Woman of the Year??
Woman of the Year??
tcb122
Understudy Joined: 10/2/03
#0Woman of the Year??
Posted: 2/23/06 at 9:48pmDoes anyone know of an indepth synopsis to this show, or any info at all and the role of Sam? Any help would be great!! Thanks
#1re: Woman of the Year??
Posted: 2/23/06 at 9:52pmi know the show is about a journalist that speaks many languages and wounds up dating a sports journalist. Lauren Baccall and Raquel Welch played it on Broadway. Not sure about anything im saying though. LOL
#2re: Woman of the Year??
Posted: 2/23/06 at 9:52pmand her name was Tess Harding.
#3re: Woman of the Year??
Posted: 2/23/06 at 9:53pmoh...and Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy did the movie.
#4re: Woman of the Year??
Posted: 2/23/06 at 9:54pm
I can tell you behind the scenes stuff, but because there is no cast album in print, I never bothered to buy the libretto or read up on it.
"Woman of the Year" is Kander-Ebb show than won the great team a second Tony. It starred Lauren Bacall and ran a good 700+ performances I think.
There is one really outstanding number I do know from it called "The Grass is Always" greener. It's the big 11 O'clock number and it really is a riot and excellent as well. The Bacall character and a character played by Marilyn Cooper sing the song.
tcb122
Understudy Joined: 10/2/03
#5re: Woman of the Year??
Posted: 2/23/06 at 10:03pmAwesome! Thanks! Anything about the character Sam though?
alterego
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/03
#6re: Woman of the Year??
Posted: 2/23/06 at 10:51pmDebbie Reynolds played the lead for the last weeks of the show on Broadway. Unfortunately when she opened in it there was a newspaper strike so no crits were forthcoming. When they did eventually appear they all agreed that Debbie was the personality (star) that show had needed all along. Unfortunately they appeared too late when the show had already announced it would be closing.
FoscasBohemianDream
Broadway Star Joined: 1/20/06
#7re: Woman of the Year??
Posted: 2/24/06 at 3:01amFred Ebb and John Kander had a certain contempt for Debbie Reynolds in the role because of her (in)famous ad-libs. They felt it took a way from the material.
#8re: Woman of the Year??
Posted: 2/24/06 at 3:17am
The character of Sam Craig has to be pretty strong to stand up to Tess.
The story beings as Tess Harding is being named Woman of the Year but her thoughts on her husband who has walked out on her just prior to the ceremony. Her thoughts take her (and us) back several months. Tess is a world famous TV journalist, and co-host of a network morning show. Running late one morning she dashes off a sarcastic editorial about the funny papers. Cartoonist Sam Craig and his buddies have been having an all-night Poker Game and happen to tune in to hear Tess's diatribe. Sam, who draws a Garfield-like strip called KATZ, decides to have some fun and creates "Tessie cat" as a character in his strip (See You in the Funny Papers.)
Tess is not amused and insists to her secretary Gerald When You're Right, You're Right. When Sam comes by her office Tess is immediately attracted to him and agrees to go to lunch. And another. And another. Much to the chagrin of her ever-efficient secretary. (Shut Up Gerald)
Sam cautions KATZ to be careful around Tessie-cat - some advice he is really feeding himself. (So What Else is New?)
Sam takes Tess to meet some of his cartoonist buddies at the Inkpot Saloon and she immediately wins them all over. (One of the Boys) After a few drinks with Sam Tess reveals her vulnerable side (Table Talk) and before long the two are married. Their friends remain sceptical (It Isn't Working) and they are not to be proven wrong. Tess's busy schedule doesn't quite mesh with Sam's and before long the two are arguing. (I Told You So) Balancing two careers proves near impossible and after a bitter battle, Sam walks out just before Tess is named Woman of the Year.
Tess commiserates with those around her (I Wrote the Book), is advised on matters of the heart by a Russian ballet dancer (Happy in the Morning() while Sam can't even concentrate on his weekly poker game (Sometimes a Day Goes BY).
Visiting her ex-husband and his new wife in California Tess and the other woman compare notes. (The Grass is Always Greener) Returning to New York Tess and Sam finally decide they can make it work. (We're Gonna Work it Out.) and, we are told, they lived scrappily ever after.
BTW Sam's second act solo "Sometimes a Day Goes By" is one of the loveliest songs Kander and Ebb have ever written.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#9re: Woman of the Year??
Posted: 2/24/06 at 3:17amTh show was a hit with L.Bacall but gained considerably at the box office when R.Welch took over for vacationing Bacall. They brought Welch back when Bacall left to head the tour, and businss was excellent. Then Debbie Reynolds came in and the show abuptly folded. The cast album was originally on Arista, reissued on CD on Bay Cities and then by Razor & Tie. Both CD editions are out-of-print.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#10re: Woman of the Year??
Posted: 2/24/06 at 3:28amThe Woman in White
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#11re: Woman of the Year??
Posted: 2/24/06 at 3:01pmeBay.
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