Desperate Measures (musical)

Last updated

Desperate Measures
Desperate Measures poster art.png
Promotional artwork
Music David Friedman
Lyrics Peter Kellogg
Book Peter Kellogg
SettingAmerican Old West, late 1800s
Basis Measure for Measure
PremiereMay 1, 2004: Irving, Texas, U.S.

Desperate Measures is an American musical comedy with music by David Friedman and book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg. The show won acclaim with Drama Desk Awards for Best Music and Best Lyrics, and Outer Critics Circle and Off-Broadway Alliance Awards for Best Musical from its run at the York Theatre in New York City in 2017.

Contents

History

The show is based on William Shakespeare's comedy Measure for Measure. [1] The plot and casting is streamlined with equivalents only for Angelo (Governor Otto Von Richterhenkenpflichtgetruber), [2] Isabella (Susanna/Sister Mary Jo), Claudio (Johnny Blood), Duke Vincentio (Sheriff), a composite of Juliet and Mariana (Bella Rose), and a drunken priest (Friar Peter is the clergyman with the most lines in Shakespeare's play, at seven [3] ), and is set in Arizona Territory at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. "Desperate Measures" marks the fifth collaboration between Peter Kellogg and David Friedman. Kellogg penned the rhyming couplets in order that they may be more accessible to the audience as well as humorous. Kellogg stated; "It’s Jewish country music" and "It’s my brand of that [style of music], which makes it accessible." [4]

Synopsis

Act I

Johnny Blood, a hotheaded young cowboy, killed a man in a bar fight for a saloon girl Bella Rose, and is sentenced to death (“The Ballad of Johnny Blood”). Knowing that Johnny killed in self-defense, the sheriff decides to ask Johnny's sister Susanna, a novice nun – Sister Mary Jo, to plead with the governor for Johnny's life (“That’s Just How It Is”). The governor, who sees strict law and order as his political legacy (“Some Day They Will Thank Me”), ignores her plead (“Look in Your Heart”), but suggests exchanging Susanna's chastity for Johnny's freedom.

Seeing the dilemma Susanna faces, Johnny argues “It’s Good to Be Alive”. The sheriff suggests a plan to switch Susanna with a saloon girl after the dark (“It Doesn’t Hurt to Try”).

They find Bella Rose, who agrees to participate for free because she is in love with Johnny (“It’s Getting Hot in Here”). The sheriff and Susanna coach Bella to walk and smile like a nun, while Bella teaches Susanna to lighten up (“The Way That You Feel”). Alone, Sheriff wonders about the feeling he has grown towards Susanna (“Stop There”).

At night, Susanna goes to the governor's house, only to switch with Bella after the light is off. Everyone wonders how their lives are changed “In the Dark”.

Act II

The next morning, Susanna visits the governor for Johnny's pardon, but he confesses that he has fallen in love with her (“What a Night!” – “About Last Night”), and threatens to still have Johnny hanged if Susanna does not agree to marry him the next day.

Bella Rose visits Johnny in the jail, who becomes jealous of her sleeping with another guy, even though it is for saving his life (“Just for You”).

The sheriff comes up with a new idea. He has the governor sign a new agreement: if Sister Mary Jo agrees to marry him, Johnny will go free (“What a Day”). At the same time, he has Susanna telegram the abbey to allow Bella to become a nun, also named Sister Mary Jo, to marry the governor. As plan B, he also leaves Johnny a key and a horse to escape. Susanna realizes her feeling for this man (“What is This Feeling”).

Everyone wonders what will happen (“Life Takes You by Surprise”). The governor barges into the dressing room, almost exposing the plan, which is only saved by the identical wedding dresses and some quick wit. Susanna and Bella decide they should have fun with the fake wedding (“It’s a Beautiful Day”). Instead of escaping to Mexico, Johnny stops the ceremony. The sheriff finally gets the upper hand, and the wedding becomes the happy ending for both couples (“Finale”).

