Fish-directed MOST HAPPY IN CONCERT cast announced

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 6/9/21 at 11:47am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tina-Fabrique-Mary-Testa-and-More-to-Star-in-MOST-HAPPY-IN-CONCERT-Presented-by-Bard-SummerScape-20210609

Bard Summerscape today announced casting for Most Happy in Concert, a setting of Frank Loesser's songs for The Most Happy Fella from director Daniel Fish and arrangers Daniel Kluger and Nathan Koci, who previously collaborated on the Tony Award-winning production of Oklahoma! that originated at Bard Summerscape in 2015. The live-in-person performances take place on the evenings of August 5, 6, and 7 on an outdoor stage being constructed at Bard's Montgomery Place campus on the Hudson River.

A meditation on the desire for human connection, made only more poignant by the isolation of the past year, Most Happy in Concert is conceived and directed by Daniel Fish and features music arrangements by Daniel Kluger and Nathan Koci, vocal arrangements by Nathan Koci and Daniel Fish, and orchestrations by Daniel Kluger.

Of Most Happy in Concert, Fish explains, "The need to be seen, to be heard, to be recognized shakes itself free from traditional storytelling to emerge in the primal act of song. What happens when, out of stasis, the need to scream becomes a song? What occurs in people when they allow music to work on them and possess them? The answers lie in the singing of Loesser's extraordinary songs, including 'Warm All Over,' 'Standing on the Corner,' 'Somebody Somewhere,' and 'My Heart Is So Full of You.' In this concert setting, plot fades away and a different kind of story emerges-one made of raw human emotion expressed in song and persona."

Most Happy in Concert, a cast of seven female and non-binary vocalists, backed by a 13-piece instrumental ensemble comprised of Grammy-nominated members from The Resonance Collective Jazz Orchestra, performs songs from the work: Mikaela Bennett (Acquanetta at ProtoType, Renascence), Tina Fabrique (Ragtime, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), Jules Latimer (Paris, Angela's Mixtape), Erin Markey (Peter Pan at Bard Summerscape, Dr. Ride's American Beach House), April Matthis (Toni Stone, Gatz), Mallory Portnoy (Oklahoma! At Bard Summerscape, St. Ann's Warehouse, and on Broadway, Privacy), and three-time Tony nominee Mary Testa (Oklahoma! At Bard Summerscape, St. Ann's Warehouse, and on Broadway, Guys and Dolls).

[suzycat]

Posted: 6/9/21 at 8:31pm

Looking forward to this!

[Someday]

Posted: 6/10/21 at 9:14am

I’m guessing Mary Testa will sing Tony? If so – wow, sign me up. She’s always great.

[cjmclaughlin10]

Posted: 6/10/21 at 11:17am

All sold out! If anyone has an extra small pod (or space in a pod since I’m only 1 person) they are looking to sell, id be very interested in purchasing

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 3/15/22 at 10:14am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Williamstown-Theatre-Festival-Announces-2022-Summer-Season-20220315

The production will be a part of the new Williamstown season. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/15/22 at 11:21am

Interesting. Jesse Green in the NYT was really not a fan (more discussion of the show here) so will be interesting to see if Fish does any drastic reimaginings.

Also interesting that Williamstown has basically cut their season in half in the name of equitability.

[Sauja]

Posted: 3/15/22 at 11:08pm

Were the three shows today their entire season? Meaning the only main stage show is the Daniel Fish Most Happy, which was presented as a baffling 55 minute concert at Bard last summer? I'm very confused. If they need to get their house in order, it almost feels like they should have just taken a year off to regroup.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/15/22 at 11:29pm

The press release makes it sound like those are the only 3 shows of the season.

It sounds like MH will be more fleshed-out than at Bard? "This fully staged production, featuring choreography by Jawole Jo Willa Zillar"

They can't get the house in order without some trial and error, so this year is no doubt a way for them to troubleshoot and figure out how to run a smoother, more equitable operation. And maybe one of the takeaways will be them saying "ok, we succeeded with 3, maybe we can add another show or two in 2023."

All the other Berkshire theatres must be thrilled that Williamstown won't be pulling eyeballs en masse this summer.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/1/22 at 9:52am

https://fb.watch/d_Jncni5Pw/

Director Daniel Fish and Choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar share their vision for the Main Stage musical event MOST HAPPY IN CONCERT! 

Most Happy in Concert begins performances on July 13.

[George in DC]

Posted: 7/1/22 at 11:36am

I wish someone would actually revive "The Most Happy Fella". It's a beautiful piece.

As for this, I wish them all the best but I would not go to this even if given a ticket.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/1/22 at 11:55am

This sounds absolutely wonderful. Jealous of the people who snagged tickets! 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/1/22 at 12:17pm

George in DC said: "I wish someone would actually revive "The Most Happy Fella". It's a beautiful piece.

As for this, I wish them all the best but I would not go to this even if given a ticket."


Agreed. It’s a great score, but based on what I’ve read about the production (including the reviews of its premiere a while back), I’m not sure what the point of this concert is other than to showcase some pretty love songs. Why not just…do the actual show? I sense Williamstown is reviving this failed experiment mostly for budgetary reasons - seven actors, minimal physical production, etc. - although I can’t imagine this drawing much of an audience. What an odd choice.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 7/13/22 at 4:19pm

 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 7/13/22 at 4:20pm

 

[Sauja]

Posted: 7/13/22 at 4:36pm

I’m SO curious to hear reports of what actually ends up on stage. The Bard event was so completely and utterly baffling that I genuinely couldn’t understand what they were going for. It wasn’t just a celebration of the music. They deliberately avoided applause breaks and worked hard to make sure the music continued without clearly delineating different songs. The cast seemed to dip in and out of various roles without rhyme or reason. And so I’m genuinely curious if that incredibly short musical piece was a workshop for various pieces of the project or if that was genuinely reflective of what they’re going for. If anyone sees it, PLEASE report back!