1983 Sandy Duncan musical "5,6,7,8..."?

Last weekend, I DVRd a repeat of The Merv Griffin Show on 'getTV' which originally aired June 23, 1983. He aired his show that week from NYC at the 'Ed Sullivan Theater'.

One guest on the show was Sandy Duncan, who was opening in a musical titled "5,6,7,8..." Griffin said he had seen the show a few nights before, and Duncan quipped something like 'Good for you - you saved money and saw it in previews'. She mentioned this was her return to Broadway after being missing for some time as she was trying to start a family and had given birth to her son back in the fall, and wanted to be home with him for a little while.

What's strange is I can't find anything at all on this musical. (I believe he said it was at the St. James Theater, but I could be wrong on that). I know the title was '5,6,7,8...' and it starred Duncan and it was about to open. Does anyone have any info on this?

I just saw something on Wiki that says the correct title is "5,6,7,8....DANCE!" and opened in 1984, but they have no info on it. And I think you're right - he did say it was opening at RMH.

So maybe it went through some writes and rewrites between when Griffin saw it in previews and it finally opened?

David10086 said: "Last weekend, I DVRd a repeat of The Merv Griffin Show on 'getTV' which originally aired June 23, 1983. He aired his show that week from NYC at the 'Ed Sullivan Theater'.

One guest on the show was Sandy Duncan, who was opening in a musical titled "5,6,7,8..." Griffin said he had seen the show a few nights before, and Duncan quipped something like 'Good for you - you saved money and saw it in previews'. She mentioned this was her return to Broadway after being missing for some time as she was trying to start a family and had given birth to her son back in the fall, and wanted to be home with him for a little while.

What's strange is I can't find anything at all on this musical. (I believe he said it was at the St. James Theater, but I could be wrong on that). I know the title was '5,6,7,8...' and it starred Duncan and it was about to open. Does anyone have any info on this? "

It's listed in her theater history, but no link to a page for it suggesting it didn't play long. I don't think it played at St. James as it opened in 1984 and My One and Only opened at the St. James in May 1983 and ran for two years. Sandy apparently was also in that, but not sure when she joined the cast, but she was a replacement.

"5,6,7,8... isn't listed on the St. James Wikipedia page.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Duncan

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._James_Theatre

Updated On: 8/21/17 at 08:32 PM

Wow - thanks DAME and Miles! What detectives...the program also says 7/22/83, so I guess it did open then. And the TIMES review is from 6-17-13. (Very well could be Griffin taped his show a week in advance before airing, which was common then.) Interesting...

So it was more of a dance revue than a musical, I guess? Griffin and Duncan referred to it as a musical, though.

BTW - the same episode introduced 19 year old Whitney Houston to the world. She was very nervous, but a true star when she sang "HOME" from 'The Wiz'. Griffin told the audience she - who just signed with Clive Davis a few weeks prior - was going to be a major star.

Miles2Go2 said: "David10086 said: "Wow - thanks DAME and Miles! What detectives...the program also says 7/22/83, so I guess it did open then. And the TIMES review is from 6-17-13. (Very well could be Griffin taped his show a week in advance before airing, which was common then.) Interesting...

So it was more of a dance revue than a musical, I guess? Griffin and Duncan referred to it as a musical, though.

BTW - the same episode introduced 19 year old Whitney Houston to the world. She was very nervous, but a true star when she sang "HOME" from 'The Wiz'. Griffin told the audience she - who just signed with Clive Davis a few weeks prior - was going to be a major star."



Wow. Whitney. So sad how things turned out for her. She was a major star.

On a happier note, the second touring Broadway production I saw Chicago. I admit I didn't know much about Sandy Duncan but she was scheduled to play the Roxie Hart role. I honestly wasn't that excited because I was ignorant of her Broadway history. All I knew her as was Peter Pan and from some sitcoms. I also knew she had a glass eye. That was literally probably all I knew about her. She was amazing!!! Totally blew me away. After that, I couldn't get enough of the different touring productions. It would be many years before I was able to come to New York City and see productions on Broadway.


Sandy in Chicago


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9Hu368bV8I

Updated On: 8/21/17 at 08:51 PM

I also knew she had a glass eye.

Urban myth. She had a brain tumor removed in the early 1970s and lost sight in one eye. She still has both eyes only one is blind.

DAME said: "Miles2Go2 said: "David10086 said: "Wow - thanks DAME and Miles! What detectives...the program also says 7/22/83, so I guess it did open then. And the TIMES review is from 6-17-13. (Very well could be Griffin taped his show a week in advance before airing, which was common then.) Interesting...

So it was more of a dance revue than a musical, I guess? Griffin and Duncan referred to it as a musical, though.

BTW - the same episode introduced 19 year old Whitney Houston to the world. She was very nervous, but a true star when she sang "HOME" from 'The Wiz'. Griffin told the audience she - who just signed with Clive Davis a few weeks prior - was going to be a major star."



Wow. Whitney. So sad how things turned out for her. She was a major star.

On a happier note, the second touring Broadway production I saw Chicago. I admit I didn't know much about Sandy Duncan but she was scheduled to play the Roxie Hart role. I honestly wasn't that excited because I was ignorant of her Broadway history. All I knew her as was Peter Pan and from some sitcoms. I also knew she had a glass eye. That was literally probably all I knew about her. She was amazing!!! Totally blew me away. After that, I couldn't get enough of the different touring productions. It would be many years before I was able to come to New York City and see productions on Broadway.


Sandy in Chicago


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9Hu368bV8I



I have never seen this footage. She's amazing! I remember her from her Wheat Thins commercials in the early 70's.

The show/revue ran from June 15 to September 5, 1983.

And no, Radio City Music Hall productions are not considered Broadway. If so, thousands of musical artists would have ALL have already made their Broadway debuts, including stand-up comics, magicians, etc.

BrodyFosse123 said: "The show/revue ran from June 15 to September 5, 1983.

And no, Radio City Music Hall productions are not considered Broadway. If so, thousands of musical artists would have ALL have already made their Broadway debuts, including stand-up comics, magicians, etc. "



Thank You for the info!