re: Jerry's Girls

I just added a new cast recording to my collection, Jerry's Girls, a Jerry Herman revue. If I'm not wrong, the cast recording is from the world premiere in Florida headlining Andrea McArdle, Leslie Uggams, and Carol Channing. The Broadway production kept Uggams but added Dorothy Loudon and Chita Rivera (who got a Tony nod) to replace McArdle and Channing.
Did anyone see this show on Broadway and has any opinions on it? What songs did Loudon and Rivera performed? How were they performances? I also was wondering if anyone knew why McArdle and Channing did not play the Broadway production.

The show didn't change, Loudon took Channing's songs and Rivera took McArdle's (if I am remembering correctly), it's a good show, even if I am bugged that they count Albin/Zza Zza as a "girl"

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The show was pleasant but without urgency.

I remember thinking, "Damn, I wish there was a baritone line in these group numbers."

Side note: The next day I mentioned to a friend of mine, a Canadian, that I had just seen Jerry's Girls which used the songs of Jerry Herman (no response). I then added that it starred Dorothy Loudon, Chita Rivera and Leslie Uggams and his reply was a telling "Who are they?"

I learned something big from that. A big Broadway name is still not all that big.

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My ideal of the group would be McArdle, Loudon, and Rivera.

oh well. No one asked me.

Rath, I could not agree more. That does sound like the perfect trio. I am slightly disappointed with the recording. Uggams' renditions of the songs she was assigned pale compared to the versions of those who performed them originally (i.e. Lansbury's "If He Walked Into My Life," George Hearn's "I Am What I Am," Robert Preston's "I Won't Send Roses," Peters' "I Won't Send Roses (reprise)"), she is definitely a let down. Also, as much as I enjoy Carol Channing, some of the songs simply do not fit her voice, IMO though it is priceless to hear her monologue preceding "Before The Parade Passes By," she does wonders with it and it's nice to see it preserved on recording. McArdle is the stand-out for me, but the cuts made to the songs she performs are unforgivable (a 50 second "So Long Dearie"!), I do have to say her renditions of the songs from Mack & Mabel are gorgeous.

I became a fan of the MACK & MABEL score thanks to Andrea's renditions of those songs.

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I had the cassette, don't know if I still do. I gave my niece the CD some years ago, as she is quite the McArdle fan - need to get it for myself though.

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Andrea McArdle has a million dollar voice. Seriously. I saw the commercial for Annie at MSG last night and the girl made me CRINGE when she sang. Andrea's voice is as beautiful as it is powerful, and I never tire of hearing it. Even better, she sings beautifully as an adult!

Fosca, I'm curious, too. Though I think I read somewhere that she wasn't asked to go to Broadway after the tour. I forgot about "Look What Happened to Mabel". What shocks me is with that beautiful voice of hers that she hasn't made more recordings. I love her Broadway CD.

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Rath, was that the Valentine's Day cabaret? I'm sorry I missed that.

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I saw this show on Broadway.

For those that don't remember (or weren't BORN yet), this show was running when Chita had her auto accident and seriously injured her leg (to the point that they weren't sure if she would walk again). She was out of the show for an extended period. They decided to let the chorus girls "shine" while Chita was out recovering... so each of them grabbed one of Chita's "featured" numbers. It was like having ten understudies go on.

They probably couldn't find a star who was willing to step in for her with little or no rehearsal. Gee, I wonder why?

The result (for the Chita part) was varied at best. Some were damn good, others were bland and forgettable... NONE were "stars" or came across with the same star power as Loudon or Uggams. The real surprise for me was seeing Uggams live. She was BRILLIANT. Her voice "live" was electric... in the way that Betty Buckley seems to rise to a different level in the theatre than she does on a recording. Same thing here.

Uggams was THE star of that show... and the highlight. And that's saying quite a lot when you're sharing the stage with Dorothy Loudon (and ten chorus girls going on for Chita Rivera).

It's not the best revue in the world... but I have to say that Jerry Herman's music WORKS in the theatre... where it was intended to. It was a very satisfying evening!

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B12B, you're memory is a lot better than mine. I remember the various women in the ensemble taking turns with Chita's part, but I didn't think the show lasted much longer after Chita's accident. I also thought that Ann Reinking was all set to replace Chita when the show closed.

I was just reminded by ibdb that Wayne Cilento was associated with this production.

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Updated On: 11/15/06 at 06:32 PM

Wow, you really must have loved the show. I remember how the they touted the all female orchestra and conductor. I, too, noticed Kim Crosby's name in there. Much different than the ensemble that was on tour.

One of my best recollections is that every time that Dorothy Loudon appeared on stage she was doing something funny. Well there was the one time they gave her a torch song and I distinctly remember the audience laughing, thinking she was going to do a comedic turn. It never happened. Not sure how that could have been corrected.

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I'm baffled as to why I can't remember a thing Chita did in the show, even though I knew who she was. I know I saw it prior to her accident, so she was definitely there. It was the first time I saw her live on stage in something.

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