Paint Your Wagon (LA)

[erikaamato]

Posted: 11/14/04 at 10:41pm

Hello!

I have the pleasure of playing two roles (a saucy French madam and a disgruntled Mormon wife) in the Geffen's wonderful new production of Paint Your Wagon, and I really hope any LA-area folks on the board will come out and see it!

We officially open Dec. 1st, but we start Previews Nov 23rd, and the tickets are much less expensive that week. So, if you'd like to come but money is an issue, that's probably your best bet. =)

Hope to see you there!

Best,
Erika

PAINT YOUR WAGON

“Lusty ballads…Roaring tunes…Rowdy bar-room festivity”!
- New York Times

Written by: Alan Jay Lerner and Fredrick Loewe

Adapted by: David Rambo

Directed by: Gilbert Cates

November 23, 2004 – January 9, 2005


World Premiere Adaptation by David Rambo!

On November 23rd, Los Angeles is going to strike it rich! The Geffen Playhouse presents Lerner and Loewe’s rousing gold rush musical “Paint Your Wagon,” with an all new adaptation by David Rambo. The legendary Gil Cates directs this Great American Original at the Brentwood Theatre.

Ben Rumson has come out West to find his fortune. When he strikes gold, people come from all over to join the strike, and the gold is only the beginning of the adventure. When Ben’s daughter Jennifer falls in love with Julio Valveras, a Mexican in search of his own American dream, love becomes more important than money. The Rumson family is faced with choosing between gold and each other. Come along for the American journey where every man has a right to his own dream.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PLAYBILL ARTICLE

"NYPD Blue" and Chicago Star Sharon Lawrence Sings in New Paint Your Wagon
By Ernio Hernandez
03 Nov 2004

"NYPD Blue" actress Sharon Lawrence will star in the Geffen Playhouse staging of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's Paint Your Wagon in a new adaptation by David Rambo.

The revised revival directed by Geffen producing director Gilbert Cates will play at the company's interim home at the Brentwood Theatre, Nov. 23, 2004-January 9, 2005. The official open is set for Dec. 1.

Lerner and Loewe's classic musical set during the California Gold Rush, Paint Your Wagon, comes to life anew via playwright Rambo (God's Man in Texas). The musical follows the "story of a widowed prospector, his 16-year-old daughter, and the boomtown that is created when they find gold," according to a release.

Lawrence — who has appeared on Broadway in Chicago — is featured in a cast that includes Erika Amato, Robert Alan Clink, Janelle Dote, Joe Garcia, Steven Hack, David Jennings, Rob Kahn, Daniel Lujan, Alex Mendoza, Harry S. Murphy, Tracy Powell, Morgan Rusler, Jessica Rush, Ian Shen, Andy Umberger and Tom Wilson.

The musical, featuring a book and lyrics by Lerner with music by Loewe, debuted on Broadway in 1951 with James Barton, Olga San Juan and James Mitchell. The work was later adapted for film in 1969 by Paddy Chayefsky starring Lee Marvin, Jean Seberg and Clint Eastwood. Lerner and Loewe also went on to create the musicals Brigadoon, My Fair Lady, Gigi and Camelot.

The score features songs such as "I'm On My Way," "I Still See Elisa," "They Call The Wind Maria," "There's A Coach Comin' In," "Whoop-Ti-Ay!," "I Talk to the Trees" and "Wand'rin' Star."

Paint Your Wagon will feature choreography by Kay Cole. Musical director Steve Orich provides arrangements and orchestrations. The design team for features Daniel Ionazzi (scenic and lighting), David Kay Mickeleson (costume) and Phil Allen (sound). Grayson Merritt serves as production stage manager.

Tickets to Paint Your Wagon, at the Brentwood Theatre, 11301 Wilshire Boulevard, (on the campus of the Veterans Administration) in Brentwood, CA, are available by calling [phone] or online at www.geffenplayhouse.com.
The Geffen Playhouse

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 11/15/04 at 1:07am

Break a leg!

I'm glad to hear that PAINT YOUR WAGON is getting a production, it doesn't happen very often. There are some real gems in that score, how fun it must be to sing every night! I hope its a smashing success for you.

