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Calamity Jane (musical)

Calamity Jane (A Musical Western) is a stage musical based on the historical figure of frontierswoman Calamity Jane. The non-historical, somewhat farcical plot involves the authentic Calamity Jane's professional associate Wild Bill Hickok, and presents the two as having a contentious relationship that ultimately proves to be a facade for mutually amorous feelings. The Calamity Jane stage musical was an adaption of a 1953 Warner Bros. musical film of the same name that starred Doris Day. First produced in 1961, the stage musical Calamity Jane features six songs not heard in the film. According to Jodie Prenger, star of the Calamity Jane 2014–15 UK tour, the songs added for the stage musical had been written for but not included in the Calamity Jane film[1] ("Love You Dearly" had been used in the 1954 Doris Day musical film Lucky Me).

Calamity Jane
(A Musical Western)
An April 2017 performance, by Ormskirk Pleasure Folk Amateur Musical Society, at Ormskirk Civic Hall, featuring Liz Wainwright in the title role.
MusicSammy Fain
LyricsPaul Francis Webster
BookRonald Hanmer and Phil Park
Basis1953 film Calamity Jane
PremiereMay 27, 1961: Casa Mañana, Fort Worth, Texas

Credits edit

Adapted by Ronald Hanmer and Phil Park from the stage play by Charles K. Freeman, after the Warner Bros. film, written by James O'Hanlon

Songs by Paul Francis Webster (lyrics) and Sammy Fain (music)[2]

Synopsis edit

Deadwood City's two most famous peace officers, Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok, get involved in saving the neck of Henry Miller, the local saloon operator. It seems that "Millie" has been promoting a beautiful actress named Frances Fryer, but Frances turns out to be a male, Francis. Millie's attempt to cover up is soon unmasked by the angry miners, and only Calamity can cool the crowd with her trusty pistols. To keep the peace, Calamity sets out for Chicago to bring back the miner's real heart-throb, Adelaide Adams. In Chicago Calamity mistakes Adelaide's maid, Katie Brown, for the actress and hauls her back to Deadwood. Onstage Katie is greeted warmly, but breaks down and confesses that she is not the famous star. Calamity once more has to restore order and persuades the audience to give Katie a chance. They do, and she wins the heart of every male in town including Calamity's dashing love hope, Lt. Danny Gilmartin. Calamity reluctantly overcomes her jealousy over losing Danny and discovers her true love for Wild Bill.

Musical numbers edit

Source: Concord Theatricals[3]

† Not included in the original film (1953)

Production history edit

In the US edit

The world premiere production of the stage musical version of Calamity Jane ran 27 May - 17 June 1961 at the Casa Mañana in Fort Worth TX: Casa Mañana stock actress Betty O'Neill led this production,[4] touted as "the first try-out of a musical ever staged outside the East or in-the round."[5]

The play then ran from 21 June - 18 July 1961 at the Muny in St Louis with Edie Adams in the title role while Allyn Ann McLerie played Katie - a role she had originated in the 1953 film Calamity Jane - and George Gaynes - McLerie's husband - starred as Wild Bill Hickok. The role of Danny Gilmartin was played by Nolan Van Way.[6]

On 3 – 8 July 1961, the Pittsburgh CLO (Civic Light Opera) production of Calamity Jane with Martha Raye in the title role played the Civic Arena (Pittsburgh): this production featured George Gaynes as Wild Bill and Allyn Ann McLerie, Gaynes, and McLerie transferring from the Muny production to that of the Pittsburgh CLO for the duration of the latter's engagement.[8]

Carol Burnett played the title role in a Starlight Theatre (Kansas City MO) production of Calamity Jane that ran 17 – 30 July 1961.[10] On Burnett's signing an exclusive contract with CBS-TV in the summer of 1962, the network announced that she would headline a televised broadcast of Calamity Jane over the 1962-3 television season. Burnett's Calamity Jane special in fact did not air until the autumn of 1963 after taping that summer. This schedule let Burnett reprise the title role onstage in a State Fair Music Theater (Dallas) production whose two-week run commenced 24 June 1963.[11] (The Pittsburgh CLO had been invited to host Burnett's 1963 live engagement headlining Calamity Jane: however the CLO could not meet the budget).[12] On 10 July 1963 Burnett and her castmates from the Dallas stage production - including Art Lund as Wild Bill - performed Calamity Jane at CBS Studio 50 (NYC), with the play performed non-stop three times before a live audience: CBS-TV taped all three run-throughs, one of which was broadcast as Burnett's debut television special 12 November 1963.[13]

Betty Hutton see Extra Info was scheduled to lead a 1962 summer stock production of Calamity Jane but canceled beforehand due to a protracted pregnancy, and was replaced by Ginger Rogers. see Extra Info Rogers verifiably headlined three engagements of this production: at the Melody Fair in North Tonawanda NY 19–24 June 1962,[15] the Carousel Theater in Framingham MA 2–8 July 1962 , and the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford CT 25–28 July 1962.[11] The same production also played at WMT (Warwick Musical Theatre, Rhode Island) 9–14 July 1962 but Rogers' own participation is not verifiable.[16] (An early credit of Jim Bailey, who'd become a star female impersonator, was as an ensemble member in this tour of Calamity Jane.) [11]

 
Carol Burnett in the TV production of Calamity Jane, 1963

At the time of the premiere of the stage musical of Calamity Jane, Warner Bros. was considering mounting a Broadway production of the play,[17] but US performances of the stage musical of Calamity Jane have remained essentially confined to the repertory and amateur theater scene. A Broadway production announced in 2005, using a revised book by Randy Skinner, who would also direct and choreograph,[18] failed to materialize—though the prospective production held readings in New York City with C&W singer Louise Mandrell as Calamity Jane and veteran musical actor Brent Barrett as Wild Bill (Barrett had played Frank Butler opposite Reba McEntire in Annie Get Your Gun at the Marquis in 2001).[19] Louise Mandrell eventually headlined a repertory production of Calamity Jane by the Good Company Players, featuring Dan and Emily Pessano, Teddy Maldonado, Brian Pecheau, Tami Cowger, and Jacob Carrillo.[20] The production ran 19 July - 16 September 2012 at Roger Rocka's Dinner Theater in Fresno.[20] Mandrell would then twice headline one-off performances of Calamity Jane, firstly on 11 September at the Folly Theater in Kansas City MO as an event in the Arts Midwest 2015 Conference,[21] and subsequently on 11 October 2015 at the CMA Theatre as an event in the International Entertainment Buyers Association 2015 Conference.[22] The Good Company Players would encore their production of Calamity Jane at Roger Rocka's Dinner Theater July 18-September 15 2019, with Mandrell again headlining.[23][24]

On 29 January 2018 two evening performances of what is billed as a concert presentation of Calamity Jane are scheduled for Manhattan supper club Feinstein's/54 Below: the announced performers are Sara Jean Ford as Calamity Jane, Jenn Gambatese as Adelaid Adams, Christopher Gurr as a narrator, Tyler Hanes as Danny Gilmartin, Kara Lindsay as Katie Brown, Michael Park as Henry Miller, Tally Sessions as Wild Bill, and Brandon Uranowitz as Francis Freyer.[25] Also Calamity Jane is scheduled to make its New York City area debut as a full production in a 13–25 March 2018 engagement at the Lion Theatre an off-off-Broadway venue in the Theatre Row complex in Manhattan.[26]

