Hallelujah, Baby to return

[Auggie27]

Hallelujah, Baby to return#0

Posted: 1/19/04 at 4:56pm

This was a favorite score of mine in high school. Any other fans out there? (MusicMan?) It's got a lot of texture and range, fresh pastiche numbers covering decades, and has some of the strongest romantic ballads ever written in the 60s. "Being Good," and "Talking To Yourself" are lovely songs. But it was a flop, except for igniting Uggams. Ironically, it's Jule Styne's only Tony, if by default. Back it's coming.

I do wonder how the creaky and preachy book -- the black struggle written entirely by white liberals -- can be made to work in 04. I wish it well, but its documentation of evolving racial relations through the years may seem patronizing and quaint. To many, it was patronizing enough in 1968, and Robert Hooks denounced the show, and finally left it. The best solution might be to hire a black writer to overall the book. On the other hand, that approach was tried with FLOWER DRUM SONG, and it thought SONG became PC, it wasn't much fun. And Arthur Laurents is not a man who lets others mess with his words. I'd kill to hear HB done well at Encores. As far as the songs go, truly, they don't write 'em like that anymore.

The show's problems are well-documented in the Arthur Laurents autobiography. It was written for Lena Horne, who had a falling out with A.L. They probably want Heather Headley.

"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

Updated On: 1/19/04 at 04:56 PM

[Al Dente]

re: Hallelujah, Baby to return#1

Posted: 1/19/04 at 7:49pm

when/where?

[iflitifloat]

re: re: Hallelujah, Baby to return#2

Posted: 1/19/04 at 10:06pm

George Street Playhouse in Brunswick, N.J. and Arena Stage in DC...next season.

Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10

[Mr Roxy]

re: re: re: Hallelujah, Baby to return#3

Posted: 1/19/04 at 10:57pm

Saw the original while I was in high school. Just my luck but that night Leslie Uggams was out & her understudy (Freida Payne - whatever happened to her)took over the role. I remember enjoying it. I like the musical numbers ( some of which were in other Jule Styne shows).

Poster Emeritus

[Auggie27]

re: re: re: re: Hallelujah, Baby to return#4

Posted: 1/19/04 at 11:38pm

The "Witches Brew" number is in another Styne show ... damn, which one? ("High Button Shoes"?) I forgot. But you're right. The "HB" overture is catchy, no?

"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

[magruder]

re: re: re: re: re: Hallelujah, Baby to return#5

Posted: 1/20/04 at 5:09am

"Witch's Brew" is the same tune as "Call Me Savage" from Fade Out, Fade In.

And Freyda Payne had a big hit with the song, "Band of Gold".

"Gif me the cobra jool!"

[bob8rich]

re: re: re: re: re: re: Hallelujah, Baby to return#6

Posted: 1/20/04 at 6:41am

I'm a big fan of Jule Styne - and I love this score. ("Not Mine" is one of my all time favorite Jule Styne songs.) As you say, it will be interesting to see how they can make the show work in 2004. I wish them well.

THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***

[alterego]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Hallelujah, Baby to return#7

Posted: 1/20/04 at 7:13am

I bought the CD (from a bargain bin) about two years ago and have had quite a lot of enjoyment from it. One night (about the time I bought the CD) late I was watching "The Best of the Ed Sullivan Show" and on came Leslie Uggams and two dancers doing the title number. I best drag it out again and have another look!

[MasterLcZ]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Hallelujah, Baby to return#8

Posted: 1/20/04 at 9:07am

No offence to Mel, but "Smile, Smile, Smile" has more in-your-face balls and risks to offend more than anything in THE PRODUCERS.

I look forward to see what Laurents does with the show.

"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"

[robbiej]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Hallelujah, Baby to return#9

Posted: 1/20/04 at 11:04am

Master, so true about SMILE SMILE SMILE!

Y'all haven't lived until you've seen a white Jewish girl try to belt the sh*t out of BEING GOOD. It was just too twisted for words!

"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."

[Auggie27]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Hallelujah, Baby to return#10

Posted: 1/20/04 at 12:34pm

Robbiej, now that I've met you, I would pay cash money to hear you perform the title tune. (As an opening in your club act? Perhaps on your night off as Mr. Shaiman's house-person?) You have a Hallelujah, Baby! kinda disposition ... as the italians say, a winning way with the battuta pronta. There are VERY FEW people who can comfortably sing songs with exclamation points in the title. Suffice it to say, you're among 'em.

"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

Updated On: 1/20/04 at 12:34 PM

[robbiej]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Hallelujah, Baby to return#11

Posted: 1/20/04 at 12:38pm

I blush at your too-kind words, Auggie.

"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."