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'''''My Favorite Year''''' is a [[musical theatre|musical]] with a book by [[Joseph Dougherty]], music by [[Stephen Flaherty]], and lyrics by [[Lynn Ahrens]]. It is based on the [[My Favorite Year|film of the same name]].
'''''My Favorite Year''''' is a [[musical theatre|musical]] with a book by [[Joseph Dougherty]], music by [[Stephen Flaherty]], and lyrics by [[Lynn Ahrens]]. It is based on the 1982 [[My Favorite Year|film of the same name]].


==Production history==
==Production history==
The musical opened on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] at [[Lincoln Center]]'s [[Vivian Beaumont Theater]] on December 10, 1992 and closed on January 10, 1993 after 36 performances and 45 previews. The cast included Evan Pappas, [[Tim Curry]], [[Tom Mardirosian]], [[Katie Finneran]], [[Andrea Martin]] (in her Broadway debut), [[Josh Mostel]], and [[Lainie Kazan]], who reprised the role of Benjy's mother she had played in the film. The show was directed by [[Ron Lagomarsino]] and choreographed by [[Thommie Walsh]], with scenic design by Thomas Lynch, costume design by [[Patricia Zipprodt]], and lighting design by [[Jules Fisher]], with associate lighting designer [[Peggy Eisenhauer]].
The musical opened on Broadway at [[Lincoln Center]]'s [[Vivian Beaumont Theater]] on December 10, 1992, and closed on January 10, 1993, after 36 performances and 45 previews. The cast included Evan Pappas, [[Tim Curry]], [[Tom Mardirosian]], [[Katie Finneran]], [[Andrea Martin]] (in her Broadway debut), [[Josh Mostel]], and [[Lainie Kazan]], who reprised the role of Benjy's mother she had played in the film. The show was directed by [[Ron Lagomarsino]] and choreographed by [[Thommie Walsh]], with scenic design by Thomas Lynch, costume design by [[Patricia Zipprodt]], and lighting design by [[Jules Fisher]], with associate lighting designer [[Peggy Eisenhauer]].


The creative team constantly reworked the troubled production during previews.<ref>[http://www.wetellthestory.com/mfy.html My Favorite Year listing with production notes, song list and commentary] wetellthestory.com, retrieved February 28, 2010 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302005533/http://www.wetellthestory.com/mfy.html |date=March 2, 2010 }}</ref>
The production experienced many difficulties and constant revisions were made by he creative team during previews.<ref>[http://www.wetellthestory.com/mfy.html My Favorite Year listing with production notes, song list and commentary] wetellthestory.com, retrieved February 28, 2010 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302005533/http://www.wetellthestory.com/mfy.html |date=March 2, 2010 }}</ref>


''My Favorite Year'' received mixed-to-negative reviews. ''The New York Times'''s [[Frank Rich]] called the musical "a missed opportunity, a bustling but too frequently flat musical that suffers from another vogue of the 1950s, an identity crisis,"<ref>{{cite news |last=Rich |first=Frank |url=http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9E0CE4D71F31F932A25751C1A964958260 |title=Review: A Rosy View of a Golden Age |work=The New York Times |date=1992-12-11 |accessdate=2007-04-03}}</ref> and disapproved of the melodramatic turn taken in the show's second act, while ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine wrote that is a "barren Broadway musical."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,977300,00.html |title=A Favorite No More |publisher=Time |date=1992-12-21 |accessdate=2007-04-03}}</ref>
''My Favorite Year'' received mixed-to-negative reviews. ''The New York Times'''s [[Frank Rich]] called the musical "a missed opportunity, a bustling but too frequently flat musical that suffers from another vogue of the 1950s, an identity crisis,"<ref>{{cite news |last=Rich |first=Frank |url=http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9E0CE4D71F31F932A25751C1A964958260 |title=Review: A Rosy View of a Golden Age |work=The New York Times |date=1992-12-11 |access-date=2007-04-03}}</ref> and disapproved of the melodramatic turn taken in the show's second act. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine called it a "barren Broadway musical."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,977300,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930033616/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,977300,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |title=A Favorite No More |publisher=Time |date=1992-12-21 |access-date=2007-04-03}}</ref>


An original cast recording was released on the [[RCA Victor]] label.
The original cast recording was released by [[RCA Victor]].


