Hallelujah, Baby to return

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.

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

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

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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