In the UK edit

The stage musical version of Calamity Jane has enjoyed a prolific professional production history in the UK, a Sheffield Crucible production which previewed 27 July 1974 and opened 28 July 1974 being billed as "the British professional premiere of 'Calamity Jane'". The Crucible production's title role was played by future screenwriter/ novelist Lynda La Plante billed as Lynda Marchal,[27] and LaPlante/ Marchal in the spring of 1975 again headlined in Calamity Jane at the Belgrade Theatre (Coventry) in the spring of 1975: co-headlined by Leon Greene as Wild Bill Hickock, the Belgrade production's featured cast included Brenda Blethyn as Susan Miller,[28][29] Geoffrey Burridge as Lt. Danny Gilmartin, David Calder as Henry Miller, and - as an ensemble member - Graham Cole.[30][31]

In 1979, Barbara Windsor headlined the first UK tour of Calamity Jane. After its premiere engagement at the Billingham Forum, which opened 27 August 1979, this production toured for twelve weeks to conclude with a November 1979 date at the Sunderland Empire.[32][33] Windsor's co-star as Wild Bill was Eric Flynn, and Norman Vaughan was featured as Francis Fryer: at the tour's premiere engagement in Billingham the role of Henry Miller was played by Jeffrey Holland filling in for the ailing Dudley Owen who evidently played out the remaining engagements. Toyah Willcox, while promoting her own headlining Calamity Jane tour in 2002, told Terry Grimley of the Birmingham Post: "Barbara Windsor did this show twenty years ago and it was due to go into the West End, but there were some problems with her private life." The touring production of Calamity Jane with Barbara Windsor did occasion the musical's London-area premiere, as the production played the Ashcroft Theatre (Croydon) 18–29 September 1979.[34]

Louise Gold starred in a production of Calamity Jane at the Leicester Haymarket 22 November 1994 - 28 January 1995 with Ricco Ross as Wild Bill, while the play's premiere central London production played 9 December 1994 - 21 January 1995 at the Battersea Arts Centre, with Leigh McDonald in the title role.[35]

Gemma Craven starred in a production of Calamity Jane at Sadler's Wells 21 May - 15 June 1996 [37] as the seventh engagement of an eleven engagement national tour that launched with a 29 February - 16 March 1996 Belgrade Theatre engagement. Stephen McGann played Wild Bill and Stuart Pendred was Danny Gilmartin in this production. Its final engagement was in Newcastle.[38]

In 2002 and 2003 Toyah Willcox led a production of Calamity Jane that toured throughout Great Britain with the first leg of the tour playing nine cities, the inaugural engagement being at the Derngate Theatre (Northampton) 9 – 14 September 2002 with the ninth venue played being the Alexandra Theatre (Birmingham) whose engagement ran 11 – 16 November 2002. The second leg of the Calamity Jane tour led by Willcox had an inaugural 20–25 January 2003 engagement at the King's Theatre (Glasgow) then played fifteen subsequent engagements to conclude with a 26 June - 20 September 2003 engagement - previewed from 12 June 2003 - at the Shaftesbury Theatre in Holborn, it having been announced in April 2003 that this production of Calamity Jane would have a limited-run summer engagement at the Shaftesbury thus marking the West End debut of any production of the Calamity Jane stage musical. Interviewed at the time of the opening of Calamity Jane at the Shaftesbury, Toyah Willcox stated: "We've kind of revamped it so it's more 'West End' and we've put big dance numbers in. We've added a bit more b******t to it!" although she maintained: "Our production is not saccharine sweet, it's really very ballsy. There are no sequins in our production whatsoever!"[41] corroborating statements she'd made earlier in the tour's run as "This isn't a sequinned production. We've tried to make it gritty."[42]

Thom Southerland directed an off-West End revival of Calamity Jane at Upstairs at the Gatehouse 8 June 8–3 July 2010: Phyllida Crowley Smith choreographed this production, which featured Katherine Eames in the title role.[43]

Jodie Prenger starred in a production of Calamity Jane whose 17 July - 6 September 2014 engagement at the Watermill Theatre (Berks) inaugurated a national tour of intended six months duration: however interest in booking this production was sufficiently high as to allow for its playing constant engagements for more than twelve months, with venues played throughout Great Britain - plus a 19 – 23 May 2015 engagement at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin - with two London-area engagements: 17–21 March 2015 at the New Wimbledon Theatre and - as the tour's final engagement - 4 – 8 August 2015 at the Richmond Theatre. This production of Calamity Jane - which co-starred Tom Lister as Wild Bill - [47] - had its 1 July 2015 matinée performance at the Curve (Leicester) recorded as a 360-degree video made available for complementary online viewing 22–24 July 2015.[48]

Comments of Nikolai Foster, director of the 2014 - 15 UK touring production of Calamity Jane
[At first] I thought it was an old potboiler of a thing. And actually the film is so beautiful & gracious & Doris Day is captured in that iconic & breathtakingly brilliant performance...[The] 2003 production with Toyah Willcox, I thought the script was not very good & didn't offer anything up that is better than the film. Then we were given permission to really look at the script to make it feel fresh & contemporary.[49]
Extended comments
To begin with when producer Jamie Wilson suggested it my heart sank, I thought it was an old potboiler of a thing. And actually the film is so beautiful & gracious and Doris Day is captured in that iconic & breathtakingly brilliant performance. So why on earth would you try & do it on stage? Having seen Ed Curtis's 2003 production with Toyah Willcox, I thought the script was not very good & didn't offer anything up that is better than the film. Then we were given permission to really look at the script to make it feel fresh & contemporary. Crucially we cut out all the racism, the way the indigenous Native Americans are dealt with stereotypically. It's a love story & about Calamity Jane being accepted how we view women, how women have had to assume a more masculine role to be seen as equals to their male counterparts. At the end Calamity Jane is accepted for who she is & that's quite a powerful message today."[49]
While remaining true to the essence of who she is throughout the whole play she goes on this extraordinary journey where through the people she meets & the new friends she makes...she learns to accept help & crucially to accept love...It's very exciting to take something from such a traditional period of music theatre history & give it just enough of a modern edge & just enough of a contemporary twist...Fans of 'Calamity Jane' the movie will be just as intoxicated [by] our production...The principal reason for that is of course this iconic central character... & then we're blessed with Jodie Prenger taking the title role in our production...Jodie's got all of the technical ability: that's a given but it's the star quality [such as] Doris Day had in the film & we're blessed that Jodie brings in such extraordinary generous bucketfuls to this production.[50]
Extended comments
What's extraordinary about her is that while remaining true to the essence of who she is throughout the whole play she goes on this extraordinary journey where through the people she meets & the new friends she makes on this wonderful journey she learns to accept help & crucially to accept love, & to let people into her life & she realizes she doesn't quite have to be as tough & as fiery all the time, & that actually a bit of love & a bit of fire make for a really well-rounded human being. She's an incredible woman & just a joy to be creating our version of her with Jodie...

One of the principal reasons for choosing to work on this new production of 'Calamity Jane' was that I think as a director that it appeals to young theatre-goers today but also those people who might remember it from the first time 'round still sort of get that nostalgiac kick from it so sort of mixing a bit of new with the old...

