Manilow & Sussman's 'Copacabana' The Musical

[KrupYou]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 7:06am

With all that Taylor Swift Showgirl news - I've been listening to the London cast album of the most famous showgirl in pop culture - Lola.

It is FANTASTIC. 

I think it could be a huge hit with tourists and folks that love old-fashioned musical theatre on Broadway.....

Imagine what Jerry Mitchell or Casey or Michael Arden could do with this? Stunt casting could be a riot. Rico, Tony. Lola.....

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 7:46am

I believe the US tour was aiming for Broadway but it never came to pass. I wonder if there have been efforts since then.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 8:35am

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 10:50am

The first iteration of this musical was a 1985 CBS-TV movie version written by James Lipton. It featured songs by Barry Manilow, Bruce Sussman, and Jack Feldman and starred Barry Manilow, Annette O'Toole, Estelle Getty, and Joseph Bologna. Waris Hussein directed it.

Here is a clip of Annette O'Toole as "Lola" performing "Man Wanted": 

 

 

 

 

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 1:33pm

Saw this in Denver when it did that tour back in 2000-2001. I enjoyed it.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 3:57pm

 

[KrupYou]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 4:20pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_Dmxwugh5s&list=RDe_Dmxwugh5s&start_radio=1

I think Death Becomes Her borrowed the costumes......lol 

Updated On: 8/14/25 at 04:20 PM

[lapinitsa]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 4:28pm

I had a friend in the US tour and she told me the authors had a clause in their deal that prevented any production to occur within x-miles of NYC. She said they wanted HARMONY to be their first Broadway show. Well, that restriction is gone now so maybe it could happen.

I saw it in Hartford--the closest it got to NYC--and liked it a lot. I also saw it in London at The Prince of Wales where it ran for 2 years-plus and toured for another 2. So there's an audience for it. The London Cast Album is a lot of fun.

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/14/25 at 5:46pm

I do love the song “Dancin’ Fool” quite a bit, but “Copacabana” has become more or less a novelty song from a bygone era, especially now that “Oh, Mary” has made use of that song to brilliant comic effect.

Ultimately, the big selling point is going to be “Score by Barry Manilow” over the plot, which is basically the origin story behind the song itself. While he is well respected and prolific songwriter, that alone couldn’t prevent HARMONY from a quick demise. Manilow’s fan base is generally, give or take, plus minus 15-20 years of his age (82). If they wanted to bring it to Broadway, I think the time had long since passed where it would be of any remote interest to the general public.