A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine

A Day in Hollywood
A Night in the Ukraine

Original Broadway cast recording
Music Frank Lazarus and others
Lyrics Dick Vosburgh
Book Dick Vosburgh
Basis A revue and Anton Chekhov's one-act play The Bear
Productions 1979 West End
1980 Broadway

A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine is a musical comedy consisting of two essentially independent one-act plays, with a book and lyrics by Dick Vosburgh and music by Frank Lazarus. Additionally, songs by other composers are incorporated into the score. The musical premiered in the West End and then ran on Broadway.

Plot overview

The first act, A Day in Hollywood, a revue of classic Hollywood songs of the 1930s performed by singers and dancers representing ushers from Grauman's Chinese Theatre, features a significant amount of tap dance. The second, A Night in the Ukraine, is loosely based on Anton Chekhov's one-act play The Bear, and is presented in the style of a Marx Brothers movie.

In a review of a regional production the reviewer from The New York Times commented that the musical "...has a hybrid score that lists music by Frank Lazarus, with book and lyrics by Dick Vosburgh, additional songs composed by Jerry Herman and a solid midsection medley devoted to the prolific composer of popular movie music, Richard Whiting. We are treated to a pleasant musical grab bag..."[1]

Productions

The musical premiered in the West End at the Mayfair Theatre on 28 March 1979, where it ran for 168 performances.

The musical opened on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre on May 1, 1980, transferred to the Royale Theatre on June 17, 1980 and closed on September 27, 1981 after 588 performances and nine previews. The musical was directed and co-choreographed by Tommy Tune, with Thommie Walsh as co-choreographer, with scenic design by Tony Walton, costume design by Michel Stuart and lighting design by Beverly Emmons. The cast included David Garrison, Priscilla Lopez, Peggy Hewett, Kate Draper, Albert Stephenson, and Stephen James.[2]

A major revival was mounted in Boston at Emmanuel College in April 2016. Directed by Scott Gagnon, the production featured a majorly reworked book and score and did not feature the cast doubling present in the original production. The cast was led by Alexa Albanese as Samovar, Darren Cornell as Carlo, and Elizabeth Keith as Gino.[3]

Songs

(Songs are by Vosburgh and Lazarus unless otherwise noted)

Act 1
Act 2
  • Hooray for Hollywood (Music by Whiting, lyrics by Mercer) (Added for the 2016 revival)
  • Samovar the Lawyer
  • Just Like That
  • Again
  • A Duel! A Duel!
  • Natasha
  • A Night in the Ukraine (Reprise)

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
1980 Tony Award Best Musical Nominated
Best Book of a Musical Dick Vosburgh Nominated
Best Original Score Frank Lazarus and Dick Vosburgh Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical David Garrison Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Priscilla Lopez Won
Best Direction of a Musical Tommy Tune Nominated
Best Choreography Tommy Tune and Thommie Walsh Won
Best Scenic Design Tony Walton Nominated
Best Lighting Design Beverly Emmons Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Peggy Hewett Nominated
Outstanding Choreography Tommy Tune and Thommie Walsh Won
1979–1980 Theatre World Award Outstanding New York City Stage Debut Stephen James Won

References

  1. ↑ Klein, Alvin. "Theater; 'Day In Hollywood' In Fairfield", The New York Times, October 4, 1987
  2. ↑ " A Day in Hollywood / a Night in the Ukraine Production Information", PlaybillVault.com, accessed January 5, 2012
  3. ↑ "A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine". Eventbrite. Retrieved 2016-04-11.

External links

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