haines his way

04/11/2002:
"THE NOBLE BARNES"

Well, dear readers, last night I went over to Mr. Donald Feltham's handy-dandy house and did next week's radio show with the legendary songwriter, Mr. Billy Barnes. This is a must-listen show, especially for those of you who may not be familiar with his work. Billy is totally charming and has a very wicked sense of humor and has worked with mostly every famous diva who ever lived. His stories are priceless, and we cover his career from his college days to his famous LA and NY revues, to writing for Laugh-In and the Oscars, to the scads of special material he's written for everyone from Carol Burnett to Carol Channing. It'll be up on Sunday evening, so mark your calendars.
Well, well, well (that is three wells - does that call for an Orson or an H.G.?), today is answer day, the day in which I answer all your questions from yesterday. Well (that is one well and calls for nothing), not all your questions because some of your questions got answered yesterday by various and sundried dear readers. We must stop this heinous (heinous, do you hear me?) practice, otherwise I shall have no questions to answer and then I shall have to go into the corner and flog myself like Judge Turpin - I shall have to weep copious tears and eat a banana split and throw hot scalding coffee in my face like Lee Marvin does to poor Gloria Grahame in The Big Heat. I shall have to speak in tongues and I shall have to tongue in speaks and the whole thing will be very messy indeed. What the hell am I talking about? Speaking in tongues? That reminds me of an old Goon Show line: "Wait! I hear someone screaming in agony. Fortunately, I speak it fluently."
Well, well (that is two wells - have we discovered oil yet?), I better begin answering your questions because even though some of them were answered yesterday, there are still many that were left to the likes of me and now the likes of me will answer them. But first, the likes of you will have to click on the likes of that Unseemly Button below.

