Jump to content

A Grand Night for Singing

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Grand Night for Singing
Original Logo
MusicRichard Rodgers
LyricsOscar Hammerstein II
BookWalter Bobbie
BasisRevue
Productions1993 Broadway

A Grand Night for Singing is a musical revue showcasing the music of Richard Rodgers and the lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II.

Featuring songs from such lesser-known works as Allegro, Me and Juliet, State Fair, and Pipe Dream, modest successes like Flower Drum Song and hits like Carousel, Oklahoma!, The King and I, South Pacific, Cinderella and The Sound of Music, it originally was presented cabaret-style at Rainbow & Stars at the top of Rockefeller Center.

The original production titled, "A Grand Night For Singing! The Rodgers & Hammerstein Revue," ran from March 2 to April 10, 1992 at Rainbow & Stars, the cabaret room at The Rainbow Room Restaurant at Rockefeller Center. It was part of a ten year series of composer-themed revues produced by Gregory Dawson, Steve Paul, and Scott Perrin which saluted Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hart (starring Elaine Stritch and Margaret Whiting), Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, Julie Styne, Lerner & Loewe, Leonard Bernstein, and the pop and R&B eras. This original production starred Victoria Clark, Jason Graae, Martin Vidnovic, Lynne Wintersteller, and Karen Ziemba with Musical Direction by Fred Wells. Walter Bobbie directed.

After 41 previews, the Broadway production, directed by Walter Bobbie (who developed the running order of the songs) and choreographed by Pamela Sousa, with vocal arrangements by Fred Wells and orchestrations by Michael Gibson and Jonathan Tunick, opened on November 17, 1993, at the Criterion Center Stage Right, where it ran for 52 performances. Victoria Clark, Jason Graae, Alyson Reed, Martin Vidnovic, and Lynne Wintersteller comprised the cast. Martin Vidnovic is replaced by Gregg Edelman in the cast recording, and some later performances.

It was nominated for two Tony Awards, for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical (for the running order of the songs since there are no spoken words in the show), and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue.

An original cast recording was released by Varèse Sarabande.

Song list

[edit]
[edit]