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Wish You Were Here (musical)
Encyclopedia
Wish You Were Here is a musical
with a book by Arthur Kober and Joshua Logan and music and lyrics by Harold Rome. The musical was adapted from Kober's 1937 play, Having Wonderful Time, and revolves around a summer camp for adults.
However, when Chick proposes to Teddy, she turns him down, believing she owes her loyalty to Herman, angering Chick. Teddy enters the bathing beauty contest run by Pinky, but he kisses her, uninvited, and Chick throws him into the pool. Chick leaves with a flirtatious young lady. Pinky comforts Teddy, finally seducing her into spending the night with him--but she passes out. Herman, having forgiven Teddy, and Teddy drive away. But Herman returns with two suitcases, and Teddy falls into Chick's arms. Chick now has the engagement ring, which he gives to Teddy.
Act 2
production opened at the Imperial Theatre on June 25, 1952 and closed on November 28, 1953 after 598 performances. Directed and choreographed by Logan, uncredited show doctoring was by Jerome Robbins
, with scenic and lighting design by Jo Mielziner
. The cast included Patricia Marand
as Teddy Stern, Jack Cassidy
as Chick Miller, Phyllis Newman
as Sarah, Larry Blyden
, Harry Clark as Herman Fabricant, Florence Henderson
, Reid Shelton
, Tom Tryon
, Sheila Bond
as Fay Fromkin, John Perkins as Harry "Muscles" Green, Sidney Armus
, Paul Valentine
, and Sidney Armus as Itchy Flexner. (Original cast member George Lenz is the grandfather of 'One Tree Hill' actress Bethany Joy Lenz.)
The elaborate set included a fully functional swimming pool.
The West End
production opened on October 10, 1953 at the London Casino
, where it ran for 282 performances.
The Equity Library Theater (New York City) off-off-Broadway revival ran in May 1987.
The York Theatre Company Musicals in Mufti series presented their concert version of the show in January 2000.
Eddie Fisher
recorded the title song, and it reached #1 on the charts.
According to Cecil Michener Smith and Glenn Litton (in their book Musical Comedy in America), the original "warmth and unpretentiousness" of the original play were lost in the "monumental stage spectacle. Their new wonder featured a center-stage swimming pool and every other extravagance for which they could invent an excuse:a basketball game... a fire...and a rain storm." The critics, "even the dispassionate ones, growled their disgust." In addition to rewriting the book, they brought Jerome Robbins in to "restage the dances and add a new ballet" and Rome added a new song.
In 1952, the original Broadway cast performed on The Ed Sullivan Show which, at the time, was known as Toast of the Town. This appearance by the cast played a major role in the show's ultimate success. An excerpt from the book, A Really Big Show: A Visual History of the The Ed Sullivan Show (Viking Studio Books), reads as follows: "The musical comedy, Wish You Were Here, was dead in the summer humidity until the producer sent its stars to rescue it on Sullivan. Ed even had one of the show's first sets constructed to accommodate those stars: A replica of a swimming pool, with mirrors to simulate depth. The next day, lines formed early at the theater, the closing notice came down, and Wish You Were Here lasted 587 additional performances" (eleven performances had already taken place).
Wish You Were Here launched the show business career of Florence Henderson
who is best known to the world as Carol Brady (the matriarch) on the long-running ABC-TV sitcom The Brady Bunch
. In her chorus role as "The New Girl" (which she originated), Henderson had but one line to deliver. That one line, which started it all for her, was: "Can I see the game?"
(a retired category).
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 a book by Arthur Kober and Joshua Logan and music and lyrics by Harold Rome. The musical was adapted from Kober's 1937 play, Having Wonderful Time, and revolves around a summer camp for adults.
