The original, Bottom Line version of LEADER OF THE PACK--revive it!- Page 2

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 6/24/07 at 12:25pm

For all of you lucky folk who saw the original Broadway run, do you have any more details you remember about the production/ performances? The Tony performance is really cute, and how was Dinah Manoff in the show?

Broadwayboy2631, why don't you like Leader of the Pack?

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 6/24/07 at 10:06pm

I find this curious. imdb has this written about Dinah Manoff:

"In the film musical "Grease," Dinah managed to nab the plucky, sexpot role of Marty Maraschino despite the fact she lacked in dancing and singing skills. She faked her way through auditions and personality alone got her the part. Later, when it came down to doing the choreography, Dinah remained conveniently hidden in the background."

Is this true and she just really worked on her singing/ dancing before Leader of the Pack (7 years later)? I mean, she's certainly singing and dancing like a pro during LOTP's Tony performance.

[petern2]

Posted: 11/14/16 at 4:43pm

I was in the original version of Leader of the Pack at the Bottom Line. I played the lead role of Jeff Berry. I had the great pleasure of performing with Ula Hedwig, who played the young Ellie Greenwhich, as well as Darlene Love, Ellie Greenwhich herself, Annie Golden, and the rest of the incredible cast. When the show closed at the Bottom Line and we learned that it was headed to Broadway, the cast was thrilled. Until we heard that we had no guaranteed place in the new show, to be directed by Michael Peters. The great Ula Hedwig was not chosen to go to Broadway, I was replaced by the saccharine Patrick Cassidy and the show was transformed into a pale replica of the original rock n roll musical that made so many people come back night after night at the Bottom Line. The Broadway show received horrible reviews, as it should have, and the whole episode illustrates what can happen when greed overcomes artistry. Ellie passed away some years ago, rest in peace, and my memory of the Bottom Line show still brings smiles and good feelings.

Updated On: 11/14/16 at 04:43 PM

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 11/14/16 at 4:55pm

petern2 said: "I was in the original version of Leader of the Pack at the Bottom Line. I played the lead role of Jeff Berry. I had the great pleasure of performing with Ula Hedwig, who played the young Ellie Greenwhich, as well as Darlene Love, Ellie Greenwhich herself, Annie Golden, and the rest of the incredible cast. When the show closed at the Bottom Line and we learned that it was headed to Broadway, the cast was thrilled. Until we heard that we had no guaranteed place in the new show, to be directed by Michael Peters. The great Ula Hedwig was not chosen to go to Broadway, I was replaced by the saccharine Patrick Cassidy and the show was transformed into a pale replica of the original rock n roll musical that made so many people come back night after night at the Bottom Line. The Broadway show received horrible reviews, as it should have, and the whole episode illustrates what can happen when greed overcomes artistry. Ellie passed away some years ago, rest in peace, and my memory of the Bottom Line show still brings smiles and good feelings.

 

Oh. You must be Peter Neptune. You did perform the D.J.'s voice in the Broadway version, did you not? 

 

 

 

Updated On: 11/14/16 at 04:55 PM

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 11/14/16 at 5:01pm

Anne Beatts re-worked the book of the show when it transferred to Broadway basing it off Melanie Mintz's original concept of the show.

Marc Shaiman was one of the show's vocal arrangers.

Jasmine Guy, who would later become a household name playing "Whitley Gilbert" on the NBC "Cosby Show" sit-com spin off "A Different World" played the part of "Mickie" and was also part of the ensemble. 

 

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 11/14/16 at 5:03pm

 

Jasmine Guy, Dinah  Manoff and Pattie D'arcy

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 11/14/16 at 5:09pm

 



 

The long out of print Original Broadway Cast Recording was finally released on CD about 7 years ago on the Wounded Bird Records label. That edition however is now out of print, but you can get it for $165.95 via Amazon.

Updated On: 11/14/16 at 05:09 PM

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/14/16 at 11:48pm

Worth every penny. Love this recording so much. 

[newintown]

Posted: 11/15/16 at 8:40am

I saw both versions (it feels like a century ago). The Broadway version was laughably amateur, except for the singing of Golden, Darcy, and Love, and the genuine sweetness of Greenwich. Manoff and Cassidy were in over their heads. The choreography was MTV/Theme Park-lite. The set was cheap. The nervous breakdown number got laughs.

At the Bottom Line, Hedwig, Golden, Love, and Neptune sang magnificently, with better small arrangements. The book was (to my memory) much less important that the songs - it was more like a concert with a story, unlike the Broadway version, which filled the book out with bushels of clichés.

The Bottom Line later presented a similar "concertical" with the songs of Mann & Weil, called Just Once, that suffered from the same problem as Leader - great songs and singing, terrible book (this one was a hokey fictional love story between an American girl and an exchange student who almost but never quite get together over several decades).

Updated On: 11/15/16 at 08:40 AM