I think fans of 'Calamity Jane' the movie will be just as intoxicated & will fall in love with our production just as much, & I think the principal reason for that is of course this iconic central character & when you think of Calamity Jane as a character in history she's an incredibly rich detailed dynamic sort of leading role. Then of course when you add to that real person Doris Day & her incredible portrayal on film, & then we're blessed with Jodie Prenger taking the title role in our production I think it sort of means all of the ingredients are just coming together at the right time.

And Jodie's extraordinary because of course she has all of the modern sensibilities that are attractive to us in a leading performer but she also has a great appreciation of the past & the line[age] of those sort of incredible Broadway performances & those performers & I think on top of that Jodie's relationship with her audience & her sense of humanity, of warmth, & chutzpah & life are just intoxicating. Jodie's got all of the technical ability: that's a given but it's the star quality, that sort of thing: that spell that you can't quite quantify but of course Doris Day had in the film & we're blessed that Jodie brings in such extraordinary generous bucketfuls to this production.[50]

Jodie Prenger on the role of Calamity Jane
She ie. the historical Calamity Jane was obviously quite a gal, & there are so many stories about her, both for her & against her. Her own account of her life is, as you'd suspect, very positive & very colourful. Other people who knew her were less enthusiastic. She was certainly feisty & very gutsy. But in the end all I can do is play her as she's been written for the show, larger than life but with a vulnerable side. And I rather like those two contrasts.[51]

The earliest known theatrical credit of star mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins was in a school production of Calamity Jane at Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive when she was a student there circa 1994, Jenkins playing the role of Katie.[52]

In Australia edit

Neglected Musicals presented a staged reading of Calamity Jane from 3 August 2016 for six presentations: playing at the Hayes Theater in Potts Point and starring Virginia Gay.[54] This was Calamity Janes professional debut in Australia although the play has a long production history via Australian amateur troupes, having been mounted as early as 1965 by the then-amateur Brisbane Repertory with future television star Rowena Wallace in the title role: it was during the Brisbane Repertory production's 20 – 29 May 1965 run Wallace was discovered by actor Barry Creyton.[55] Virginia Gay reprised the title role in a full production of Calamity Jane which played the Hayes Theater from 8 March - 1 April 2017 [56] and which then toured to at several venues in southeastern Australia in 2018.[57]

Recordings edit

There is a complete recording of the entire score of Calamity Jane available, recorded for JAY Records in 1995: it includes Debbie Shapiro as Calamity Jane with Jason Howard, Tim Flavin and Susannah Fellows.[58] A "cast album" of the 1996 production of Calamity Jane starring Gemma Craven - who is in fact the sole vocalist on the album - was issued in 1996.[59]

References edit

  1. ^ . Archived from the original on 2015-10-04. Retrieved 2015-10-03.
  2. ^ . Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  3. ^ "Calamity Jane". Concord Theatricals. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  4. ^ "Calamity Jane (World Premiere, 1961) - Ovrtur".
  5. ^ Jones, Jan L. (2006). Renegades, Showmen & Angels: A Theatrical History of Fort Worth from 1873-2001. Fort Worth TX: Texas Christian University Press. p. 228. ISBN 978-0875653181.
  6. ^ "Calamity Jane (St. Louis MUNY Production, 1961) - Ovrtur".
  7. ^ The Pittsburgh Press 2 July 1961 Fanciful Fun by Miss Raye Opens Opera p.20
  8. ^ The Pittsburgh Press 2 July 1961 page 15
  9. ^ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 4 November 1963 Despite Rickety Vehicle It Was Nice to Have Carol Burnett Back p. 47
  10. ^ "Calamity Jane (Regional Production, 1963) - Ovrtur".
  11. ^ a b c "Calamity Jane (Regional Production, 1962) - Ovrtur".
  12. ^ "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". 29 April 1963. p. 22.
  13. ^ "Billboard". Billboard. 75 (26): 24. 29 July 1963.
  14. ^ The Townsman (Wellesley MA) 5 July 1962 Vivacious Ginger Rogers Stars in Calamity Jane' p. 9
  15. ^ Buffalo Courier Express 17 June 1962 p.26
  16. ^ "RIAMCO - Rhode Island Archival and Manuscript Collections Online". www.riamco.org.
  17. ^ "Denton Record-Chronicle". 21 May 1961. p. 16.
  18. ^ "Doris Day Film Turns Musical as Randy Skinner Signs on for Calamity Jane - Playbill". Playbill. 2004-07-12.
  19. ^ (PDF). Lifted Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  20. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
  21. ^ "Spotlight Showcase Performances - Arts Midwest". www.artsmidwest.org.
  22. ^ (PDF). International Entertainment Buyers Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  23. ^ https://abc30.com/louise-mandrell-roger-rockas-theatre-fresno-entertainment/5337551/
  24. ^ https://munroreview.com/2019/09/15/tuesday-in-the-park-with-louise-calamity-takes-a-bow-at-gcp-and-we-say-farewell-to-a-mandrell/
  25. ^ "Brandon Uranowitz, Sara Jean Ford, and Tally Sessions Will Star in NYC Concert of Calamity Jane - Playbill". Playbill. 2017-12-05.
  26. ^ BWW News Desk. "THE APPLE TREE, ANYTHING GOES!, CALAMITY JANE and More Set for Musicals Tonight!'s 20th Season".
  27. ^ Hallam, Julia (2005). Lynda La Plante. Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-7190-6548-4.
  28. ^ "The belgrade Years: Saucy era of letting off steam; COMEDY, drama and the return of the Coventry Mystery Plays marked the 70s at the Belgrade Theatre. Theatre writer MARION McMULLEN looks back on some of the stage highlights of the time. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com.
  29. ^ . Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  30. ^ Graham Cole, with Nuala Giblin (2010). On the Beat: my story. Droxford Hants: Splendid Books. ISBN 978-0-9558916-5-6.
  31. ^ https://theatricalia.com/play/9ca/calamity-jane/production/x2x
  32. ^ a b "It's Behind You - Spotlight On.... Barbara Windsor". www.its-behind-you.com.
  33. ^ "Calamity Jane (UK Premiere, 1979)". Ovrtur.
  34. ^ "Production of Calamity Jane - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  35. ^ (PDF). Over the Footlights. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
  36. ^ www.digitalvirtue.com, Digital Virtue - w. "The Tablet is the leading Catholic international magazine and website". archive.thetablet.co.uk.
  37. ^ (PDF). Over the Footlights. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-05. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
  38. ^ "Broad canvas - Tes News". www.tes.com.
  39. ^ "Calamity Jane, Shaftesbury Theatre, London". 1 July 2003.
  40. ^ Rewriting Old Scores: Sheridan Morley finds two classic musicals that do not belong on the London stage; New Statesman (7/14/2003) Vol-132 #4646
  41. ^ "Official London Theatre - Theatre Tickets, News & Guides".
  42. ^ This Is South Devon: Toyah breezes in on Bay Stage - 7th November 2002
  43. ^ "Tour archive for Calamity Jane (Musical). 8th June 2010-3rd July 2010 [TOUR]". www.uktw.co.uk.
  44. ^ . www.westendframe.com. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-10-17.
  45. ^ "Review: Calamity Jane, Grand Opera House, York". York Press.
  46. ^ "REVIEW: Calamity Jane, New Wimbledon Theatre ✭✭✭✭". 23 March 2015.
  47. ^ "Jodie Prenger Will Play Calamity Jane This Summer". Watermill.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  48. ^ Fisher, Samantha (18 July 2015). . Archived from the original on 2015-10-06.
  49. ^ a b Jevons, Rich (2014-12-11). "It's a White Christmas for director Nikolai Foster". NorthernSoul.me.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  50. ^ a b Rooms, The Umbrella (21 May 2014). "Calamity Jane - Interview with Nikolai Foster & Jodie Prenger" – via Vimeo.
  51. ^ "Jodie Prenger's journey from reality TV to the West End". Yorkshire Post. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
  52. ^ Jenkins, Katherine (2012). Time to Say Hello (Ebook ed.). London: Orion Books. ISBN 978-1-4091-29264.
  53. ^ "Subscribe to The Australian - Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps". www.theaustralian.com.au.
  54. ^ "Virginia Gay Cracks the Whip as Calamity Jane". Jo Litson: Scene and Heard (JoLitson.com). Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  55. ^ Don Storey, 'Interview with Rowena Wallace', Classic Australian Television, Oct 1994
  56. ^ . Archived from the original on 2017-02-23. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
  57. ^ "Calamity Jane is going on tour - Theatrepeople". www.theatrepeople.com.au. 2017-09-05.
  58. ^ . Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  59. ^ "Gemma Craven - Album Discography - AllMusic". AllMusic.