Productions

The musical premiered at Lyric Stage in Irving, Texas on April 30 and closed May 15, 2004. [5] It was staged and directed by Cheryl Denson, with musical direction by James McQuillen, scenic design by Wade Giampa (1950-2009 [6] ), lighting design by Susan A. White, and costume design by Billie Boston. This was the third David Friedman premiere at the Lyric which had previously produced the United States mainland premiere of King Island Christmas in 1999 and Listen to My Heart: The Songs of David Friedman in 2001. [7] The Irving, Texas production featured; Jimmy Nelson as Johnny Blood, Dara Whitehead as Susanna/Sister Mary Jo, Ron Gonzales as the sheriff, Brad M. Johnson as the priest, Bradley Campbell as the governor and Gina Biancardi as Bella Rose. [7]

The musical opened at the New York Music Theater Festival on September 12, 2006, and ran through September 24 at the 45th Street Theatre in New York City. The New York cast included Merwin Foard, Patrick Garner, Ginifer King, Jenny Powers, Max von Essen, and Nick Wyman. [8]

In 2012, a rhyming verse version of Desperate Measures was performed at The Spirit of Broadway Theater in Norwich, Ct. The show ran from June 27 to July 29. It was directed by Brett Bernardini, with choreography by Christine Snitken-Bouley, lighting design by Greg Solomon, scenic design by Mike Billings, sound design by Steven Hinchey, and musical direction by Dan Brandl. [9] The production featured Michael Sullivan, Aline O'Connor, Corrado Alicata, Johnny Marion, Keith Johnson and Shauna Goodgold. [10]

The Original Off-Broadway production premiered [11] at the York Theatre in New York City on September 19, 2017, running until December 31, 2017. [12] Due to popular demand, the show season was extended three times. [13] The cast featured Emma Degerstedt as Susanna/Sister Mary Jo, Gary Marachek as Father Morse, Lauren Molina as Bella Rose, Conor Ryan as Johnny Blood, Peter Saide as Sheriff Green and Nick Wyman as Governor von Richterhenkenpflichtgetruber with Anthony Festa, Celia Hottenstein and Tom Souhrada as Standbys. [14] An original cast album of this production was recorded in December 2017 and released by Sony Masterworks Broadway. [15] [13]

The production featured on Stage 4 at New World Stages from May 30 to October 28, 2018, featuring Gary Marachek, Lauren Molina, Sarah Parnicky, Conor Ryan, Peter Saide, and Nick Wyman with Anthony Festa, Celia Hottenstein, and Tom Souhrada. [16]

The original casts are as follows:

CharacterIrving (2004)New York (2006) [8] Norwich (2012)Original Off-Broadway Cast, York Theatre (2017) [17] [15] [18] Off-Broadway Cast, New World Stages (2018) [19] [20]
Johnny BloodJimmy Nelson Max von Essen Michael SullivanConor RyanConor Ryan
Susanna/Sister Mary JoDara WhiteheadGinifer KingAline O'Connor Emma Degerstedt Sarah Parnicky
SheriffRon GonzalesMerwin FoardCorrado AlicataPeter SaidePeter Saide
PriestBrad M. JohnsonPatrick GarnerJohnny MarionGary MarachekGary Marachek
GovernorBradley Campbell Nick Wyman Keith Johnson Nick Wyman Nick Wyman
Bella RoseGina Biancardi Jenny Powers Shauna Goodgold Lauren Molina Lauren Molina
Standby Johnny Blood/SheriffAnthony FestaAnthony Festa
Standby Bella Rose/SusannaCelia HottensteinCelia Hottenstein
Standby Governor/Priest Tom Souhrada Tom Souhrada

Critical reception

Michael Dale of Broadway World called it a; "[K]ick-ass new tuner, cleverly written in rhyming couplets that flow easily into song". Dale suggests that David Friedman and Peter Kellogg have "problem solver" added to their billing in reference to how scholars often refer to "Measure for measure" as one of Shakespeare's "problem plays". The review goes on to compare Lauren Molina's performance as "..one of those uproarious performances that used to make people stay home on Saturday nights to see on the "Carol Burnette Show" . Dale stated that the highlight of the score is the number "All for you" (Just for You) after Conor Ryan's dunderheaded character explains to his sister Bella (played by Molina) that it wouldn't be too bad to spend one night with the governor in order to save his life but becomes upset that she is the one doing it. [21]

