Posted: 12/20/16 at 4:24am
The London production just opened, but thirty-five years ago tonight the show opened on Broadway at the Imperial, where it would run nearly four years and 1,521 performances.
Inspired by showbiz and the struggles of Black performers in the recording industry of the 60's and 70's, the show has gone on to become a modern classic. The original production starred Jennifer Holliday, as well as Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Divine, and was directed/choreographed by Michael Bennett. The physical production was said to have been the most expensive Broadway had ever seen up to that point, with gorgeous Theoni Aldredge costumes, Tharon Musser lighting design and an iconic Robin Wagner set made up of rotating pillars that perfectly suited Bennett's cinematic staging.
The 60s/70s period score was by Henry Kreiger and Tom Eyen, with Harold Wheeler orchestrations and vocal arrangements by original Jimmy Early Cleavant Derricks. David Geffen was a major producer of the show, so he also produced the cast album on his Geffen Records label. Sadly Geffen wouldn't splurge for a double LP so much of the score was left unrecorded.
The show was revived in 1987 (with numerous national tours over the years), and a concert staging in 2001 was the first full recording of the score. A film was released in 2006 that modified the story to make the similarities to the story of The Supremes a bit less veiled.
Did anyone see it back in 1981? Or one of the numerous productions since?
Pre-production shots:
Production Photos:
Original Television Commercial:
Tony Awards Performance (one of the best EVER):
