Shows/Musicals written for someone...think of any?

[kaboodles041]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 4:17pm

Hey all,
One of the (many) reasons why I like Phantom is because I think it is so beautiful how ALW wrote Phantom (the musical obviously) for Sarah Brightman and her voice. I am trying to think of more musicals/plays that were written for someone. It doesn't have to completely original. For example, I would count Gwen Verdon's wanting Bob Fosse to bring Chicago to the stage for her, as one.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 4:19pm

If I remember correctly, Michael John LaChiusa wrote Marie Christine specifically for Audra McDonald.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 4:20pm

Are you guys talking about an entire MUSICAL, or just one role in it? Seems like the latter...

[kaboodles041]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 4:26pm

Oh, either--it doesn't matter!

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 4:28pm

Well the choreography in Sweet Charity was made to specifically highlight Gwen Verdon's talents. Does that count?

Updated On: 5/15/06 at 04:28 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 4:34pm

I believe that "Call Me Madam" "Gypsy" and "Hello Dolly" were all written with Ethel Merman in mind to play the lead.

The role of G(a)linda in Wicked was expanded with Kristin Chenoweth in mind.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 4:37pm

Well, "Gimme, Gimme" was written for Sutton Foster in Thoroughly Modern Millie!

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 4:37pm

Annie Get Your Gun was also written for Ethel Merman.

The Sound of Music was written for Mary Martin.

The King & I was written for Gertrude Lawrence.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 4:39pm

"The Sound of Music was written for Mary Martin."

which is exactly why we dont have the real story of the von Trapps onstage or screen.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 4:40pm

All of Annie's music in Annie Get your Gun, Sally's music in Call Me Madam and Rose's music in Gypsy -- to name a few -- was specifically tailor-made for Ethel Merman's voice (in each case, she was hired before the composers). Jerry Herman has said he wrote Hello Dolly for Merman as well, but having just finished doing Gypsy for a few years, she said she was too tired for another long run right then and turned him down (she did play the role at the end of the run, and did two songs that he'd written for her that he cut from the show when Channing got the part).

South Pacific was written for Mary Martin.

Several of Effie's songs in Dreamgirls (including "And I Am Telling You") were specifically written for Jennifer Holliday's voice (and the many unique and difficult things it seemed only she could do at the time).

Updated On: 5/15/06 at 04:40 PM

[mrslovett7]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 5:00pm

Mark Hollmann or Edward Strauss the writer and director of Urinetown wrote the role of Little Sally for Spencer Kayden.

Frank Wildhorn and Jack Murphy wrote the music and lyrics for The Civil War and wrote the song If Prayin' Were Horses especially for my voice teacher Cheryl Freeman wh played Bessie Toler

[TheaterAddict7652]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 5:15pm

Well the choreography in Sweet Charity was made to specifically highlight Gwen Verdon's talents.

Actually the entire show was created for Gwen Verdon. After Damn Yankees, Fosse created four shows for Gwen- which (if I'm not mistaken) were Redhead, Sweet Charity, Chicago, and one more which I can't remember.

But the first thing that was created for her was the number "Who's Got the Pain" from Damn Yankees- actually in the movie verison, the man dancing with her is Fosse himself.

Updated On: 5/15/06 at 05:15 PM

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 5:22pm

New Girl In Town is the 4th Gwen Show i believe

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 5:48pm

TheatereAddict, I thought that was the case but I was nervous to post it as I wasnt sure if I had mixed things up in my mind. Thanks for the info!

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 5:48pm

TheatereAddict, I thought that was the case but I was nervous to post it as I wasnt sure if I had mixed things up in my mind. Thanks for the info!

[Piazzaslight]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 5:50pm

Wicked's Glinda was written with Kristen Chenowith in mind.

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 5:56pm

Kiss of a Spiderwoman was written for Chita as well as the Rink

Most of Frank Wildhorn's earlier stuff was written for Linda Eder (or atleast to fit her voice). (Especially Camille Claudel).

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 5:57pm

The role of Marian in The Woman in White was created for Maria Friedman I believe.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 7:38pm

Flora the Red Menace, Cabaret, and the music Kander & Ebb wrote for the film New York, New York were all written for Liza Minnelli, unfortunately Hal Prince didn't want an American actress to play Sally Bowles in the stage version of Cabaret so Liza couldn't play that part on stage.
The choreography in the Tick Tock number from Company was specifically designed for Donna McKechnie (who was the main reason Michael Bennett accepted to only choreograph for that show) and Cassie's choreography in A Chorus Line was also created for McKechnie.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 7:46pm

The roles of Freddy, Lawrence, Christine, and Muriel in DRS were all written for Norbert, John (though originally Stokes), Sherie and Joanna from the very beginning.

[Horton]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 7:54pm

Margret from Piazza was writeen with Vicki Clark in mind.

[elphaba432]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 8:05pm

John Larsen (or Larson) wrote Rent for his friends, I think.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 8:19pm

I think there is a big difference in thought here...

Of course, once an actor is cast in a particular part for an initial Broadway run, the creative team tailors their work to that particular performer. Songs might be written for them, dialogue and bits of business are created to showcase their talents. This is why they are all credited with "creating" a role.

That is not the same thing (at all) as having a show written for you. DRS (for example) was initiated to be a stage musical before they had actors in mind.

When Gertrude Lawrence contacted the theatre guild, and her friends (Rodgers & Hammerstein) and asked them to adapt and produce a musical version of "Anna and the King of Siam" for her, THAT's having a show written for you. Not just the role of Anna. The entire show was written for Gertie Lawrence. That's a kind of star power you rarely (if ever) see today. (Unless you're married to the composer at the time, Mrs. Lloyd Webber.)

Updated On: 5/15/06 at 08:19 PM

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:30pm

Yes, marian was written for Maria.

Glinda was written for Kristin Chenoweth.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:40pm

STEEL PIER was written for Ziemba.