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| WISH YOU WERE HERE | |
| Last Edit: SidL 06:20 pm EDT 03/11/19 | |
| Posted by: SidL 06:10 pm EDT 03/11/19 | |
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| Curious about an early fifties musical WISH YOU WERE HERE a show about a summer camp for adults love the title I've done minimal research, ibdb has it winning two Tony Awards Best Featured Actress, Shelia Bond (what happened to her career?) and best stagehand yes, there was a category for that and it is notable for being the first show on Broadway that had a swimming pool on stage (what other shows had pools ? - the original MY ONE AND ONLY featured water on the stage when Peter Sellars was attached during the pre-Broadway run in Boston - it had a "splashy" dance number with Tommy Tune and Twiggy I've listened to the title song via YouTube it sounds vaguely familiar - it has a Percy Faith/McGuire Sisters vibe to it the kind of song I would hear growing up in the sixties on easy listening radio stations What are considered to be Harold Rome's standout songs from the many shows that he has written the music Is a revival out of the question and would ENCORES ever consider doing it ? "Wish You Were Here" also happens to be Liza Minnelli's first theatrical credit when she was an apprentice at the Cape Cod Melody Tent a decade after the show ran at the Imperial Theatre and in a few hours (unless you are reading from Down Under) it will be Miss Minnelli's birthday |
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| re: WISH YOU WERE HERE | |
| Posted by: Billhaven 10:44 pm EDT 03/11/19 | |
| In reply to: WISH YOU WERE HERE - SidL 06:10 pm EDT 03/11/19 | |
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| According to Josh Logan’s autobiography the show was not in good shape when it opened. The Eddie Fisher recording kept the interest up while they went back into rehearsal and rearranged and rewrote and essentially saved the show. Of course, it contained the Logan signature of beefy bare chested men (one of whom was young Jack Cassidy). |
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| re: WISH YOU WERE HERE | |
| Posted by: Ballerina56 07:22 pm EDT 03/11/19 | |
| In reply to: WISH YOU WERE HERE - SidL 06:10 pm EDT 03/11/19 | |
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| There was on Off-Off Broadway revival of "Wish You Were Here' at Equity Library Theatre in 1987. "ELT" as it was known, was the ENCORES of its day, housed in a much smaller theatre, with an even smaller orchestra. It was popular for presenting some "first-time" New York revivals. The theatre was located at 103 and Riverside Drive. Naturally, there was no swimming pool for this production, but I recall it being campy and fun. The more popular Rome songs were "Where Did The Night Go," "Tripping the Light Fantastic," "Don Jose (from far Rockaway), and the title song. ELT was a big deal in its heyday. It was a great venue for performers as the shows attracted many agents and casting directors. Plus, most of the productions were reviewed by the NY Times. |
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| re: WISH YOU WERE HERE | |
| Posted by: gcarl44 09:34 pm EDT 03/11/19 | |
| In reply to: re: WISH YOU WERE HERE - Ballerina56 07:22 pm EDT 03/11/19 | |
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| I saw so many wonderful shows at ELT. I still miss it. | |
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| re: WISH YOU WERE HERE | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 06:41 pm EDT 03/11/19 | |
| In reply to: WISH YOU WERE HERE - SidL 06:10 pm EDT 03/11/19 | |
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| I've always had a softspot for this score! Book - well - you know. Rome wrote I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE, in which Barbara Streisand made a splash singing 'Miss Marmelstein'. FANNY, DESTRY RIDES AGAIN, and CALL ME MISTER were all also hits. But his biggest hit was his first Broadway show, the revue PINS AND NEEDLES., which ran two and a half years. He also wrote the score for the first musical version of GONE WITH THE WIND, produced first in Japan. I caught it in L.A. with Lesley Ann Warren as Scarlett. Unlike Broadway songsmiths like Richard Rodgers, Frank Loesser, and Jule Styne, Rome doesnt't have a catalog of smash songs thaat were covered by pop singers. | |
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| re: WISH YOU WERE HERE | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 08:40 pm EDT 03/11/19 | |
| In reply to: re: WISH YOU WERE HERE - NewtonUK 06:41 pm EDT 03/11/19 | |
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| I think the songs "Wish You Were Here" and also "Fanny" were pretty popularized by Eddie Fisher, back in the day. People tend to forget what a wonderful singer he was in his prime. My folks used to play some of his records, and he had a lovely voice. Songs from his shows were covered on tv shows like "Your Hit Parade"; I once asked my Mom how "I Say Hello" from "Destry Rides Again", and she was able to sing it to me, and she hadn't seen the show itself. There's a video on YouTube or elsewhere with original star Dolores Gray singing in her wonderful, huge but velvety voice. |
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| "Having Wonderful Time" | |
| Posted by: Whistler 07:42 pm EDT 03/11/19 | |
| In reply to: re: WISH YOU WERE HERE - NewtonUK 06:41 pm EDT 03/11/19 | |
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| Also research the play "Having Wonderful Time" which is the basis for the musical. The play was written by Arthur Kober, Lillian Hellman's husband. The play has an interesting history, the movie version of it has an interesting one, and so does the musical. | |
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