Baby It's You!: Difference between revisions

'''''Baby It's You!''''' is a [[jukebox musical]] written by [[Floyd Mutrux]] and [[Colin Escott]], featuring pop and rock hits of the 1960s, with a special emphasis on songs by [[the Shirelles]] and other acts signed to [[Scepter Records]]. The show "tells the story of [[Florence Greenberg]] and Scepter Records, the label Greenberg started when she signed the Shirelles."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Kenneth|date=October 20, 2010|title=Shirelles Musical ''Baby It's You!'' Takes More Steps Toward Broadway|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/shirelles-musical-baby-its-you-takes-more-steps-toward-broadway-com-172843|url-status=live|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=Playbill}}</ref> After several tryouts and premieres, the show debuted on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in April 2011, directed by [[Sheldon Epps]].

Mutrux and Escott had collaborated on the book for the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway musical]] ''[[Million Dollar Quartet (musical)|Million Dollar Quartet]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gans|first=Andrew|date=January 21, 2010|title=Foster and Stanley Will Join Original Chicago Quartet for Broadway's ''Million Dollar Quartet''|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/foster-and-stanley-will-join-original-chicago-quartet-for-broadways-million-dollar-quartet-com-165125|url-status=live|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=Playbill}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Fick|first=David|date=2010-04-11|title=MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Opens Tonight|url=https://musicalcyberspace.wordpress.com/2010/04/11/million-dollar-quartet-opens-tonight/|url-status=live|website=Musical Cyberspace}}</ref> which was nominated for a [[Tony Award for Best Musical]] and [[Tony Award for Best Book|Best Book of a Musical]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Who's Nominated?|url=http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/nominees/index.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507080412/http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/nominees/index.html|archivedate=May 7, 2010|accessdate=June 13, 2010|work=Tony Awards|publisher=IBM Corp.}}</ref> Mutrux, who knew about Florence Greenberg, conceived ''Baby It's You! The Musical'',<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Haun|first=Harry|date=April 11, 2011|title=PLAYBILL.COM'S BRIEF ENCOUNTER With ''Baby It's You!'' Co-Director Sheldon Epps|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/playbillcoms-brief-encounter-with-baby-its-you-co-director-sheldon-epps-com-178121|url-status=live|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=Playbill}}</ref> which is part of Mutrux's planned "American Pop Anthology" series, focusing on American music from the 1950s to the 1980s. ''Million Dollar Quartet'' was also part of this series.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 26, 2010|title=Girl Group-Themed Baby, It's You Eyes Winter 2011 Broadway Bow|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/153100/girl-group-themed-baby-its-you-eyes-winter-2011-broadway-bow/|url-status=live|website=Broadway.com}}</ref>

[[Florence Greenberg]] is an average [[New Jersey]] [[housewife]]. A talent show is held at her daughter's school, and a group of African-American girls are preparing to perform. Florence's daughter is surprised at their talent, quickly notifying her mother, and Florence decides to make the group [[recording artist]]s. To accommodate them, she founds [[Scepter Records]]. After the success of [[the Shirelles]], the new name of the group, Florence and Scepter Records go on to "discover recording artists like [[the Kingsmen]], [[the Isley Brothers]] and [[Dionne Warwick]]."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=2011-01-24|title=Jukebox Musical 'Baby It's You!' Will Get Broadway Rotation This Spring|url=https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/jukebox-musical-baby-its-you-will-get-broadway-rotation-this-spring/|url-status=live|website=The New York Times}}</ref>

| Mary Jane Greenberg || [[Kelli Barrett]]

The show premiered at the Coast Playhouse in Los Angeles on July 18, 2009, playing until August 30, 2009,<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 10, 2009|title=World Premiere Musical BABY IT'S YOU! Begins 7/18 At The Coast Playhouse|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/World-Premiere-Musical-BABY-ITS-YOU-Begins-718-At-The-Coast-Playhouse-20090710|url-status=live|website=BroadwayWorld}}</ref> choreographed by Birgitte Mutrux, directed by Floyd Mutrux, and starring Meeghan Holaway. Other cast members included [[Erica Ash]] and [[Barry Pearl]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Henerson|first=Evan|date=November 13, 2010|title=''Baby It's You!'', a ''CurtainUp'' Los Angeles Review|url=http://www.curtainup.com/babyitsyoula.html|url-status=live|website=CurtainUp}}</ref> Another production with the same cast played at the [[Pasadena Playhouse]] from November 13, 2009, to December 13, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Kenneth|date=October 20, 2010|title=Shirelles Musical ''Baby It's You!'' Takes More Steps Toward Broadway|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/shirelles-musical-baby-its-you-takes-more-steps-toward-broadway-com-172843|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Playbill}}</ref>

