autumn Hurlbert
, Matthew Hydzik and Mary Mossberg. Further extensive changes were made before the production, including the removal of the intermission and cutting the show to eighty minutes. Several songs were removed and two new songs, What it Takes and The Game Show were added. The orchestration was shifted to a more rock-oriented ensemble of piano/drums/guitar/bass, and the plot was developed to include more dramatic story events for Jack and Catherine.
gave the show 3 and a half stars and ranked it in his top 20 shows of 2008. He also called it "A Must See Work" and said "What Could Be Better Value for Money?" Hedy Weiss at the Chicago Sun Times said it was "Deftly Structured" and "Neatly Observed" though she was slightly more muted in her praise of the show, despite having done a full feature on Wythe a few weeks earlier. In London the show received good reviews - The Stage called it "A remarkable collaboration of all round talent"; Whats On Stage.com called it "Witty & Poignant". Laurence Mark Wythe's website. A 2008 production ran at Spirit of Broadway Theatre in Norwich, Connecticut
.
The Off-Broadway production received mixed reviews. Back Stage
praised Wythe but commented: "Though smart and pleasant from moment to moment, the show is lukewarm and unoriginal overall." The New York Post
similarly wrote that the show "conveys the less-than-revelatory message that marriage can lead to divorce." Talkin' Broadway gave the musical a positive review, calling it "Irresistible".
In 2010, Lyn Gardner in The Guardian
said that much of the score for Tomorrow Morning was "sublime, and sublimely delivered". She gave the show three and a half stars. Time Out London gave the show four stars and made it Critics Choice. Michael Coveny in The Independent
had less glowing praise for the show itself but pointed out Wythe's skill as a composer and lyricist and his potential for the future. Paul Vale in The Stage
called the show "thoughtful and intelligent". Mark Shenton, in the Sunday Express http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/207225/Theatre-review-Kim-Catrall-s-homecomingReviews-Antony-And-Cleopatra-Lennon-Departure-Lounge-Tomorrow-Morning-A-number-Reviews-Antony-And-Cleopatra-Lennon-Departure-Lounge-Tomorrow-Morning-A-number-Reviews-Antony-And-Cleopatra-Lennon-Departure-Lounge-Tomorrow-Morning-A-number-Reviews-Antony-And-Cleopatra-Lennon-Departure-Lounge-Tomorrow-Morning-A-number-described the show] as "coolly adult, neatly propelled by an earnest song cycle".
In Australia, Theatrepeople.au wrote: "Due to the delicacy, intelligence and honesty of Wythe’s writing, it may very well be Tomorrow Morning that goes down in posterity as the preeminent work in this expanding, sub-genre of musical theatre".
credited as Executive Producer. The London cast album was recorded at Scratch Records in Surrey, Nigel Wright's studio. Matt Brind is currently the musical director of Legally Blonde
in the West End.
The superior 2010 album was recorded in Evanston, Illinois at Studiomedia Recording in late 2008 and features the Chicago cast. No announcement has been made as to the reason for the delay in releasing this recording.
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...
by British composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
Laurence Mark Wythe
Laurence Mark Wythe
Laurence Mark Wythe is an award winning English composer, lyricist and writer for West End and Off-Broadway musicals. He is principally known for the off-Broadway musical Tomorrow Morning and Through the Door seen in the West End at the Trafalgar Studios starring Julie Atherton...
. The story concerns the relationships of two couples separated by a span of time; one couple is getting married, while the other is getting divorced.
The musical was first seen in London in 2006 at the New End Theatre
New End Theatre
The New End Theatre, Hampstead, was a 80-seat fringe theatre venue in London, England, located in the London Borough of Camden which operated from 1974 until 2011. It was listed widely on the internet, including with the New York Times....
. It was presented at Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater 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...
where it won a 2009 Jeff Award for Best Musical. Further productions have been given, including an Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
production by the York Theatre
York Theatre
The York Theatre is an Off-Broadway theatre at 619 Lexington Avenue at the corner of 54th Street in the East Midtown section of Manhattan, New York City. It is dedicated to the production of new musicals and concert productions of forgotten musicals from the past. Each season consists of three or...
in 2011. The show has been nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award
Outer Critics Circle Award
The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on and Off-Broadway and were begun during the 1949-1950 theater season. The awards are decided upon by theater critics who review for out-of-town newspapers, national publications, and other media outlets...
for Best Musical, among others.
