After shopping the project around to various composers (including Stephen Sondheim and Peter Allen),[1][2] Fosse eventually settled on using popular songs of the 1920s and 30s. Fosse said that by using existing songs: "I can pick the perfect songs that will say the right things, and they're known. We'll have the greatest score in the world because they're all hit songs."[3] Fosse said of the main character, Charley: "That's my part! A swaggering bumbler who thinks he's a ladies' man, and he's not."[2][4]
"I'm Sitting On Top of the World" – Charley and Company (Music and lyrics by Henderson, Young and Samuel M. Lewis)
"Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries" (Reprise) – Lilly (Music and lyrics by Brown and Henderson)
SynopsisEdit
In Chicago in the 1930s a group of small-time unemployed African-American men plan to rob a pawn shop. Their leader, Charlie, is a former boxer. But the hapless would-be thieves run into many obstacles along the way.
Critical receptionEdit
Frank Rich in his review for The New York Times wrote: "Big Deal, the new Fosse musical at the Broadway, contains exactly one of those show stoppers, and attention must be paid. If only for 10 minutes or so just before the end of Act I, Mr. Fosse makes an audience remember what is (and has been) missing from virtually every other musical in town. The number is set to the old song Beat Me Daddy Eight to the Bar, and it unfolds in a Chicago ballroom of the 1930s called (need I tell you?) Paradise...The disappointment of Big Deal is that even Mr. Fosse, one of the form's last magicians, can conjure up that joy so rarely. There are some other pleasurable passages in this musical - period songs (or snatches of them) agreeably sung or danced by talented performers - but this is a mostly lackluster effort that often seems to be lumbering clumsily about."[6]
^Wasson, Sam (2013). Fosse. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 280. ISBN9780547553290.
^ abBennetts, Leslie (1986-04-06). "BOB FOSSE - DANCING WITH DANGER". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-04-30. Mr. Fosse sees himself in the musical's central character, a failed prizefighter named Charley who is played by Mr. Derricks. I certainly identify with Cleavant, the director observes with a chuckle -a swaggering bumbler who thinks he's a ladies' man, and he's not, but he keeps trying and covering up. I always say to Cleavant, 'That's my part.'
^Gottfried, Martin. All His Jazz: The Life & Death of Bob Fosse (2003), Da Capo Press, ISBN0-306-81284-3, p. 433
Production, synopsis, and song information, guidetomusicaltheatre.com
October 21, 2023
deal, musical, deal, musical, with, book, fosse, using, songs, from, various, composers, such, henderson, eubie, blake, jerome, kern, based, 1958, film, deal, madonna, street, mario, monicelli, musical, received, five, tony, award, nominations, with, fosse, wi. Big Deal is a musical with a book by Bob Fosse using songs from various composers such as Ray Henderson Eubie Blake and Jerome Kern It was based on the 1958 film Big Deal on Madonna Street by Mario Monicelli The musical received five Tony Award nominations with Fosse winning for Choreography The production was Fosse s final work as he died the next year Big DealPlaybill coverMusicvariousLyricsvariousBookBob FosseBasisBig Deal on Madonna StreetProductions1986 Broadway Contents 1 Production and background 2 Songs 3 Synopsis 4 Critical reception 5 Awards and nominations 5 1 Original Broadway production 6 References 7 External linksProduction and background EditAfter shopping the project around to various composers including Stephen Sondheim and Peter Allen 1 2 Fosse eventually settled on using popular songs of the 1920s and 30s Fosse said that by using existing songs I can pick the perfect songs that will say the right things and they re known We ll have the greatest score in the world because they re all hit songs 3 Fosse said of the main character Charley That s my part A swaggering bumbler who thinks he s a ladies man and he s not 2 4 Big Deal opened on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre on April 10 1986 and closed on June 8 1986 after 69 performances and six previews Directed and choreographed by Fosse with Christopher Chadman as associate choreographer the musical featured Cleavant Derricks as Charley Loretta Devine as Lilly Wayne Cilento Cady Huffman Valarie Pettiford and Stephanie Pope 5 Songs EditAct 1 Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries Lilly Music and lyrics by Lew Brown and Ray Henderson For No Good Reason At All Narrators Music and lyrics by Samuel M Lewis Abel Baer and Joseph Young Charley My Boy Charley Music and lyrics by Ted Fiorito and Gus Kahn I ve Got a Feelin You re Foolin Kokomo Charley Judge and Narrators Music and lyrics by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed Ain t We Got Fun