fbpx
Wikipedia

Johnny Johnson (musical)

January 01, 1970

Johnny Johnson is a musical with a book and lyrics by Paul Green and music by Kurt Weill. It premiered in 1936 on Broadway.

Johnny Johnson
1956 studio recording
MusicKurt Weill
LyricsPaul Green
BookPaul Green
BasisJaroslav Hašek's novel
The Good Soldier Švejk
Productions1936 Broadway
1956 Off-Broadway
1971 Broadway revival
2009 London concert staging

Based on Jaroslav Hašek's 1921–1923 satiric novel The Good Soldier Švejk, the musical focuses on a naive and idealistic young man who, despite his pacifist views, leaves his sweetheart Minny Belle Tompkins to fight in Europe in World War I. He first tries to stop the war after meeting a young German sniper of the same name, who believes that the soldiers must unite. However, the commanders of the allied forces intend to use the discontent with the war among the German soldiers as a perfect time to advance in the war. Johnny then manages to bring the skirmish to a temporary halt by incapacitating a meeting of the generals with laughing gas, but once they recover they promptly reinstate the war, resulting in hundreds of thousands of fatalities. Meanwhile, Johnny finds himself committed to an asylum for ten years. He returns home to discover Minny Belle has married a capitalist, and he settles down as a toymaker who will create anything except tin soldiers, his personal gesture of peace in an increasingly warlike society.

The musical was written and composed by Green and Weill during the summer of 1936 in a rented old house located in Nichols, Connecticut near the summer rehearsal headquarters of the Group Theatre at Pine Brook Country Club.[1][2] Its title was inspired by the fact the name appeared on United States casualty rolls more often than any other.[3]

Productions and background edit

 
Photo from original Broadway production

Weill was asked to develop the project by the socially conscious Group Theatre, but much of his music was scrapped when original director Harold Clurman was replaced by Lee Strasberg, who opted to emphasize text over music. The Broadway production opened on November 19, 1936, at the 44th Street Theatre, where it ran for 68 performances.[4] The cast included Russell Collins as Johnny and Phoebe Brand as Minny Belle, with Luther Adler, Morris Carnovsky, Lee J. Cobb, Curt Conway, John Garfield, Elia Kazan, Robert Lewis, and Sandy Meisner in supporting roles.[5]

A 1956 production was presented Off-Broadway at the Little Carnegie Playhouse at Carnegie Hall. It was directed by Stella Adler and starred among others James Broderick as Johnny Johnson and Gene Saks as the Mad Psychiatrist. It ran from October 21, 1956, through October 28. Samuel Matlowsky was the musical director and conducted the 1956 record album which had none of the cast from the Stella Adler production.[6]

After 10 previews, a revival directed by José Quintero and choreographed by Bertram Ross opened on April 11, 1971, at the Edison Theatre, where it closed after one performance. The cast included Ralph Williams as Johnny and Alice Cannon as Minny Belle.[7]

The play was staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company on 6–15 August 1986 at the Almeida Theatre, London directed by Paul Marcus. The cast was Clive Mantle, Tina Marian, Michael McNally, Keith Osborn, Juliet Stevenson, Graham Turner and Andrew Yeats.[8]

In 2009, a concert-staging was mounted in London by the Discovering Lost Musicals Charitable Trust, with Max Gold in the title role.[9]

The ReGroup Theatre Company staged two sold-out staged readings that were directed by Estelle Parsons at the 47th St Theatre, in New York on December 12, 2011.[10] Johnny was played by Pete McElligott, and his performances was named one of the 10 memorable performances of 2011 by Backstage.[11]

Recordings edit

A November 1956 studio recording ("MGM Records" MGM E 3447, later released on Heliodor, Polydor, and online at ArkivMusik.com) has Burgess Meredith as Johnny, Evelyn Lear as Minny Belle, and Hiram Sherman as the Mad Psychiatrist; smaller roles are taken by Jane Connell, Lotte Lenya, and Thomas Stewart, and the conductor is Samuel Matlowsky.

A November 1996 recording (Erato 0630-17870-2) offers Donald Wilkinson as Johnny, Ellen Santaniello as Minny Belle, and Paul Guttry as the Mad Psychiatrist; Joel Cohen conducts.

Original Song List (Prior to Cuts) edit

1956 recording song list edit

This is the version with Burgess Meridith in the title role. Soloists are listed.