So let's get to it, shall we?
Anita asks: What are Donny and Marie really like?
Even though the temptation is to be a smart-alek, I must say they were terrific back then (and I'm sure now) - really nice, as was their whole family. First of all, they really treated their guest stars like gold, and made everyone feel right at home. After doing three episodes, they were calling me Brother Bruce. I ran into Donny about four years ago when I was recording something at Westlake Studios in West Hollywood. He remembered me right away and we had a nice reunion.
Laura asks: Do I still roll down staircases?
In order to understand what dear reader Laura is talking about, you'll have to read my handy-dandy novel. But, the answer is, I believe the last time I rolled down a staircase was when I was working as an usher at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood in 1966. It was a film theater then, of course, and the entire time I worked there they only showed one film, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. After I'd seen it around forty times, I used to pass the time by rolling down the magnificent stairs of the Pantages (upstairs, in the balcony). I also began doing silent comedy bits when they made me stand at the bottom of the aisle at intermission (downstairs). You simply can't make me stand at the bottom of the aisle at intermission in front of a thousand people and expect me not to do silent comedy. It started small, but by my third or fourth performance I had the entire audience downstairs laughing and not laughing softly. At every showing I would go further and they would laugh louder. I got away with this for about a week, and finally the manager heard all this laughter all the way across the lobby in her office, and she came running in to the theater to see what was going on. She got quite stern with me and told me I'd be fired if I ever did it again. Of course, I did it again, was fired, and for my final performance I went on the stage and took a bow.
td asks several questions which I'll answer with several answers:
What books are currently on my bedstand/nightstand? None - I don't keep books there. But the books that are in my den where I do read are: Writing with Hitchcock, a book about the great screenwriter, John Michael Hayes. A Lemony Snicket book, the first in his series, The Bad Beginning, and a new book by a first-time UK author, entitled A Child's Guide To Murder by Chloe Hooper, which has gotten raves over there.
Do I prefer Americanized Roman Polanski to European Polanski? Well, since Chinatown and Rosemary's Baby are two of my favorite films of all-time, I'll say Americanized (I presume that can count Repulsion, which is English). If I were producing a musical of Tess of the D'urbervilles (I would never be producing for the theater), who would I want as a composer, director, Tess and Angel Claire. My goodness, I have no idea. Someone young and gorgeous for Tess, of course. Composer? If only Hinky Meltz and Ernest Ernest were younger - but alas, they are not. So, maybe Maltby and Shire, especially given Shire's film roots - he could really write some lush beautiful music.
William F. Orr asks the following: Bruce, you have been a stage actor, a television and film actor, a playwright, a composer and lyricist, a director, a film director and writer, a record producer, a recording artist, an internet columnist and a novelist. What's next - don't I ever feel like doing something new?
I look at that list and the word that comes to mind is: Focus. Although I have enjoyed doing each and every one of those things, I must say, and I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything. Record producing was, up until the novel, certainly the most creatively rewarding thing on that list. As to "new", I don't know what else is left really? I could trim some bushes, I suppose, or become a brain surgeon (many people have asked me to become a brain surgeon over the years, but I have always been too busy) - but who knows what roads lie ahead? William also asks if I can name the other American director's homage to Fellini's 8 1/2 (along with Newley's Hieronymous Merkin and Fosse's All That Jazz) - but, of course, although there are two that come to mind: I think the one William is looking for is Paul Mazusky's Alex in Wonderland, a film I would like to see again. But there's also Woody Allen's Stardust Memories.
Hapgood asks: Which is better - Rodgers and Hart or Rodgers and Hammerstein? And, name my five least favorite mainstream musicals.
Let's see - I do love Rodgers and Hart, but I think I'll give the edge to Mr. Hammerstein. As to my five least favorite mainstream musicals (by that I take it Hapgood means "hits"): Oklahoma! (I admire it, but haven't enjoyed watching any of the many productions I've seen); Hair, Cats, Kismet (one responds to certain types of things and not to others - it's all subjective, of course) and Call Me Madam (some nice songs, but fairly insufferable as a show).
Arnold M. Brockman asks: What book would I like to see made into a musical and who would I hire to write the score? What play would I like to see made into a musical and who would write the score, and what movie would I like to see made into a musical and who would write the score?
These are alway difficult for me to answer, but I'll give it a go. But don't go stealing my ideas, because two of them are quite brilliant. Book - I have always thought To Kill a Mockingbird would make a lovely musical and I, in fact, wrote one. Again, Maltby and Shire, or perhaps Flaherty and Ahrens would be good for that - or even better, if he were up to it, Claibe Richardson. Play - I've always thought it would be fun to musicalize Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys. Perhaps Jerry Herman for that one, or even Cy Coleman and David Zippel. Movie - that's easy. I have for years been suggesting to various writers
the film Variety Lights, which was the first directorial effort of Mr. Fellini (he co-directed with Alberto Lattuada). It's about a second-rate group of vaudeville performers who tour the provinces in Italy doing their little show. Great characters, great milieu (I've already figured out how to Americanize it, and have a great title, too) and I think there is a wonderfully entertaining show there. I've also wanted to do a stage version of The Court Jester for twenty years, and I actually went about trying to get the rights to it two years ago. I'd talked to Rob Marshall about doing it with Martin Short. We were all very excited. When I finally got hold of the rights holder, she told me that just a few weeks prior she'd gotten several calls about it from others who were interested in doing the same thing. Now, I've talked about this idea for years, and ironically I'd been talking about it quite regularly for about six months before mentioning it to Rob. Coinicidence? You tell me. Anyway, I got nauseated by the coincidence and dropped it. Of course, nothing has happened with it since, so who knows if anyone actually was able to get the rights.
Sandra asks: What are my feelings on custard-filled donuts and can I recommend some old movies for her friend Megan. I don't love custard-filled donuts, but I do love anything with real whipped cream filling. As to old movies, where does one even begin: Sullivan's Travels, Some Like It Hot, The Big Sleep, Casablanca, North by Northwest, Rear Window, Blonde Venus, and on and on.
Kerry asks who I would cast as Sugar in my Brent Barrett/Jason Graae production of Sugar. He mentions Jane Krakowski and yes, Virginia, she'd be terrific as Sugar, probably the best choice. Kerry also asks who Guy Haines replaced on Her Laughter in my Life. It would be unseemly of me to day - but I will tell you it was a Tony-nominated performer.
Craig asks: If I could invite any six guests (living, dead, fictional, cartoon) to a dinner party, who would they be, what would I serve, and what topics of conversation would I initiate? Oh, how do you choose such things? First off, I never invite dead, fictional or cartoon people to dinner parties, it's just a rule I have. But, let's see - I'd like James Thurber, Alfred Hitchcock, Leonard Bernstein, Robert Benchley, Preston Sturges and Billy Wilder. Wouldn't that be lively? And if there were room, I'd invite Larry, Moe and Shemp. I would serve my famous Beef Strogonoff because it is the only thing I serve at dinner parties. Craig also asks if there was anything cut from my novel that I'd put back in a Special Edition? Nope, everything I want in is in. In fact, I wrote two additional chapters, but they felt redundant and unnecessary so I deleted them and the book is better for it. Craig also asks if I can share any of my favorite recipes: I think I'll spare everyone. One additional question: Have I ever eaten at the original Pantry on Figueroa. More times than I'd like to admit to.
Mattso asks: Who was the guy who played Dick Davis in The First Nudie Musical and where is he these days? Even though someone answered who he is, I will answer again with some additional details. Dick Davis was played by Rene Hall. I'd written the character as a young white guy but simply could not find anyone who was either funny or interesting - and we saw a lot of people for that part. Rene was the orchestrator/musical director of the film, and one day we were in the studio prerecording the songs and I looked at him, with his cigarette hanging from his mouth and ashes all over his shirt and I thought, "Eureka, how perfect is he?". And we cast him that very day. Rene died several years ago. He was a real character. I was never too thrilled with the charts for my songs (if I were making it today I'd have Todd Ellison and David Siegel doing the musical directing/orchestrating), but his performance is truly hilarious.
Lolita asks: What is Faith Prince really like? Very sweet, very funny and we've had a great time each time we've worked together. A real pro. Lolita also asks: If I could hang out with one actress of old who would it be? And what actor? I tend not to want to hang out with such people, but I certainly wouldn't have minded spending a few days with Veronica Lake or Cary Grant or Joel McCrea or Marlene Dietrich. Lolita also asks if I could pick one film to have been in which would it be and what role? Well, certainly none of the classics, because I wouldn't be nearly as good as the people who did them. Of more recent films, well, maybe The Goodbye Girl. Finally, Lolita asks how good do I look in my cut-off jeans. Really, really good, with my abs and buns of steel. I get lots of wolf-whistles when I am jogging in them.
Ron Pulliam asks why did Mr. Stephen Sondheim pass on doing a musical version of Sunset Blvd? I asked him about this once, because when I was doing Unsung Sondheim I tried to see if he had anything from it. He said it wasn't really true, that it had never been a serious notion, and that he thought the only way it could work would be as an opera.
S. Woody White asks what are my favorite restaurants in LA: Well, Musso and Frank, Dan Tana's, Du-Par's, lots of places in the Farmer's Market, the Apple Pan, Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles, El Cholo - I know there are others but those are ones that come to mind.
Whew. Well, the likes of me have finally finished answering the questions. I do love your questions and they are always fun to try to answer and I hope I have done them justice. Today's topic of discussion: Taking our cue from one of today's questions - what book or play or film do you think would make a great musical and who would write the score? I've already answered so, your turn.