Prisoners Lyrics by Kahn and Raymond B Egan music by Richard A Whiting For No Good Reason At All Reprise Narrators and Dancers Music and lyrics by Lewis Baer and Young Chicago Narrators Music and lyrics by Fred Fisher Pick Yourself Up Charley Willie Slick Sunnyboy and Otis Lyrics By Dorothy Fields music By Jerome Kern I m Just Wild About Harry Lilly Music and lyrics by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle Beat Me Daddy Eight to the Bar Bandleader Band and Dancers Music and lyrics by Don Raye Hughie Prince and Eleanor Sheehy The Music Goes Round and Round Bandleader and Band Music and lyrics by Edward Farley Red Hodgson and Michael Riley Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries Reprise Lilly Act II Now s the Time to Fall in Love Narrators and Dancers Music and lyrics by Al Sherman and Al Lewis Ain t She Sweet Sunnyboy Phoebe Narrators and Dancers Lyrics by Jack Yellen music by Milton Ager Everybody Loves My Baby Willie and Narrators Music and lyrics by Jack Palmer and Spencer Williams Me and My Shadow Dancin Dan and Shadows Lyrics by Billy Rose music by Al Jolson and Dave Dreyer Love Is Just Around the Corner Narrators Lyrics by Leo Robin music by Lewis E Gensler Just a Gigolo Bandleader and Charley Julius Brammer and English lyrics by Irving Caesar music by Lionello Casucci Who s Your Little Who zis Bandleader and Band Singer Lyrics by Walter Hirsch music by Hal Goering and Ben Bernie Yes Sir That s My Baby Charley Lyrics by Kahn music By Walter Donaldson Button Up Your Overcoat Lilly Music and lyrics by Henderson Brown and Bud G DeSylva Daddy You ve Been a Mother to Me Willie and Little Willie Music and lyrics by Fred Fisher Hold Tight Hold Tight Otis and Ladies Music and lyrics by Leonard Ware Willie Spottswood Edward Robinson Ben Smith and Sidney Bechet Happy Days Are Here Again Slick Phoebe Sunnyboy and Company Lyrics by Jack Yellen music by Milton Ager I m Sitting On Top of the World Charley and Company Music and lyrics by Henderson Young and Samuel M Lewis Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries Reprise Lilly Music and lyrics by Brown and Henderson Synopsis EditIn Chicago in the 1930s a group of small time unemployed African American men plan to rob a pawn shop Their leader Charlie is a former boxer But the hapless would be thieves run into many obstacles along the way Critical reception EditFrank Rich in his review for The New York Times wrote Big Deal the new Fosse musical at the Broadway contains exactly one of those show stoppers and attention must be paid If only for 10 minutes or so just before the end of Act I Mr Fosse makes an audience remember what is and has been missing from virtually every other musical in town The number is set to the old song Beat Me Daddy Eight to the Bar and it unfolds in a Chicago ballroom of the 1930s called need I tell you Paradise The disappointment of Big Deal is that even Mr Fosse one of the form s last magicians can conjure up that joy so rarely There are some other pleasurable passages in this musical period songs or snatches of them agreeably sung or danced by talented performers but this is a mostly lackluster effort that often seems to be lumbering clumsily about 6 Awards and nominations EditOriginal Broadway production Edit Year Award Category Nominee Result1986 Tony Award Best Musical NominatedBest Book of a Musical Bob Fosse NominatedBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Cleavant Derricks NominatedBest Direction of a Musical Bob Fosse NominatedBest Choreography WonDrama Desk Award Outstanding Musical NominatedOutstanding Actor in a Musical Cleavant Derricks NominatedOutstanding Director of a Musical Bob Fosse NominatedOutstanding Choreography WonReferences Edit Wasson Sam 2013 Fosse New York Houghton Mifflin Harcourt p 280 ISBN 9780547553290 a b Bennetts Leslie 1986 04 06 BOB FOSSE DANCING WITH DANGER The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2021 04 30 Mr Fosse sees himself in the musical s central character a failed prizefighter named Charley who is played by Mr Derricks I certainly identify with Cleavant the director observes with a chuckle a swaggering bumbler who thinks he s a ladies man and he s not but he keeps trying and covering up I always say to Cleavant That s my part Gottfried Martin All His Jazz The Life amp Death of Bob Fosse 2003 Da Capo Press ISBN 0 306 81284 3 p 433 Big Deal pbs org accessed August 14 2009 Big Deal Broadway Musical Original IBDB www ibdb com Retrieved 2021 04 30 Rich Frank Theater Big Deal From Bob Fosse The New York Times April 11 1986External links Edit Big Deal at the Internet Broadway Database New York Times review April 11 1986 Production synopsis and song information guidetomusicaltheatre com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Big Deal musical amp oldid 1154326269, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