[eslgr8]

Posted: 11/15/04 at 1:30am

Congratulations Erika. As you know, I'll be there on December 26th. I met Sharon Lawrence at the Pasadena Playhouse last week the very day I PMed you, and told her that I knew you were in the show and how much I was looking forward to seeing it. She said you were a joy to work with. So I wish you a great success in this new adaptation. Now, if we could just have an updated show recording. The only ones are the very old monoral OBC and the movie. Why hasn't anyone re-recorded this as has been done for so many other shows? Perhaps you guys can do this, as they did when the Pasadena Playhouse restaged Do I Hear a Waltz? Maybe you guys can work on this idea???

[erikaamato]

Posted: 11/15/04 at 12:52pm

VeuveClicquot Hello! Yes, and this is a brand-new revival, with an entirely new book, and I really think David Rambo (the playwright) has done an amazing job. The songs are 90% the same. A few cuts, one or two additions. The basic outline of the plot is the same. My characters are expanded a bit from the original, and there's an entirely new character (played by Sharon) to serve as a love interest for Ben Rumson (Tom Wilson from the Back to the Future movies, and just a great actor). Anyway, I hope it goes over as well as we think it will! =)

eslgr8 Great! See you then! And I'm so flattered she said nice things about me. She is a joy, as well. And I will definitely suggest the recording idea. I think if it's a big enough hit, that'll be a real possibility. Updated On: 11/15/04 at 12:52 PM

[_Angel_]

Posted: 11/15/04 at 5:16pm

break a leg erika! this is one show that rarely gets revived. sounds like a great cast! i love "they call the wind maria", one of my favorites.

i didn't know sharon lawrence could sing!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/15/04 at 5:41pm

I love the stage production of Paint Your Wagon! I saw a wonderful production starring Roy Clark years ago and it was just delightful. Have fun with the show!

[erikaamato]

Posted: 11/15/04 at 8:22pm

_Angel_ Thanks! Yes, "Maria" is a gorgeous song. And the guys sound great doing it. And yep, Ms. Lawrence can sing! She's not a powerhouse belter or anything, but she has a very nice voice. She's really quite lovely in the show. =)

Mister Matt Thanks so much!

[dotmarie]

Posted: 11/15/04 at 8:38pm

Hi Erika,
I'm in the LA area and would LOVE to come see you in the show! Sounds like a fantastic production! I'm going to see if I can convince my parents to buy tickets... If I end up going I'll let you know!
Have a blast and best of luck with the show! =)

[erikaamato]

Posted: 11/15/04 at 8:50pm

dotmarie: Definitely let me know! I'd love to say hi afterwards. =)

~E.

[Jon]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 12:57am

I love the title song:

GONNA PAINT YER WAGON
GONNA PAINT IT FINE
GONNA USE OIL-BASED PAINT
CAUSE THE WOOD IS PINE!

[erikaamato]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 1:13am

PONDEROSA PINE! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!

Ummmmmmmmm... That's actually from The Simpsons' parody of the Paint Your Wagon movie w/Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood (which is pretty awful)! hehehe I love that episode, by the way.

The actual title song goes:

Where am I goin'?
I don't know.
Where am I headed?
I ain't certain.
All I know is
I am on my way...

Got a dream, boy?
Got a song?
Paint your wagon
and come along!

[showinoff]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 1:53am

Break a leg from a former julio. I love his music, and as a wife, you have one of the best songs in the show. And you get to speak in a raunchy french accent. we we!

Have a great run!

[Cyndy]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 2:17am

I don't have an exact date yet, but definately plan to come down for the show. Really looking forward to it!

[erikaamato]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 10:51am

showinoff Yeah, I love our Mormon number, et le fait que je peux utiliser un accent français et aussi que je peux parler un peu de français dans ce pièce me plaît beaucoup!

Cyndy Great! I'm looking forward to meeting you!

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 2:00pm

MATT was that the TUTS one? i've heard about it but this was the first objective response to it i've seen...

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 2:09pm

Right on Erika! Rock the sh*t out! I love PAINT YOUR WAGON's score...I hope it's sold out every night with a waiting list a mile long.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 5:12pm

I read in todays NY Post that David Hassellhoff may be auditioning for the lead role in Paint Your Wagon

I just lost my appetite

[erikaamato]

Posted: 12/21/04 at 7:39pm

Mr Roxy: Yeah, the Hasslhoff thing is something the NY producers (who own the rights to the revival), have wanted since the beginning, but our production wasn't interested in using him... But he came to one of our Preview performances on the urging of those original producers, which means if it does go to NY, they'll probably want him in it. :-P

Thanks, Borstalboy! It's been doing really well, thanks. And I'm having a blast. =)