A Peace Corps volunteer in newly independent Nigeria, Marjorie Michelmore, caused a furor because she had written a postcard on October 13, 1961, describing the primitive living conditions there. Nigerians were indignant, and some accused the volunteers of being American spies. This led to a public relations crisis for the fledgling Peace Corps.[1]
The musical premiered on Broadway at the Majestic Theater on April 19, 1963, and closed on May 25, 1963, after 43 performances and 5 previews. (Although reporting 5 "official" previews, according to The New York Times, "the musical expects to run up 36 [previews] at the Majestic by the time it opens".[4]) Scenic and costume design was by Rouben Ter-Arutunian, and lighting design by John Harvey. At least five directors worked on the show: the original director was Morton DaCosta, followed by Martin Charnin, Robert Fryer, Richard Quine, Arthur Laurents, and Herbert Ross. The original choreographer was Onna White.[3] There was no credit given to either director or choreographer, although the New York Times review credits read "staged by Herbert Ross".[5] Though a cast album was not recorded, Billboard reported a Warner Brothers investment in the show of $200,000.[6]
Stephen Sondheim, a friend of Rodgers, was brought onto the creative team, resulting in the show's opening and closing number, "Don't Laugh" and the song "That's Good, That's Bad".[2]
One of Broadway's most well-known flops, it had 58 "preview" performances, setting a record by cancelling its official opening four times, and then running for only 43 "official" performances. According to Steven Suskin, "it was one of those big-budget, big-advance-sale bonanzas which go wrong and turn into highly public busts."[8] According to the review in Billboard, "Predictions of failure preceded the show and these were confirmed when the New York Critics Circle passed a unanimous negative judgement."[9]
SynopsisEdit
Peace Corps volunteer, hygiene teacher "Sally Hopwinder", is stationed in a fictional nation, "D'hum" with decent living conditions. She concocts a plan to obtain U.S. aid for D'hum by convincing the Pentagon that Russia is about to invade it.
SongsEdit
Act 1
Don't Laugh – Sally Hopwinder
Don't Laugh (Reprise) – Sally Hopwinder and Peace Corps
Welcome – D'humians
This Little Yankee – Gabrel Snapper
Smiles – Sally Hopwinder, Deva, Minister of State, Howard Mason, Rami and Members of the Ensemble
A Little Trouble – Sally Hopwinder, Shim, The Nadir of D'hum and D'humians
You'd Like Nebraska – Vernon Breen and Iram
Hey Love – Sally Hopwinder
I Had Two Dregs – Sally Hopwinder, Shim, Sumner Tubb, Sr. and D'humians
Rich, Rich, Rich – Shim, Sue Ann, Peace Corps and D'humians
Act 2
That's Good-That's Bad – Sally Hopwinder
I Think the World of You – Sue Ann and Shim
Gabie – Sally Hopwinder
A Matter of Time – Gabrel Snapper and Sally Hopwinder
Gabie (Reprise) – Gabrel Snapper
Big Meeting Tonight – Rami, Grobanykov and Ensemble
A Far, Far Better Way – Sally Hopwinder
Don't Laugh (Reprise) – Sally Hopwinder, Gabrel Snapper and Ensemble
RecordingEdit
A CD was released by Blue Pear Records in 2004, taken from a cassette recording made from the audience. In addition to the original Broadway cast, the disc has composer demos, featuring Charnin and Rodgers, as well as several recordings commercially released on 45 rpm.[10]
NotesEdit
^"The infamous Peace Corps postcard", peacecorpswriters.org, retrieved February 21, 2010
^ ab"Hot Spot listing sondheimguide.com, retrieved February 21, 2010
^ abSuskin, Steven. The Sound of Broadway Music: A Book of Orchestrators and Orchestrations (2009). Oxford University Press US, ISBN0-19-530947-2, p. 432
^Taubman, Howard. "In and Out Of Town", The New York Times, April 14, 1963, p. 97
^Taubman, Howard. "The Theater:Hot Spot", The New York Times, April 20, 1963, p. 17
^Rolontz, Bob. "B’dway Musical Season Not All That Bad." Billboard 75:22 (1 June 1963), 1.
^. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
^Suskin, Steven. Show Tunes (Ed. 4, revised) (2010), Oxford University Press US, ISBN0-19-531407-7, p.413
^Maher, Jack. "They Didn't Do Right By Judy", Billboard, May 4, 1963, p. 12
^"Hot Spot recording listing", castalbumcollector.com, retrieved February 21, 2010
ReferencesEdit
Mandelbaum, Ken, Not Since Carrie: 40 Years of Broadway Musical Flops, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1991 ISBN0-312-08273-8, pp. 63ff.
