Loesser, Lerner & Loewe 101Class 6 • Loesser’s Legacy, Early Lerner & Loewe, & Brigadoon

OLLI Winter Term 2021 • Alan Teasley, Instructor

Today’s Opening Number

[2:04]

Goals of the Course: You Will . . . Be familiar with ten stage musicals by these composers and lyricists, as well as some of their work for the movies

Explore the qualities of these shows that have had them acclaimed as classics of “Broadway’s Golden Age”

Enjoy their many contributions to the Great American Songbook

Today’s Focus

You will share your reflections on: Frank Loesser’s legacy

You will learn about: Early careers of Lerner & Loewe Background, story, & songs of Brigadoon

You will appreciate: The scope and variety of Lerner & Loewe’s Broadway musicals

You will hear some great music!

Presenting Your Frank Loesser Evenings!

• Assemble in breakout rooms (groups of 8-10) • Someone volunteer to be the “Mover Along-er” • For 10 minutes, talk about—

• The main points you want your program to make about Loesser’s work

• Specific qualities you appreciate about his shows and/or songs

• Your “non-negotiable, must include” songs

Sondheim on Loesser’s Lyrics

“Loesser . . . was a master of conversational lyrics, though with a difference: he tailored his lyrics to the individual characters at hand. When they were characters he could understand instinctively, urban or raffish or both . . . , Loesser was able to perform the rare trick of sounding modestly conversational and brilliantly dextrous at the same time. [H]e concealed the artifice behind the art; he could bury and reveal his virtuosity simultaneously.” (Stephen Sondheim, Finishing the Hat, )

Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe

Loewe

Lerner

Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe

(1942-1974)

• 8 Stage Musicals • 14 Tony Awards • 2 Original Film Musicals • 9 Academy Awards

Frederick Loewe (1901-1988)

Born in Berlin Father: renowned tenor in Viennese opera Classical training: studied piano with Busoni, performed as soloist with Berlin Philharmonic at age 13. At age 15, wrote song “Katrina,” which sold a million copies Came to US in 1924: rough time, nearly starved Odd jobs: busboy, mailman, prizefighter, gold prospector, and “cow puncher”

Frederick Loewe (1901-1988)

Eventually got work as a pianist in German clubs and in theaters to accompany silent movies In 1938, wrote the score for a show (Great Lady) with lyricist Earle Crooker, which ran for 20 performances Began hanging out at The Lambs Club, where one day he accidentally bumped into Lerner . . .

Alan Jay Lerner (1918-1986)

Born in New York City Son of the man who founded Lerner Shops, a chain of women’s apparel stores Studied at Juilliard and Harvard (Class of 1940), where he co-authored two Hasty Pudding shows Began working for a NY advertising agency Quit in 1942 to write scripts for radio shows Frequented The Lambs Club, where one day he accidentally bumped into Loewe . . .

Lerner & Loewe: 1942-1947Life of the Party (1942): Lerner (book), Loewe (music), Earle Crooker (lyrics)—closed out of town What’s Up? (1943): Lerner (book & lyrics), Loewe (music), George Balanchine (director & choreographer)—a bomb The Day Before Spring (1945): Lerner (book & lyrics), Loewe (music), Anthony Tudor (dances)—a modest success, running for 5 months Brigadoon (1947)

Lerner & Loewe: 1942-1947Ethan Mordden* sums up their early career:

“Brigadoon, interestingly enough, was the work of men who had failed and failed till they went into the Rodgers and Hammerstein camp. “Brigadoon is so rationalized that it can’t be operetta, after all. In fact, it’s a Rodgers and Hammerstein show, one of the few that Rodgers and Hammerstein didn’t actually write.”

*Beautiful Mornin’: The Broadway Musical in the 1940s (1999)

Brigadoon (1947): Creative Team

• Producer: Cheryl Crawford • Director: Robert Lewis • Book & Lyrics: Alan Jay Lerner • Music: Frederick Loewe • Dances & Musical Numbers: Agnes de Mille • Scenic Design: Oliver Smith • Costumes: David Ffolkes • Musical Director: Franz Allers • Cast: David Brooks, Marion Bell, George

Keane, Pamela Britton

Brigadoon: The Story

• American tourists Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas find themselves lost in the Scottish highlands.

• They stumble upon the village of Brigadoon, where folks are preparing for a wedding between Charlie and Jean.

• Jean’s sister Fiona MacLauren dreams of her own true love (“Waitin’ for My Dearie”)

• Tommy and Jeff go for a walk with Fiona and Meg, a rambunctious young woman.