Further reading edit

  • Vocal score: Calamity Jane (Operetta in Two Acts) Amateur Operatic Version Warner Chappell Music Ltd (Copyright 2006 by Faber Music Ltd ISBN 0-57152792-2)
  • Libretto: Calamity Jane A Musical Western adapted by Ronald Hanmer & Phil Park from the stage play by Charles K. Freeman after the Warner Bros Film written by James O'Hanlon. Licensed to Josef Weinberger Ltd, London, by arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library NYC. (Copyright 1962 by Tams-Witmark Music Library, New York.)

External links edit

  • Calamity Jane at IMDb   (1963 TV musical starring Carol Burnett)
  • Calamity Jane (1963 TV production starring Carol Burnett) on YouTube


calamity, jane, musical, calamity, jane, musical, western, stage, musical, based, historical, figure, frontierswoman, calamity, jane, historical, somewhat, farcical, plot, involves, authentic, calamity, jane, professional, associate, wild, bill, hickok, presen. Calamity Jane A Musical Western is a stage musical based on the historical figure of frontierswoman Calamity Jane The non historical somewhat farcical plot involves the authentic Calamity Jane s professional associate Wild Bill Hickok and presents the two as having a contentious relationship that ultimately proves to be a facade for mutually amorous feelings The Calamity Jane stage musical was an adaption of a 1953 Warner Bros musical film of the same name that starred Doris Day First produced in 1961 the stage musical Calamity Jane features six songs not heard in the film According to Jodie Prenger star of the Calamity Jane 2014 15 UK tour the songs added for the stage musical had been written for but not included in the Calamity Jane film 1 Love You Dearly had been used in the 1954 Doris Day musical film Lucky Me Calamity Jane A Musical Western An April 2017 performance by Ormskirk Pleasure Folk Amateur Musical Society at Ormskirk Civic Hall featuring Liz Wainwright in the title role MusicSammy FainLyricsPaul Francis WebsterBookRonald Hanmer and Phil ParkBasis1953 film Calamity JanePremiereMay 27 1961 Casa Manana Fort Worth Texas Contents 1 Credits 2 Synopsis 3 Musical numbers 4 Production history 4 1 In the US 4 2 In the UK 4 3 In Australia 5 Recordings 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksCredits editAdapted by Ronald Hanmer and Phil Park from the stage play by Charles K Freeman after the Warner Bros film written by James O HanlonSongs by Paul Francis Webster lyrics and Sammy Fain music 2 Synopsis editDeadwood City s two most famous peace officers Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok get involved in saving the neck of Henry Miller the local saloon operator It seems that Millie has been promoting a beautiful actress named Frances Fryer but Frances turns out to be a male Francis Millie s attempt to cover up is soon unmasked by the angry miners and only Calamity can cool the crowd with her trusty pistols To keep the peace Calamity sets out for Chicago to bring back the miner s real heart throb Adelaide Adams In Chicago Calamity mistakes Adelaide s maid Katie Brown for the actress and hauls her back to Deadwood Onstage Katie is greeted warmly but breaks down and confesses that she is not the famous star Calamity once more has to restore order and persuades the audience to give Katie a chance They do and she wins the heart of every male in town including Calamity s dashing love hope Lt Danny Gilmartin Calamity reluctantly overcomes her jealousy over losing Danny and discovers her true love for Wild Bill Musical numbers editSource Concord Theatricals 3 Act I The Deadwood Stage Whip Crack Away Calamity Bill Miller and Company Adelaid Bill and Men Everyone Complains About the Weather Fryer Men Calamity Careless with the Truth Calamity Bill and Men A Hive Full of Honey Fryer I Can Do Without You Calamity and Bill Tis Harry I m Plannin to Marry Adelaid Boys and Girls Tis Harry I m Plannin to Marry Reprise 1 Katie Just Blew in from the Windy City Calamity and Men Keep It Under Your Hat Katie Act II Higher Than a Hawk Bill A Woman s Touch Calamity and Katie Love You Dearly from Lucky Me Katie and Danny The Black Hills of Dakota Company Tis Harry I m Plannin to Marry Reprise 2 Katie Secret Love Calamity Finale Company Not included in the original film 1953 Production history editIn the US edit The world premiere production of the stage musical version of Calamity Jane ran 27 May 17 June 1961 at the Casa Manana in Fort Worth TX Casa Manana stock actress Betty O Neill led this production 4 touted as the first try out of a musical ever staged outside the East or in the round 5 The play then ran from 21 June 18 July 1961 at the Muny in St Louis with Edie Adams in the title role while Allyn Ann McLerie played Katie a role she had originated in the 1953 film Calamity Jane and George Gaynes McLerie s husband starred as Wild Bill Hickok The role of Danny Gilmartin was played by Nolan Van Way 6 Excerpted review Pittsburgh CLO performance 1 July 1961Please note Abridgements are shown in italics Calamity Jane is a loud rollicking show which aside from the comedy of Martha Raye contains a number of attractive amp talented people who sing amp dance the evening away No one could accuse Martha Raye of being a great actress amp certainly there were more than a few in the audience who must have winced inwardly over her rendering of Secret Love But she is a natural slapstick comedienne this singer without a voice amp heroine without glamour whacked amp wailed her energetic boisterous amp fun filled way through Calamity Jane Sometimes she is mugging amp ad libbing so furiously that the performance becomes more of a nightclub act than a book show But after all the audience has presumably come to see Martha Raye amp that is what it sees Michael Holmberg The Pittsburgh Press 7 On 3 8 July 1961 the Pittsburgh CLO Civic Light Opera production of Calamity Jane with Martha Raye in the title role played the Civic Arena Pittsburgh this production featured George Gaynes as Wild Bill and Allyn Ann McLerie Gaynes and McLerie transferring from the Muny production to that of the Pittsburgh CLO for the duration of the latter s engagement 8 Excerpted review CBS TV special 12 November 1963Please note Abridgements are shown in italics As a musical comedy Calamity Jane was nothing to shoot up the town about But as a vehicle tailored to Carol Burnett s special talents amp they are certainly special it served very nicely indeed The 90 minute comedy was taped last summer after playing at State Fair Music Theater Dallas amp therefore had a polish which is all too often lacking in television productions of this type This was especially evident in the song amp dance sequences which were as smooth as a Broadway stage production The plot was corny enough to afford light hearted amusement amp Miss Burnett gave it all the hell bent for leather whoop it up treatment which it required In fact Carol s enthusiasm in the role was at times a bit too much But never mind She mugged amp yelled amp pranced about like a mad woman while giving the broad comedy lines amp rowdy songs the merry Dickens as only she can Then as a welcome relief she sang the lovely My sic Secret Love straight in a surprisingly enchanting voice All in all a jolly good show And it was really good to have Miss Burnett back with us again Win Fanning Pittsburgh Post Gazette 9 Carol Burnett played the title role in a Starlight Theatre Kansas City MO production of Calamity Jane that ran 17 30 July 1961 10 On Burnett s signing an exclusive contract with CBS TV in the summer of 1962 the network announced that she would headline a televised broadcast of Calamity Jane over the 1962 3 television season Burnett s Calamity Jane special in fact did not air until