A few questions on "Steel Pier" — Page 3

On My Favorite Broadway:The Leading Ladies, audiences went crazy with Everybody's Girl (judging from the DVD/CD), was it a number that just didn't work within the context of the show? Or it was staged differently for the one-night performance? I personally loved Debra Monk on this video, she milked the song very well.

---

Loved the show & score. An underappreciated show

---

I remember falling in love with this score as a pre-teen, when I heard it aired on Richard Ouzinian's radio show "Say It With Music" here in Canada. While I know very little about it, I have always hoped that it was reworked and revived.

So my question to you is: Is there a playwright or librettist that you think could fix the book problems, or a director you would trust in keeping the show flowing and active on some level at all times? Any cast suggestions?

Because I have always wanted to see it, and I'm not so sure I'll ever get the chance.

Also can someone describe the sets (or if they have come across pictures thats even better!)

Akiva

So my question to you is: Is there a playwright or librettist that you think could fix the book problems, or a director you would trust in keeping the show flowing and active on some level at all times?

I know some here wil disagree, but (having seen the show) I never thought that direction or casting were major problems.
The biggest liability is the book, and it's not awful but (as mentined in several posts here) needed more work. Maybe STEEL PIER should have been workshopped and opened a year or two later. I am not sure who should revise it. Revising books is tricky and most attempts have failed badly. (Exhibit A: the 2003 FLOWER DRUM SONG!)

Producer Roger Berlind had his hands full with two troubled musicals starting previews and opening in March/April 1997. STEEL PIER was doing better at the box office (averaging 70-80%) while THE LIFE was struggling (40-60%). As summer approached neither show was racking up much in advance sales but THE LIFE had won 2 Tonys (Chuck Cooper, Lilias White) while STEEL PIER won none. Berlind had to put his effrts into one show over the other and (I'm guessing here)he chose THE LIFE because he could advertise those Tony wins.

Because I have always wanted to see it, and I'm not so sure I'll ever get the chance.

You will... there are a lot of regional/community stagings. Here in Toronto the students at Randolph Academy did it 3 summers ago, and several community groups here are considering it for future seasons.

Also can someone describe the sets (or if they have come across pictures thats even better!)

I still have the press kit that was sent to me with several nice b&w pics, plus there are a few colour pics in the booklet that comes with the CD. The most amzing piece was adream/fantasy sequence at the top of Act II where a stunt plane was assembled on a stage-wide elevator. Some f that is preserved on the Tony Telecast. (Did you see the "Everybody Dance" number on the Tonys?)

PM me for more info, Akiva.

---

I particularly love the dance music arrangements, and the instrumental "Rita's Theme" - the love theme, if you will, is just gorgeous. It gives me chills.

Another musical moment that gives me chills is during the instrumental break in the middle of "Willing to Ride" - there's what is sometimes called a "pyramid" of horn notes that build up to the return of the main melody - on stage, the set was changing - the Steel Pier building exterior came in and on each of those horn notes, one of the big letters lit up - S-T-E-E-L P-I-E-R - in time to the music.