Awards

The York Theatre production won several awards, including Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Musical and for Outstanding Lyrics; [22] the Outer Critics Circle award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical; [23] and Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical. [24]

Music and cast recording

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Mantello</span> American actor and director

Joseph Mantello is an American actor and director known for his work on Broadway productions of Wicked, Take Me Out, and Assassins, having gained notoriety in the 1993 cast of Angels in America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Cerveris</span> American actor

Michael Cerveris is an American actor, singer, and guitarist. He has performed in many stage musicals and plays, including several Stephen Sondheim musicals: Assassins, Sweeney Todd, Road Show, and Passion. In 2004, Cerveris won the Tony Award as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Assassins as John Wilkes Booth. In 2015, he won his second Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical for Fun Home as Bruce Bechdel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred Uhry</span> American playwright and screenwriter (born 1936)

Alfred Fox Uhry is an American playwright and screenwriter. He has received an Academy Award, two Tony Awards and the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for dramatic writing for Driving Miss Daisy. He is a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney Theatrical Productions</span> Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company

Disney Theatrical Productions Limited (DTP), also known as Disney on Broadway, is the flagship stageplay and musical production company of the Disney Theatrical Group, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios, a major business unit of The Walt Disney Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian d'Arcy James</span> American actor and musician

Brian d'Arcy James is an American actor and musician. He is known primarily for his Broadway roles, including Shrek in Shrek The Musical, Nick Bottom in Something Rotten!, King George III in Hamilton, and the Baker in Into the Woods, and has received three Tony Award nominations for his work. On-screen, he is known for his recurring role as Andy Baker on the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, Officer Krupke in West Side Story, and reporter Matt Carroll in Spotlight.

Euan Douglas George Morton is a Scottish actor and singer. He is best known for his role as Boy George in the musical Taboo, receiving nominations for the Laurence Olivier Award and Tony Award for his performance. He is currently playing the role of King George in the musical Hamilton on Broadway and has been doing so since July 2017.

David Allen Friedman is a film and theatre composer, songwriter, author, lyricist and conductor based in New York City. He received a 1997 Backstage Bistro Award for Composer of the Year and a 1997 Johnny Mercer Award for Songwriter of the Year, and a Special Lifetime Achievement Award at the 26th Annual MAC Awards. His oratorio, King Island Christmas, won a Frederick Loewe Award and Dramatists Guild Award. David's musical Desperate Measures won the 2018 Drama Desk Award for Best Music and Best Lyrics as well as the Outer Critic's Circle Award for Best Off Broadway Musical and the Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical.

Laila Robins is an American stage, film and television actress. She has appeared in films including Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), An Innocent Man (1989), Live Nude Girls (1995), True Crime (1999), She's Lost Control (2014), Eye in the Sky (2015), and A Call to Spy (2019). Her television credits include regular roles on Gabriel's Fire, Homeland, and Murder in the First. In 2022, she portrays Pamela Milton in the final season of The Walking Dead.

Emily Skinner, also known as Emily Scott Skinner, is a Tony-nominated American stage actor and singer. She has played leading roles in such Broadway productions as Prince of Broadway, The Cher Show, Side Show, Jekyll & Hyde, James Joyce's The Dead, The Full Monty, Dinner at Eight, Billy Elliot, as well as the Actor's Fund Broadway concerts of Dreamgirls and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She has sung on concert stages around the world and on numerous recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Groff</span> American actor (born 1985)

Jonathan Drew Groff is an American actor and singer. He began his career on Broadway, rising to prominence for his portrayal of Melchior Gabor in the original production of Spring Awakening (2006-2008), for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, becoming one of the youngest nominees for the award, at age 21. He returned to Broadway to portray King George III in the original production of Hamilton (2015), for which he earned a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. For the original cast album of Hamilton, he, along with the other singers on the recording, won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Cariani</span>

John Edward Cariani is an American actor and playwright. Cariani is best known as the forensic expert Julian Beck in Law & Order. On stage, he earned a Tony Award nomination for his role as Motel the Tailor in the 2004 Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof, and he wrote the play Almost, Maine, a very popular play to produce in American schools. He starred on Broadway in the Tony Award winning musicals Something Rotten! and The Band's Visit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Friedman</span> American actor (born 1949)

Peter Friedman is an American stage, film, and television actor.