the autumn of 1963 after taping that summer This schedule let Burnett reprise the title role onstage in a State Fair Music Theater Dallas production whose two week run commenced 24 June 1963 11 The Pittsburgh CLO had been invited to host Burnett s 1963 live engagement headlining Calamity Jane however the CLO could not meet the budget 12 On 10 July 1963 Burnett and her castmates from the Dallas stage production including Art Lund as Wild Bill performed Calamity Jane at CBS Studio 50 NYC with the play performed non stop three times before a live audience CBS TV taped all three run throughs one of which was broadcast as Burnett s debut television special 12 November 1963 13 Extra InfoBetty Hutton had starred in the 1950 MGM film version of Annie Get Your Gun Warner Bros had hoped to acquire that stage musical as a Doris Day vehicle but losing the film rights to Annie Get Your Gun led Warner Bros to develop the 1953 musical film Calamity Jane for Day Ginger Rogers who d campaigned for the Annie Get Your Gun film lead had led a summer stock production of that musical that played five New England venues including the Oakdale the Carousel and at WMT in 1960 Excerpted review Carousel Theater performance July 1962Please note Abridgements are shown in italics Ginger Rogers with her vivacious charms stomps boasts amp shoots her six gun with her usual rapport Her enthusiasm amp engaging wry humor both in song amp dance affords the audience a delightful evening in which Secret Love is sweetly rendered 14 Betty Hutton see Extra Info was scheduled to lead a 1962 summer stock production of Calamity Jane but canceled beforehand due to a protracted pregnancy and was replaced by Ginger Rogers see Extra Info Rogers verifiably headlined three engagements of this production at the Melody Fair in North Tonawanda NY 19 24 June 1962 15 the Carousel Theater in Framingham MA 2 8 July 1962 and the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford CT 25 28 July 1962 11 The same production also played at WMT Warwick Musical Theatre Rhode Island 9 14 July 1962 but Rogers own participation is not verifiable 16 An early credit of Jim Bailey who d become a star female impersonator was as an ensemble member in this tour of Calamity Jane 11 nbsp Carol Burnett in the TV production of Calamity Jane 1963At the time of the premiere of the stage musical of Calamity Jane Warner Bros was considering mounting a Broadway production of the play 17 but US performances of the stage musical of Calamity Jane have remained essentially confined to the repertory and amateur theater scene A Broadway production announced in 2005 using a revised book by Randy Skinner who would also direct and choreograph 18 failed to materialize though the prospective production held readings in New York City with C amp W singer Louise Mandrell as Calamity Jane and veteran musical actor Brent Barrett as Wild Bill Barrett had played Frank Butler opposite Reba McEntire in Annie Get Your Gun at the Marquis in 2001 19 Louise Mandrell eventually headlined a repertory production of Calamity Jane by the Good Company Players featuring Dan and Emily Pessano Teddy Maldonado Brian Pecheau Tami Cowger and Jacob Carrillo 20 The production ran 19 July 16 September 2012 at Roger Rocka s Dinner Theater in Fresno 20 Mandrell would then twice headline one off performances of Calamity Jane firstly on 11 September at the Folly Theater in Kansas City MO as an event in the Arts Midwest 2015 Conference 21 and subsequently on 11 October 2015 at the CMA Theatre as an event in the International Entertainment Buyers Association 2015 Conference 22 The Good Company Players would encore their production of Calamity Jane at Roger Rocka s Dinner Theater July 18 September 15 2019 with Mandrell again headlining 23 24 On 29 January 2018 two evening performances of what is billed as a concert presentation of Calamity Jane are scheduled for Manhattan supper club Feinstein s 54 Below the announced performers are Sara Jean Ford as Calamity Jane Jenn Gambatese as Adelaid Adams Christopher Gurr as a narrator Tyler Hanes as Danny Gilmartin Kara Lindsay as Katie Brown Michael Park as Henry Miller Tally Sessions as Wild Bill and Brandon Uranowitz as Francis Freyer 25 Also Calamity Jane is scheduled to make its New York City area debut as a full production in a 13 25 March 2018 engagement at the Lion Theatre an off off Broadway venue in the Theatre Row complex in Manhattan 26 In the UK edit The stage musical version of Calamity Jane has enjoyed a prolific professional production history in the UK a Sheffield Crucible production which previewed 27 July 1974 and opened 28 July 1974 being billed as the British professional premiere of Calamity Jane The Crucible production s title role was played by future screenwriter novelist Lynda La Plante billed as Lynda Marchal 27 and LaPlante Marchal in the spring of 1975 again headlined in Calamity Jane at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry in the spring of 1975 co headlined by Leon Greene as Wild Bill Hickock the Belgrade production s featured cast included Brenda Blethyn as Susan Miller 28 29 Geoffrey Burridge as Lt Danny Gilmartin David Calder as Henry Miller and as an ensemble member Graham Cole 30 31 Excerpted review 1979 tour engagement It was a real metamorphosis to see the eternally effervescent Barbara Windsor as a slightly raucous rootin tootin Calamity Jane Hers is a wonderful portrayal of a gun toting female who had little time for men she brought to her part a panache a great deal of well directed energy The Stage 32 In 1979 Barbara Windsor headlined the first UK tour of Calamity Jane After its premiere engagement at the Billingham Forum which opened 27 August 1979 this production toured for twelve weeks to conclude with a November 1979 date at the Sunderland Empire 32 33 Windsor s co star as Wild Bill was Eric Flynn and Norman Vaughan was featured as Francis Fryer at the tour s premiere engagement in Billingham the role of Henry Miller was played by Jeffrey Holland filling in for the ailing Dudley Owen who evidently played out the remaining engagements Toyah Willcox while promoting her own headlining Calamity Jane tour in 2002 told Terry Grimley of the Birmingham Post Barbara Windsor did this show twenty years ago and it was due to go into the West End but there were some problems with her private life The touring production of Calamity Jane with Barbara Windsor did occasion the musical s London area premiere as the production played the Ashcroft Theatre Croydon 18 29 September 1979 34 Louise Gold starred in a production of Calamity Jane at the Leicester Haymarket 22 November 1994 28 January 1995 with Ricco Ross as Wild Bill while the play s premiere central London production played 9 December 1994 21 January 1995 at the Battersea Arts Centre with Leigh McDonald in the title role 35 Excerpted review Sadler s Wells performance June 1996 These days few actors relish the rigours of touring but the cast of Calamity Jane at Sadler s Wells seem as fresh as the flowers of spring Not least Gemma Craven in the title role The story is an excuse for singing amp dancing as admirers of Doris Day will remember Ms Day was of course incomparable but Ms Craven survives the inevitable comparison extremely well acting singing amp dancing beautifully She haunts us with the declaration of her Secret Love amp the whole cast combine to send us away serenading The Black Hills of Dakota The sets are surprisingly good for a touring production amp the show is as jolly as a pantomime but with better songs Roy Shaw The Tablet 36 Gemma Craven starred in a production of Calamity Jane at Sadler s Wells 21 May 15 June 1996 37 as the seventh engagement of an eleven engagement national tour that launched