Musicals on Television Presented at MTR, Sept. 22-25
By: BWW News Desk Aug. 17, 2005
The first item to be shown will be NBC Opera Theatre: Trouble in Tahiti. Leonard Bernstein's satiric portrait of an unhappy suburban marriage was taped in 1952, and will air on Septmber 22nd at 5:30 PM. The presentation starred Beverly Wolff and David Atkinson and was directed by Kirk Browning; Bernstein himself conducted the 45-minute piece. Following at 6:30 PM will be "Bell Telephone Hour: The Music of Harold Arlen," which celebrated the music of the great composer who effortlessly melded Broadway sounds with those of jazz and blues. Starring Gordon MacRae, Dinah Shore, Duke Ellington, Leslie Uggams, Gretchen Wyler, Edward Villella and Patricia McBride, the hour-long program's highlight might be the finale, in which the cast and Arlen himself sing "Over the Rainbow."
The 1964 TV musical version of "Once Upon a Mattress" will be shown on September 23rd at 1 PM. With original star Carol Burnett as Princess Winifred, it also starred Joseph Bova, Jane White, Jack Gilford, Bill Hayes, Shani Wallis and Elliott Gould.
On September 23rd, the Museum will host a bonanza for Sondheim fans. At 2:30 PM, a 180-minute tribute called "Celebrating Sondheim at 75: Follies and More" will be open for viewing. As the title indicates, the program is a collage of clips--among them original Follies stars Yvonne de Carlo singing "I'm Still Here" in 1978's "Hollywood's Diamond Jubilee" and Alexis Smith performing "The Story of Lucy and Jessie" on the 1975 Tonys, as well as an appearance by the original Follies cast on "The David Frost Show" in 1971. From 1985, "Great Performances: Follies in Concert" will be shown; the historic event starred Barbara Cook, Mandy Patinkin, Lee Remick and George Hearn, among others. A featurette with Sondheim and Anthony Perkins on the making of their mystery caper The Last of Sheila will also be on display, as will a 2003 "Chicago Tonight" profile of Sondheim's most recent musical, Bounce.
On September 24th, the Museum will take out "Producers' Showcase: Our Town." Featuring a score by James Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, the musical version of Thornton Wilder's classic will be available for viewing through October 30th (it will be shown at 1 PM each day). With Frank Sinatra as the Stage Manager, Our Town also starred Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint. The song "Love and Marriage" (familiar to viewers of "Married with Children") originates from this TV musical.
Another obscure jewel, "The Ruggles of Red Gap," will be shown on September 24th-October 30th at 2:30 PM. With music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Leo Robin, the 90-minute TV musical starred Michael Redgrave as the butler of the title, as well as Jane Powell, David Wayne, Imogene Coca and Peter Lawford. "The Ruggles of Red Gap" will also be shown at the Museum of Television and Radio in LA. Rick McCay will also interview Powell on September 29th at 6 PM, after an added screening of the musical.
For more information call (212) 621-6800 or visit www.mtr.org. Admission to Musicals on Television is $10 (adults), $8 (senior citizens and students) and $5 (children under 14), with members admitted for free.
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