Buddy Holly Story
When I was in London several years ago, I went to see "Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story" and I loved it. I grew up in the 1950s and "Buddy" was a great nostalgia trip, taking me back to a time when life seemed simpler. Like the 1978 film, "Buddy" is the story of Buddy Holly's rapid rise to fame and it ends with his tragic death several years later in a plane crash.
The stage version of "Buddy" opened in London in 1989 and it was a huge success, running for over 12 years and more than 5,000 performances. At the time, it was one of the longest running West End productions. Its Broadway counterpart did not fare as well. In fact, it only ran for 225 performances after opening on Broadway in 1990. Paul Hipp was the original Buddy in both versions and he earned the play its only Tony nomination.
Although the film and stage versions seemed quite similar to me, the details in the stage version were more accurate. There were 31 songs in the Broadway version, certainly a significantly greater number than in the film version. The songs, most of them hits for Buddy Holly, were written by a variety of composers and lyricists, including several that were composed by Buddy Holly.
The movie version of "The Buddy Holly Story" was nominated for three Academy Awards, including a nomination for Gary Busey for his wonderful portrayal of Buddy Holly. The film won an Academy Award for Best Music.
"The Buddy Holly Story" is an enjoyable, song-filled musical that is sure to bring a smile to the face of anyone who is old enough to remember the early days of rock and roll music.
Official website for the play: www.buddythemusical.com
Information Sources
Wikipedia - The Buddy Holly Story
Internet Broadway Database
Internet Movie Database
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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" was the second Disney film to star the gifted Broadway, and later TV, performer, Dick van Dyke. As with the earlier "Mary Poppins," the 1968 film used Broadway performers for most of the major roles, including hiring Sally Ann Howes to play the female lead.
The stage version of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" first played in London in 2002 and it was very successful, running until 2005. The Broadway version in 2005 was not nearly as popular, lasting only for 285 performances with 34 previews. Both stage versions had well-known and accomplished actors playing the lead role - Michael Ball in London and Raul Esparza on Broadway.
The songs for both the movie and stage versions of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" were written by the Sherman Brothers (Richard and Robert), of "Mary Poppins" fame. Only one song from the movie version was eliminated in the stage version - "Lovely, Lonely Man" - and six new songs were written specifically for the play.
Neither the film version nor the Broadway version of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" received the critical acclaim or nearly as many award nominations as "Mary Poppins." The film version was nominated for only one Academy Award (Best Music, Original Song for the title song) but the Broadway version did receive 5 Tony nominations. However, three of the nominations were for performances and none of the nominees won.
Even though "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" was not the critical or financial success of "Mary Poppins," it is still an enjoyable film for children and adults.
Information Source
Wikipedia - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
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Mary Poppins
The 1964 film version of "Mary Poppins" was one of Disney's most successful movies. It starred two accomplished Broadway performers in the lead roles - Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins and Dick van Dyke as Bert.
The London and Broadway musical plays of "Mary Poppins" were equally successful, with the Broadway version still running after more than two years. Both the film and play are based on the popular children's book by P. L. Travers.
The play began, like so many recent plays, in London's West End. It opened there in 2004 and two years later, an almost identical version moved to Broadway. The London version ran for four years, closing in 2008.
The songs for the movie version of "Mary Poppins" were written by Robert and Richard Sherman and nine of the original songs were kept in the play. Seven new songs were written by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe to replace the five songs from the original film that were eliminated in the stage version.
The stage versions of "Mary Poppins" were co-produced by Cameron Macintosh and Disney Theatrical Productions. The producers and creators of the stage version made some changes to the original script, making it more modern in some ways and in others being more faithful to the original book. Two scenes, especially suited to film media, were eliminated from the stage version - the "Jolly Holiday" number where Dick van Dyke danced with animated penguins and the scene where the children and Bert fly up to join Uncle Albert as he floated near the ceiling of his room.
Both the movie version and the Broadway version of "Mary Poppins" received several nominations for major awards. The film was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and it won 5 of the awards. The Broadway version was nominated for 8 Tony awards, including Best Musical, and it won one minor award (Best Scenic Design).
"Mary Poppins" is a delightful story for both children and adults and, if you or your children haven't yet seen it, now is the time to either rent, or better yet, buy the DVD, or, if you're lucky enough to be in New York City, see it on the Broadway stage.
Information Source
Wikipedia - Mary Poppins
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Gigi
One of my favorite movie musicals, "Gigi," was turned into a Broadway musical in 1973, but, like "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," it was a flop. But this was not Gigi's first appearance on Broadway. The movie musical was actually based on a non-musical Broadway play from 1951 that starred Audrey Hepburn. All three versions were based on the 1945 novel by Colette.
The movie musical, "Gigi," was an enormous success, winning 9 Academy Awards in 1958, including the award for Best Picture. It starred Leslie Caron as the naive and lively Gigi, Louis Jourdan as the older, romantic Gaston and the unique Maurice Chevalier as Honore, Gaston's sophisticated, woman-chasing uncle.
The 1973 Broadway musical of "Gigi" played first in Los Angeles and San Francisco. It then moved to Broadway, running for 7 previews and 103 performances. The musical numbers were staged by award-winning choreographer Onna White. It had an impressive cast of established Broadway and film actors and actresses, including Alfred Drake as Honore, Daniel Massey as Gaston, Maria Karnilova as Mamita, and Agnes Moorehead as Aunt Alicia.
The music for both the movie and Broadway versions of "Gigi" was written by the gifted team of Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe. All but two of the songs from the original film were kept in the play and Lerner and Loewe wrote 5 new songs, three of which were sung by Gigi. One of my favorite songs, "Say a Prayer for Me Tonight," was cut from the Broadway play.
Although "Gigi" was a flop financially on Broadway, it did receive 4 Tony nominations and it won the award for Best Original Score. The Broadway version was transferred to London's West End in 1985 where it ran for 7 months.
Learn more about the film version of "Gigi"
Information Source
Wikipedia - Gigi
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Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Like "Singin' in the Rain," "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" was a 1950s film success. Released in 1954, the film starred Howard Keel and Jane Powell, with a supporting cast of dancers and gymnasts, including a young Russ Tamblyn. "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1954. In 2004, it was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry.
The stage version of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" opened on Broadway in 1982 and it was a huge flop, running for only 5 performances after 15 previews. It had a successful road tour in the United States prior to its opening on Broadway and it was more successful three years later in London's West End.
The book of the play was written by Lawrence Kasha and David Landay. Only 4 songs from the film were kept in the Broadway version and 9 new songs were written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn. Although the play ended almost as soon as it began, it did receive a Tony nomination for Best Original Score.
It's not surprising to me that "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" failed on Broadway. The film has a weak storyline with an average score, but spectacular dance numbers that worked very well in the Cinemascope film version.
Read more about Seven Brides for Seven Brothers on my movie musicals website.
Information Source
Wikipedia - Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
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