with a 29 February 16 March 1996 Belgrade Theatre engagement Stephen McGann played Wild Bill and Stuart Pendred was Danny Gilmartin in this production Its final engagement was in Newcastle 38 Excerpted reviews Shaftesbury Theatre performance June 2003Please note Abridgements are shown in italics The somewhat naive charm of the thigh slappin gun totin original movie has dissolved in a production reeking of gingham amp lukewarm feminism which does not have enough tongue in cheek humour to carry off Calamity s transition from bar brawling man fighter to petticoatwearing man eater despite Ed Curtis s lively direction amp Sammy Fain s catchy tunes the script is not nearly sharp enough for Calamity Jane to be admired either as a period piece or as a retro classic As a result the production lives or dies by Willcox s performance an unfortunately forced twodimensional affair Rachel Hallibuton London Evening Standard 27 June 2003 citation needed This stage adaptation is considerably more hit and miss than the Doris Day movie You can t accuse ponytail tossing Toyah of giving less than her heart amp soul to the part She throws herself into the sharpshooting tomboy athleticism amp she s fine at projecting the heroine s emotional innocence amp fired up enthusiasm But Calamity needs to be able to dominate vocally too amp Willcox does not have the necessary command She s heavily miked amp this emphasises that distracting sibilance in her delivery compared to Day s crispness of attack Willcox sounds soggy There are sequences where the show springs fully to life as when our heroine stirs the town to a shuffling dance with her report on The Windy City But the stage version makes less rather than more of the movie s merits Paul Taylor The Independent 1 July 2003 39 Excerpted review Shaftesbury Theatre performance July 2003Please note Abridgements are shown in italics This hyperactive Annie Get Your Gun type Wild West songfest stars Toyah Willcox who fairly batters you into admiring her irredeemably perky performance she s constantly moving singing dances like an irritating leprechaun amp expends more energy in one evening than I have in the past twenty years Under the steady hand of director Ed Curtis the young amp inexperienced cast members many making their professional debuts here are well drilled Craig Revel Horwood s choreography though at first sub Agnes de Mille blossoms outwards to remind the audience of what was so special about his work for My One and Only The simple wooden sets are more than serviceable amp James Whiteside s lighting is suitably lurid for the Black Hills of Dakota The memorable score by Sammy Fain helps to overcome the feeling that this cheerful hard working production does not really belong on the West End stage Sheridan Morley New Statesman 40 In 2002 and 2003 Toyah Willcox led a production of Calamity Jane that toured throughout Great Britain with the first leg of the tour playing nine cities the inaugural engagement being at the Derngate Theatre Northampton 9 14 September 2002 with the ninth venue played being the Alexandra Theatre Birmingham whose engagement ran 11 16 November 2002 The second leg of the Calamity Jane tour led by Willcox had an inaugural 20 25 January 2003 engagement at the King s Theatre Glasgow then played fifteen subsequent engagements to conclude with a 26 June 20 September 2003 engagement previewed from 12 June 2003 at the Shaftesbury Theatre in Holborn it having been announced in April 2003 that this production of Calamity Jane would have a limited run summer engagement at the Shaftesbury thus marking the West End debut of any production of the Calamity Jane stage musical Interviewed at the time of the opening of Calamity Jane at the Shaftesbury Toyah Willcox stated We ve kind of revamped it so it s more West End and we ve put big dance numbers in We ve added a bit more b t to it although she maintained Our production is not saccharine sweet it s really very ballsy There are no sequins in our production whatsoever 41 corroborating statements she d made earlier in the tour s run as This isn t a sequinned production We ve tried to make it gritty 42 Thom Southerland directed an off West End revival of Calamity Jane at Upstairs at the Gatehouse 8 June 8 3 July 2010 Phyllida Crowley Smith choreographed this production which featured Katherine Eames in the title role 43 Excerpted review Milton Keynes Theatre performance 25 November 2014Please note Abridgements are shown in italics Jodie Prenger is magnificent in the title role Not only can she sing amp act she has the ability to light up any stage I could feel that the entire audience had fallen in love with her The supporting cast are all incredibly strong The best numbers are those which see the cast playing instruments whilst singing amp dancing their energy is infectious whilst their talents are hugely impressive Providing just over two hours of joyous fun Nikolai Foster s production of Calamity Jane bursts with irresistible charm It s impossible not to clap along with the finale amp leave with a spring in your step Andrew Tomlins WestEndFrame com 25 November 2014 44 Excerpted review Grand Opera House York performance February 2015Please note Abridgements are shown in italics Calamity Jane is a blast of a show amp is played in that spirit by principals amp ensemble alike who add to the enjoyment with their actor musician skills playing all manner of instruments Jodie Prenger is a big hit as Calamity she is as abrasive as sandpaper with a vulnerability that steadily seeps through For all the professional polish Prenger has just the right amount of spit too She has a natural sense of fun so important to this musical amp she bonds readily amp amusingly with her co stars Best of all her serenading singing of Secret Love brings out all the sudden release of emotion in that Valentine favourite Charles Hutchinson The Press 12 February 2015 45 Excerpted review New Wimbledon Theatre performance February 2015Please note Abridgements are shown in italics Now touring the UK is Charles K Freeman s adaptation of the Calamity Jane film a production that began life at the resourceful Watermill Theatre under the direction of Nikolai Foster It s another of their musicians as performers productions which see the traditional pit orchestra replaced by onstage performers who play various instruments More than that the entire production adopts a make do philosophy which sees the orchestral accompaniment as just another of the clever something from nothing design imperatives Prenger though wildly miscast since she is unmistakably all woman has an easy broad comic style Vocally she is in good form although Secret Love is not the peak musical moment it could be the long brilliant notes that make that song wonderful don t get proper attention but that is not to say Prenger does not get away with it This production is a theatrical treat a good old fashioned musical done in a new fangled way It s great to hear such good songs so well sung by a cast that basically accompanies itself Prenger s crowd pleasing turn as Calamity together with first class support ensures an evening that moves along at Whip Crack Away pace amp makes you long for those Black Hills of Dakota Stephen Collins BritishTheatre com 23 March 2015 46 Jodie Prenger starred in a production of Calamity Jane whose 17 July 6 September 2014 engagement at the Watermill Theatre Berks inaugurated a national tour of intended six months duration however interest in booking this production was sufficiently high as to allow for its playing constant engagements for more than twelve months with venues played throughout Great Britain plus a 19 23 May 2015 engagement at Bord Gais Energy Theatre Dublin with two London area engagements 