Peter Kellogg is a musical theater book writer and lyricist. He wrote the lyrics and the book for the 1992 production of the Broadway musical Anna Karenina, for which he received two 1993 Tony Award nominations, one for Best Book of a musical and one for the Best Original Score. He also wrote the lyrics and book for the musicals Chasing Nicolette, Desperate Measures, Lincoln In Love, Stunt Girl, Money Talks, and The Rivals which have been read and produced regionally. Kellogg also received the New York Musical Theatre Festival 2006 award for Excellence in Musical Theatre Writing (Book) for Desperate Measures. On June 3, 2018, Kellogg won the 2018 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for Desperate Measures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Petkoff</span> American stage actor

Robert Petkoff is an American stage actor known for his work in Shakespearean productions and more recently on the New York City musical theater stage. Petkoff has performed on Broadway, the West End, regional theatre, and done work in film and television. Petkoff was featured as "Perchik" in the Tony award-nominated 2004 revival cast of Fiddler on the Roof but is perhaps best known for his role as "Tateh" in the 2009 revival of Ragtime on Broadway. Petkoff has also provided the voices for over two dozen audiobooks, winning awards for his reading of Michael Koryta's So Cold the River. Married to actress Susan Wands, Petkoff has lived in New York City for the last twenty years, and often performs in benefit concerts for theater-district-related charities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren Molina</span> American actress

Lauren Molina is an American actress, singer, songwriter, and musician. She is a co-creator and performer with the comedy-pop, undie-rock band The Skivvies. Her Broadway credits include Johanna in the actor-musician revival of Sweeney Todd. To describe her as an actress, one reviewer said "She's part Mary Martin, Lucille Ball, Kristen Wiig and [fill in the blank with your favorite opera star because Molina has one of the most powerful and flexible voices in the annals of Broadway]." While performing on the first national tour of Sweeney Todd, she received the Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Award for Best Supporting Actress. She won a Helen Hayes award for her portrayal of Cunegunde in Candide (2010-2011), directed by Mary Zimmerman at the Shakespeare Theatre in DC, and received an IRNE nomination for the same role at the Huntington Theatre. She originated the role of Bella Rose in Desperate Measures (2017-2018) Off-Broadway and received nominations for the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical and Outer Critics Circle for Best Supporting Actress. In 2019, she and her Skivvies partner Nick Cearley co-conceived a new actor-musician revival of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown", also playing Lucy and Linus, at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. A Detroit native, Lauren received her BFA from the University of Michigan in musical theatre. She resides in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Kazee</span> American actor and singer

Steven Michael Kazee is an American actor and singer. He is best known for starring as Guy in the musical Once for which he was awarded the 2012 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. Kazee began his professional acting career in the mid 2000s, and from 2005 until 2013 acted in a series of Broadway productions including Spamalot, 110 in the Shade, and Once. Following the success of Once, Kazee acted on multiple television series, most notably playing Gus Pfender in the fifth season of Shameless. Kazee returned to theater in 2018, starring as Edward in the Chicago tryout of Pretty Woman: The Musical.

Brandon Jacob Uranowitz is an American stage and screen actor. He is best known for his roles as Adam Hochberg in the musical An American in Paris (2014–15) and Mendel Weisenbachfeld in the 2016 Broadway revival of Falsettos. A three-time Tony Award nominee, he received nominations for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for these performances in addition to a 2019 nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in Burn This. His other Broadway credits include Baby, It's You! (2011), Prince of Broadway (2017), and The Band's Visit (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Kantor</span> American actor and singer (born 1986)

Adam Kantor is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his roles on Broadway, most notably Mark Cohen in the closing cast of Rent, which was captured in Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway, Motel in the 2015 revival of Fiddler on the Roof, and as an original cast member in The Band's Visit.

