Harmony (musical)

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Harmony
A New Musical
Harmony A New Musical Poster.jpg
Poster for the planned Broadway production
Music Barry Manilow
Lyrics Bruce Sussman
Book Bruce Sussman
BasisThe life of the Comedian Harmonists
PremiereOctober 7, 1997: Mandell Weiss Theatre, San Diego
Productions1997 San Diego
2013 Atlanta
2014 Los Angeles
2022 Off-Broadway
2023 Broadway

Harmony is a stage musical with music by Barry Manilow and book and lyrics by Bruce Sussman. The musical tells the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, an ensemble of six young men in 1920s Germany who took the world by storm with their blend of sophisticated close harmonies and uproarious stage antics, until their inclusion of Jewish singers put them on a collision course with history.

Contents

The musical premiered at the Mandell Weiss Theatre in San Diego, California, in 1997. A planned Broadway production was slated for 2004, but due to lack of funds, it was ultimately canceled. The production opened in Atlanta in 2013, and Los Angeles in 2014, before an Off-Broadway production opened in April 2022. A Broadway transfer opened in November 2023, closing on February 4, 2024

Productions

San Diego (1997)

In February 1997, Harmony was announced to start previews on October 7, 1997, at the Mandell Weiss Theatre in San Diego, California. It was created by Barry Manilow, with book and lyrics by Bruce Sussman. [1] It opened on October 19, 1997, and closed on November 30, 1997. [2] The entire production received mixed reviews, and was three hours in length. [3]

David Warren directed the production, with set design by Derek McLane, costume design by Mark Wendland, sound design by Steve Canyon Kennedy and lighting by Ken Posner. [4] Danny Burstein originated the role of Rabbi. Other cast members include Mark Chmiel as Lesh, James Clow as Bobby, Steven Goldstein as Erich, Thom Christopher Warren as Harry, Patrick Wilson as Chopin, Rebecca Luker as Mary and Janet Mez as Ruth. [5]

An out-of-town try-out in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was slated for opening on December 17, 2003, with previews on November 25, 2003. A Broadway run was also planned for 2004. Previews for the Philadelphia try-out was delayed to December 2, 2003, [6] with opening on December 10, 2003 due to delivery issues. Both productions were canceled following an announcement on November 13, 2003, due to lack of funds. [7]

Atlanta and Los Angeles (2013, 2014)

After winning back the rights to the musical in 2005, Manilow and Sussman chose to run the musical at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. It ran from September 6, 2013, and closed on October 6, 2013. [8] It then ran at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California, from March 4, 2014, closing on April 13, 2014. [9]

Off-Broadway (2022)

Harmony was planned to debut Off-Broadway at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City, New York, on February 9, 2020, closing on March 29, 2020. The opening was subsequently delayed to February 11, 2021 [10] and then again delayed to 2022. Previews began on March 23, 2022, opening on April 13, 2022 and ran until May 8, 2022. [11]

Warren Carlyle directed and choreographed the production, [11] with scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Linda Cho, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier and lighting by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer. Sara Edwards would also choreograph the Off-Broadway production. [12] Danny Kornfield portrayed Rabbi, with Steve Telsey playing Lesh, Sean Bell as Bobby, Eric Peters as Erich, Zal Owen as Harry, Blake Roman as Chopin, Sierra Boggess as Mary, Jessie Davidson as Ruth and Chip Zien as Older Rabbi. [12]

Broadway (2023-2024)

A Broadway production of Harmony opened in 2023. Previews began at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on October 18, 2023, with an opening night of November 13, 2023. Warren Carlyle again directed and choreographed the production. [13] Kornfeld, Telsey, Bell, Peters, Owen, Roman, Boggess and Zien reprise their roles, [14] while Julie Benko originates the role of Ruth on Broadway. [15] An original cast album was released on August 31, 2023. [16]

The production played its final performance on February 4, 2024. It was not able to recoup the $15 million for which it was capitalized. [17]