17 21 March 2015 at the New Wimbledon Theatre and as the tour s final engagement 4 8 August 2015 at the Richmond Theatre This production of Calamity Jane which co starred Tom Lister as Wild Bill 47 had its 1 July 2015 matinee performance at the Curve Leicester recorded as a 360 degree video made available for complementary online viewing 22 24 July 2015 48 Comments of Nikolai Foster director of the 2014 15 UK touring production of Calamity Jane At first I thought it was an old potboiler of a thing And actually the film is so beautiful amp gracious amp Doris Day is captured in that iconic amp breathtakingly brilliant performance The 2003 production with Toyah Willcox I thought the script was not very good amp didn t offer anything up that is better than the film Then we were given permission to really look at the script to make it feel fresh amp contemporary 49 Extended commentsTo begin with when producer Jamie Wilson suggested it my heart sank I thought it was an old potboiler of a thing And actually the film is so beautiful amp gracious and Doris Day is captured in that iconic amp breathtakingly brilliant performance So why on earth would you try amp do it on stage Having seen Ed Curtis s 2003 production with Toyah Willcox I thought the script was not very good amp didn t offer anything up that is better than the film Then we were given permission to really look at the script to make it feel fresh amp contemporary Crucially we cut out all the racism the way the indigenous Native Americans are dealt with stereotypically It s a love story amp about Calamity Jane being accepted how we view women how women have had to assume a more masculine role to be seen as equals to their male counterparts At the end Calamity Jane is accepted for who she is amp that s quite a powerful message today 49 While remaining true to the essence of who she is throughout the whole play she goes on this extraordinary journey where through the people she meets amp the new friends she makes she learns to accept help amp crucially to accept love It s very exciting to take something from such a traditional period of music theatre history amp give it just enough of a modern edge amp just enough of a contemporary twist Fans of Calamity Jane the movie will be just as intoxicated by our production The principal reason for that is of course this iconic central character amp then we re blessed with Jodie Prenger taking the title role in our production Jodie s got all of the technical ability that s a given but it s the star quality such as Doris Day had in the film amp we re blessed that Jodie brings in such extraordinary generous bucketfuls to this production 50 Extended commentsWhat s extraordinary about her is that while remaining true to the essence of who she is throughout the whole play she goes on this extraordinary journey where through the people she meets amp the new friends she makes on this wonderful journey she learns to accept help amp crucially to accept love amp to let people into her life amp she realizes she doesn t quite have to be as tough amp as fiery all the time amp that actually a bit of love amp a bit of fire make for a really well rounded human being She s an incredible woman amp just a joy to be creating our version of her with Jodie One of the principal reasons for choosing to work on this new production of Calamity Jane was that I think as a director that it appeals to young theatre goers today but also those people who might remember it from the first time round still sort of get that nostalgiac kick from it so sort of mixing a bit of new with the old I think fans of Calamity Jane the movie will be just as intoxicated amp will fall in love with our production just as much amp I think the principal reason for that is of course this iconic central character amp when you think of Calamity Jane as a character in history she s an incredibly rich detailed dynamic sort of leading role Then of course when you add to that real person Doris Day amp her incredible portrayal on film amp then we re blessed with Jodie Prenger taking the title role in our production I think it sort of means all of the ingredients are just coming together at the right time And Jodie s extraordinary because of course she has all of the modern sensibilities that are attractive to us in a leading performer but she also has a great appreciation of the past amp the line age of those sort of incredible Broadway performances amp those performers amp I think on top of that Jodie s relationship with her audience amp her sense of humanity of warmth amp chutzpah amp life are just intoxicating Jodie s got all of the technical ability that s a given but it s the star quality that sort of thing that spell that you can t quite quantify but of course Doris Day had in the film amp we re blessed that Jodie brings in such extraordinary generous bucketfuls to this production 50 Jodie Prenger on the role of Calamity JaneShe ie the historical Calamity Jane was obviously quite a gal amp there are so many stories about her both for her amp against her Her own account of her life is as you d suspect very positive amp very colourful Other people who knew her were less enthusiastic She was certainly feisty amp very gutsy But in the end all I can do is play her as she s been written for the show larger than life but with a vulnerable side And I rather like those two contrasts 51 The earliest known theatrical credit of star mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins was in a school production of Calamity Jane at Dwr y Felin Comprehensive when she was a student there circa 1994 Jenkins playing the role of Katie 52 In Australia edit Excerpted review Hayes Theatre 10 March 2017Please note Abridgements are shown in italics The highfalutin way to describe director Richard Carroll s Calamity Jane is to say its abundant meta theatrics put a contemporary ironic frame around an old fashioned musical revealing fresh insights The perky simplicity of the 1953 Doris Day film gives way to a much more nuanced 21st century take on a mid 20th century interpretation of an unconventional 19th century woman The low falutin truth is that along with being outstandingly clever Calamity Jane is gut bustingly funny and has an extraordinarily generous heart Crucially it is blessed with a central performance as fine as any seen on our musical stages since I don t know forever Virginia Gay s Calamity is a roiling mass of powerful contradictions physically strong and emotionally insecure she can ride and shoot with the best of them but off a horse is a klutz she s blustery and bashful resourceful and inept Most of all she is desperate to be loved and perhaps it doesn t really matter by whom Whether Gay is assiduously tending to the wounds of dashing Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin Matthew Pearce getting domestic with imported pin up Katie Brown Laura Bunting or discovering that her old sparring mate Wild Bill Hickok Anthony Gooley feels something for her her eagerness makes Calam achingly vulnerable Carroll s production makes having a tiny budget look like a brilliant artistic choice With music director Nigel Ubrihien at the upright piano there s a band of precisely one augmented by cast members on guitar ukulele trombone accordion and tuba As there are only seven actors Ubrihien is conscripted into the ensemble as is the audience Participation has never seemed so natural Sheridan Harbridge Rob Johnson and Tony Taylor round out the whip smart acting team in a variety of secondary roles that provide comedy gold of the highest grade designer Lauren Peters s Old West saloon is beautifully lit by Trent Suidgeest and Cameron Mitchell s choreography is a hoot Adding to the general delight is