Promenade (musical)
Promenade was an experimental musical comedy with book and lyrics by María Irene Fornés and music by Rev. Al Carmines, originally produced off-Broadway by Edgar Lansbury and Joseph Beruh. In a review in The New York Times for a 1983 New York revival, Stephen Holden linked the production to the Theatre of the Absurd: "This work, which suggests a mixture of Candide and Samuel Beckett viewed through Lewis Carroll's looking glass, is a little too avant-garde and absurdist to appeal to mainstream tastes. But in its odd way it's an exquisite piece of musical theater."
| Promenade | |
|---|---|
.jpg) cover of the 1969 original off-Broadway cast album | |
| Music | Al Carmines |
| Lyrics | María Irene Fornés |
| Book | María Irene Fornés |
| Productions | 1965 New York City 1969 Off-Broadway 1983 Off-Broadway 2019 Off-Broadway |
| Awards | OBIE Award for Distinguished Plays[1] |
Original production
Promenade premiered on April 9, 1965 at the Judson Poets' Theatre, Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square, NYC, where it played for three weekends.
It was then produced four years later in a commercial run Off-Broadway at the Promenade Theatre (for which it was named), produced by Edgar Lansbury and Joseph Beruh, opening on June 4, 1969. The cast was led by Madeline Kahn, playing the role of the Servant, also including Shannon Bolin, Ty McConnell, Gilbert Price, Alice Playten, Michael Davis, and Carrie Wilson. When Kahn left Promenade, claiming illness, she was replaced by Pamela Hall, who had just closed on Broadway as the ingenue in Jerry Herman's DEAR WORLD. Hall was understudied by Sandra Schaeffer, Later the role was played by Marie Santell. Pamela Hall went on to direct the revival of Promenade in 2010), which was produced by Original Cast member Edmund Gaynes.. After a successful run, Promenade closed on January 18, 1970 after 259 performances. Subsequently, it was produced in Chicago under the direction of June Pyskacek by her theater, the Kingston Mines Theatre Co., where in 1971 the world premiere of "Grease" commenced its long run.
Promenade is listed in the Time Life Decade Books Series as an "anti-Vietnam War statement," perhaps because of the scene towards the end where rich people are dancing in a maypole around the two convicts who are now dressed in bandages as war victims.
Complete original cast:
| 105 | Ty McConnell (replaced during the run by Kenneth Carr and Paul Eichel) |
| 106 | Gilbert Price (replaced during the run by Tony Falco) |
| Jailer | Pierre Epstein |
| Servant | Madeline Kahn (replaced after opening by Pamela Hall; and later by understudy Marie Santell) |
| Miss I | Margot Albert |
| Miss O | Carrie Wilson |
| Miss U | Alice Playten |
| Mr. R | Marc Allen III |
| Mr. S | Glenn Kezer |
| Mr. T | Michael Davis |
| Miss Cake (Rosita) | Florence Tarlow |
| Waiter | Edmund Gaynes |
| Dishwasher | Art Ostrin |
| Mayor | George S. Irving |
Mother |
Shannon Bolin (replaced during the run by Mary Jo Catlett) |
Originally, Columbia was interested in recording the cast album as a two-record set, but after a disagreement between the record company and the cast over salaries, Columbia abandoned the project. RCA agreed to record the album, but only as a single LP. By the time the recording was finally made, Kahn was no longer available, playing in SHOW BOAT in San Diego. Pamela Hall was also out of town, so the role was sung on the album by Sandy Schaeffer. Cast members George S. Irving and Mark Allen III were on vacation, and so their musical numbers were not recorded. Because of the time limitations of a single disc, several production numbers, including "Spring Beauties" and "The Laughing Song," also were not recorded. The recording, such as it is, can be found on CD (RCA Victor 09026 63333 2).
Scenes and Musical Numbers
ACT 1
SCENE 1: THE CELL
Promenade Theme—Orchestra
Dig Dig Dig* -- 105 & 106
SCENE 2: THE BANQUET ROOM
Unrequited Love—Misses I, O, U, Messrs. R, S, T, Servant, Waiter, 105, 106
Isn't That Clear—Mr. S with Ensemble
Don't Eat It* -- Ensemble
Four (Naked Lady) -- Misses I, O, U, Messrs. R, S, T, Servant, Waiter, 105, 106, Dishwasher
Chicken Is He—Rosita
The Moment Has Passed—Miss O
A Flower—Miss I
Rosita Rodriguez* -- Mayor
Apres Vous* -- 105, 106, Jailor
Bliss* -- Servant, 105, 106, and Ensemble
SCENE 3: THE STREET
The Cigarette Song—Servant, 105, 106
Thank You* -- Dishwasher
The Clothes Make The Man—Servant, 105, 106
Two Little Angels—Mother, 105, 106
The Passing of Time—105, 106
Capricious and Fickle (You Cad) -- Miss U
Crown Me—Servant, 105, 106
ACT 2
SCENE 1: THE BATTLEFIELD
Mr. Sidney N. Phelps* -- Waiter
Madeline* -- Waiter
Spring Beauties* -- Ensemble
Apres Vous (reprise)* -- Ensemble
A Poor Man (When I Was Born) -- 105, 106
Why Not? (Promenade Theme)* -- Servant, 105, 106, Mother, Dishwasher, Waiter
SCENE 2: THE DRAWING ROOM
The Finger Song* -- Mr. R, Ensemble
Little Fool—Mr. T, Ensemble
Chardiz* -- Servant
The Laughing Song* -- Ensemble
A Mother's Love* -- Mother
SCENE 3: THE CELL
Listen, I Feel—Servant
I Saw A Man—Mother
All is Well in the City—105, 106, Ensemble
(*Not on the original cast recording)
2010 Concert
On Monday, April 12, 2010, a semi-staged concert of Promenade was performed Off-Broadway at New York City's New World Stages (Stage 2) as the first of a planned series called Legacy: the Musicals of Off-Broadway. It was produced by Edmund Gaynes and directed by Pamela Hall. Ken Lundie was music director.
2010 Concert Cast:
| 105 | Brian Childers |
| 106 | Tim Ewing |
| Jailer | Gene Castle |
| Servant | Julie Cardia |
| Miss I | Victoria Mallory |
| Miss O | Neva Small |
| Miss U | Andrea McArdle |
| Mr. R | Ron Spivak |
| Mr. S | Jim Brochu |
| Mr. T | James Donegan |
| Miss Cake (Rosita) | Virginia Seidel |
| Waiter | Allen E. Read |
| Dishwasher | Joshua Nicholson |
| Mayor | Dale Radunz |
| Mother | Loni Ackerman |
References
- "1964–1965 Obie Awards — Infoplease.com". Retrieved 2008-04-25.