Replies: 37 Unseemly Comments

Oops, a couple of last minute questions:
Phil Crosby asks what the worst professional production of a musical I've seen is: Cyrano, the Dutch one. Horrifying. Close second: Martin Guerre.
Ron Pulliam asks what my 10 dessert island CDs would be. We've done that a while back, so use our handy-dandy Unseemly Search box and put in "dessert island" and you should find all our dear readers lists, including mine own.
Posted by bk @ 04/11/2002 10:09 AM PST

I would love to see or hear the musical of Lolita, but of course that's already been done. (Would one of our experts remind me who wrote it, because I cannot recall...?)
I always thought that Lord of the Flies would be an interesting musical. Perhaps by Sondheim? But the casting of the children would be hard.
Also, I think that the play A Thousand Clowns would be a good musical if it hasn't been musicalized already.
Posted by Lolita @ 04/11/2002 10:12 AM PST

I'll answer my own question-
It's enjoyable to answer ones own questions.
Book-The Great Gatsby(not the opera-the musical)Kander and Ebb
Play-Thieves Carnival by Jean Anouilh-Sondheim and Sondheim
Movie-One,Two,Three-Billy Wilder"s wonderfully funny farce-Jerry Herman
Posted by Arnold M. Brockman @ 04/11/2002 10:30 AM PST

I'm hoping one day to see "Benjamin Kritzer--the musical" by Earnest and Meltz.
BK, you posted a link once to the prologue of you novel, so everyone knows about your fondness for rolling down stairs.
Posted by Laura @ 04/11/2002 10:39 AM PST

Lolita, "Lolita, My Love" was written by John Barry (music) and Alan Jay Lerner (book & lyrics). There's a soundboard recording available, plus, didn't I read some time ago that Yeko or someone like him is doing a studio version?
Posted by JMK @ 04/11/2002 10:59 AM PST

Ooooh, good topic. How about "Blue Velvet: the Musical". We could replace Dennis Hopper with a singing, dancing Christopher Walken.
I think the big chorus numbers could include: "Yes, that's a human ear alright" and "There's a Naken Man in my Closet". Maybe Bruce could write this one for us?
Posted by Mattso @ 04/11/2002 11:19 AM PST

