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

[David10086]

Posted: 8/21/17 at 8:19pm

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?  

[DAME]

Posted: 8/21/17 at 8:28pm

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?  

 

"

I am not 100 percent sure.. but I believe this was at Radio City Music Hall.  But I may be wrong.  

[David10086]

Posted: 8/21/17 at 8:31pm

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? 

[DAME]

Posted: 8/21/17 at 8:32pm

Here is the NYT review. 

http://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/17/theater/stage-sandy-duncan-with-the-rockettes.html?mcubz=0

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/21/17 at 8:32pm

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

[DAME]

Posted: 8/21/17 at 8:33pm

And here is the front of the program.

 

Updated On: 8/21/17 at 08:33 PM

[David10086]

Posted: 8/21/17 at 8:41pm

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]

Posted: 8/21/17 at 8:47pm

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 was 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. 

 

Updated On: 8/21/17 at 08:47 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 8/21/17 at 8:51pm

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

[beaemma]

Posted: 8/21/17 at 9:24pm

I saw it at Radio City Music Hall. It was a musical revue with emphasis on dance. There was old and new music. Don Correia, Bill Irwin, Armelia McQueen, Ken Sacha, Marge Champion, and the Rockettes were also featured. The show was directed and choreographed by Ron Field.

Updated On: 8/21/17 at 09:24 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/21/17 at 10:57pm

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.  

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/22/17 at 12:50am

BrodyFosse123 said: "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."

Oh, thanks for clarifying! Either way, she was spectacular! 

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/22/17 at 5:10am

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.

 

[David10086]

Posted: 8/22/17 at 8:55am

Does anyone know how long "5,6,7,8.." ran for on Broadway? (BTW, is RCMH considered a B'way theater?)

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/22/17 at 9:17am

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.  

[mikey2573]

Posted: 8/22/17 at 1:25pm

I remember this when it opened because I was a huge Sandy Duncan fan after I saw her in PETER PAN (wasn't everyone?). I never saw the show, but I somehow remember seeing footage of her doing some flying ala PETER PAN, only with an airplane flying around her (with her husband in the airplane I think).  It did play Radio City and I think it might have even toured a bit. 

[David10086]

Posted: 8/22/17 at 5:39pm

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!