Synopsis
Camp Karefree is a mountain resort for adults. Teddy Stern, depressed and stressed about her upcoming marriage to Herman Fabricant, a man she doesn't love, arrives on doctor's orders to get rest. She is met by her flirtatious blonde bombshell friend Fay Fromkin. Fay introduces the social director, Itchy, an all-around entertainer, who is her "special friend" ("Social Director"). Fay soon becomes entranced with the new athletic director, Harry Green ("Shopping Around"). Before long, Teddy too finds herself becoming entangled romantically with one of the waiters who is also a dancer, charming law student Chick Miller. Since one of his jobs is to dance with the unattached women, Chick spends the evening with Fay ("Tripping the Light Fantastic").However, when Chick proposes to Teddy, she turns him down, believing she owes her loyalty to Herman, angering Chick. Teddy enters the bathing beauty contest run by Pinky, but he kisses her, uninvited, and Chick throws him into the pool. Chick leaves with a flirtatious young lady. Pinky comforts Teddy, finally seducing her into spending the night with him--but she passes out. Herman, having forgiven Teddy, and Teddy drive away. But Herman returns with two suitcases, and Teddy falls into Chick's arms. Chick now has the engagement ring, which he gives to Teddy.
Songs
Act 1- Camp Karefree - Lou Kandel, Waiters and Ensemble
- Goodbye Love - Teddy Stern, Fay Fromkin and Girls
- Social Director - Itchy Flexner and Ensemble
- Shopping Around - Fay Fromkin
- Bright College Days - Waiters
- Mix and Mingle - Chick Miller and Waiters
- Could Be - Teddy Stern and Girls
- Tripping the Light Fantastic - Ensemble
- (Ballad of a) Social Director (Reprise)- Itchy Flexner and
- Where Did the Night Go? - Chick Miller, Teddy Stern and Ensemble
- Certain Individuals - Fay Fromkin and Ensemble
- They Won't Know Me - Chick Miller
- Summer Afternoon - Pinky Harris and Ensemble
Act 2
- Where Did the Night Go? (Reprise)- Eli and Ensemble
- Don Jose (of Far Rockaway) - Itchy Flexner and Ensemble
- Everybody Love Everybody - Fay Fromkin and Ensemble
- Wish You Were Here - Chick Miller and Waiters
- Relax - Pinky Harris and Teddy Stern
- Where Did the Night Go? (Be-Bop Version)- Fay Fromkin and Ensemble
- Flattery - Teddy Stern and Itchy Flexner
- Finale - Entire Company
Productions
The BroadwayBroadway 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 opened at the Imperial Theatre on June 25, 1952 and closed on November 28, 1953 after 598 performances. Directed and choreographed by Logan, uncredited show doctoring was by Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins was an American theater producer, director, and choreographer known primarily for Broadway Theater and Ballet/Dance, but who also occasionally directed films and directed/produced for television. His work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater...
, with scenic and lighting design 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 cast included Patricia Marand
Patricia Marand
Patricia Marand was an American actress. She was nominated for a 1966 Tony Award for her part as Lois Lane in the musical "It's a Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman". She also appeared in the 1952 musical Wish You Were Here. She was a regular on The Merv Griffin Show.Marand died at the age of...
as Teddy Stern, Jack Cassidy
Jack Cassidy
John Joseph Edward “Jack” Cassidy was an American actor of stage, film and screen.His frequent professional persona was that of an urbane, super-confident egotist with a dramatic flair, much in the manner of Broadway actor Frank Fay...
as Chick Miller, Phyllis Newman
Phyllis Newman
Phyllis Newman is an American actress and singer. She was nominated twice for the Drama Desk Award and won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.-Early life:...
as Sarah, Larry Blyden
Larry Blyden
Larry Blyden was an American actor and game show host, best known for his appearances on Broadway and as the host of the game show What's My Line?-Personal life:...
, Harry Clark as Herman Fabricant, Florence Henderson
Florence Henderson
Florence Agnes Henderson is an American actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her role of Carol Brady on the ABC sitcom The Brady Bunch from 1969 to 1974...
, Reid Shelton
Reid Shelton
Reid Shelton was a Broadway and television actor.He appeared in over 31 TV shows from 1974 to 1990; and 9 Broadway shows from 1952 to 1983....
, Tom Tryon
Tom Tryon
Tom Tryon was an American film and television actor, best known for playing the title role in the film The Cardinal and the Walt Disney television character Texas John Slaughter...