Plot
Two couples are separated by a span of time. Jack and Catherine, who are in their late 30s, are getting divorced. John and Kat, who are in their 20s, are getting married. On the eve of their wedding, Kat finds out that she is pregnant. When she informs Jack, he walks out on her. Catherine and John argue about their divorce settlement. Adam, their 10-year-old son, disappears, causing the couple to realize that they still care for each other. It turns out that the two couples are the same people: John and Kat are Jack and Catherine's memories of their younger selves. Jack returns to Kat, and John and Catherine reconcile, as love conquers all.Productions
Over the years 2002 to 2006, the musical had development workshops supported by Mercury Musical Developments and West End producer Hilary A. Williams. The show was showcased at Theatre Building Chicago's Stages Festival of New Musicals in 2007.The show premiered in London in 2006 at the New End Theatre
New End Theatre
The New End Theatre, Hampstead, was a 80-seat fringe theatre venue in London, England, located in the London Borough of Camden which operated from 1974 until 2011. It was listed widely on the internet, including with the New York Times....
and was later presented at Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater 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...
in 2008. Several changes were made when the show moved to Chicago. The song The Time is Coming was replaced by The Pool Guy, Chapter 17 replaced by Self Portrait and the finale Suddenly by All About Today. The plot was also extensively re-written by Wythe to introduce a pregnancy for the character of Kat. Also, the song Look What We Made was originally sung by the characters of Jack and Catherine, but in Chicago it became a song for the two men, Jack and John, thinking about their son and the son of the future respectively.
An Australian production of the show opened in Melbourne on 1 September 2010 at the Treble Clef Jazz Lounge, directed by Joel Baltaha and later transferred to Chapel of Chapel in downtown Melbourne. A London production played at the Landor Theatre in October 2010 starring Julie Atherton
Julie Atherton
Julie Atherton is a British actress, who is best known for her work on stage. On the 3rd of October 2009 she finished playing the roles of Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut in the West End production Avenue Q. She released her debut album, A Girl of Few Words on 2 October 2006...
and Jon Lee
Jon Lee
Jon Lee was the original drummer for the successful British rock band Feeder. He died by suicide in 2002.- Biography :Lee was born to Patricia and Norman Lee in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, where he also grew up...
.
An Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
production began previews at the York Theatre
York Theatre
The York Theatre is an Off-Broadway theatre at 619 Lexington Avenue at the corner of 54th Street in the East Midtown section of Manhattan, New York City. It is dedicated to the production of new musicals and concert productions of forgotten musicals from the past. Each season consists of three or...
in New York City on 21 March 2011, and officially opened on 30 March, in a limited engagement that closed on 23 April 2011. Directed by Tom Mullen, with choreography by Lorin Latarro, it starred D.B. Bonds, Autumn Hurlbert
Autumn Hurlbert
Autumn Hurlbert is an American actress, singer, and dancer known best as the runner up on the reality competition series Legally Blonde - The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods...
, Matthew Hydzik and Mary Mossberg. Further extensive changes were made before the production, including the removal of the intermission and cutting the show to eighty minutes. Several songs were removed and two new songs, What it Takes and The Game Show were added. The orchestration was shifted to a more rock-oriented ensemble of piano/drums/guitar/bass, and the plot was developed to include more dramatic story events for Jack and Catherine.
Critical Reception
The critics were mostly very favorable to the show in Chicago, where Chris Jones of the Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
gave the show 3 and a half stars and ranked it in his top 20 shows of 2008. He also called it "A Must See Work" and said "What Could Be Better Value for Money?" Hedy Weiss at the Chicago Sun Times said it was "Deftly Structured" and "Neatly Observed" though she was slightly more muted in her praise of the show, despite having done a full feature on Wythe a few weeks earlier. In London the show received good reviews - The Stage called it "A remarkable collaboration of all round talent"; Whats On Stage.com called it "Witty & Poignant". Laurence Mark Wythe's website. A 2008 production ran at Spirit of Broadway Theatre in Norwich, Connecticut
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
.
The Off-Broadway production received mixed reviews. Back Stage
Back Stage
Back Stage is an entertainment-industry brand aimed at people working in film and the performing arts, with a special focus on casting, job opportunities, and career advice.Back Stage publishes a weekly tabloid-sized trade magazine in the U.S...
praised Wythe but commented: "Though smart and pleasant from moment to moment, the show is lukewarm and unoriginal overall." The New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
similarly wrote that the show "conveys the less-than-revelatory message that marriage can lead to divorce." Talkin' Broadway gave the musical a positive review, calling it "Irresistible".
