They're Playing Our Song — Page 3

When you apply for the rights, you can also rent the sound effects, including Johnny's reprise of the song. Its an additional $50 a show rental. I actually purchased on Ebay the LP that was sent out before the show opened, its a DEMO recording, and It's Johnny Mathis version of the song on it. I thought Stockard Channing was great in the role, but I believe it wasnt a pleasant experiance for her.

Nine bloody songs. Nine. And the show still holds us in rapture decades later. Pay attention modern composers. Less is often more.

Rodgers and Hart were the same. No more than 12 numbers per show is all they needed to rock the joint.

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I just re-read the script. It's hilarious, touching and really spots the songs so wonderfully. Simon really did some of his best work on musicals.

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Lucie was totally snubbed. they nominated tovah feldshuh for Sarava which hadn't even opened yet!!!! ridiculous. I remember seeing pics of stockard channing with long hair (instead of the sonia curls)...even her 'voices' were wearing long haired wigs. but by the time she opened in the show they were gone and replaced by curls. lucie also did something cute during the run - there's a joke in the first scene about her dress (a costume from the cherry orchard) being on backwards. well once tony roberts took over she started WEARING the top of the dress backwards. was very funny and, for once, the line made sense. damn i miss this show! IDINA! TAYE! WHERE ARE YOU??????

i remember reading that lucie hates to wear wigs which is why i'm surprised she's wearing one in DRS. even though she looks great in it. btw, more lucie hair trivia, when tony roberts took over the curls were gone and her hair was straight. she kind of pinned it up in the back for the 2nd act so it looked shorter but it wasn't as convincing as it was with the girls. if i can get to a scanner i'll scan pics of her from my tony roberts/lucie arnaz souvenir program. oh, and after klein left lucie got the final bow. and she more than earned it. and man oh man, as much as 'i love lucie' i would love to have seen debbie shapiro (gravitte) go on as sonia. lucie went a whole year without ever being out UNTIL the week after debbie left the cast and the new u/s rhonda farer (who i believe is now a psychologist although she did standby for carol burnett in putting it together) got to go on for a whole week.

The musical supervisor of "They're Playing Our Song" is a personal friend of mine, and she said the Lucie Arnaz sang everything, including "When Your in my Arms," and Eydie Gorme absolutely DID NOT do any of Lucie's singing. My friend was at the recording session (she can be heard playing the piano), so she would know.

I would love to see this show revived! Perhaps, with Susan Egan as Sonia.

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Updated On: 8/29/06 at 05:06 PM

And to further add to the confusion, this from Stephen Holden's New York Times review of Debbie Gravitte's cabaret act:
"The only moment in Debbie Gravitte's brassy new cabaret act when the singer sounds less than thrilled with the way her career has developed comes when she recalls having her voice on the original cast album of 'They're Playing Our Song' replaced by that of Eydie Gorme."

WTF? Now I'm really confused!


A Singer With Brass And Splash

I had seen the show close to Lucie's end of her run. I believe her departure was two-fold. She did get cast in the Jazz Singer, but she also got pregnant with her first born Simon Luckenbill. That pregnancy also kept Lucie out of the London Production. Stockard did feel rushed going into it, she was great in the part. I was told by a Doorman that Stockard was not happy and thought people were ought to get her because something fell bakstage in front of her. I thought that was wierd,but thats what I was told.

I remember clearly as if it was yesterday walking out of the Uris after seeing "Sweeney Todd". I was moved and affected, but somehow, left cold. (Don't get me wrong, the show was amazing, BUT>>>)

I remember clearly practically floating out of the Imperial Theater having seen "Song." God, that was a wonderful night. We ended upin a booth at Ma Bell's discussing the show . I can remember the funniest line of the night was right at the opening. "I can understand the fact that she's one day late, it's the twenty minutes that's driving me insane."

It's funny the things you reember.

After that, we walked up to that theater souvenir shop on 47th or 48th, then off for drinks at Joe Allen.

Great night.

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I had heard that story too. My understanding was that Lucie was mad that Robert would change blocking etc. What I will say is you never heard her say anything. I remember Klein on the Tonight Show, and he was asked was there something going on. He said far from it! We did not get along! But she married a man who looks just like me!. I also believe Lucie had put some money in the show, and she knew that this show was very important to her career.

Yes, that is true, she did have money in the show. You can't help but wonder if she had been nominated and won the Tony what sort of Broadway career she might of had.

Lucie didnt need to win the Tony to have had a career, she did indeed stay home to raise a family, and tour the country with her husband in shows like Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Social Security, and They're Playing Our Song. In fact Lucie said recently that there was so much hype that she didnt get nominated that people thought she won. Someone she said even took a full page ad out in Variety complaining about that oversight. She said that award enough. I also remember that the papers said that even though she was snubbed she still insisted on being part of the ceremony, and insisted that she and Klein perform the title song "Live" and not tracked in like the other numbers. You can see Angela Lansbury lipsynching to Worst Pies in London. I really dont know y she got snubbed and Tovah Feldshuh got nominated in a show that was a bomb that couldnt even open. But its good to see Lucie is back again. (Is she back in DRS yet?) and she was brilliant in LOST IN YONKERS