I've always thought it would be interesting to see a Woody Allen movie "musicalized" (and No, I don't consider his "musical" film to be enough to put my notion to rest).
My choices for a musical of a Woody Allen film:
Either "Manhattan" or "Hannah and Her Sisters."
For "Manhattan," my only choice of composer is Sondheim.
For "Hannah...", it's wide open, although I'd want some really good songs. Maury Yeston springs to mind....I love "Nine" and I'm fond of "Titanic" ... but I'm open to suggestions.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 04/11/2002 11:24 AM PST

Note to Bruce: Thanks for alerting me to the search button and the previous topic of discussion.
But alas, alack, alarum....
There's no listings for "desert island CDs" -- only "desert island" movies.
If there have been listings of CDs, could someone share different search parameters with me?
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 04/11/2002 11:31 AM PST

There is an interview with Nabokov which was republished in one of his books--can't recall which one right now. The Interviewer asks, somewhat disdainfully, "How do you feel about the fact that a--[holding his nose, evidently] musical is being made of 'Lolita'?"
To which V.N. replied quite politely, "It is in the very best of hands. I admire the work of Alan J. Lerner and think him quite capable of pulling it off."
By the way, I would like to point out that Bruce--paragon of humility that he is--did not quote my full description of him, namely "a record producer of legendary status."
Posted by William F. Orr @ 04/11/2002 11:43 AM PST

Apropros of nothing in particular, I recently picked up a CD by Elaine Paige because it had her singing two songs from "Sunset Boulevard."
I have seen various Lloyd-Webber specials on TV in which assorted divas who have sung the roles he has written have warbled through the "Sunset Boulevard" songs without much range and with much stretching for notes -- low and high -- with varying degrees of mediocrity.
Then, on an A&E Biography on Elaine Paige, my eyes were finally opened to what a "singer" could do in the role. I don't pretend the show would be any better with her in it, but it would certainly be sung to a fare-thee-well. Next to her, Glenn Close's seemingly cross-eyed Norma is a mediocrity.
Okay...flame me!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 04/11/2002 12:47 PM PST

"Lady For a Day"/"Pocketful of Miracles" should most definitely be turned into a musical. A couple of friends had such an idea many years ago but could not get the rights from Damon Runyan's estate. My first suggestion for composers would be them. Years later (and yet still years ago) Jerry Herman was approached with it, but he declined. He would be perfect for the job; and it's such a great idea. It has been announced several times that the musical would be made and tailored for Elaine Stritch or Angela Lansbury as Apple Annie. The character parts alone would be a dream to cast.
Posted by Kerry @ 04/11/2002 01:48 PM PST

Ron, I could have sworn we did a desert island discs, but maybe we called it something else. I remember several of the responses. Oh, well. Some of mine would be Bill Evans' Conversations With Myself, some performance of Rachmaninov's Second Symphony, A Little Night Music (OCR), Best Years of Our Lives score CD, Claus Ogermann's Gate of Dreams, a Mancini compilation CD (which would have to include the two recorded tracks from The Great Imposter and the one from Soldier In The Rain, and it of course would have his greatest hits), Li'l Abner (OCR), a Bacharach compilation, The Accidental Tourist (John Williams - not his greatest, but one I listen to over and over), and how can I stop at ten?
Posted by bk @ 04/11/2002 01:50 PM PST

I also think a really good musical could be done of "Philadelphia Story," and "High Society" wasn't it. I'm not sure who should do music and lyrics. Any suggestions?
Posted by Kerry @ 04/11/2002 02:01 PM PST

To Bruce: Please accept my apologies for answering questions. I was confused by the message board; and I will try to not do it again. What about Haines boxers--Hanes or not Hanes?
Antiflame to Ron Pulliam: The industrial-show, corporate-musical Sunset Blvd. was never good on Broadway. It was awful with the egregiously miscast Glenn Close, who hurt one's ears while wearing kabuki-style pancake batter-- er, makeup and those horrible, visible face microphones. It was better with Betty Buckley, who at least sang most of the score and hid her microphones better. It was best, such as it was, with Elaine Paige, in her Broadway debut, looking so much like Gloria Swanson it would have been frightening had it not been hilarious to watch her climb the stairs. Paige was the only one to sing the entire role, without self-indulgent and unmusical ad-libbing.
Posted by freedunit @ 04/11/2002 03:06 PM PST