In 2010, Lyn Gardner in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
said that much of the score for Tomorrow Morning was "sublime, and sublimely delivered". She gave the show three and a half stars. Time Out London gave the show four stars and made it Critics Choice. Michael Coveny in The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
had less glowing praise for the show itself but pointed out Wythe's skill as a composer and lyricist and his potential for the future. Paul Vale in The Stage
The Stage
The Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
called the show "thoughtful and intelligent". Mark Shenton, in the Sunday Express http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/207225/Theatre-review-Kim-Catrall-s-homecomingReviews-Antony-And-Cleopatra-Lennon-Departure-Lounge-Tomorrow-Morning-A-number-Reviews-Antony-And-Cleopatra-Lennon-Departure-Lounge-Tomorrow-Morning-A-number-Reviews-Antony-And-Cleopatra-Lennon-Departure-Lounge-Tomorrow-Morning-A-number-Reviews-Antony-And-Cleopatra-Lennon-Departure-Lounge-Tomorrow-Morning-A-number-described the show] as "coolly adult, neatly propelled by an earnest song cycle".
In Australia, Theatrepeople.au wrote: "Due to the delicacy, intelligence and honesty of Wythe’s writing, it may very well be Tomorrow Morning that goes down in posterity as the preeminent work in this expanding, sub-genre of musical theatre".
Casting
| Kat | John | Catherine | Jack | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 London | Emma Williams Emma Williams (actress) Emma Williams is a British actress. After, going to North Halifax Grammar School and studying at the Stage84 stage school in Idle, West Yorkshire, she has had a successful career in TV, film and on stage.... |
Stephen Ashfield Stephen Ashfield Stephen Ashfield is a British actor. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and since graduating from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Music in London, he has enjoyed a successful stage career... |
Annette McLaughlin | Alastair Robins |
| 2008 Connecticut | Courtney Rioux | Jeremy Jonet | Lisa Foss | Frank Calamaro |
| 2008 Chicago | Emily Thompson | Michael Mahler | Charissa Armon | Jonathan Rayson |
| 2010–2011 Australia | Krystal Shute | Jonathan Guthrie-Jones | Natasha Bassett | Blake Testro |
| 2010 London | Julie Atherton Julie Atherton Julie Atherton is a British actress, who is best known for her work on stage. On the 3rd of October 2009 she finished playing the roles of Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut in the West End production Avenue Q. She released her debut album, A Girl of Few Words on 2 October 2006... |
Jon Lee Jon Lee Jon Lee was the original drummer for the successful British rock band Feeder. He died by suicide in 2002.- Biography :Lee was born to Patricia and Norman Lee in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, where he also grew up... |
Yvette Robinson | Grant Neal |
| 2011 New York City | Autumn Hurlbert Autumn Hurlbert Autumn Hurlbert is an American actress, singer, and dancer known best as the runner up on the reality competition series Legally Blonde - The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods... |
Matt Hydzik | Mary Mossberg | DB Bonds |
Recordings
The Original London Cast album is release on the Dress Circle label. The US cast album was released on 1 March 2010. Both albums are produced by the composer, though Matt Brind is credited as co-producer on the 2006 album, with Nigel WrightNigel Wright
Nigel Wright is a record producer from England. His career as music producer, orchestrator and songwriter has scored five Number one singles, 31 Top 20 singles and a string of platinum albums with recording artists as diverse as Madonna, Shakatak, Mezzoforte, Barbra Streisand, Boyzone, Sonia,...
credited as Executive Producer. The London cast album was recorded at Scratch Records in Surrey, Nigel Wright's studio. Matt Brind is currently the musical director of Legally Blonde
Legally Blonde (musical)
Legally Blonde is a musical with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach. The story is based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film of the same name. It tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to...
in the West End.
The superior 2010 album was recorded in Evanston, Illinois at Studiomedia Recording in late 2008 and features the Chicago cast. No announcement has been made as to the reason for the delay in releasing this recording.
Awards
- 2009 Jeff Awards, Chicago - Best Musical (midsize) (Winner)
- 2009 2009 Jeff Awards Chicago - Best Artistic Specialization (Winner)
- 2011 Outer Critics Circle Awards - Outstanding New Off Broadway Musical (Nominee)