That's Entertainment is a 1972 musical revue featuring the music of songwriting team Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz that uses orchestrations and arrangements by Luther Henderson. The show's book was crafted by uncredited writers. [1] Historian Howard Dietz stated that the show's authors "created character names for all the singers and utilized snatches of dialogue in an awkward attempt to place the songs in a fabricated story context." [2]
Produced by Gordon Crowe, directed by Paul Aaron, and choreographed by Larry Fuller, That's Entertainment premiered on Broadway at the Edison Theatre on April 14, 1972. [3] The production closed after just four performances [4] on April 16, 1972. [5] The cast included David Chaney as Greg, Jered Holmes as Richard, Judith Knaiz as Carol, Michon Peacock as Adele, Vivian Reed as Lena, Scott Salmon as Jack, Bonnie Schon as Lucille, Michael Vita as Donald, and Alan Weeks as Sam. [1]
Newsday critic George Oppenheimer wrote in his review, "The show was badly produced, directed, choreographed, and cast with the notable exception of a young black dazzler by the name of Vivian Reed who alone brought to it style and a star quality." [6] Theatre critic Douglas Watt gave a scathing review of the show in the New York Daily News but also singled out Reed as "the best performer on the stage" and praised her singing of "By Myself" as "effective". [7]
Act 1 [8]
Act 2 [8]