Superman
Superman
#1re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 7:00pmThe title is "It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman", and it is actually brilliant. The cast album is available on Amazon for a very reasonable price. BUY IT!
#2re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 7:04pmWow, really? I'm surprised that they'd bother to put a CD out. From my understanding, there was also a TV movie?
#3re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 7:07pmI'm not sure about the TV movie, but the cast album is terrific. You should really buy it. Also, the reviews on this show were very good, esp. the rave from the New York Times.
phantom_tenor
Leading Actor Joined: 1/11/05
Marquise
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/1/04
#6re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 7:44pmThere was a TV version of "It's A Bird, It's A Plane..It's Superman" in the 1970s on ABC-TV. Lesley Ann Warren was in it as "Lois Lane". Updated On: 2/12/05 at 07:44 PM
#7re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 7:46pm
Linda Lavin singing the show's only well-known tune, "You've Got Possibilities", is worth the price of the album.
HELLO, ENCORES! DO THIS BRILLIANT SHOW!
#8re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 7:50pm
I think this show would go over quite well today, what with the resurgence in the popularity of superheroes, camp, and family musicals.
Too shame that Batman musical never saw the light of day.
#9re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 7:53pmIf I weren't about to watch "Lackawana Blues", I would be listening to this recording right now.
#10re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 8:00pmwow, you seem really enthusiastic about the album! Can't wait for it to come. I just ordered it.
#11re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 8:19pmwow! i really am not that crazy about the album, though it has it's high points... its worth the buy.
"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#12re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 8:22pm
I saw the show multiple times & it was utter joy
It got great reviews but simply did not catch on. It was fun. One number in the show, done by the Chinese acrobats, did not make it onto the cast album "Everything's Easy When You Know How"
The finale, in an abandoned powerhouse was awesome. It is Pow - Bam - Zonk. He battes the acrobats & at the finale , with the flying cable attached to one of them in the mayhem, Superman punches the guy & he sails off into space. During The Strongest Man In The World, while singing to Lois Lane, he is bending a standing light fixture. The opening Doing Good has him fly in to abort a bank robbery & throw a car into the air in the process
I wish there was a tape of this show not the ABC TV abortion
Poster Emeritus
#13re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:28pm
I have the cd and find it delightful. Jack Cassidy and Linda Lavin are in the cast and Bob Halliday is Superman. I guess the best known song from the score is You've Got Possibilities. I also really like the song "You're Loaded with Class Baby (I can't think of the actual title.)
I remember Bob Halliday making an appearance on TO TELL THE TRUTH and flying off the gameshow set. And I recall there was a tv version of the musical done decades ago.
"Blow out the candles Robert and make a wish. Want something, want SOMETHING."
magruder
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#14re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:43pm
Encores was initially set to do Superman, I think in Spring, 2002, but they decided that the subplot involving City Hall being blown up would not play quite so well after 9/11.
The show is campy fun, and there are some terrific songs. I've seen it on stage once, when Goodspeed did it probably more than a decade ago. It didn't quite work 100%, but it was a fun evening.
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
#15re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:46pmI think that it's time for Encores to do it. I mean, Roundabout mounted ASSASSINS this past year. Maybe Encores will do this for Spring 2006.
#16re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:51pm
in thinking about them "publicizing" It's A bird.It's a Plane...etc. with Bob Halliday on the gameshow TO TELL THE TRUTH, got me thinking.
Wasn't Bud Collier, the TO TELL THE TRUTH host the voice of SUPERMAN on the radio? That would be a fun coincidence.
"Blow out the candles Robert and make a wish. Want something, want SOMETHING."
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#17re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 11:16pm
TO WishIHadATony
The song title is "You've Got What I Need "
Poster Emeritus
#18re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 11:26pm
Thankssss so much Mr. Roxy!!!!!!!!!! You've Got What I need!
Come to think of it, I think Jason Grae performed it on his cd (along with Kaye Ballard) YOU'RE NEVER FULLY DRESSED...
I always enjoyed that song on the "Superman" recording and love the version done by Jason and Kaye Ballard.
"Blow out the candles Robert and make a wish. Want something, want SOMETHING."
JamieMcG
Broadway Star Joined: 6/12/03
#19re: Superman
Posted: 2/12/05 at 11:31pmI actually performed in Superman in Massachusetts when I was 13. This theatre company that would take lesser-known shows and do them with young people-it was SUCH a blast. The score, though very fun, is also very dated. It's VERY 60's, but to see a concert of it would be brilliant!
"There is nothing scary about life, if you are not attached to the results." - Conversations With God
Derek
Broadway Star Joined: 9/14/03
#21re: Superman
Posted: 2/13/05 at 12:31amTams Witmark has the rights. The show is great! I have the album. Ive always wanted to direct it and rework it. It could be amazing.
uvegotcooties
Swing Joined: 2/7/05
#22SUPERMAN
Posted: 2/13/05 at 5:00am
Who would be cast today if "It's a Bird.." was revived? I think it would be a lot of the younger talent, and someone would have to redo it to make Mex Mencken into Lex Luthor. But here's a few:
Max: Nathan Lane (It would be cool to see him as a villain)
Lois Lane: Jenna Leigh Green or Eden Espinosa
Sydney: Laura Bell Bundy
But who as SUPERMAN? I mean think about it... Cheyenne? Is he tall enough? Chris Sieber?
"Tracy Turnblad's a tramp and she's retarded. That's right, she's fast AND slow at the same time."
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
Derek
Broadway Star Joined: 9/14/03
#24SUPERMAN
Posted: 2/13/05 at 9:15amand I think they would have to add 1 or 2 more songs for superman. he only really has 2 main songs...maybe 3 and they are not standouts either. I always saw Bebe Neuwirth as Sidney. I think if they gave her a big dance break in "You've Got Possibilities" she'd be great!
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