(The Rise and Fall and Fall and Rise of Kathie Lee Gifford nee Epstein)
By Matt Prager (book, music, & lyrics)
It hadn't really occurred to me to write a musical until I was working on this sitcom pitch for Paramount called "George and the Guys." "George and the Guys" was based on my friend Nicholle's dad – George – who was going through a rough patch with his wife, had been booted out of the house, and the only home he could find was as the 4th roommate of three 20-somethings on his pickup basketball team. Could you ask for a better sitcom setup? I didn't think so, and I immediately set about writing… the theme song.
I should have known then. But, no, it wasn't until a few years later that, bored and sitting in a coffee shop, I looked deep within what should have been apparent all along: that all I really wanted to do was write a musical.
Thus, She Can't Believe She Said That! which recounts the tale of talk show hostess
Kathie Lee Gifford. While a musical about Kathie Lee probably brings to mind something campy, I think of my show as being more akin to Evita but a cheesy Evita – a VELVEVITA if you will.
We have a great cast, including
Heather Laws (Company) as Kathie Lee. We'll be at TBG Theatre at 312 W. 36th (at 8th) starting September 26. For complete dates and times, you can check out our NYMF webpage at
http://www.nymf.org/Show-776.html. Hope you'll come out and enjoy the show!
P.S. If you want to hear the fateful theme song demo to "George and the Guys," you can download from here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?mtdnmyf011q.
