| Marilyn | |
|---|---|
| An American Fable | |
 | |
| Music | Jeanne Napoli Doug Frank Gary Portnoy Beth Lawrence Norman Thalheimer |
| Lyrics | Jeanne Napoli Doug Frank Gary Portnoy Beth Lawrence Norman Thalheimer |
| Book | Patricia Michaels |
| Basis | The life of Marilyn Monroe |
| Productions | 1983 Broadway |
Marilyn: An American Fable is a musical with a book by Patricia Michaels and music and lyrics by Jeanne Napoli, Doug Frank, Gary Portnoy, Beth Lawrence, and Norman Thalheimer. [1]
Not to be confused with the West End production Marilyn! starring Stephanie Lawrence, [2] this allegedly "authorized" version (officially endorsed by acting coach Lee Strasberg's wife Anna), while also based on events in the life of screen icon Marilyn Monroe, was a highly fictionalized account, complete with a happy ending, set on a huge, vacant Hollywood soundstage. [3]
The production underwent numerous changes throughout its development period. During rehearsals, original star Geralyn Petchel was replaced by Alyson Reed in the role of Norma Jean/Marilyn Monroe, and Danielle DuClos was replaced by Kristi Coombs as Young Norma Jean. After previews began, director/choreographer Kenny Ortega was replaced by Thommie Walsh and Baayork Lee, although Ortega retained credit in the program. [4] Ten musical numbers were dropped and forty-five minutes of dialogue were excised before opening night. Among the characters retained were young Norma Jean Baker, who interacted with her adult self, and a Greek chorus-like trio called Destiny, who provided a running commentary about the sex goddess's woes.
The musical opened on Broadway on November 20, 1983 at the Minskoff Theatre, and closed on December 3, 1983, after only seventeen performances and 34 previews. In addition to Reed, the cast included Scott Bakula (making his Broadway debut) as Joe DiMaggio, Willie Falk (as Tommy), Will Gerard as Arthur Miller, and Kristi Coombs as young Norma Jean. [5] [6]
Reed was nominated for the 1984 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical. [7]
| Act I SCENE 1: A SOUNDSTAGE, HOLLYWOOD LAND
SCENE 2: UNDER THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS, 1934 – 1942
SCENE 3: THE PARACHUTE FACTORY, 1945
SCENE 4: OVERSEAS
SCENE 5: AGENT'S HOME, HOLLYWOOD
SCENE 6: STUDIO EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE SCENE 7: THE SOUNDSTAGE, 1948 – 1953
SCENE 8: A MOVIE BALCONY SCENE 9: THE SOUNDSTAGE, 1955
SCENE 10: MARILYN'S DRESSING ROOM SCENE 11: DIMAGGIO'S RESTAURANT
SCENE 12: PREMIER NIGHT
| Act 2 SCENE 1: MARILYN'S BEDROOM
SCENE 2: SOUNDSTAGE
SCENE 3: NEW YORK CITY, 1956 – 1960
SCENE 4: NEW YORK PENTHOUSE
SCENE 5: NEW YORK TO HOLLYWOOD
SCENE 6: SOUNDSTAGE
|
In The New York Times , Frank Rich wrote "Marilyn is incoherent to the point of being loony. I defy anyone to explain - just for starters - why 10 chorus boys dressed in pink plumbers' costumes sing a song about bubble baths at the climax of Act II." [8]
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