As Flora reads her letter of dismissal, we see Not Every Day of The Week - Flora, The Red Menace. Later that day Flora and Harry get to know each other better in a duet entitled Not Every Day Of The Week. I was in a Broadway show calledMusical Chairsthat ran for about 10 days. Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella (Broadway Version). She is now trying to get a break with her dance partner, Kenny.KENNY Moving with Ray Bolger-like limberness and comedy, he is very serious about his dancing and determined to get ahead.MR. Third-year theater and dance and English double major Charlie Lavaroni functioned as a narrator and comedic relief in the role of Willy. A songwriter who plays the clarinet, Willy, in a sense, serves as the narrator of the play.ELSA Extremely practical, pulled together, she has aspirations to be a fashion designer and has yet to get up the nerve to get her sketches around town.MR. Bigger and better things already awaited Kander and Ebb and Liza Minnelli just around the corner. I teach my actors how to change DNA on a dime, Cooper said. For 70 years, he was the director who guided such budding acting talents as Gene Kelly ("Pal Joey"), Carol Burnett ("Once Upon a Mattress") and Liza Minelli ("Flora, the Red Menace.") Harry, however, has had little difficulty in persuading the sexy Comrade Charlotte (Cathryn Damon) to join him upstairs. Honest. the evening ends abruptly for everyone. During the song, Flora, Harry and the other artists sneak their designs into a box of Mr. Stanley's merchandise, and after the secretary kicks them out, Flora asks Harry to coffee. Later, when they are alone, he surprises her by pulling out an application to join the Communist Party; he convinces her to Sign Here. Sometimes, the talented Eddie Korbich, playing an out of work clarinetist, would join in with David Pogues piano arrangements and add to the musical montages. Items that could not be viewed in their entirety as placed in the scrapbooks have been moved to envelopes at the front of the scrapbooks. spots an intense, oddly handsome young artist who speaks with a slight Perusals should be used to get acquainted with the music and script. Directed by Scott Ellis with choreography by Susan Stroman, Flora was played by Veanne Cox with Peter Frechette as Harry. The scrapbooks contain the bulk of Ebb's personal correspondence, including opening night telegrams and cards from Ebb's friends and notable colleagues, such as Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, Chita Rivera and John Kander. So we mustered up our courage and knocked on the door of Kander and Ebb. terms of the Party. It was staged like a Federal Theater project with 9 actors playing 25 roles. activities, Comrade Charlotte, the party zealot who has her own designs Download Options. Flora is confused now as she is sure that Harry is the one who cleared her, but Mr. Weiss (Joe E. Marks) and her studio friends convince her that her actions have been correct in You Are You. store, Harry realizes she plans to cross the picket-line in order And I never went on stage again. It's a quiet thing. Outside, the Depression rents space to other artists. Request an in-person research appointment. [7], The 1987 off-Broadway cast recording is also available on CD.[8]. up the pieces and start again. Fred Ebb shortened it he started calling me Stro, then Kander, then Scott, then Tommy. However, the early 1970s brought many triumphs to Kander and Ebb, with the motion picture of Cabaret as well as the acclaimed television special, Liza with a Z (1972) written and produced by Ebb, directed by Fosse and starring Minnelli. This estimator is only for amateur productions. Document Information click to expand document information. . Greek Demosthenes used to cure a stammer. This tool is unavailable at the moment. Some weeks later, Flora, now deeply in love with Harry, invites him to her studio and introduces him to her unique assortment of friends. And as I became known in the business, the name stuck I was Stro. David Pogue was our musical director and wonderful accompanist. But I don't hear the drums. I'm only in the market for long loud laughter. He tells her evening working on his speech, Flora is furious, Harry apologizes and In the early 1960s Ebb's publisher, Tommy Valando introduced him to John Kander, a young composer from Missouri. Fred Ebb was born in the Bronx on April 8, 1928. They are accompanied by Willy on Friedman-Abeles (Firm) More Details Cite This Item Image ID 58159029. New York, NY, Stage Manager at The Democracy Project the clarinet. Although the play was not commercially successful, Minnelli won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role. With frequent collaborator Fred Ebb, he composed the score to dozens of Broadway musicals, including Cabaret, Zorba, Chi David Thompson's theatre credits include And the World Goes 'Round (Drama Desk and Outer Circle Critics Award), The Look of Love, Thou Shalt Not, Flora the Red Menace (Drama Desk Award nomination), Steel Pier (Tony Award nomination) and the 1996 Broadway revival of Chicago, f A Broadway actor, director, playwright and producer, George Abbott (1887-1995) wrote and starred in his first comedy, Perfectly Harmless, while attending Harvard. Please try again later. At the studio, Flora refuses to forgive Harry or the Communist Party which has caused her to be fired. We watch Flora juggle the difficulties of unbridled love and the disciplined party. Cooper also chose Flora because of the relatable content of the plot and script. Fees and availability are subject to change during the application process. It takes place in New York City in 1935 at the height of the Great Depression. Musical theater -- New York (State) -- New York. [3] In the Vineyard Theatre revival, the story was told as though in a presentation by the Federal Theatre Project, part of the WPA established by President Roosevelt (voiced by Art Carney). Directed by George Abbott, the production starred Liza Minnelli in her Broadway debut, and featured James Cresson, Cathryn Damon, Bob Dishy, Dortha Duckworth and Mary Louise Wilson. Please try again later. This challenging feat was executed to perfection by the hardworking and talented cast. 2014-2015; 2013-2014; 2012-2013; 2011-2012; 2010-2011; 2009-2010 The Fred Ebb Papers were donated to the New York Public Library in a 2004 bequest by Fred Ebb. The show, which was directed by Hal Prince, ran 904 performances and won Tonys for its three stars, Rivera, Brent Carver and Anthony Crivello as well as for Kander and Ebbs score and the musical itself. But the best of all possible things happened by the end of that run, Tommy, Scott, and I became best friends with Kander and Ebb.. Flora the Red Menace is told as though in a presentation by the Federal Theatre Project, part of the WPA established by President Roosevelt. Valedictorian and future fashion designer Flora Meszaros inspires and leads her graduating class in taking charge of the future before them ("Unafraid"). That evening, Harry and a group of comrades meet to discuss the week's Scripts and rental materials are not included in this estimate. Flora, The Red Menace premiered on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on 11 May 1965. Give me a hallelujah and get up and shout. Age-related differences discovered in the brains of people with autism spectrum disorder, Using sheep on campus as lawnmowers has multiple benefits, One-of-a-kind study explores changes in the coastal West region over past 10,000 years. Flora debuted in 1965 and was Liza Minnellis first starring role on Broadway. Easily disliked. Hoping to find a job which pays at least $15 a week, she is hired by the head of a large department store at $30. Lester Atwell. Flora understands every muffled syllable, but hesitates to go with him to his apartment and become his loving comrade. He mumbles his frustrations to Flora in the duet Hello, Waves. There are also sheets for songs written by Ebb with various composers in the 1950s prior to his long collaboration with John Kander. But one of the things that I wanted to bring here was musicals.. Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime! Im most excited for the students to relish in what they have created, Cooper said before the performance. Sheet music. There are also scripts for specialty acts written by Ebb for such performers as Liza Minnelli, Shirley MacLaine, Frank Sinatra and Mikhail Baryshnikov. In Central Park, meanwhile, romance triumphs over Marx as an unlikely pair, the Cowboy and Comrade Ada, warm to each other with Knock Knock. There are also a few scripts for projects not written by Ebb. he is a Communist and persuasively asks her to join the party. legendary musical theater duo Kander and Ebb created Flora the Red Menace. 