The magic of CY COLEMAN

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 7:22am

Folks I have to ask does anyone else agree that CY COLEMAN was the most ingenious and creative of composers who constantly reinvented his style. Generally I believe you can "spot" as song by many composers e.g. JERRY HERMAN, SONDHEIM, KANDER & EBB but C.C. wrote in so many different styles that he managed to constantly surprise you. Think of and compare (not in chronological order):

SWEET CHARITY
ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
WILL ROGERS FOLLIES
CITY OF ANGELS
THE LIFE
BARNUM

While it IS possible to find musical similarities over the occasional piece generally the styles are strikingly different.

I love him and I think Broadway must miss him dearly!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 11:35am

It shows his range that he could write all different types of music from Will Rogers to The Life

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 11:37am

I often listen to his shows and forget he wrote the score, because it is hard to pick out his style. He really changed his style from show to show, which I think is the mark of a truly great composer.

And let's not forget Seesaw!

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 11:51am

I love Coleman, and miss him dearly.

I've read he has a lot of unproduced finished works, so we might have more Coleman on Broadway.

It kills me that he couldn't see the new CHARITY revival, because it's been said he was very excited for this production AND for it's leading lady.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 11:53am

It's such a loss for us and the rest of the world.

I'm a huge Sweet Charity fan.I too wish he could've seen it.

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 11:07pm

It's funny that only SWEET CHARITY and LITTLE ME seem to ever get revived. I only hope the concert of O.T.T.C. leads to a full scale production. I missed that show in it's first run.

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 11:33pm

Don't forget....

I LOVE MY WIFE
WILDCAT

not to mention the 4 to 5 others he had in the works when he died, such as PAMELAS FIRST MUSICAL
LIKE JAZZ (IN THE POCKET)
THE GREAT OSTROVSKY

Not to mention other previous musicals he had started writing and then scraped. Many of these songs can be heard on his IT STARTED WITH A DREAM CD. "Atlantic City" is one of my favorite scrapped songs.

The man was like my God! I wept for days after his passing. He, by far, had more musical talent than I think any living broadway composer. Sorry Sondheim!

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 11:45pm

I think Mr Sondheim would agree B.N.

[justme2]

Posted: 8/29/05 at 12:35pm

I am a huge fan of Coleman's work and have to say that City Of Angels is my favorite. I saw this record cover once from one of his 1950's LP's and I regret not snatching it up.

It had a very young Coleman sitting on a block of ice on the cover and I think it was called something like...Cool Coleman or "Coleman on Ice".

Such a talented man; Mr Roxy said it all when he said:

"It shows his range that he could write all different types of music from Will Rogers to The Life"

Posted: 8/29/05 at 12:52pm

Hey All!

My first message here (I'm from The Netherlands) and saw your little Cy thread...

Don't forget his musical "Grace" about Grace Kelly aka Pricess Gracia from Monaco. Esp. written for a Dutch producer, in a specially built theatre in Amsterdam. Pitty it only played 3 months before they went bankrupt.

But a nice show with great music!

Arjan

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/29/05 at 1:03pm

Sondheim had Coleman's great "When in Rome" on his list of songs he wishes he had written.

[justme2]

Posted: 8/29/05 at 3:56pm

I read that when he died, Cy was working not only on Sweet Charity, but 3 other shows. The man was apparently quite the workaholic and liked to have multiple projects going.

Does anyone know (other than Grace, (thanks FIMI, for the info) what the other work was and if any of it is still going forward?

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 2:23pm

Just bumping this up so someone can hopefully answer JUSTME2's question. I think I had heard about GRACE. Has it been recorded?

[justme2]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 2:28pm

Thanks! I gave up waiting for an answer. I guess if it doesn't have Idina, Kristen, or Wicked in the title, it's not worth anyone's energy to look at the thread!

[Pippin]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 2:31pm

cy is definately a genius!! I had the great privelege to meet him a few months before his death. I work at the Prince Music th. in Philly, and we produced "the great ostrovsky" there. (which unfortunatly was not so great) But I got to see him play the piano many times, and I was in awe every time. He had such a gift. He was in the middle of two of three other shows at the time- always working. and bobby buddy, you are right. let's not forget about seesaw, which could be my favorite score of his. especially "my city"

[justme2]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 2:45pm

thanks for the insight, pippin! I love, love, love this man's music! I'll have to pick up the Seesaw cast recording...I have almost all the others.

Too bad about the show not being that great, but they all can't be winners, can they? Were any of the songs or arrangements from The Great Ostrovsky good for listening to?

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 5:00pm

Justme2... it seems Broadway has missed a big opportunity to celebrate CC'S life. Maybe the concert of OTTC will lead to something bigger!! A petition is required!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xx

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 7:43pm

I've recently checked out BARNUM.

And I like the score so far.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 8:19pm

Its such a FUN show! Thats one thing(among many) I have to credit Cy with. His shows are just pure fun and joyful!

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 11:05pm

I totally forgot about GRACE! Now how is that possible? Here is an article about one of the shows he was working on when he passed called LIKE JAZZ when it comes to broadway in spring '06 it will be called IN THE POCKET!

Cy did win a 2004 Barrymore award for Outstanding Original Music for THE GREAT OSTROVSKY.

Also another work that kept changing titles was EXACTLY LIKE YOU which turned into LOVERS, LAWYERS & LUNATICS! God I wish all this stuff was recorded.
Like Jazz/In the pocket/Broadway Spring 2006

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 12:49am

"My Friend" from THE LIFE, is so amazing.

This song makes an impact on me.

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 4:09am

THE LIFE and ON THE 20TH CENTURY!!! No composer reinvented his style SO often and with such success! A genius!

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/11/05 at 12:30pm

Bump. Because I love Cy.

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 9/11/05 at 3:15pm

Has there not been a big celebration of CC's work since his death?
Do you think the OTTC concert will be recorded?

I need more CC recordings!

[CastAlbumFan]

Posted: 9/11/05 at 3:34pm

I just did a thread a day or so ago about I LOVE MY WIFE (I'll bump it for ya!). It is absolutely AMAZING how versitile that man was! To think that Sweet Cy could write I LOVE MY WIFE one year and ON THE 20th CENTURY the next...it just boggles the mind!

Do yourself a favor and pick up the I LOVE MY WIFE CD! You'll be amazed that the same man wrote so many different contrasting songs!

Updated On: 9/11/05 at 03:34 PM