the truly gorgeous score by Sammy Fain music and Paul Francis Webster lyrics blissfully heard unamplified I confidently predict Calamity Jane will get a standing ovation from the entire house at every performance I have my reasons but see for yourself 53 Neglected Musicals presented a staged reading of Calamity Jane from 3 August 2016 for six presentations playing at the Hayes Theater in Potts Point and starring Virginia Gay 54 This was Calamity Janes professional debut in Australia although the play has a long production history via Australian amateur troupes having been mounted as early as 1965 by the then amateur Brisbane Repertory with future television star Rowena Wallace in the title role it was during the Brisbane Repertory production s 20 29 May 1965 run Wallace was discovered by actor Barry Creyton 55 Virginia Gay reprised the title role in a full production of Calamity Jane which played the Hayes Theater from 8 March 1 April 2017 56 and which then toured to at several venues in southeastern Australia in 2018 57 Recordings editThere is a complete recording of the entire score of Calamity Jane available recorded for JAY Records in 1995 it includes Debbie Shapiro as Calamity Jane with Jason Howard Tim Flavin and Susannah Fellows 58 A cast album of the 1996 production of Calamity Jane starring Gemma Craven who is in fact the sole vocalist on the album was issued in 1996 59 References edit Calamity Jane The Deadwood Stage is a rollin on over the plains Um to Leicester Leicester Mercury Archived from the original on 2015 10 04 Retrieved 2015 10 03 Calamity Jane Show Page Archived from the original on 2016 03 06 Retrieved 2011 03 11 Calamity Jane Concord Theatricals Retrieved 2021 03 08 Calamity Jane World Premiere 1961 Ovrtur Jones Jan L 2006 Renegades Showmen amp Angels A Theatrical History of Fort Worth from 1873 2001 Fort Worth TX Texas Christian University Press p 228 ISBN 978 0875653181 Calamity Jane St Louis MUNY Production 1961 Ovrtur The Pittsburgh Press 2 July 1961 Fanciful Fun by Miss Raye Opens Opera p 20 The Pittsburgh Press 2 July 1961 page 15 Pittsburgh Post Gazette 4 November 1963 Despite Rickety Vehicle It Was Nice to Have Carol Burnett Back p 47 Calamity Jane Regional Production 1963 Ovrtur a b c Calamity Jane Regional Production 1962 Ovrtur Pittsburgh Post Gazette 29 April 1963 p 22 Billboard Billboard 75 26 24 29 July 1963 The Townsman Wellesley MA 5 July 1962 Vivacious Ginger Rogers Stars in Calamity Jane p 9 Buffalo Courier Express 17 June 1962 p 26 RIAMCO Rhode Island Archival and Manuscript Collections Online www riamco org Denton Record Chronicle 21 May 1961 p 16 Doris Day Film Turns Musical as Randy Skinner Signs on for Calamity Jane Playbill Playbill 2004 07 12 A Moment with Brent Barrett PDF Lifted Magazine Archived from the original PDF on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2015 10 20 a b Calamity Jane showcases intriguing plot animated cast the Feather Archived from the original on 2015 10 01 Retrieved 2015 09 30 Spotlight Showcase Performances Arts Midwest www artsmidwest org IEBA s 45th Annual Conference Omni Nashville 2015 Schedule PDF International Entertainment Buyers Association Archived from the original PDF on 2015 09 06 Retrieved 2015 10 13 https abc30 com louise mandrell roger rockas theatre fresno entertainment 5337551 https munroreview com 2019 09 15 tuesday in the park with louise calamity takes a bow at gcp and we say farewell to a mandrell Brandon Uranowitz Sara Jean Ford and Tally Sessions Will Star in NYC Concert of Calamity Jane Playbill Playbill 2017 12 05 BWW News Desk THE APPLE TREE ANYTHING GOES CALAMITY JANE and More Set for Musicals Tonight s 20th Season Hallam Julia 2005 Lynda La Plante Manchester Manchester University Press p 10 ISBN 978 0 7190 6548 4 The belgrade Years Saucy era of letting off steam COMEDY drama and the return of the Coventry Mystery Plays marked the 70s at the Belgrade Theatre Theatre writer MARION McMULLEN looks back on some of the stage highlights of the time Free Online Library www thefreelibrary com The Beamly Agency Beamly com Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 27 October 2015 Graham Cole with Nuala Giblin 2010 On the Beat my story Droxford Hants Splendid Books ISBN 978 0 9558916 5 6 https theatricalia com play 9ca calamity jane production x2x a b It s Behind You Spotlight On Barbara Windsor www its behind you com Calamity Jane UK Premiere 1979 Ovrtur Production of Calamity Jane Theatricalia theatricalia com London Musicals 1990 1994 PDF Over the Footlights Archived from the original PDF on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2015 09 30 www digitalvirtue com Digital Virtue w The Tablet is the leading Catholic international magazine and website archive thetablet co uk London Musicals 1996 PDF Over the Footlights Archived from the original PDF on 2016 08 05 Retrieved 2015 09 30 Broad canvas Tes News www tes com Calamity Jane Shaftesbury Theatre London 1 July 2003 Rewriting Old Scores Sheridan Morley finds two classic musicals that do not belong on the London stage New Statesman 7 14 2003 Vol 132 4646 Official London Theatre Theatre Tickets News amp Guides This Is South Devon Toyah breezes in on Bay Stage 7th November 2002 Tour archive for Calamity Jane Musical 8th June 2010 3rd July 2010 TOUR www uktw co uk Review Calamity Jane UK Tour at the Milton Keynes Theatre www westendframe com Archived from the original on 2015 11 17 Retrieved 2015 10 17 Review Calamity Jane Grand Opera House York York Press REVIEW Calamity Jane New Wimbledon Theatre 23 March 2015 Jodie Prenger Will Play Calamity Jane This Summer Watermill org uk Retrieved 2018 05 05 Fisher Samantha 18 July 2015 Curve Leicester World s first 360 degree recording of live theatre performance takes place in city Archived from the original on 2015 10 06 a b Jevons Rich 2014 12 11 It s a White Christmas for director Nikolai Foster NorthernSoul me uk Retrieved 14 October 2015 a b Rooms The Umbrella 21 May 2014 Calamity Jane Interview with Nikolai Foster amp Jodie Prenger via Vimeo Jodie Prenger s journey from reality TV to the West End Yorkshire Post 25 January 2015 Retrieved 2018 05 14 Jenkins Katherine 2012 Time to Say Hello Ebook ed London Orion Books ISBN 978 1 4091 29264 Subscribe to The Australian Newspaper home delivery website iPad iPhone amp Android apps www theaustralian com au Virginia Gay Cracks the Whip as Calamity Jane Jo Litson Scene and Heard JoLitson com Retrieved 27 June 2016 Don Storey Interview with Rowena Wallace Classic Australian Television Oct 1994 Calamity Jane Coming Soon What s on Archived from the original on 2017 02 23 Retrieved 2017 02 23 Calamity Jane is going on tour Theatrepeople www theatrepeople com au 2017 09 05 JAY Records Masterworks Edition Recording Calamity Jane First Complete Recording Archived from the original on 2011 07 13 Retrieved 2011 03 11 Gemma Craven Album Discography AllMusic AllMusic Further reading editVocal score Calamity Jane Operetta in Two Acts Amateur Operatic Version Warner Chappell Music Ltd Copyright 2006 by Faber Music Ltd ISBN 0 57152792 2 Libretto Calamity Jane A Musical Western adapted by Ronald Hanmer amp Phil Park from the stage play by Charles K Freeman after the Warner Bros Film written by James O Hanlon Licensed to Josef Weinberger Ltd London by arrangement with Tams Witmark Music Library NYC Copyright 1962 by Tams Witmark Music Library New York External links editCalamity Jane at IMDb nbsp 1963 TV musical starring Carol Burnett Calamity Jane 1963 TV production starring Carol Burnett on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Calamity Jane musical amp oldid 1214880042, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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