2021, ASUCD. IBDB provides a . Flora, The Red Menace premiered on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on May 11, 1965. American Communist agitation during the Great Depression of the ("The Kid Herself"). She is touched but adamant and hands him her membership card. He stammers, especially when he is nervous. Rising to the occasion, Flora promises to collect names Flora arrives unexpectedly and, to her horror, discovers Charlotte hiding in the bathroom. in the list of names of people interested in forming a union. The first test of her newfound One project, Curtains, that Kander, Ebb and librettist Peter Stone worked on for 20 years, was produced after Ebb and Stone's deaths in 2006 at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Flora that things aren't going to work out between them. Hal Prince, Liza Minelli, Chita Rivera, plus many more theater luminaries. Take a look below at how you can enhance your show! Like Cabaret and Chicago, it features a headstrong heroine and has a strong dose of political content. Flora decides to follow him, singing Dear Love as she wends her way to his door. Flora the Red Menace opens May 18, 2012 at 1st Stage, 1524 Spring Hill Road, McLean, VA. Ebb made scrapbooks for each show as well as many scrapbooks covering his career in general, his early works, honors and the special material he wrote for various performers. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). At the some time, on the other side of town, Harry practises his speech Garrett and Mellick's with the wrong envelope and has accidentally turned Concord TheatricalsAldwych House71-91 AldwychLondonWC2B 4HN, Samuel French Bookshop at the Royal Court TheatreSloane SquareChelsea, London Scripts and rental materials are not included in this estimate. All Rights Reserved. George Abbott became involved, thinking it would be a vehicle for Eydie Gorm. Flora, The Red Menace is available to license! Ebb's primary collaborator throughout the 1950s was Paul Klein, though he worked with several composers, including Mary Rodgers and Charles Strouse. "and if you're against Eddie Korbich, Veanne Cox, Dirk Lumbard, and David Ossian in Flora the Red Menace. Kander and Ebb's next Broadway show was one of their biggest successes, Chicago (1975). She was an instant audience favorite with her musical number The Flame and continued eliciting genuine laughs and astounding people with her vocals throughout the night. I loved the work at the department, Cooper said. / Alvin Theatre - Broadway - May 11, 1965 (87 perfs), Revised version Book by David Thompson: Vineyard Theatre - Off-Broadway The coffee date conversation starts about Flora's previous employer, who paid her through the barter system and she ended up having to dig cemetery plots. A promising idea has not been enlivened by a creative spark."[2]. shared ambition to change the world, they go about their mission in two He was able to move the story along without distracting from the other characters, a true testament to Lavaronis thoughtful performance. rages, but inside, a play is about to begin. The cast played the size to their advantage, often weaving in and out of the rows during musical numbers or having the characters pass out plot-related flyers. Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy / 4f, 5m Fred Ebb, John Kander, David Thompson, George Abbott. The name Susan was very popular in my generation. stammer. determination comes, however, when she realizes she has sent Willy to The collection contains scripts, scores and production files pertaining to Ebb's musicals as well as photographs, awards and personal and business files. 3 pages. About Results-driven individual with theater experience in the collegiate and private sectors while pursuing Bachelor's Degree in Theater Arts with a concentration in Stage Management and. For her performance, Minnelli won the 1965 Tony Award for Best Actress. Flora invites Harry to share space at the Harry enters and tells Although it compromises her job in an organization which does not recognize the new unions, she seeks to hold down both job and relationship. From seeing my work in that little theater on East 26th street, Hal Prince asked me to doDon Giovannifor New York City Opera and Liza Minelli asked me to doLiza Stepping Out at Radio City. Cast Attributes All the bohemian artists played various other parts, such as breadline goers, protestors, and day-to-day New Yorkers crossing picket lines. Friedenberg and Challis on-stage chemistry and Challis strong vocal performance made any duet the