The show opened on Broadway at the [[Broadhurst Theatre]], starring [[Beth Leavel]] as Florence,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Kenneth|date=January 14, 2011|title=Producers of ''Baby It's You!'' Eyeing Broadhurst Theatre and Beth Leavel|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/producers-of-baby-its-you-eyeing-broadhurst-theatre-and-beth-leavel-com-175208|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Playbill}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Riedel|first=Michael|date=2011-01-14|title=Musical’s a Shirelles thing|url=https://nypost.com/2011/01/14/musicals-a-shirelles-thing/|url-status=live|website=New York Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Chatter|first=Rialto|date=January 14, 2011|title=Mutrux's BABY, IT'S YOU Musical to Play Broadhurst in Spring with Leavel in Talks to Star?|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Mutruxs-BABY-ITS-YOU-Musical-to-Play-Broadhurst-in-Spring-with-Leavel-in-Talks-to-Star-20110114|url-status=live|website=BroadwayWorld}}</ref> directed by [[Sheldon Epps]], and with musical supervision and arrangements by [[Rahn Coleman]]. ''Baby It's You!'' began previews on March 26, 2011, and officially opened on April 27,<ref name=":1" /> with choreography by Brigitte Mutrux, orchestrations by [[Don Sebesky]], scenic design by [[Anna Louizos]], costume design by Lizz Wolf, lighting design by [[Howell Binkley]], and projection design by Jason H. Thompson.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Hetrick|first=Adam|date=January 24, 2011|title=Shirelles Musical ''Baby It's You!'', With Beth Leavel, Will Play the Broadhurst; Complete Cast Announced|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/shirelles-musical-baby-its-you-with-beth-leavel-will-play-the-broadhurst-complete-cast-announced-com-175472|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Playbill}}</ref> Joining Leavel as the Shirelles were Christina Sajous, [[Erica Ash]], Kyra DaCosta, and Crystal Starr Knighton.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Kenneth|date=February 4, 2011|title=''Baby It's You!'' Box Office Will Open Feb. 5|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/baby-its-you-box-office-will-open-feb-5-com-175876|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Playbill}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=''Baby It's You!'' at Broadhurst Theatre|url=http://www.playbill.com/events/event_detail/21873-Baby-Its-You-at-Broadhurst-Theatre|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303012102/http://www.playbill.com/events/event_detail/21873-Baby-Its-You-at-Broadhurst-Theatre|archive-date=March 3, 2011|website=Playbill}}</ref> The production closed on September 4, 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Simonson|first=Robert|date=August 5, 2011|title=PLAYBILL.COM'S THEATRE WEEK IN REVIEW, July 30-Aug. 5: ''Ghost'' to Broadway?, Theresa Rebeck's Latest, Bye Bye ''Baby''|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/playbillcoms-theatre-week-in-review-july-30-aug-5-ghost-to-broadway-theresa-rebecks-latest-bye-bye-baby-com-181549|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Playbill}}</ref>

''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'''s Clark Collis gave the musical a "B−" rating, calling it "a night out that is easy on the ear ... 'Baby It's You' gives Leavel, a [[Tony Award]]-winner for ''[[The Drowsy Chaperone]]'', a platform for both her vocal and her dramatic talents ... [T]he quartet playing the Shirelles are given little to do but capably sing and dance their way through the group's repertoire while breaking a succession of costume change land speed records. But there is never any doubt that the main attractions here ARE the hits — this is a jukebox musical so unashamed about its nature that it starts with the projected image of an actual jukebox."<ref>{{cite webmagazine|last=Collis|first=Clark|date=April 26, 2011|title=Baby It's You|url=https://ew.com/article/2011/04/27/baby-its-you/|url-status=live|accessdate=March 26, 2021|workmagazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref>

[[Charles Isherwood]] in ''[[The New York Times]]'' called the production "dismal" and criticized the "[i]nvitations to sing along" and the "inducements to wallow in visions of happy yesterdays".<ref>{{cite news|last=Isherwood|first=Charles|date=April 27, 2011|title=Girl Group Tale Is Reharmonized|work=The New York Times|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/theater/reviews/baby-its-you-story-of-the-shirelles-review.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1303956639-xYht5Zle67syffPxnjRuVw|url-status=live|accessdate=April 28, 2011}}</ref>

An original Broadway [[cast recording]] was released by [[Universal Music Group]] on June 14, 2011. The album, recorded from April 17 to 25, 2011, is produced by [[Richard Perry]] and associate-produced by Rahn Coleman.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Kenneth|date=April 26, 2011|title=The Shirelles Live Again on Disc; ''Baby It's You!'' Cast Album Due June 14|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/the-shirelles-live-again-on-disc-baby-its-you-cast-album-due-june-14-com-178578|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Playbill}}</ref>

On April 27, 2011, the date the production opened on Broadway, it was announced that a [[personality rights]] lawsuit against the play's producers had been filed with the [[New York Supreme Court|Supreme Court of the State of New York]]. The suit alleged unauthorized and uncompensated use of the names, likenesses, and biographical information of Beverly Lee (a surviving member of The Shirelles who owns the trademark to the group's name); late Shirelles members Doris Coley Jackson and Addie Harris Jackson; Dionne Warwick; and Chuck Jackson. The suit sought damages on the plaintiffs' behalf. (The other surviving member of the original Shirelles, [[Shirley Owens|Shirley Alston Reeves]], was not named as a plaintiff.)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Kenneth|date=April 27, 2011|title=''Baby It's You!'' Producers Being Sued by Beverly Lee of The Shirelles, Dionne Warwick and Others|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/baby-its-you-producers-being-sued-by-beverly-lee-of-the-shirelles-dionne-warwick-and-others-com-178629|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Playbill}}</ref> On December 15, 2011, a federal judge asserted that the suit be discontinued after both sides agreed to settle.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Kenneth|date=December 19, 2011|title=''Baby It's You!'' Legal Dispute Settled|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/baby-its-you-legal-dispute-settled-185689|url-status=live|accessdate=November 2, 2015|work=Playbill}}</ref>