Cast and characters

CharacterSan Diego [5] Philadelphia [18] Atlanta/Los Angeles [19] Off-Broadway [12] Broadway [20]
19972003 (canceled)2013/201420222023
"Rabbi" Josef Roman Cycowski [lower-alpha 1] ——— Chip Zien
Mary Rebecca Luker Kate Baldwin Leigh Ann Larkin Sierra Boggess
Ruth SternJanet MetzJanine LaMannaHannah CorneauJessie Davidson Julie Benko
Bobby BibertiJames Clow Aaron Lazar Douglas WilliamsSean Bell
Young "Rabbi" [lower-alpha 1] Danny Burstein Brian d'Arcy James Shayne KennonDanny Kornfeld
Harry FrommermanThom Christopher Warren Tony Yazbeck Zal Owen
Erich Collin Steven GoldsteinDavid TurnerChris DwanEric Peters
Erwin "Chopin" Bootz Patrick Wilson Stephen R. BuntrockWill TaylorBlake Roman
Ari "Lesh" LeshnikoffMark ChmielBradley DeanWill BlumSteven Telsey
Josephine Baker Thursday FarrarApril Nixon—Ana HoffmanAllison Semmes
Marlene Dietrich [lower-alpha 2] Jodi StevensHeather AyersLauren Elaine Taylor——
StandartenfϋhrerKurt ZischkeJoseph Dellger—Andrew O'Shanick
  1. 1 2 Prior to the 2022 Off-Broadway production, one actor played Rabbi as both a young man and an old man.
  2. ↑ In the off-Broadway production, this role was played by the actor playing the older Rabbi; the character was eliminated completely for the Broadway production.

Musical numbers

Act I

Act II

Awards and nominations

Off-Broadway production

YearAward CeremonyCategoryNomineeResult
2022 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding MusicalNominated
Outstanding Choreography Warren Carlyle Nominated
Off-Broadway League AwardsOutstanding Off-Broadway MusicalWon
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Book of a Musical Bruce Sussman Won
Outstanding MusicalNominated
Outstanding Actor in a Musical Chip Zien Nominated

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References

  1. ↑ Lefkowitz, David (February 11, 1997). "Barry Manilow Musical Sets La Jolla Premiere". Playbill . Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  2. ↑ Lefkowitz, David (November 27, 1997). "Harmony Runs Through Nov. 30 at La Jolla". Playbill. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  3. ↑ McKinley, Jesse (August 15, 2013). "Breaking Out of His Pop Prison". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  4. ↑ Winer, Laurie (October 21, 1997). "Songs of Survival". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Harmony at La Jolla Playhouse Mandell Weiss Theatre 1997". About The Artists. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  6. ↑ Jones, Kenneth (November 3, 2003). "Harmony Starts Dec. 2 in Philadelphia, a Week Later Than Expected". Playbill. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Harmony Canceled, No Longer Broadway-Bound". TheaterMania. November 13, 2003. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  8. ↑ Farmer, Jim (September 6, 2013). "Preview: Phone call led to perfect "Harmony" between Barry Manilow, Alliance Theatre". Art + Design. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Harmony". Center Theatre Group. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  10. ↑ Gans, Andrew (December 6, 2019). "Barry Manilow's Harmony Musical Will Now Open in 2021". Playbill. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  11. 1 2 Gans, Andrew (August 23, 2021). "Barry Manilow's Harmony Musical Will Now Open in 2022". Playbill. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Gans, Andrew (Feb 22, 2022). "Cast Complete for New York Premiere of Barry Manilow's Harmony, Starring Sierra Boggess and Chip Zien". Playbill. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  13. ↑ Russo, Gillian (April 28, 2023). "Barry Manilow musical 'Harmony' to come to Broadway in the fall". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  14. ↑ Evans, Greg (May 11, 2023). "Chip Zien Joins Cast Of Broadway-Bound Barry Manilow Musical 'Harmony'". Deadline. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  15. ↑ Russo, Gillian (June 1, 2023). "Julie Benko joins 'Harmony' Broadway cast". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  16. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (August 31, 2023). "Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's Harmony Releases Broadway Cast Album August 31". Playbill. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  17. ↑ Paulson, Michael (2024-01-16). "'Harmony,' Barry Manilow's Passion Project, to Close on Broadway". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  18. ↑ Jones, Kenneth (October 8, 2003). "Complete Cast of Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's Harmony Announced". Playbill. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  19. ↑ Gioia, Michael (September 15, 2013). "Barry Manilow's Harmony Musical, With Tony Yazbeck, Will Blum, Leigh Ann Larkin and More, Opens Sept. 15". Playbill. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Cast Complete for Broadway Premiere of Harmony". Playbill. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
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