Wanted: “Broadway bloopers” stories and funny anecdotes from musical theatre

[broadwayaddict2]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 1:53pm

Hi, everyone…

I’m trying to write an e-book, and I was wondering if anyone could help me.

This e-book will involve “blooper” stories from musical theatre. Examples are: missed/blown lines, props going bad, and other funny moments from the stage. So, if there are any performers out there, and you would like to share your story, please e-mail me at [e-mail] with the subject “theatre story” or post here. Also, if you were in the audience and witnessed a funny moment, and would like to share it, you may also e-mail me.

I am looking for about 25 – 50 true stories. If your story is selected, I would be more than happy to include your name and any other contact information you like in my e-book, and I’d be more than happy to send you a copy when it’s done.

Also, I’m looking for funny moments mainly from musical theatre, but plays will do also. Thank-you so much for all your help.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 4:43pm

I have only heard this and have never seen it in print anywhere.

Paint Your Wagon, opening night in Philly about 1951, the first performance of a highly anticipated musical by the creators of Brigadoon, Lerner and Loewe. In those days there were no such things as previews, you opened after a dress rehearsal. Period.

Opening scene: As the overture fades away the curtain rises on a scrim. Behind the scrim are short scenes of various men finding gold. What was supposed to happen was that the scrim was to fly out, all the men head down into one with a rousing "Where are we goin'?, I don't know. What are we doin'? I ain't certain." which is a real good if not great opening song.

What is purported to have happened is thus: instead of the scrim flying OUT, it was brought IN gently folding into a nice pile on stage and trapping the mens chorus upstage of this mountain of cloth.

The conductor wouldn't stop, and the men, still singing, started to scramble over this impediment. It is still maybe 6 feet high as the bar never comes all the way in. So there you have maybe 8-10 really butch singers climbing over this mess, and then the thing starts to go up because the error had been caught. Then what the audience saw were these singers, still belting it out, mind you, rolling down as they lost whatever footing they had and as the drop unfolded back up into the flies.

Somehow no one was hurt but the show never got its footing after that, and the reviews for a weak show anyway were not good, and it limped into town and managed to run a season. But those who were there and I knew one of these singers, said the show was dead from that first performance.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 5:29pm

There might be some in the Playbill yearbook, just look at them.

[CastAlbumFan]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 5:42pm

My all-time favorite outtake story is from BRING BACK BIRDIE. Donald O'Connor forgot the words to his song "Middle-Aged Blues" and looked into the orchestra pit for help. Then he shouted "YOU sin it! I've always hated this song, anyway!" to the gasps of audience members!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 6:10pm

A book already exists: MAKING IT ON BROADWAY.