In March 2007, ''[[The Chicago Sun-Times]]'' revealed that Flaherty and Ahrens were "reworking the show with an eye on a new Broadway production."<ref>{{cite news |last=Weiss |first=Hedy |url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/weiss/289198,WKP-News-stage09.article |title=A new 'Year': Playwrights breathe livelier life into musical |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |date=2007-03-09 |accessdate=2007-04-03}}</ref> Flaherty said that, "In hindsight, I think our decision to paint the musical in somewhat darker colors was a mistake." Among the revisions made to the show are two new songs, which were incorporated into a March 2007 [[repertory]] production of the show at the Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, Chicago.<ref>Olson, John.[http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/chicago/ch125.html "My Favorite Year Review"], talkinbroadway.com, April 3, 2007</ref>
In March 2007, ''The Chicago Sun-Times'' revealed that Flaherty and Ahrens were "reworking the show with an eye on a new Broadway production."<ref>{{cite news |last=Weiss |first=Hedy |url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/weiss/289198,WKP-News-stage09.article |title=A new 'Year': Playwrights breathe livelier life into musical |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |date=2007-03-09 |access-date=2007-04-03}}</ref> Flaherty said that "In hindsight, I think our decision to paint the musical in somewhat darker colors was a mistake." Among the revisions made to the show are two new songs, incorporated into a March 2007 production of the show at the Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, Chicago.<ref>Olson, John.[http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/chicago/ch125.html "My Favorite Year Review"], talkinbroadway.com, April 3, 2007</ref>


Musicals Tonight! in New York City presented a staged concert in April 2003.<ref>[http://www.musicalstonight.org/ARCHmyfavoriteyear.html My Favorite Year listing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608015948/http://www.musicalstonight.org/ARCHmyfavoriteyear.html |date=2011-06-08 }} musicalstonight.org, retrieved February 28, 2010</ref>
Musicals Tonight! in New York City presented a staged concert in April 2003.<ref>[http://www.musicalstonight.org/ARCHmyfavoriteyear.html My Favorite Year listing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608015948/http://www.musicalstonight.org/ARCHmyfavoriteyear.html |date=2011-06-08 }} musicalstonight.org, retrieved February 28, 2010</ref>


The York Theatre Company Musicals in Mufti in New York City presented a staged concert in December 2014. Lynn Ahrens reminisced about the first time Andrea Martin sang "Professional Showbizness Comedy" -- "It Bombed". However, "By the time we got done with our rewrites...she stopped the show."<ref>Gordon, David. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/lynn-ahrens-stephen-flaherty-my-favorite-year-memories_70839.html "Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty Recall Memories of 'My Favorite Year'"] theatermania.com, December 5, 2014</ref>
The York Theatre Company Musicals in Mufti in New York City presented a staged concert in December 2014. Lynn Ahrens reminisced about the first time Andrea Martin sang "Professional Showbizness Comedy": "It bombed.... By the time we got done with our rewrites...she stopped the show."<ref>Gordon, David. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/lynn-ahrens-stephen-flaherty-my-favorite-year-memories_70839.html "Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty Recall Memories of 'My Favorite Year'"] theatermania.com, December 5, 2014</ref>


==Cast==
==Cast==
{| class="wikitable"
⚫
Source: Internet Broadway Database<ref>[http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=4699 "Internet Broadway Database listing"] ibdb.com, retrieved February 28, 2010</ref>
|+

