This week we uncover another Charles Strouse/Lee Adams goodie. Last week, Golden Boy (by the same writers)...this week All-American, from 1962. What a country! And yes, that is one of the numbers! Strouse and Adams were fresh off their success from Bye Bye Birdie, but on Broadway, one HIT doesn't necessarily follow another. Ray Bolger was picked to star, though there were a lot of other contenders, Zero Mostel for one. Although Bolger hadn't done anything on stage for over 10 years, Director Josh Logan thought he was more handsome and romantic (!) than Zero...But Ray was passed his prime and didn't pull the audiences they hoped. Mel Brooks wrote the book, his first big-time musical endeavor, and his humor clashed with Logan's. Shake well (don't stir), and you get one big flop. But a couple of musical gems...listen for Physical Fitness and The Real Me, both are big favorites of mine!
Of course, we'll add in some other gems...Embraceable You, If He Walked Into My Life and a couple from Pump Boys and Dinettes. Those always work! I can't ALWAYS play quirky!
Thanks for tuning in...:)
Chapter 54, Number 1909 (Tommy Tune, Ken Howard, Michele Lee, Seesaw)
Don't Forget 127th Street (Johnny Brown, Sammy Davis Jr., Golden Boy)
Timing (Sharon Murray, Grind)
Embraceable You (Jodi Benson, Harry Groener, Crazy For You)
Once Upon a Time (Ray Bolger, Eileen Herlie, All American)
Vacation (Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, Pump Boys and Dinettes)
Mona (John Foley, Pump Boys and Dinettes)
I Wanna Go Home (Daniel H. Jenkins, Big)
Willing to Ride (Karen Ziemba, Steel Pier)
Talking to Yourself (Leslie Uggams, Robert Hooks and Allen Case, Hallelujah,
Baby!)
If He Walked Into My Life (Angela Lansbury, Mame)
Physical Fitness (Ensemble, All American)
The Real Me (Eileen Herlie, All American)
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