Kelli O’Hara & Patrick Wilson

Brigadoon: The Story

• The town seems odd, but Tommy is definitely attracted to Fiona (“The Heather on the Hill”) and later declares that “It’s Almost Like Being in Love.”

• Eventually Tommy and Jeff discover the secret of Brigadoon—the “Miracle” (and it’s a doozie!)

• Charlie & Jean’s post-wedding dance is interrupted by Harry Beaton, a jealous young man who wants Jean for himself. He runs off, determined to leave the town. Oh no!

Gene Kelly & Cyd Charisse

Brigadoon: The Story

• Act II begins with a chase. Harry is stopped from leaving.

• Tommy tells Fiona he loves her (“There But For You Go I”).

• Meg lightens the mood with “My Mother’s Weddin’ Day”

• Tommy tells Fiona goodbye. She sings “From This Day On.”

• Back in New York, Tommy can’t forget Fiona. He leaves the city and returns to Brigadoon, where faith and love win.

Robert Fairchild

“To the growing list of major achievements of the musical stage add one more—Brigadoon. For once, the modest label ‘musical play’ has a precise meaning. For it is impossible to say where the music and dancing leave off and the story begins in this beautifully orchestrated Scotch idyll.” (Brooks Atkinson, New York Times)

“It took courage to produce Brigadoon, an unconventional musical show of marked originality. . . . [A]s artistic as a modern dance recital, it still manages to pack a tartan full of popular appeal.” (Robert Coleman, Daily Mirror)

Brigadoon Reviews (1947)

“It calls its own tune; in the very act of making Broadway seem brighter, it makes it seem a touch less Broadwayish.” (Louis Kronenberger, PM)

“A stunning show, a beautiful and enticing show, Brigadoon has color and charm, enough for a dozen productions. It has whimsy, beguiling music, exciting dancing—and it has a book. That is news! Brigadoon is by far the best musical play the season has produced . . . .” (Ward Morehouse, Sun)

Brigadoon Reviews (1947)

• Best Choreography: Agnes de Mille

Brigadoon at the 1947 Tony Awards: 1 Nomination & 1 Win Brigadoon (Film, 1954)

• Producer: Arthur Freed (MGM) • Director: Vincent Minnelli • Screenplay: Alan Jay Lerner • Choreography: Gene Kelly • Costumes: Irene Sharaff • Art Direction/Set Decoration:

Cedric Gibbons, et al. • Sound Recording: Wesley C. Miller • Cast: Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse,

Van Johnson

Oscar Nominations

Brigadoon (1992 Recording)

• Producer: Angel/EMI • Conductor: John McGlinn • Orchestra: London Sinfonietta • Cast: Brent Barrett, Rebecca Luker,

Gregory Jbara, Judy Kaye, Ambrosian Chorus

Brigadoon (2017 Encores! Production): Creative Team

• Producer: New York City Center • Director & Choreographer: Christopher

Wheeldon • Original Dances by: Agnes de Mille • Musical Director: Rob Berman • Cast: Kelli O’Hara, Patrick Wilson,

Stephanie J. Block, Aasif Mandvi

Brigadoon The Songs (Broadway)

Act II “The Chase” “There But For You Go I” “My Mother’s Weddin’ Day” “From This Day On”

Act I “Once in the Highlands; Brigadoon” “Down on MacConnachy Square” “Waitin’ for My Dearie” “I’ll Go Home with Bonnie Jean” “The Heather on the Hill” “The Love of My Life” “Come to Me, Bend to Me” “Almost Like Being in Love” “Sword Dance and Reel”

“Almost Like Being in Love”

Kelli O’Hara & Patrick Wilson in the recording studio

Brigadoon: YouTube Playlists

Brigadoon OBC Recording 1947 Original Cast (minus “The Love of My Life” and some instrumentals)

Brigadoon 2017 Encores! Recording Complete score, gorgeously recorded

Brigadoon Film Highlights Scenes from the 1954 film

Brigadoon Stage Highlights Scenes from various stage productions & recording sessions

Brigadoon Songs by Various Performers

Course Web Site: www.musicals-101.com

Preferred email address for questions: alanteasley@yahoo.com

Preparation for Class 7

Immerse yourself in Brigadoon Through April 1, the 1954 film is available on Amazon Prime for $2.99 rental (Broadway HD = no extra charge) Check the class website on Sunday for links related to Paint Your Wagon

What worked for you as a learner? How could we make it better next time?

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