Goodtime Charley
| Goodtime Charley | |
|---|---|
 Original Recording | |
| Music | Larry Grossman |
| Lyrics | Hal Hackady |
| Book | Sidney Michaels |
| Basis | Historical events surrounding the Dauphin of France |
| Productions | 1975 Broadway 2008 Off-Broadway concert |
Goodtime Charley is a musical with a book by Sidney Michaels, music by Larry Grossman, and lyrics by Hal Hackady.
A humorous take on actual historical events, it focuses on the Dauphin of France, who evolves from a hedonistic young man enamored of women in general (and Joan of Arc in particular) into a regal king while Joan follows her voices to her tragic fate.
Background
The show underwent extensive changes throughout its development stage, especially when Joel Grey expressed interest in playing the lead. The script and score were rewritten significantly in order to tailor the piece to his personality and talents. The producers were so keen on casting Ann Reinking as Joan they put everything on hold while she recovered from a back injury she had sustained while performing in Over Here!. The delay would prove to be damaging, since Grey had been signed for the film Buffalo Bill and the Indians and had limited time to commit to the stage project.
Productions
The out-of-town run in Boston resulted in major cuts in order to trim the running time from three-and-a-half hours to a more reasonable ninety minutes before the show continued to Philadelphia and New York City.
After twelve previews, the Broadway production opened on March 3, 1975 at the Palace Theatre, where it ran for only 104 performances, closing abruptly on May 31 when the producers were unable to find a name star to replace the departing Grey. The director was Peter H. Hunt, choreographer was Onna White, with scenic design by Rouben Ter-Arutunian, costume design by Willa Kim, lighting design by Feder and orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. The cast included Susan Browning, Richard B. Shull, Louis Zorich, and Grace Keagy.
42nd Street Moon San Francisco, California, presented a staged concert version in its "Lost Musicals" series from June 5 to 23, 1996. This version, in consultation with Grossman and Hackaday, restored three songs that were cut prior to the Broadway premiere: "All She Can Do is Say No," "Tomorrow's Good Old Days," and "There Goes the Country" and returned the show to its original concept.[1]
The York Theatre Company in New York "Musicals in Mufti" series presented the musical as a staged concert from June 27, 2008 to June 29, featuring Jenn Colella (Joan) and Matt McGrath (Charlie).[2]
An original cast recording was released by RCA.
Song list
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Nominations
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Grey)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (Reinking)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Shull)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Browning)
- Tony Award for Best Scenic Design
- Tony Award for Best Costume Design
- Tony Award for Best Lighting Design
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Grey)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Reinking)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Shull)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design
References
- ^ Goodtime Charley42ndstmoon.org, retrieved January 13, 2010
- ^ BWW News Desk.Photo Flash: Opening Night of 'Goodtime Charley' "broadwayworld.com, June 30, 2008