SHOW BOAT sailing into Carnegie Hall

[zamedy]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 4:21pm

Gunn, Shafer head cast of Carnegie Hall's `Show Boat'

NEW YORK (AP) -- Nathan Gunn, Celena Shafer and Carolee Carmello
will head the cast of Carnegie Hall's June 10 concert presentation
of "Show Boat," the landmark Oscar Hammerstein II-Jerome Kern
musical.
Gunn will portray the dashing riverboat gambler Gaylord Ravenal
in the production, which will feature the Orchestra of St. Luke's
under the direction of Broadway conductor Paul Gemignani. Shafer
will play sweet-tempered Magnolia Hawks and Carmello the tragic
Julie LaVerne, who sings "Bill" and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat
Man."
"Show Boat," first seen on Broadway in 1927, changed the face
of the American musical. Based on Edna Ferber's sprawling novel, it
ushered in a new era of theater that bridged the gap between
European operetta and the frothy, silly musical shows of the 1920s.
Probably its best known song is "Ol' Man River," sung by the
stevedore Joe. He will be played at Carnegie Hall by Alvy Powell.
The show's other hits include "Make Believe," "You Are Love"
and "Why Do I Love You?"
Also in the Carnegie cast are Jonathan Hadary as Cap'n Andy;
Becky Ann Baker as his wife, Parthy Ann Hawks; Gavin Lee as
song-and-dance man Frank Schultz; Megan Sikora as Ellie May
Chipley; Alteouise deVaughn as Queenie; and Carly Rose Sonenclar as
Kim.
The director is Francesa Zambello.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 5/10/08 at 4:29am

Actually, the Show Boats of the nineteenth and early twentieth century never sailed. The theatres were built on barges that were pushed or tugged on the Mississippi River and its tributaries by paddlewheel steam boats (either side wheel or sternwheelers). The boats that "tugged" the show barges (or show boats) were not always dedicated to the show boat and often left the vicinity of the theatre while the shows were on, being commissioned to move the barge to the next town and moorage. It would be more accurate to say " SHOW BOAT moors at Carnegie Hall".

Now how's that for a bump?

Updated On: 5/10/08 at 04:29 AM

[Bwayfan4]

Posted: 5/10/08 at 6:32am

I would've pegged Megan Sikora as Kim. I'm having trouble placing the Ellie May character...does she sing "Life Upon the Wicked Stage?" If so, then I guess it makes sense that Megan was cast as "Goodbye My Ladylove" has some dancing. I love this show though...I saw it at the Gershwin back in the 90s (can't remember what year). I loved it!

[AvenueQPat]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 5:24pm

Ellie does sing Wicked Stage and Goodbye My Lady Love.

Anybody know which version of the score they are going to be using? There are lots of cuts and changes not used in the Prince revival that seemed to have gone in and out of the show through the years.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 5:54pm

How great would it be if they used the 1927 vesion? I know, never gonna happen.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 7:55pm

Will this be broadcast at some future date? If not, will it eventually come out on DVD? It's one of my top favorite shows of all time -- I grew up with the music (my mother actually saw the original in 192 and my first time around with it was 1953 in a summer stock production and it remains my most-seen musical (in terms of different productions).

I'm sure they won't use the production as done in 1927; however, the John McGlinn studio production includes every song from every version ever done, so you can program your CD player to include the songs from the 1927 version and hear it like it was originally done. Cast is pretty terrific, too.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 8:23pm

McGlinn's version has a great cast. Fredrica Von Stade is wonderful and a great deal of fun. One of my very first jobs in the theater was pushing her bed out on stage every night in a production of Massenet's "Cendrillon," so I guess I can say I got to know her in bed. Classy, fun lady, sort of the Meryl Streep of opera.

Miles Kueuger's notes are, as always, very precise. The man knows his "Show Boat". Between he and McGlinn, all that is missing in that set is the names of the original stage crew and ushers, although I don't doubt they left them out only for space reasons.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 8:30pm

My most cherished theater memories include the SHOWBOAT done as part of the Music Theater of Lincoln Center series. It starred Barbara Cook, Stephen Douglass, Constance Towers, David Wayne, Margaret Hamilton and Allyn Ann McLeary.

Yo my mind, no one has sung "Bill" more wonderfully that Towers did.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 8:35pm

DollyPop,

I saw the Lincoln Center version also. My very fondest memory of that great production was Barbara Cook literally floating downstage in Act 2, looking like a dream and sounding even more so, singing "Why Do I love You?" A bit of theatrical heaven if there ever was one.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 8:37pm

Ah, yes! And Barbara Cook doing the "hotfoot" sequence in "Can't Help Lovein' That Man"!!!!

[jewishboy]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 8:39pm

Oh, I love the McGlinn recording! DollyPop, my Dad has always said that you could've heard a pin drop in the audience when Constance Towers performed "Bill." I guess it was one of those performances that you just had to be there...

[My Oh My]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 9:40pm

I'm in love with this show and wish I could attend this concert!

I've worn out 2 copies of the McGlinn recording already. Can't get enough of it.

I'd die of happiness if they ever stage the full original 1927 version someday.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 9:43pm

I kind of doubt that would ever happen -- some of it would be considered politically incorrect (not my opinion -- but a couple of numbers would make some people cringe). Be thankful for what we've got.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 9:48pm

I haven't been able to listen to the McGlinn recording since Jerry Hadley committed suicide. He and I were very close friends at one time and I still haven't gotten over his death.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 9:48pm

Did you and Mottershead see the Hal Prince version at the Gershwin about 15 yrs. ago? I LOVED that one w/Elaine Stritch! John McMartin!, Micheal Bell!, Lonette McKee! Rebecca Luker!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 9:50pm

I thought the Hal Prince version was longer than it had to be. I saw the second cast with that girl from the 5th Dimension as Julie. She could sing but she couldn't act.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 9:54pm

So sorry to hear that, Dollypop. I love Jerry's voice. I was devastated when I heard the news.

I saw the Hal Prince revival's 1st national tour in Los Angeles with Cloris Leachman as Parthy and Ned Beatty as Captain Andy. I've been hooked since.

Btw, I have the entire 1936 film version uploaded onto my YouTube account--"LesMisere"--in case anyone is interested. It's the best film version of the show, imo.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 10:06pm

Unfortunately, I'm only familiar with the second (1936) and third (1951) screen adaptations. The first (1929) film was adapted from the novel, not the musical play. The musical elements were added to the 1929 film as an afterthought.

I've never seen a stage version with full sets, lighting and all. I envy anyone who has. Irene Dunne was great in the 1936 film, as were Charles Winninger and Allan Jones, and there's no one comparable to Paul Robeson as Joe.

I think some day there may be a revival of the 1927 stage version when the dust has settled and we can all look at it objectively and as true to the period, but I don't think we're ready for that .... you know what I'm referring to.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 10:07pm

Why? Why bother? A completely unnecessary 'concert' and a patronizing sop thrown at New York audiences.






Lola Delaney
In A Midwestern City

[DrTheatre]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 10:30pm

With Francesa directing, I heard that they want to change the opening so the ship ("boat") would sink and the whole thing is to take place underwater...what you think?

Updated On: 5/11/08 at 10:30 PM