Zorba (musical)

Zorba

Original Cast Recording
Music John Kander
Lyrics Fred Ebb
Book Joseph Stein
Basis Nikos Kazantzakis's novel
Zorba the Greek
Productions 1968 Broadway
1983 Broadway revival
Awards Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics

Zorba is a musical with a book by Joseph Stein, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander. Adapted from the 1952 novel Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis and the subsequent 1964 film of the same name, it focuses on the friendship that evolves between Zorba and Nikos, a young American who has inherited an abandoned mine on Crete, and their romantic relationships with a local widow and a French woman, respectively.

The musical premiered on Broadway in 1968 in a production directed by Harold Prince. It was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical in a season that included Hair, Promises, Promises and 1776. The last of these won the award. The original production ran for 305 performances, but a 1983 Broadway revival ran for 362 performances with a cast starring Anthony Quinn.

Productions

Original Broadway Production

The musical opened on Broadway on November 16, 1968 at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 305 performances and twelve previews. Directed by Harold Prince and choreographed by Ron Field, the cast included Herschel Bernardi, Maria Karnilova, Carmen Alvarez, John Cunningham, and Lorraine Serabian. Scenic design was by Boris Aronson, costume design was by Patricia Zipprodt, and lighting design was by Richard Pilbrow.

The production received several Tony Award nominations, winning the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design.

1970 US tour

The musical was revised to be less "austere" and toured with John Raitt, and included a new song for him ("Bouboulina"). Chita Rivera played the role of "The Leader". Because reviews were not favorable, the show did not return to Broadway at that time.[1][2][3]

The bus and truck tour featured Vivian Blaine ("Guys and Dolls") as Madam Hortense and Michael Kermoyan ("Camelot" & "Anya") in the title role, with Prince directing and choreography by Patricia Birch.

1983 Broadway Revival

The 1983 revival directed by Michael Cacoyannis and choreographed by Graciela Daniele opened on October 16, 1983 at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 362 performances and 14 previews. The cast included Anthony Quinn and Lila Kedrova (who had both starred in the film version, the latter winning an Oscar for her performance), in addition to Robert Westenberg, Debbie Shapiro, and Rob Marshall.

Other productions

Zorba has been produced professionally in Argentina (2003). Cast: Raúl Lavié, María Rosa Fugazot, Miguel Habud, Julia Zenko, Marcelo Trepat, Alejandro Viola (replaced by Gustavo Monje), Roberto Fiore and Andrea Mango.

Broadway Revival

Zorba was expected to be revived on Broadway in 2011, with David Leveaux set to direct. Antonio Banderas had been chosen as Zorba.[4] In an interview with producer Fran Weissler, the revival of Zorba is set for 2011-2012.[5] As of May 2015 this revival has not been produced. Cara Joy David, writing in the Huffington Post in January 2015, wrote: "Zorba...The production was expected to be mounted during the 2011-2012 theatrical season. Alas it never came to be.... or at least not yet."[6]

Concert production

Zorba was presented in the New York City Center Encores! staged concert series on May 6-10, 2015. The cast featured John Turturro, Zoe Wanamaker, and Marin Mazzie in the lead roles and direction by Walter Bobbie.[7]

Design elements

Director Prince visited Crete and Mykonos, and the show's original design reflected the "peculiar color and light of the Greek Islands, the stark white of the...buildings as against the funereal black of the...clothes. Memorably 'Zorba' was presented in severe chiaroscuro."[8]

Musical numbers

Act I
  • "Life Is" – Leader and Company
  • "The First Time" – Zorba
  • "The Top of the Hill" – Leader and Chorus
  • "No Boom Boom" – Madame Hortense, Zorba, Nikos and Admirals
  • "Vive La Difference" – Admirals and Dancers
  • "Mine Song" § – Company
  • "The Butterfly" – Nikos, Leader, The Widow and Chorus
  • "Goodbye, Canavaro" – Madame Hortense and Zorba
  • "Grandpapa" – Zorba, Leader and Chorus
  • "Only Love" – Madame Hortense
  • "The Bend of the Road" – Leader and Chorus
  • "Only Love" (Reprise) – Leader
Act II
  • "Yassou" – Nikos, Zorba, Madame Hortense, Leader and Chorus
  • "Woman" § – Zorba
  • "Why Can't I Speak" / "That's a Beginning" – The Widow and Nikos
  • "Easter Dance" § – Company
  • "Miner's Dance" § – The Men
  • "The Crow" – Leader and Women
  • "Happy Birthday" – Madame Hortense
  • "I Am Free" – Zorba
  • "Life Is" (Reprise) – Leader and Company

§ = in 1983 revival

Reception

According to Sheldon Patinkin, the "material was too dark" and the "book too heavy" for a Broadway musical. "It includes a serious and often unpleasant commenting chorus, the death of the central female character, a suicide...and other depressing events. It didn't return its investment."[9]

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
1969 Tony Award Best Musical Nominated
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Herschel Bernardi Nominated
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Maria Karnilova Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Lorraine Serabian Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical Harold Prince Nominated
Best Choreography Ron Field Nominated
Best Scenic Design Boris Aronson Won
Best Costume Design Patricia Zipprodt Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lyrics Fred Ebb Won
Outstanding Set Design Boris Aronson Won
Outstanding Costume Design Patricia Zipprodt Won

1983 Broadway revival

Year Award Category Nominee Result
1984 Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Lila Kedrova Won
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Won
Theatre World Award Robert Westenberg Won

Characters

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Cecil A. Musical Comedy in America: From The Black Crook to South Pacific, From The King & I to Sweeney Todd (1987), Psychology Press, ISBN 0-87830-564-5, p. 287
  2. ↑ "Production information, San Francisco Civic Light Opera production" chitarivera.com, retrieved November 18, 2010
  3. ↑ "Listing at Los Angeles Civic Light Opera" broadwayla.org, retrieved November 18, 2010
  4. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. "EXCLUSIVE: Leveaux Will Direct Banderas in Broadway 'Zorba' Revival" playbill.com, May 13, 2010
  5. ↑ Jones, Kenneth. "Playbill.com'S Brief Encounter With Fran Weissler" playbill.com, August 7, 2010
  6. ↑ David, Cara Joy. " 'Dr. Zhivago' and Other Possible Broadway En " huffingtonpost.com, January 19, 2015
  7. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "John Turturro Is 'Zorba!' for City Center Encores!, Starting Tonight" playbill.com, May 6, 2015
  8. ↑ Hirsch, Foster. Harold Prince and The American Musical Theatre (1989), CUP Archive, ISBN 0-521-33609-0, p. 69
  9. ↑ Patinkin, Sheldon. "No legs, no jokes, no chance": A History of the American Musical Theater (2008), Northwestern University Press, ISBN 0-8101-1994-3, p. 400
  10. ↑ Thomas R. Lindlof, Hollywood under siege

External links

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