Leader of the Pack?

tking001
#1Leader of the Pack?
Posted: 1/12/11 at 9:22pm

Any plans to bring this show back to NYC?
I saw a local production of it a couple months back and really enjoyed the show and would love to see it again.

newintown Profile Photo
newintown
#2Leader of the Pack?
Posted: 1/13/11 at 9:43am

Ahh, I remember this one well. The music was so incredibly fun, and Annie Golden and Darlene Love were terrific. Ellie Greenwich had a great big heart (we corresponded later, and she was very funny and generous).

Unfortunately, the book is a bit flat at times, a bit silly at others, and rather unfocused. But maybe it could be turned into another Jersey Boys, if someone cared enough to put the money and work into it. I just doubt that anyone who could do it would do it.

I would prefer to keep my memories of the flawed but fun original. The poor dancers had to do a lot of moving of the set, which never works well. I also remember this as the first time I saw dancer boys with big gym arms. We talked a lot at the time about how the big arms both looked silly on them, and impeded their flexibility, attractive though they were.

once a month Profile Photo
once a month
#2Leader of the Pack?
Posted: 1/13/11 at 9:47am

it was a pleasant enough couple of hours in the theatre. I also recall Patrick Cassidy delivering a number and grabbing a microphone that sent its stand flying across the stage.

I still smoked cigarettes, and during intermission I saw Dustin Hoffman pass by twice during his intermission of Death of a Salesamn. He had a Willy Loman buzz cut....

It was one of the first productions to have a featured video on VH1...along with Cats and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Updated On: 1/13/11 at 09:47 AM

broadwayjim42
#3Leader of the Pack?
Posted: 1/13/11 at 9:57am

I have fond memories of it too. Piffle in the larger scheme of things, but Darlene Love and Annie Golden were awesome.

During the run of "Xanadu," I dug my old "Leader" Playbill out and had Annie sign it. I think she was suprised anyone remembered it because it came and went fairly quickly.

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JRybka
#4Leader of the Pack?
Posted: 1/13/11 at 11:03am

And don't forget the power house Dinah Manoff as young Ellie. Her song "Rock of Rages" was awesome when i was a kid but now sounds a little silly.

The show had some pretty cool cast memebers.

Dinah Manoff
Darlene Love
Annie Golden
Patrick Cassidy
Jasmine Guy
Pattie Darcy


"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."

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newintown
#5Leader of the Pack?
Posted: 1/13/11 at 11:17am

I remember that "Rock of Rages" song well, but our group was laughing at it, particularly when they flew in the enormous electric guitar and tied Manoff up with its elastic strings, after which she turned front and did an enormous Brechtian Silent Scream. An attempt at high drama gone horribly wrong...

quizking101 Profile Photo
quizking101
#6Leader of the Pack?
Posted: 1/13/11 at 5:57pm

Ah, my first school musical.
Yes, it was fun stuff, and the music is fail-safe, but the book does tend to fall flat (and I wasn't a fan of the intermixed original songs).

I wish they would, just so I could see it done professionally, but I doubt it'll happen.

BTW, if anybody has a Playbill they want to trade/sell me, please let me know.


Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!! www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm
Updated On: 1/13/11 at 05:57 PM