I thought the desert island CD list came about in an interview with BK (der Brucer, but not Woody White's der Brucer) on another unnamed website.
Posted by Kerry @ 04/11/2002 03:30 PM PST

The desert(ed) island lists are under the 2/26/02 archive. Evidently, we have not been consistent, and called that one destertED island (which is, after all correct), rather than desert, or even dessert. I found the correct archive by searching for one of the rarer CDs on my list. The search utility performed wonderfully, I would just like to say. And how the HELL are you people bolding and italicizing your comments? What I wouldn't give for some bold italics right about now! :)
Posted by JMK @ 04/11/2002 04:48 PM PST

Ooops--so I can't spell. Deserted island, yes, desterted island, no.
Posted by JMK @ 04/11/2002 04:49 PM PST

JMK,
Here is the little secret. You must use HTML (HyperText Markup Language), which is the code that all web pages are written in. There are all sorts of guides to it to be found on the Internet, but here are the basics you requested:
Type "This is in italics."
It will appear on the screen as "This is in italics."
Type "This is in bold."
It will appear on the screen as "This is in bold."
Type "This is in bold and italics."
It will appear on the screen as "This is in bold and italics."
The B and I can be either upper case or lower case. Be sure to type the part with the slash at the end, or everyone else's posts will end up in your bold and/or italics.
Now don't you wonder how I got it to put the on the screen rather than just doing bold and italics? Maaagic.
Somehow I haven't been able to make work for underline on this site. A mystery only Mr. Mark Bakalor can explain--once he finds time out from bitch slapping BK.
Posted by William F. Orr @ 04/11/2002 05:27 PM PST

I was wondering the same thing about the bold and italics. How do you get them? The Bold and Italics? Wasn't that a primetime soap opera with Nolan Miller as the costume designer? Or was it a doo-wop group out of Philadelphia? Or, was it a song by Ernest and Meltz?
Posted by kerry @ 04/11/2002 05:28 PM PST

Oh, Bill, you mad, impetuous fool you--I believe in attempting to show me the secrets of HTML, you have inadvertently simply ended up with the same thing twice (or at least so it appears on my computer screen). However, my wife is an HTML-maven (yes, there are such things), so I will ask her when she returns and soon I, too, will be bold and Italian--er, italicized.
Posted by JMK @ 04/11/2002 05:48 PM PST

To Ron Pulliam:
The most likey candidate for a Woody Allen movie being made into a musical is The Purple Rose of Cairo. I have heard talk of it for the last number of years. For the life I cannot remember who is associated with it, but its a well known composer/lyricist duo. Along the lines of Hamlisch/Carnelia, Coleman/Zippel (?),
Aherns/Flaherty. (Kander/Ebb are not doing that I know)
STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!
I just remembered Hamlisch and Carnelia are prepping a musical version of Bullets over Broadway and Woody Allen wring the libretto.
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 04/11/2002 06:04 PM PST

Not only is Woody Allen wring the libretto, but he is WRITING it as well.
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 04/11/2002 06:05 PM PST

If they do a studio cast of Lolita I will stand on my hands and do the Hula. Wait! Isn't that a Earnest and Meltz song?? Standing On My Hands and Doing the Hula For You?
I think that there's also an LP out there somewhere but I'll stand on my hands and do the hula if I can get my hands on it.
Posted by Lolita @ 04/11/2002 06:54 PM PST

If they do a studio cast of Lolita I will stand on my hands and do the Hula. Wait! Isn't that a Earnest and Meltz song?? Standing On My Hands and Doing the Hula For You?
I think that there's also an LP out there somewhere but I'll stand on my hands and do the hula if I can get my hands on it.
Posted by Lolita @ 04/11/2002 06:54 PM PST

Oops ;)
Posted by Lolita @ 04/11/2002 06:55 PM PST

1. Going, going gone
2. The same old song
3. Saturday
4. In the broken promise land of 15
5. Dante, Petrarch and Poe
6. Sur les quais
7. Charlotte's letter
8. Farewell, little dream
9. At the bed-d-by motel
10. Tell me, tell me
11. Buckin' for Beardsley
12. Beardsley school for girls 13. March out of my life
14. All you can do is tell me you love me
15. How far is it to the next town?
16. Lolita
This can be found on Blue Pear Records 1009. The recording is from a sound system tape and Denise Nickerson played Lolita at this point in the show
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 04/11/2002 07:39 PM PST