two performed mesmerizing. Updates? I chose it because the characters in this piece are young, passionate artists trying to find their way in the world, and I knew that the storyline would resonate very heavily with my actors, Cooper said. A songwriter who plays the clarinet, Willy, in a sense, serves as the narrator of the play.ELSA Extremely practical, pulled together, she has aspirations to be a fashion designer and has yet to get up the nerve to get her sketches around town.MR. The show only ran a few months, but it established Kander and Ebb's relationship with Prince, who directed and produced Cabaret, (1966) their next musical. Reluctantly Harry kisses Flora good-bye. Maybe it's the strange new atmosphere. I distinctly remember them sitting in theater seats during rehearsals watching Veanne Cox sing and beautifully act A Quiet Thing. A short time later while eating lunch in the park, Harry reveals to Flora HARRY TOUKARIAN A shy, intense, oddly handsome artist. Flora argues she has put other people's jobs This series contains certificates of various awards, award nominations and honors, that Ebb received throughout his career. "Flora the Red Menace" is the rarely revived musical that John Kander and Fred Ebb wrote immediately before breaking through with "Cabaret" in the mid-1960s, so hard-core musical theater. Floral returns to the studio just as the artists are leaving to celebrate The Liza Minnelli vehicle, The Act (1977), which remains Martin Scorcese's only Broadway credit, was Kander and Ebb's next show. He grew up in New York and studied at New York University and Columbia University. Outside the store, Harry tries to speak, only to heckled by the Flora announces She is dry, droll -- the quintessential comic villian.WILLY Very boyish, spirited. DAVID THOMPSON, Original Broadway Cast Recording - RCA Victor - LSO-1111: CD/RCA 09026-60821-2, Original Revival Cast Recording - TER CDTER 1159. With a new, updated book that presents a romance of charming simplicity set amidst the American communist agitation during the Depression of the 1930's, this spirited musical asks: Is Flora a red menace or just that good ol' Broadway standby a girl in love? Scott Ellis, who was playing my love interest in the show, had been in Kander and EbbsThe Rinkon Broadway starring Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera. Stunned by her great good fortune, she sings A Quiet Thing. Once inside Mr. Stanleys office, Flora pleads her case This is only an estimate. It was also the first collaboration between composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb, who would go on to work together on award-winning titles such as Cabaret and Chicago., The Davis production was directed by Mindy Cooper and Judy Blazer, two women with decades of Broadway and theater experience. About. She was both powerful and hysterical during The Flame in which she fervidly rallies a group of communists together. Copy. This was my first visit to Walthamstow's Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre and, some ropey vocal performances aside, the production is of equal standard to . very different ways. Its a very moving piece, its a very touching piece [] and Im excited for them to get an audience and make them laugh, make them cry, make them feel. a montage of the strikers on the street and hear Willy sing. Veanne Cox and Peter Frechette in "It's Not Every Day of the Week". Short on money, but long on Flora was not written for Minnelli, as is sometimes said; Robert Russell was rumored to have written the show as a vehicle for Barbra Streisand. Flora, the Red Menace (1965), the story of a department store worker whose boyfriend convinces her to join the Communist Party, marked the Broadway debut of Kander and Ebb as well as Liza Minnelli, who was cast in the lead through the songwriters' persistent lobbying Read More Minnelli In Liza Minnelli Also represented are several projects Ebb was working on until his death, such as The Skin of Our Teeth, The Visit and Curtains . IBDB (Internet Broadway Database) archive is the official database for Broadway theatre information. The call came from someone who stammered. Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime! This series largely consists of scores for Ebb's stage musicals, but also includes motion picture and television projects. Permalink. The expertise of the directors translated on the stage and created a top-notch production. This series largely consists of scripts for Ebb's stage musicals, but also includes motion picture and television projects. The scrapbooks and scripts make up the bulk of this collection. Thats what theater does.. That night after a Communist rally in Union Square, Harry once again details his yearning for Flora. one step further, calls for a rally in front of the store and declares Please keep it happy. Lavaroni gave an understated, but extremely nuanced performance, and his likability was evident in each characters hat he adorned. Ebb's work for the theatre included Flora, The Red Menace; Cabaret; The Happy Time; Zorba; 70, Girls, 70; Chicago; The Act; Woma John Kander is a Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winning composer, a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors Award, and a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame. In the 20's/30's, his plays were mostly comedies, including Twentieth Century, Three Men on a Horse and Room Serv You'll have to sign in before you share your experience. Charlotte goes Harry was played by Peter Frechette. Kander & Ebb's first Broadway musical, set amidst the The perfect department store executive. The cast of students, who only began rehearsals at the beginning of the quarter, fully immersed themselves in the characters and the era of the musical. He stammers, especially when he is nervous. 1965. Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Fred Ebb (19332004) was an award-winning lyricist, librettist and director who frequently and successfully collaborated with composer John Kander. Start planning your production with a cost estimate you can save and share with your team. FLORA MESZAROS A young fashion illustrator, full of hope, optimism, and a desire to take over the world. The musical score is fun, poignant and challenges the actors' vocal ranges. Receiving promising out-of-town reviews in New Haven and Boston, the show was recorded two days before its Broadway opening. Written By: Alyssa Ilsley arts@theaggie.org. Im pleasantly surprised.. Flora The Red Menace Synopsis - Broadway musical The musical tells the story of change in the life of a simple girl-artist who changes her views after the acquisition of knowledge about communism. Template:Infobox Musical Flora the Red Menace is a musical with a book by George Abbott and Robert Russell, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Processed by Diana Bertolini; Machine-readable finding aid created by Diana Bertolini. Fourth-year theater and dance and wildlife conservation biology double-major Shannon McCoy was particularly strong as both Elsa, a fashion designer and friend of Flora, as well as the haughty secretary for Floras boss, Mr. Stanley. Maggie came to New York from Oklahoma following a dust storm. It [Flora the Red Menace] has the appearance of being pasted together with bits and pieces. 760px. Flora agrees. In Mr. Weisss words, Comrade Harry and the Party have become Chapter One in the life of a young girl., F.D.R.s Voice: Art Carney Apple Seller: J. Vernon Oaks Pencil Seller: Clark Morgan Policeman: Daniel P. Hannafin Broker: Henry LeClair Fourth Man: John Taliaferro Woman: Anne C. Russell Fifth Man: Anthony Falco Sixth Man: Les Freed Seventh Man: Robert Fitch School Principal: Abbie Todd Flora: Liza Minnelli Harry Toukarian: Bob Dishy Lilly: Anne C. Russell Artists: Les Freed, John Taliaferro, J. Vernon Oaks, Diane McAfee, Anthony Falco, Marie Santell Comrade Galka: Louis Guss Comrade Ada: Mary Louise Wilson Comrade Jackson: Clark Morgan Comrade Charlotte: Cathryn Damon Elsa: Stephanie Hill The Lady: Dortha Duckworth Mr. Weiss: Joe E. Marks Bronco Smallwood: James Cresson Joe: Danny Carroll Katie: Marie Santell Mr. Rearson: Gordon Dilworth Mr. Stanley: Robert Kaye Lulu: Jamie Donnelly Maggie: Elaine Cancilla Dancers: Elaine Cancilla, Ciya Challis, Barbara Doherty, Judith Doren, Ellen Graff, Mary Ann Niles, Phyliss Wallach, Harry Bell, Robert Fitch, Marcello Gamboa, Charles Kalan, James McArdle, Neil J. Schwartz Singers: Jamie Donnelly, Barbara Christopher, Diane McAfee, Abbie Todd, Anthony Falco, Les Freed, Daniel P. Hannafin, Henry LeClair, J. Vernon Oaks, John Taliaferro, The young composing team of John Kander and Fred Ebb made its Broadway debut with this vehicle for Liza Minnelli, which was produced by Harold Prince, and which opened at the Alvin on May 11, 1965. But the door opened and we found ourselves inside Fred Ebbs San Remo apartment.