Barry Manilow & Team Talk New Musical HARMONY

Internationally adored pop star Barry Manilow joins with bookwriter and lyricist Bruce Sussman as well as director Tony Speciale to discuss the new musical HARMONY and share a look behind the scenes of the show, now playing an out of town tryout at the ALLIANCE THEATRE in Atlanta, Georgia.

"A lot of people have never heard of them, and, as a musician, I thought it was really important to remind the public or to introduce the public to these talented men," Manilow reveals of his inspiration to musicalize this particular story.

"And, as a Jew, I thought it was even more important to remind people of what happened," Manilow adds.

"The most stunning part of this whole story is these six guys were the first vocal group to do what we all love today - and, they were tremendously popular," Manilow says.

The official synopsis of HARMONY is as follows: "HARMONY tells the compelling story of the Comedian Harmonists. They were the first sensational boy band: six talented young men who came together in 1920s Germany and took the world by storm with their signature blend of sophisticated close harmonies and uproarious stage antics. The Comedian Harmonists sold millions of records, starred in a dozen films and packed the houses of the most prestigious concert halls around the globe until the world they knew forever changed. Their amazing story inspired Barry and Bruce to create a spectacular new musical with an original score that celebrates this extraordinary group of friends and ensures their quest for true harmony in the most discordant chapter of human history will never be forgotten."

HARMONY began previews on September 6 at the ALLIANCE THEATRE in Atlanta. A second production at the Ahmanson Theatre in California is planned for March 2014, as well.

Also, check out previous articles tracing the rehearsals of Barry Manilow's HARMONY here and here.

View the HARMONY discussion featuring Manilow, Sussman and Speciale below.