spot, musical, spot, musical, with, book, jack, weinstock, willie, gilbert, lyrics, martin, charnin, music, mary, rodgers, additional, lyrics, music, stephen, sondheim, brief, broadway, 1963, musical, political, satire, spotmusicmary, rodgers, stephen, sondhei. Hot Spot is a musical with the book by Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert lyrics by Martin Charnin music by Mary Rodgers and additional lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim It had a brief run on Broadway in 1963 The musical is a political satire Hot SpotMusicMary Rodgers Stephen SondheimLyricsMartin Charnin Stephen SondheimBookJack Weinstock Willie GilbertProductions1963 Broadway Contents 1 Background 2 Production 3 Synopsis 4 Songs 5 Recording 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksBackground EditA Peace Corps volunteer in newly independent Nigeria Marjorie Michelmore caused a furor because she had written a postcard on October 13 1961 describing the primitive living conditions there Nigerians were indignant and some accused the volunteers of being American spies This led to a public relations crisis for the fledgling Peace Corps 1 Production EditHot Spot began out of town try outs on February 11 1963 at the National Theater Washington D C 2 and on February 28 at the Shubert Theatre Philadelphia Pennsylvania 3 The musical premiered on Broadway at the Majestic Theater on April 19 1963 and closed on May 25 1963 after 43 performances and 5 previews Although reporting 5 official previews according to The New York Times the musical expects to run up 36 previews at the Majestic by the time it opens 4 Scenic and costume design was by Rouben Ter Arutunian and lighting design by John Harvey At least five directors worked on the show the original director was Morton DaCosta followed by Martin Charnin Robert Fryer Richard Quine Arthur Laurents and Herbert Ross The original choreographer was Onna White 3 There was no credit given to either director or choreographer although the New York Times review credits read staged by Herbert Ross 5 Though a cast album was not recorded Billboard reported a Warner Brothers investment in the show of 200 000 6 Stephen Sondheim a friend of Rodgers was brought onto the creative team resulting in the show s opening and closing number Don t Laugh and the song That s Good That s Bad 2 The cast starred Judy Holliday and included Conrad Bain Joe Bova Joseph Campanella Mary Louise Wilson Carmen De Lavallade Charles Braswell and George Furth 7 This marked Judy Holliday s final stage performance She was quoted as saying You can only live through one or two Hot Spots in your life One of Broadway s most well known flops it had 58 preview performances setting a record by cancelling its official opening four times and then running for only 43 official performances According to Steven Suskin it was one of those big budget big advance sale bonanzas which go wrong and turn into highly public busts 8 According to the review in Billboard Predictions of failure preceded the show and these were confirmed when the New York Critics Circle passed a unanimous negative judgement 9 Synopsis EditPeace Corps volunteer hygiene teacher Sally Hopwinder is stationed in a fictional nation D hum with decent living conditions She concocts a plan to obtain U S aid for D hum by convincing the Pentagon that Russia is about to invade it Songs EditAct 1Don t Laugh Sally Hopwinder Don t Laugh Reprise Sally Hopwinder and Peace Corps Welcome D humians This Little Yankee Gabrel Snapper Smiles Sally Hopwinder Deva Minister of State Howard Mason Rami and Members of the Ensemble A Little Trouble Sally Hopwinder Shim The Nadir of D hum and D humians You d Like Nebraska Vernon Breen and Iram Hey Love Sally Hopwinder I Had Two Dregs Sally Hopwinder Shim Sumner Tubb Sr and D humians Rich Rich Rich Shim Sue Ann Peace Corps and D humians Act 2That s Good That s Bad Sally Hopwinder I Think the World of You Sue Ann and Shim Gabie Sally Hopwinder A Matter of Time Gabrel Snapper and Sally Hopwinder Gabie Reprise Gabrel Snapper Big Meeting Tonight Rami Grobanykov and Ensemble A Far Far Better Way Sally Hopwinder Don t Laugh Reprise Sally Hopwinder Gabrel Snapper and EnsembleRecording EditA CD was released by Blue Pear Records in 2004 taken from a cassette recording made from the audience In addition to the original Broadway cast the disc has composer demos featuring Charnin and Rodgers as well as several recordings commercially released on 45 rpm 10 Notes Edit The infamous Peace Corps postcard peacecorpswriters org retrieved February 21 2010 a b Hot Spot listing sondheimguide com retrieved February 21 2010 a b Suskin Steven The Sound of Broadway Music A Book of Orchestrators and Orchestrations 2009 Oxford University Press US ISBN 0 19 530947 2 p 432 Taubman Howard In and Out Of Town The New York Times April 14 1963 p 97 Taubman Howard The Theater Hot Spot The New York Times April 20 1963 p 17 Rolontz Bob B dway Musical Season Not All That Bad Billboard 75 22 1 June 1963 1 Hot Spot Inside the Playbill on Broadway Information Cast Crew Synopsis and Photos Playbill Vault Archived from the original on 2015 09 24 Retrieved 2015 08 26 Suskin Steven Show Tunes Ed 4 revised 2010 Oxford University Press US ISBN 0 19 531407 7 p 413 Maher Jack They Didn t Do Right By Judy Billboard May 4 1963 p 12 Hot Spot recording listing castalbumcollector com retrieved February 21 2010References EditMandelbaum Ken Not Since Carrie 40 Years of Broadway Musical Flops St Martin s Press New York 1991 ISBN 0 312 08273 8 pp 63ff External links Edit Hot Spot at the Internet Broadway Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hot Spot musical amp oldid 1170617123, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