, Sheila Bond
Sheila Bond
Sheila Bond is an American actress, best known for her 1953 Tony Award-winning performance as "Fay Fromkin" in the Broadway musical Wish You Were Here.-Selected appearances:* 1947: Street Scene...
as Fay Fromkin, John Perkins as Harry "Muscles" Green, Sidney Armus
Sidney Armus
Sidney Armus was an American actor.He was born in The Bronx, New York and died in Manhattan, New York of cancer.-External links:...
, Paul Valentine
Valia Valentinoff
Valia Valentinoff was an American dancer, singer,actor and choreographer also known as Val Valentine and Paul Valentine....
, and Sidney Armus as Itchy Flexner. (Original cast member George Lenz is the grandfather of 'One Tree Hill' actress Bethany Joy Lenz.)
The elaborate set included a fully functional swimming pool.
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 opened on October 10, 1953 at the London Casino
Piccadilly Theatre
The Piccadilly Theatre is a West End theatre located at 16 Denman Street, behind Piccadilly Circus and adjacent to the Regent Palace Hotel, in the City of Westminster, England.-Early years:Built by Bertie Crewe and Edward A...
, where it ran for 282 performances.
The Equity Library Theater (New York City) off-off-Broadway revival ran in May 1987.
The York Theatre Company Musicals in Mufti series presented their concert version of the show in January 2000.
Recordings
The original Broadway cast album was released by RCA Victor. Stage Door Records re-issued the Broadway original cast recording in 2008. Sepia Records re-issued the London cast album in 2004 (Sepia 1030).Eddie Fisher
Eddie Fisher
Edward Fisher may refer to:* Ed Fisher , American baseball player* Eddie Fisher , American singer* Eddie Fisher , American player* Ed Fisher , player...
recorded the title song, and it reached #1 on the charts.
Response
Ken Bloom, in his book The Routledge Guide to Broadway wrote that the initial reviews were not positive, and the creative people worked on strengthening the book. As good word-of-mouth built an audience, some critics returned to review the show again, and it had a long run.According to Cecil Michener Smith and Glenn Litton (in their book Musical Comedy in America), the original "warmth and unpretentiousness" of the original play were lost in the "monumental stage spectacle. Their new wonder featured a center-stage swimming pool and every other extravagance for which they could invent an excuse:a basketball game... a fire...and a rain storm." The critics, "even the dispassionate ones, growled their disgust." In addition to rewriting the book, they brought Jerome Robbins in to "restage the dances and add a new ballet" and Rome added a new song.
In 1952, the original Broadway cast performed on The Ed Sullivan Show which, at the time, was known as Toast of the Town. This appearance by the cast played a major role in the show's ultimate success. An excerpt from the book, A Really Big Show: A Visual History of the The Ed Sullivan Show (Viking Studio Books), reads as follows: "The musical comedy, Wish You Were Here, was dead in the summer humidity until the producer sent its stars to rescue it on Sullivan. Ed even had one of the show's first sets constructed to accommodate those stars: A replica of a swimming pool, with mirrors to simulate depth. The next day, lines formed early at the theater, the closing notice came down, and Wish You Were Here lasted 587 additional performances" (eleven performances had already taken place).
Wish You Were Here launched the show business career of Florence Henderson
Florence Henderson
Florence Agnes Henderson is an American actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her role of Carol Brady on the ABC sitcom The Brady Bunch from 1969 to 1974...
who is best known to the world as Carol Brady (the matriarch) on the long-running ABC-TV sitcom The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz and starring Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis. The series revolved around a large blended family...
. In her chorus role as "The New Girl" (which she originated), Henderson had but one line to deliver. That one line, which started it all for her, was: "Can I see the game?"
Awards and nominations
Sheila Bond won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Abe Kurnit won the Tony Award for Best Stage TechnicianTony Award for Best Stage Technician
The Tony Award for Stage Technician was first given in 1948 and was last presented fifteen years later in 1963.-1950s:* 1950: Joe Lynn, master propertyman – Miss Liberty...
(a retired category).