<i>Jagged Little Pill</i> (musical) 2018 rock musical

Jagged Little Pill is a jukebox musical with music by Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard, lyrics by Morissette, and book by Diablo Cody, with additional music by Michael Farrell and Guy Sigsworth. The musical is inspired by the 1995 album of the same name by Morissette and deals with pain, healing, and empowerment. It premiered at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 5, 2018, directed by Diane Paulus.

Once Upon a One More Time is a jukebox musical comedy based on songs popularized by Britney Spears. Set in a fantasy storybook realm, the plot follows numerous fairy-tale characters transformed by a feminist awakening.

References

  1. ↑ Alexis Soloski (October 16, 2017). "Making Shakespeare Their Own, Serious and Silly". New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  2. ↑ His full name is given in the song "Someday They Will Thank Me"--the spelling is taken from the lyrics in the original cast album. According to Google Translate, it literally means "judges are obliged to drink" although most audiences probably simply laugh at the length.
  3. ↑ "All speeches (lines) for Friar Peter in "Measure for Measure" :|: Open Source Shakespeare". www.opensourceshakespeare.org.
  4. ↑ Olivia Clement (September 5, 2018). "How 'Jewish Country Music' Plus Shakespeare Equals a Hit | Playbill" . Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  5. ↑ Kenneth Jones (July 24, 2003). "Lyric Stage in TX Has World Premiere of Friedman-Kellogg Musical Desperate Measures in 2004 | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  6. ↑ Mark Lowry (November 4, 2009). "TheaterJones | Wade Giampa, 1950-2009". TheaterJones.com. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  7. 1 2 Kenneth Jones (April 30, 2004). "New Musical, Desperate Measures, Is Measure for Measure Served Texas-Style, at Lyric Stage | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  8. 1 2 Photo Coverage: NYMF's Desperate Measures Opens. Broadway World.com, Saturday, September 16, 2006
  9. ↑ Review by Don Church & Tony Schillaci Archived February 4, 2013, at archive.today in The Resident
  10. ↑ Jacques Lamarre (July 9, 2012). "BWW Reviews: Spirit of Broadway's DESPERATE MEASURES an OK Musical at the OK Corral". Broadway World - Wisdom Digital Media.
  11. ↑ Elyse Sommer. "A Second life for Desperate Measures". CurtainUp. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  12. ↑ "DESPERATE MEASURES Heads Into Final Weeks, Closing December 31". Broadway World. Wisdom Digital Media. December 21, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  13. 1 2 Hannah Vine (December 29, 2017). "Desperate Measures Musical Celebrates 100 Performances Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  14. ↑ "York Theatre Announces Cast, Creatives for Desperate Measures". Broadway World. TheaterMania. August 21, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 Andrew Gans (July 3, 2018). "Cast Recording of Desperate Measures, With Lauren Molina and Conor Ryan, Now Available Digitally". Playbill. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Full Casting Announced for Desperate Measures". Broadway World. TheaterMania. April 17, 2018.
  17. ↑ Lifland, Shari (December 17, 2017). "Theatre Review: Desperate Measures at The York". HuffPost . Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Desperate-Measures-Original-Cast-Recording". Amazon. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Desperate Measures Original Off-Broadway Cast - 2018 Off-Broadway". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Desperate Measures - A Musical Comedy Gone Wild". Desperate Measures.
  21. ↑ Michael Dale (June 22, 2018). "BWW Review: Problem Solved! Wild West Shakespeare Musical DESPERATE MEASURES is Hilarious and Tuneful". Broadway World - Wisdom Digital Media. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  22. ↑ "New York Theater's Biggest Night". 2018 NOMINEES + WINNERS. TheaterMania. June 3, 2018. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Outer Critics Circle has announced award winners for the 2017-18 season". Outer Critics Circle. June 3, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  24. ↑ "2018 OBA AWARDS". Off Broadway Alliance. June 3, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.