!
*Evan Pappas as Benjy Stone
⚫
!'''Original Broadway Cast (1992)<ref>[http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=4699 "Internet Broadway Database listing"] ibdb.com, retrieved February 28, 2010</ref>'''
*[[Tim Curry]] as Alan Swann
!'''York Theatre Cast (2014)'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Peterson|first=Tyler|title=Photos: Meet the Cast of York's MY FAVORITE YEAR - Adam Chanler-Berat, Rose Hemingway & More!|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Meet-the-Cast-of-Yorks-MY-FAVORITE-YEAR-Adam-Chanler-Berat-Rose-Hemingway-More-20141202|access-date=2022-01-05|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en}}</ref>
*[[Tom Mardirosian]] as King Kaiser
!25th Anniversary Concert (2017)<ref>{{Cite web|title=My Favorite Year In Concert: A 25th Anniversary Celebration|url=https://54below.com/events/favorite-year-concert-25th-anniversary-celebration/|access-date=2022-01-05|website=Feinstein's/54 Below|language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Andrea Martin]] as Alice Miller
|-
*Lannyl Stephens as K.C. Downing
|'''Benjy Stone'''
⚫
*[[Lainie Kazan]] as Belle May Steinberg Carroca
|style="text-align:center;" | Evan Pappas
*[[Josh Mostel]] as Sy Benson
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | [[Adam Chanler-Berat]]
*[[Ethan Phillips]] as Herb Lee
|-
*Paul Stolarsky as Leo Silver
|'''Alan Swann'''
⚫
*Thomas Ikeda as Rookie Carroca
|style="text-align:center;" | [[Tim Curry]]
*David Lipman as Uncle Morty
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | [[Douglas Sills]]
*Mary Stout as Aunt Sadie
|-
*[[Katie Finneran]] as Tess
|'''King Kaiser'''
|style="text-align:center;" | [[Tom Mardirosian]]
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | [[Richard Kind]]
|-
|'''Alice Miller'''
|style="text-align:center;" | [[Andrea Martin]]
|style="text-align:center;" | [[Leslie Kritzer]]
|style="text-align:center;" | [[Carolee Carmello]]
|-
|'''K.C. Downing'''
|style="text-align:center;" | Lannyl Stephens
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | [[Rose Hemingway]]
|-
⚫
|'''Belle May Steinberg Carroca'''
|style="text-align:center;" | [[Lainie Kazan]]
|style="text-align:center;" | [[Christine Pedi]]
|style="text-align:center;" | [[Caroline O'Connor (actress)|Caroline O'Connor]]
|-
|'''Sy Benson'''
|style="text-align:center;" | [[Josh Mostel]]
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Daniel Marcus
|-
|'''Herb Lee'''
|style="text-align:center;" | [[Ethan Phillips]]
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Aaron Galligan-Stierle
|-
|'''Leo Silver'''
|style="text-align:center;" | Paul Stolarsky
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Thom Sesma
|-
⚫
|'''Rookie Carroca'''
|style="text-align:center;" | Thomas Ikeda
|style="text-align:center;" | [[Francis Jue]]
|style="text-align:center;" | Steven Eng
|-
|'''Uncle Morty'''
|style="text-align:center;" | David Lipman
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Daniel Marcus
|-
|'''Aunt Sadie'''
|style="text-align:center;" | Mary Stout
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Barbara Marineau
|-
|'''Tess'''
|style="text-align:center;" | [[Katie Finneran]]
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Bree Banker
|}


==Plot==
==Plot==
In the 1950s Benjy Stone (a [[Mel Brooks]]-type), is a sketch writer for a live television variety show starring King Kaiser (a [[Sid Caesar]]-type) ("Twenty Million People"). Signed for a guest appearance is Alan Swann (an [[Errol Flynn]]-type), a one-time movie idol whose career was disrupted by his addiction to alcohol and loose women. Benjy writes a sketch for Swann about a Musketeer and a princess being captured ("The Musketeer Sketch"). The task of keeping him sober and celibate until airtime falls to Benjy, who soon finds himself involved in a sequence of shenanigans unlike any he ever experienced before.
In the 1950s, Benjy Stone (a [[Mel Brooks]]-type), is a sketch writer for a live television variety show starring King Kaiser (a [[Sid Caesar]]-type) ("Twenty Million People"). Signed for a guest appearance is Alan Swann (an [[Errol Flynn]]-type), a one-time movie idol whose career was disrupted by his addiction to alcohol and loose women. Benjy writes a sketch for Swann about a Musketeer and a princess being captured ("The Musketeer Sketch"). The task of keeping him sober and celibate until airtime falls to Benjy, who soon finds himself involved in a sequence of shenanigans.
Various characters, including Benjy's pushy mother Belle Steinberg Carroca and Alan Swann's estranged daughter Tess, complicate Benjy's task. The other writers, Sy, Alice and Herb, add to the chaos.
Various characters, including Benjy's pushy mother Belle Steinberg Carroca and Alan Swann's estranged daughter Tess, complicate Benjy's task. The other writers, Sy, Alice and Herb, add to the chaos.


