Wonderworld (musical)
Encyclopedia
Wonderworld is a musical
with lyrics by Stanley Styne and music by Jule Styne
written specifically for presentation at the 1964 New York World's Fair
's huge 11,000-seat amphitheatre
. The large-scale "aqua-stage spectacle" used 250 performers and starred Chita Rivera
. The expensive show filed for bankruptcy
after two months.
. With admission prices ranging from $1.00 to $3.00, the $2 million production was presented four times a day Monday through Thursdays and five times a day on Saturdays and Sundays in the 11,000-seat Art Deco
amphitheatre
constructed for the 1939 New York World's Fair
. It used 250 performers, including Chita Rivera
alternating with Gretchen Wyler
, and Ted Scott. The choreographer and assistant director was Michael Kidd
.
Billed as an "aqua-stage spectacle", the 90-minute production opened in May 1964. It involved high divers, motorcycles, clowns, a sportscar ballet, a man propelled by a rocket and elaborate water scenes staged in the pool with a "giant waterfall". The Fair's official description of the musical noted: "The new production takes place on a turntable 75 feet in diameter, one of the largest in the world; in a swimming pool in front of the stage; and on movable platforms that shuttle back and forth over the pool. On either side of the stage are acoustical shells for an orchestra and choral groups."
The costume designer for the show was Alvin Colt
. He commented that Leonidoff had the designs done in Paris, France by Erte, but when they arrived, Kidd said that he could not use them, stating "They can't dance in these. For instance, I'm doing a sports number and Erte's idea about a girl playing tennis was to put a headdress on her with tennis balls and rackets." Colt went on to say that Wonderworld was "full of crazy things, some quite unbelievable: a water ballet with costumes full of electric lights ... hundreds of dancers, swimmers, singers, clowns, and so forth, and scores of costumes."
Songs in the show included "Wonderworld" and "Welcome". A bankruptcy
petition was filed at the end of June 1964, and the show received 250 performances before closing the week of July 6 due to poor business at the Fair's Lake Amusement Area. It lost $2,500,000. Max Allentuck, the General Manager of the Fair, said he "big production wasn't working" and they wanted to try a different kind of show. A 50-minute comedy-song show with a cast of 20 replaced it. None of the Wonderworld principals were involved in the new show.
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 by Stanley Styne and music by Jule Styne
Jule Styne
Jule Styne was a British-born American songwriter especially famous for a series of Broadway musicals, which included several very well known and frequently revived shows.-Early life:...
written specifically for presentation at the 1964 New York World's Fair
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
's huge 11,000-seat amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
. The large-scale "aqua-stage spectacle" used 250 performers and starred Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera is an American actress, dancer, and singer best known for her roles in musical theater. She is the first Hispanic woman to receive a Kennedy Center Honors award...
. The expensive show filed for bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
after two months.
History
The production was conceived and staged by Leon Leonidoff, a senior producer at Radio City Music HallRadio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
. With admission prices ranging from $1.00 to $3.00, the $2 million production was presented four times a day Monday through Thursdays and five times a day on Saturdays and Sundays in the 11,000-seat Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
constructed for the 1939 New York World's Fair
1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
. It used 250 performers, including Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera is an American actress, dancer, and singer best known for her roles in musical theater. She is the first Hispanic woman to receive a Kennedy Center Honors award...
alternating with Gretchen Wyler
Gretchen Wyler
Gretchen Wyler was an American actress and founder of the Genesis Awards for animal protection.-Early life:...
, and Ted Scott. The choreographer and assistant director was Michael Kidd
Michael Kidd
Michael Kidd was an American film and stage choreographer.-Life and career:Born Milton Greenwald in New York City on the Lower East Side, the son of Abraham Greenwald, an immigrant barber, and his wife Lillian, Michael Kidd moved to Brooklyn with his family and attended New Utrecht High School there...
.
Billed as an "aqua-stage spectacle", the 90-minute production opened in May 1964. It involved high divers, motorcycles, clowns, a sportscar ballet, a man propelled by a rocket and elaborate water scenes staged in the pool with a "giant waterfall". The Fair's official description of the musical noted: "The new production takes place on a turntable 75 feet in diameter, one of the largest in the world; in a swimming pool in front of the stage; and on movable platforms that shuttle back and forth over the pool. On either side of the stage are acoustical shells for an orchestra and choral groups."
The costume designer for the show was Alvin Colt
Alvin Colt
Alvin Colt was an American costume designer. Colt worked on over 50 Broadway shows.His first job was in a theatrical fabric house, he also worked on painting scenery during the summer. On the Town was the first Broadway show he worked on in 1944...
. He commented that Leonidoff had the designs done in Paris, France by Erte, but when they arrived, Kidd said that he could not use them, stating "They can't dance in these. For instance, I'm doing a sports number and Erte's idea about a girl playing tennis was to put a headdress on her with tennis balls and rackets." Colt went on to say that Wonderworld was "full of crazy things, some quite unbelievable: a water ballet with costumes full of electric lights ... hundreds of dancers, swimmers, singers, clowns, and so forth, and scores of costumes."
Songs in the show included "Wonderworld" and "Welcome". A bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
petition was filed at the end of June 1964, and the show received 250 performances before closing the week of July 6 due to poor business at the Fair's Lake Amusement Area. It lost $2,500,000. Max Allentuck, the General Manager of the Fair, said he "big production wasn't working" and they wanted to try a different kind of show. A 50-minute comedy-song show with a cast of 20 replaced it. None of the Wonderworld principals were involved in the new show.