by the time I saw this on B'Way I got to see it with Diana Canova and Ted Wass (both of "SOAP" fame)...I loved both of them....heck, it's still one of my favorites shows. Still one of my favorite cast recordings and I don't fast forward through any of the songs.
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I still hope someone coinsiders a revival of this show. I think there's no other show like it currently playing and I would imagine that it's relatively cheap to produce. It's a completely delightful evening of theatre. I wonder if any names would be interested in doing...say...6 months stints in the show? It would be neat to see a revolving cast of folks paired up.
One of the first shows I ever saw on Broadway, at the time with Tony Roberts and Anita Gillette..but here's the kicker, I know that at one time it was on Columbia's release schedule as a movie reuniting formerly married Elliott Gould and Barbra Streisand
As I had mentioned before Lucie stated there have been talks of a short revival or benefit with the Orginal stars..Lets keep our fingers crossed and see if that happens.
In the mid 1980's there was to have been a production in Hawaii with Lucie and Lawrence Luckinbill. This was going to be taped for television but it never eventuated.
Wouldnt it be interesting instead of remaking broadway movies like Cinderella, South Pacific,Bye Bye Birdie and Annie they take a chance and make a TV Movie on a show that never had a movie or televison special made? Like THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG. Maybe Lucie and Robert Klein would do that. I know I would watch it!
This thread is bringing back a flood of wonderful memories. I wish someone would write a show for Lucie A. She is such a pro and so captivating on stage. She deserves a great vehicle.
I think it would be fine to cast Arnaz and Klein in a concert version even though they're quite a bit older now - I mean, Reba is old enough to be Nellie's grandmother!
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
Happened to be browsing this thread about PLAYING OUR SONG
I was the original MD of the show. Fran Liebergall was asst MD/pianist and became music supervisor when I left the show to MD EVITA on the West Coast.
Eydie Gorme was brought in to do the last few notes on WHEN YOUR IN MY ARMS after the orchestra was recorded and after Lucie Arnaz recorded the song. Just to replace the last WHEN YOUR IN MY ARMS That is Eydie on the recording. . and was present at her recording. On the final encore of THEYRE PLAYING OUR SONG with the alter egos the sound of the egos playing the kybds wasn't together.... I sat on the floor of the old Record Plant studios on Melrose Ave in Los Angeles and played the toy pianos myself... one under each hand.... and then recorded it over again at least two more times to replace the tracks of the "kids" playing the pianos which was not together. In addition...the toy pianos were 1/2 tone off and had to play it a 1/2 tone higher to sound in the proper key.
The original understudies for Klein and Arnaz were John Gets and Mimi Kennedy who never went on to my knowledge. I hired both Rhonda Farer and Donna Murphy as replacements and Rhonda was hired to cover Lucie and eventually took over the role for a short while.
I left the show to do Evita in Los Angeles with Loni Ackerman Robert Klein stayed one week longer than I and was replaced by Tony Roberts who I coached for the role. The national tour opened in Chicago with Victor Garber and Ellen Greene who was later replaced by Marsha Skaggs. The bus and truck opened with Lorna Luft and I think, Richard Ryder. The bus and truck was reorchestrated by me without strings. I believe that orchestration was used for Westbury and subsequent productions without strings. there have been discussion about reviving the show with the ORIGINAL CAST and I was asked by Lucie Arnaz if I'd be interested in conducting it, if there was to be a production. I think it unlikely, but a nice idea. It was a fun show at the time...and very much like PROMISES PROMISES in 1968 really sounded fresh in the theatre the year it opened...1979 It would seem clearly dated if not revised
So who has foreign cast albums of this show. I have Broadway, London, Australian and Italian(!). I know that there are (were) German and South African. Does anyone here have them?
I never got to see this show but I do know of it. How can I forget those endless television commercials for it when it first opened with that catchy theme song. I wish they would revive it just so that I could go see it. Simon is one of my favorite playwrights, I had no idea he wrote this or Promises, Promises for that matter. So many talented performers got to do this show. This has been a fascinating thread to read. It's obvious many here have alot of love for this show.
I'm now thinking of purchasing the OBC recording.
"I'm only 17 and am running on 6 cups of coffee so, forgive me if things that I post seem spastic." ~ Elphaba 43