Riedel source calls Kander & Ebb's Scottsboro Boys a winner

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/31/09 at 6:57am

FRED Ebb, the great lyricist of "Chicago" and "Cabaret," died in 2004.

But he left several unfinished shows at which his longtime writing partner, composer John Kander, kept plugging away.

There was "All About Us," which opened at the Westport Country Playhouse in 2007. It had some good songs, but it wasn't top-drawer Kander and Ebb, and it never left Connecticut.

More enjoyable was the musical mystery thriller "Curtains."

Starring David Hyde Pierce, it was nominated for several Tony Awards in 2007.

But it seems that Kander has saved the best show for last.

This one is called "The Scottsboro Boys." It was given a staged reading a few weeks ago at the Vineyard Theater, and immediately afterward one of my spies called to say: "This is vintage Kander and Ebb. It's a throwback to the kinds of musicals they -- and Steve Sondheim and Hal Prince -- were doing in the 1970s. Adult shows. Experimental shows. Shows that had meaning, edge and wit. I thought it was terrific."
'Boys' are back in town

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/31/09 at 7:39am

Sounds very interesting....looking forward to hearing more!

[jv92]

Posted: 7/31/09 at 8:59am

Sounds very exciting! Updated On: 7/31/09 at 08:59 AM

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 7/31/09 at 9:36am

^
Yes, the article mentions the planned Vineyard production.

Hopefully, this will turn out to be what we all want - one more Kander & Ebb classic!

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 7/31/09 at 9:50am

That sounds GREAT! Hopefully something comes of it.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/31/09 at 10:40am

So they changed the name from MINSTREL SHOW? That's interesting since from all the unfinished Kander & Ebb shows, this is one I thought would never see the light of day since 1-I thought (maybe mistakenly) it was the one that was the most unfinished, and 2-Its "sensitive" topic. I'm delighted to hear that not only is it coming to NY, but that it's a wonderful new Kander & Ebb show! It's nice to hear that it's in the style of CABARET and CHICAGO who are two of the best musicals ever written. How exciting.

[once a month]

Posted: 7/31/09 at 1:54pm

Very interesting, although I sure wish that Chita's The Visit found it's way into New York. Some of the songs from that score still haunt my brain.