Showtune (musical)
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Showtune is a popular musical revue celebrating the words and music of Broadway composer Jerry Herman. Its name was inspired by Herman's memoir of the same name.
Among Herman's musicals were Milk and Honey (1961), Hello, Dolly! (1964), Mame (1966), Dear World (1969), Mack & Mabel (1974), The Grand Tour (1979), and La Cage aux Folles (1983). He also contributed songs to Ben Franklin in Paris (1964) and A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine (1980).
The forty songs featured in Showtune are juxtaposed into thematic scenes and song cycles, placing a strong emphasis on Herman's lyrics and their optimistic messages. This format helps create sub-texts which give dramatic through-lines to the show, making Showtune unique among musical revues.
Conceived by California architect Paul Gilger, Showtune premiered in 1985 in San Francisco under the title Tune the Grand Up. Subsequently, the revue was produced in London in 1998 by Jennifer Strome with a new title, The Best of Times, first at the Bridewell Theatre and then at the Vaudeville Theatre in the West End theatre district.
In 2003, the revue, now christened Showtune, opened off-Broadway at the York Theatre at St Peter's Church with Martin Vidnovic. Once again it was produced by Strome, in partnership with film producer David Brown.
Showtune is licensed by Music Theatre International in the United States, by Josef Weinberger in England, by Hal Leonard in Australia, and by New International Musicals Inc. in Japan and the Far East.
Because of it's versatility, Showtune is often customized or tweaked, such as storylines or subplots being added on, similar to that of Godspell.
[edit] Song list
Act I
Scene 1
- It's Today! (Mame)
- Big Time (Mack & Mabel)
Scene 2
- We Need a Little Christmas (Mame)
- Put On Your Sunday Clothes (Hello, Dolly!)
Scene 3
- Little More Mascara (La Cage aux Folles)
- The Man In The Moon (Mame)
- I Am What I Am (La Cage aux Folles)
Scene 4
- Song On The Sand - Prelude (La Cage aux Folles)
- I Won't Send Roses (Mack & Mabel)
- Ribbons Down My Back (Hello, Dolly!)
- Dancing (Hello, Dolly!)
- It Takes A Woman (Hello, Dolly!)
- Wherever He Ain't (Mack & Mabel)
- Hundreds Of Girls (Mack & Mabel)
- So Long Dearie (Hello, Dolly!)
- It Takes A Woman - Reprise
- And I Was Beautiful (Dear World)
- Kiss Her Now (Dear World)
- And I Was Beautiful / Kiss Her Now - Counterpoint
- Time Heals Everything (Mack & Mabel)
Scene 5
- Before The Parade Passes By (Hello, Dolly!)
- One Person (Dear World)
- Open A New Window (Mame)
- Counterpoint March
- Before The Parade Passes By - Reprise
Act II
- "Hello, Dolly!" - Entr'acte (Hello, Dolly!)
Scene 1
- Movies Were Movies (Mack & Mabel)
- Look What Happened To Mabel (Mack & Mabel)
- That's How Young I Feel (Mame)
- Look What Happened to Mabel - Reprise
- My Best Girl (Mame)
- Nelson (A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine)
- Just Go To The Movies (A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine)
Scene 2
- It Only Takes A Moment (Hello, Dolly!)
- What Do I Do Now? (Mame)
- Tap Your Troubles Away (Mack & Mabel)
Scene 3
- Bosom Buddies (Mame)
Scene 4
- I Don't Want To Know (Dear World)
- Song On The Sand (La Cage aux Folles)
Scene 5
- Shalom (Milk and Honey)
- I'll Be Here Tomorrow (The Grand Tour)
- If He Walked Into My Life (Mame)
- I Promise You A Happy Ending (Mack & Mabel)
- Mame (Mame)
- The Best of Times (La Cage aux Folles)
- It's Today! - Reprise
Curtain Call
- Hello, Dolly! - Encore
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Showtune review at CurtainUp.com
- Homepage at JerryHerman.com
- List of Jerry Herman musicals and revues at JerryHerman.com
- Showtune page at JerryHerman.com
- Showtune page at JorgePlace.com
- Showtune page at Music Theatre International, United States
- Showtune page at Josef Weinberger, England
- Showtune page at Hal Leonard, Australia
- Showtune page at New International Musicals Inc., Japan and Far East
