"The Fantasticks" opend at Sullivan Street Theater for its record-breaking run.
I first heard the Jones-Schmidt musical on the original cast recording. I no longer recall who brought it to the office of the Daily Kent Stater in Merrill Hall. but we playd it over & over.
then in early may of 1963 David Freeman -- who wd become a celebratd playwright & screenwriter -- did a campus production. my friend Duane Hartzell was David's assistant. Ron Policy was a dashing El Gallo & Jamie L. Brown was the old actor. my fellow DKS journalists joind me to see it several times during its short run in University Auditorium. altho memory fades I recall this as one of my happiest times sitting in a theater.
it's been some time since I've seen a production so I don't know how it holds up. it was the simplest of shows. & I suspect having been so young was a factor in my liking it so. but I'm happy that it was in my life when it was.
6 comments:
Gary's favorite musical, favorite show, favorite anything! (I've never seen it.)
listening to original cast recording now. ghost voices of Kenneth Nelson & Jerry Orbach.
I saw it I guess in 1968. Don't recall who was in it at the time, maybe you can find out for me. I loved it at the time.
Lortel Archives online lists replacement casts but not the years.
one of yr faves Philip Baker Hall playd one of the fathers for a while.
Although I am not absolutly carzy about it, it is the show I have dome the most productions- 5, starting in high school. I have played all the male roles exceot for El Gallo (I can't imagine why I never get cast as the baritone lead).
I am not making this up... I played the old actor in a production, in high school, at a Catholic Girl's School. The Nuns changed the Fathers to Mothers, & they were so offended by the RAPE song, that they changed the word-rape to SNATCH. Really.
Stephen -- you went to a Catholic girls school? hmmmmmmm......
& a song abt "snatch" is hysterical.
Post a Comment