==Differences from the original movie==
==Differences from the original film==
*In the movie, there is a subplot surrounding King Kaiser angering a corrupt union boss. Neither this man, nor the sketch that angered him, is included in the plot of the musical.
* In the film, there is a subplot surrounding King Kaiser angering Karl Rojeck, a corrupt union boss with a comedy sketch depicting Rojek as a stereotypical gangster. Neither the character of Rojeck nor the sketch that angered him is included in the plot of the musical.
*In the movie, Swann agrees to finally meet his daughter, Tess, in person during the epilogue. In the musical, they meet in a scene where she is leaving an award ceremony for school, which Swann was invited to by her. They also reunite in the final song.
* In the film's epilogue, Benjy relates that Swann agreed to visit his daughter Tess in person; in the musical, Tess invites Swann to an award ceremony, and they meet there. They also reunite in the final song.
⚫
* The Musketeer sketch is minor to the plot in the film; in the musical, it is central to the plot, being that it is the sketch Benjy wrote for Swann. Four of the show's songs are dedicated to it.
*In the movie, Swann revealed he'd been keeping tabs on his daughter for a while without ever meeting her face to face. In the musical, Swann revealed he hadn't seen Tess in three years.
⚫
*In the movie, the Musketeer sketch is very minor to the plotline. In the musical, it is central to the plotline, being that it is the sketch Benjy wrote for Swann. Four of the show's songs are dedicated to it.
*In the movie, Swann enters the women's bathroom. In the musical, the only man to enter the women's bathroom is Benjy.


==Songs==
==Songs==
Line 70: Line 115:
* "Manhattan" – Alan and Ensemble
* "Manhattan" – Alan and Ensemble
* "Naked in Bethesda Fountain" – Sy, Alice, Leo, Herb and K.C.
* "Naked in Bethesda Fountain" – Sy, Alice, Leo, Herb and K.C.
* "The Gospel According to the King" – King, Alan and Ensemble
* "The Gospel According to King" – King, Alan and Ensemble
* "The Musketeer Sketch Rehearsal" – Musketeers, Benjy, and Alan
* "The Musketeer Sketch Rehearsal" – Musketeers, Benjy, and Alan
* "Funny / The Duck Joke" – K. C. and Alice
* "Funny / The Duck Joke" – K. C. and Alice
Line 86: Line 131:
* "My Favorite Year" – Benjy and Company
* "My Favorite Year" – Benjy and Company
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}

An album, ''My Favorite Year (Original Broadway Cast Recording)'', was released in 1993 with [[Andrea Martin]], [[Lainie Kazan]] and [[Tim Curry]] on [[RCA Victor]].
The album, ''My Favorite Year (Original Broadway Cast Recording)'' was released in 1993 with [[Andrea Martin]], [[Lainie Kazan]] and [[Tim Curry]] on [[RCA Victor]].


==Awards and nominations==
==Awards and nominations==
Line 151: Line 197:
[[Category:Musicals by Lynn Ahrens]]
[[Category:Musicals by Lynn Ahrens]]
[[Category:Musicals by Stephen Flaherty]]
[[Category:Musicals by Stephen Flaherty]]
[[Category:Plays set in New York City]]
[[Category:Musicals set in New York City]]
[[Category:Tony Award-winning musicals]]
[[Category:Tony Award-winning musicals]]

Latest revision as of 19:57, 27 March 2024

My Favorite Year
Original Production Poster
MusicStephen Flaherty
LyricsLynn Ahrens
BookJoseph Dougherty
Basis1982 film My Favorite Year
Productions1992 Broadway

My Favorite Year is a musical with a book by Joseph Dougherty, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. It is based on the 1982 film of the same name.

Production history

[edit]

The musical opened on Broadway at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater on December 10, 1992, and closed on January 10, 1993, after 36 performances and 45 previews. The cast included Evan Pappas, Tim Curry, Tom Mardirosian, Katie Finneran, Andrea Martin (in her Broadway debut), Josh Mostel, and Lainie Kazan, who reprised the role of Benjy's mother she had played in the film. The show was directed by Ron Lagomarsino and choreographed by Thommie Walsh, with scenic design by Thomas Lynch, costume design by Patricia Zipprodt, and lighting design by Jules Fisher, with associate lighting designer Peggy Eisenhauer.

The production experienced many difficulties and constant revisions were made by he creative team during previews.[1]

My Favorite Year received mixed-to-negative reviews. The New York Times's Frank Rich called the musical "a missed opportunity, a bustling but too frequently flat musical that suffers from another vogue of the 1950s, an identity crisis,"[2] and disapproved of the melodramatic turn taken in the show's second act. Time magazine called it a "barren Broadway musical."[3]

The original cast recording was released by RCA Victor.