I'm suddenly feeling very bold. Oooh, so cool. Oy, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Anyway, Lolita, the soundboard recording is an LP, on Blue Pear Records. It turns up on eBay quite frequently. Or, if you happen to be an Angelino, check out A-1 Record Finders on Melrose. He has a ton of rare old cast albums.
Posted by JMK @ 04/11/2002 07:44 PM PST

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
I am going to bitch slap Mr. Mark Bakalor!
I type the "code for the code" and press Preview. My previes shows up correctly. But when I push Post, it turns right back into bold and italics.
I'm giving it one more try:
<B>Does this show the code?</B> (Posting it is the only way for me to tell.) What I hope to see here is "less than sign-B-greater than sign".
Anyway, JMK, glad to see your wife showed you.
Posted by William F. Orr @ 04/11/2002 08:40 PM PST

Thanks again to Michael for being the font of knowledge!
"Bullets over Broadway" would make a wonderful musical, just so long as one of the score's best songs turns out to be "Don't Speak!"
And Marvin Hamlisch is way overdue for a big hit!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 04/11/2002 09:58 PM PST

Note to William Orr: I notice that BK has not taken up our generous offers to participate in his benefit show.
Posted by Laura @ 04/12/2002 12:11 AM PST

If we're going to have three wells, might I suggest the third well be Dawn? That way, Orson and H. G. can nosh on coconut cream pies. ("I will eat no pie before it's time!)
Some time ago, I thought it would be wonderful if Stephen Sondheim were to adapt William Goldman's The Silent Gondoliers, but then I realized it would have been best if he's written it sometime between Pacific Overtures and Sweeney Todd, simply because his music keeps changing (it keeps melting before our eyes).
Posted by S. Woody White @ 04/12/2002 02:20 AM PST

Laura,
I'm sure Bruce is just trying to figure out whom to fire so that he can put us all in it. I'd wouldn't want Sally Kellerman to be jealous of my show business career, simply because she is unable to give a rather dry lecture on how to calculate interest and annuities.
And speaking of Nancy Sinatra--were we speaking of Nancy Sinatra?--speaking of Nancy Sinatra, has anyone caught her early television special that they occasionally show on American Movie Classics? It was evidently made before her boots were made for walking and was sponsored by Royal Crown Cola. In between her other numbers, at every available opportunity, she sings the Royal Crown Jingle.
Now, at the mention of her name, Joe and I always go into our rendition of "It's a mad, mad, mad, mad Cola!"
Posted by William F. Orr @ 04/12/2002 03:58 AM PST

Yes, it's the Next Morning, but I have found an online record dealer who sells Lolita My Love and I am just Oh So Excited. Also, on the Cast Recording FAQ (a wonderful site that I discovered last night...) it is reported that the show is being recorded by Original Cast Records, but there is no date listed. Thanks for the songlist, though, Michael!
http://www.castalbums.org/newrelease.html)
Posted by Lolita @ 04/12/2002 07:16 AM PST

I notice that Hairspray is mentioned on that page. Does anyone know anything about the upcoming version of Hairspray?
I bet John Waters is tickled pink, which is really an interesting color to be tickled.
Posted by Mattso @ 04/12/2002 07:41 AM PST

Regarding Hairspray:
Rehearsals begin on April 15, and the off-bway tryout will be in Seattle (a run of 3.5 weeks). After that, it moved into the Neil Simon Theater in later june, with an August opening. In the cast are Harvey Fierstein, Marissa Winokur, Kerry Butler, Laura Bell Bundy, etc. Marc Shaiman has written the music, and Marc and Scott Wittman have written the lyrics. They have a website at http://www.hairsprayonbroadway.com .. Incindently... I have heard a good portion of the songs from a demo and they are "light" but very fun.. and in my opinion, Marc has done a great job in creating 60s tuners.
Trivia for those who care, also in the cast is Joel Vig, which means that Laura Bell Bundy and Joel will be sharing a stage once again after 10 years (They were in RUTHLESS!)
Posted by Craig @ 04/12/2002 08:04 AM PST

Apropos to Mattso's comment about John Waters:
Would that be Flaming(o) Pink?
: )
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 04/12/2002 08:10 AM PST

Craig, Thanks for the info. I agree, the songs aren't bad. I am glad to hear more songs about Baltimore.
Ron, yes Flaming(o) pink indeed. Actually we should follow this with a musical of Pink Flamingos. I ould love to write the big Singing Sphincter number. (grin)
Posted by Mattso @ 04/12/2002 08:17 AM PST

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