Original cast albums are wonderful things. They preserve the music, lyrics and orchestrations of shows for other generations and allow today's teens to enjoy the craftsmanship of Rodgers and Hart and Vincent Youman. They also allow someone who was only six years old when the original production of FANNY played on Broadway to fall in love with Harold Rome's remarkable score on black vinyl and later on CD. This is music that is filled with gems, but the special moment that most aficionados tend to recall is William Tabbert's soaring rendition of the title tune. His singing of the plaintive lyric, "Here's a boy with no heart to give Fanny... Not worth the tears you'll cry, Fanny, oh Fanny, goodbye" is so stellar that it remains in peoples' minds more than half a century later. The production ran for almost 900 performances but most people who remember Tabbert's singing never saw the show. It's the cast album that echoes in their ears and resonates in their hearts.
Now Encores! is presenting FANNY at New York's City Center for a limited run from February 4th through 7th. The cast features George Hearn, Fred Applegate, Elena Shaddow, Priscilla Lopez and James Snyder-who has the daunting task of erasing the memory of Tabbert's singing and making the part his own. Speaking on the phone after one of the earliest rehearsals, Snyder is remarkably relaxed and eager to discuss his career and the happiness he has in being part of this greatly anticipated production. He has nothing but praise for fellow cast members. "We've pretty much blocked everything," Snyder says, "We were fortunate to have a few extra days with George, Elena, Fred and me at the front end so we got a lot of the bulk out of the way as far as setting the story we're telling, which is simple and complex at the same time. It's definitely working."
Snyder continues, explaining, "Today we ran through a couple of numbers-there's a big chunk of scenes where my character is leaving and I have to communicate with my father (Hearn). It leads to several numbers that culminate in the title song. It's a huge, sweeping scene where everyone's crying. Elena has a headache from all the crying she's doing. The emotions in this piece are sweeping us all!"
The young actor is a California native who was born in Sacramento, attended the University of Southern California and was graduated from their theatre school. After graduation he did some musical theatre which lead to his appearance in the film SHE'S THE MAN, a movie that was loosely based on Shakespeare's comedy TWELFTH NIGHT. It was a "teeny bopper comedy" that starred Amanda Bynes that led to a list of television films which Snyder lent his talents to. "I was doing television and films for a good five years," comments the actor, "and then I booked CRY-BABY" The John Waters musical is a project that had a brief run on Broadway and is still a hot topic on theatre message boards.
"I did ROCK OF AGES when it was in both LA and Vegas, playing the lead, Drew. I was shooting a movie in Boston and the producers of the show called to tell me I'd have to re-audition for the New York production. I took the Chinatown bus from Boston for about fourteen bucks and did my audition. While I was doing the reading for ROCK OF AGES, John Waters happened to be in town and was finalizing the CRY-BABY casting. Ten auditions later, I was cast in the show's title role. I floated around with that for a year and a half and moved back to Los Angeles after a little stint at the Kennedy Center."
In CRY-BABY, Snyder got to work with Harriet Harris; a performer for whom he holds in enormous respect. "I just went to the opening of PRESENT LAUGHTER and have to say that woman is sensational. In CRY-BABY she played the matriarch and as a performer she set the bar for the rest of us. She's a wonderful woman, too. She just has such grace. There are people who you watch work and they constantly amaze you. I'm so blessed to have worked with Harriet and am now with George Hearn, Fred Applegate and Elena."