In March 2007, The Chicago Sun-Times revealed that Flaherty and Ahrens were "reworking the show with an eye on a new Broadway production."[4] Flaherty said that "In hindsight, I think our decision to paint the musical in somewhat darker colors was a mistake." Among the revisions made to the show are two new songs, incorporated into a March 2007 production of the show at the Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, Chicago.[5]

Musicals Tonight! in New York City presented a staged concert in April 2003.[6]

The York Theatre Company Musicals in Mufti in New York City presented a staged concert in December 2014. Lynn Ahrens reminisced about the first time Andrea Martin sang "Professional Showbizness Comedy": "It bombed.... By the time we got done with our rewrites...she stopped the show."[7]

Cast

[edit]
Original Broadway Cast (1992)[8] York Theatre Cast (2014)[9] 25th Anniversary Concert (2017)[10]
Benjy Stone Evan Pappas Adam Chanler-Berat
Alan Swann Tim Curry Douglas Sills
King Kaiser Tom Mardirosian Richard Kind
Alice Miller Andrea Martin Leslie Kritzer Carolee Carmello
K.C. Downing Lannyl Stephens Rose Hemingway
Belle May Steinberg Carroca Lainie Kazan Christine Pedi Caroline O'Connor
Sy Benson Josh Mostel Daniel Marcus
Herb Lee Ethan Phillips Aaron Galligan-Stierle
Leo Silver Paul Stolarsky Thom Sesma
Rookie Carroca Thomas Ikeda Francis Jue Steven Eng
Uncle Morty David Lipman Daniel Marcus
Aunt Sadie Mary Stout Barbara Marineau
Tess Katie Finneran Bree Banker

Plot

[edit]

In the 1950s, Benjy Stone (a Mel Brooks-type), is a sketch writer for a live television variety show starring King Kaiser (a Sid Caesar-type) ("Twenty Million People"). Signed for a guest appearance is Alan Swann (an Errol Flynn-type), a one-time movie idol whose career was disrupted by his addiction to alcohol and loose women. Benjy writes a sketch for Swann about a Musketeer and a princess being captured ("The Musketeer Sketch"). The task of keeping him sober and celibate until airtime falls to Benjy, who soon finds himself involved in a sequence of shenanigans.

Various characters, including Benjy's pushy mother Belle Steinberg Carroca and Alan Swann's estranged daughter Tess, complicate Benjy's task. The other writers, Sy, Alice and Herb, add to the chaos.

Differences from the original film

[edit]
  • In the film, there is a subplot surrounding King Kaiser angering Karl Rojeck, a corrupt union boss with a comedy sketch depicting Rojek as a stereotypical gangster. Neither the character of Rojeck nor the sketch that angered him is included in the plot of the musical.
  • In the film's epilogue, Benjy relates that Swann agreed to visit his daughter Tess in person; in the musical, Tess invites Swann to an award ceremony, and they meet there. They also reunite in the final song.
  • The Musketeer sketch is minor to the plot in the film; in the musical, it is central to the plot, being that it is the sketch Benjy wrote for Swann. Four of the show's songs are dedicated to it.

Songs

[edit]

The album, My Favorite Year (Original Broadway Cast Recording) was released in 1993 with Andrea Martin, Lainie Kazan and Tim Curry on RCA Victor.

Awards and nominations

[edit]

Original Broadway production

[edit]
Year Award ceremony Category Nominee Result
1993 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Tim Curry Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Andrea Martin Won
Lainie Kazan Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Josh Mostel Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Andrea Martin Won
Outstanding Orchestrations Michael Starobin Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Lainie Kazan Nominated
Theatre World Award Andrea Martin Won

References

[edit]
  1. ^ My Favorite Year listing with production notes, song list and commentary wetellthestory.com, retrieved February 28, 2010 Archived March 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Rich, Frank (1992-12-11). "Review: A Rosy View of a Golden Age". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-04-03.
  3. ^ "A Favorite No More". Time. 1992-12-21. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-03.
  4. ^ Weiss, Hedy (2007-03-09). "A new 'Year': Playwrights breathe livelier life into musical". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2007-04-03.
  5. ^ Olson, John."My Favorite Year Review", talkinbroadway.com, April 3, 2007
  6. ^ My Favorite Year listing Archived 2011-06-08 at the Wayback Machine musicalstonight.org, retrieved February 28, 2010
  7. ^ Gordon, David. "Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty Recall Memories of 'My Favorite Year'" theatermania.com, December 5, 2014
  8. ^ "Internet Broadway Database listing" ibdb.com, retrieved February 28, 2010
  9. ^ Peterson, Tyler. "Photos: Meet the Cast of York's MY FAVORITE YEAR - Adam Chanler-Berat, Rose Hemingway & More!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  10. ^ "My Favorite Year In Concert: A 25th Anniversary Celebration". Feinstein's/54 Below. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
[edit]
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