1971 revival song list edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Speak Low (when you speak of love): The Letters of Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya
  2. ^ A Southern Life: Letters of Paul Green, 1916–1981, p. 258
  3. ^ Moor, Paul. "Weill's Johnny Johnson Gets Another Premiere", The New York Times (January 17, 1996)
  4. ^ Johnny Johnson at Guide to Musical Theatre (synopsis, roles, scenes, musical numbers)
  5. ^ "Johnny Johnson (1936/37)". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
  6. ^ "Johnny Johnson". IOBDB.com. Internet Off-Broadway Database.
  7. ^ "Johnny Johnson (1971)". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
  8. ^ "Johnny Johnson". Theatricalia. Retrieved 2014-09-14.
  9. ^ Johnny Johnson review by John Thaxter, The Stage (June 15, 2009)
  10. ^ "Estelle Parsons Stages Free Concert of Kurt Weill's Johnny Johnson De…". www.playbill.com. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  11. ^ http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-movie-tv-reviews/2011-memorable-new-york-stage-performances-1005792152.story [bare URL]

External links edit

January 01, 1970
johnny, johnson, musical, johnny, johnson, musical, with, book, lyrics, paul, green, music, kurt, weill, premiered, 1936, broadway, johnny, johnson1956, studio, recordingmusickurt, weilllyricspaul, greenbookpaul, greenbasisjaroslav, hašek, novelthe, good, sold. Johnny Johnson is a musical with a book and lyrics by Paul Green and music by Kurt Weill It premiered in 1936 on Broadway Johnny Johnson1956 studio recordingMusicKurt WeillLyricsPaul GreenBookPaul GreenBasisJaroslav Hasek s novelThe Good Soldier SvejkProductions1936 Broadway1956 Off Broadway1971 Broadway revival2009 London concert staging Based on Jaroslav Hasek s 1921 1923 satiric novel The Good Soldier Svejk the musical focuses on a naive and idealistic young man who despite his pacifist views leaves his sweetheart Minny Belle Tompkins to fight in Europe in World War I He first tries to stop the war after meeting a young German sniper of the same name who believes that the soldiers must unite However the commanders of the allied forces intend to use the discontent with the war among the German soldiers as a perfect time to advance in the war Johnny then manages to bring the skirmish to a temporary halt by incapacitating a meeting of the generals with laughing gas but once they recover they promptly reinstate the war resulting in hundreds of thousands of fatalities Meanwhile Johnny finds himself committed to an asylum for ten years He returns home to discover Minny Belle has married a capitalist and he settles down as a toymaker who will create anything except tin soldiers his personal gesture of peace in an increasingly warlike society The musical was written and composed by Green and Weill during the summer of 1936 in a rented old house located in Nichols Connecticut near the summer rehearsal headquarters of the Group Theatre at Pine Brook Country Club 1 2 Its title was inspired by the fact the name appeared on United States casualty rolls more often than any other 3 Contents 1 Productions and background 2 Recordings 3 Original Song List Prior to Cuts 3 1 Act One 3 2 Act Two 3 3 Act Three 4 1956 recording song list 5 1971 revival song list 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksProductions and background edit nbsp Photo from original Broadway production Weill was asked to develop the project by the socially conscious Group Theatre but much of his music was scrapped when original director Harold Clurman was replaced by Lee Strasberg who opted to emphasize text over music The Broadway production opened on November 19 1936 at the 44th Street Theatre where it ran for 68 performances 4 The cast included Russell Collins as Johnny and Phoebe Brand as Minny Belle with Luther Adler Morris Carnovsky Lee J Cobb Curt Conway John Garfield Elia Kazan Robert Lewis and Sandy Meisner in supporting roles 5 A 1956 production was presented Off Broadway at the Little Carnegie Playhouse at Carnegie Hall It was directed by Stella Adler and starred among others James Broderick as Johnny Johnson and Gene Saks as the Mad Psychiatrist It ran from October 21 1956 through October 28 Samuel Matlowsky was the musical director and conducted the 1956 record album which had none of the cast from the Stella Adler production 6 After 10 previews a revival directed by Jose Quintero and choreographed by Bertram Ross opened on April 11 1971 at the Edison Theatre where it closed after one performance The cast included Ralph Williams as Johnny and Alice Cannon as Minny Belle 7 The play was staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company on 6 15 August 1986 at the Almeida Theatre London directed by Paul Marcus The cast was Clive Mantle Tina Marian Michael McNally Keith Osborn Juliet Stevenson Graham Turner and Andrew Yeats 8 In 2009 a concert staging was mounted in London by the Discovering Lost Musicals Charitable Trust with Max Gold in the title role 9 The ReGroup Theatre Company staged two sold out staged readings that were directed by Estelle Parsons at the 47th St Theatre in New York on December 12 2011 10 Johnny was played by Pete McElligott and his performances was named one of the 10 memorable performances of 2011 by Backstage 11 Recordings editA November 1956 studio recording MGM Records MGM E 3447 later released on Heliodor Polydor and online at ArkivMusik com has Burgess Meredith as Johnny Evelyn Lear as Minny Belle and Hiram Sherman as the Mad Psychiatrist smaller roles are taken by Jane Connell Lotte Lenya and Thomas Stewart and the conductor is Samuel Matlowsky A November 1996 recording Erato 0630 17870 2 offers Donald Wilkinson as Johnny Ellen Santaniello as Minny Belle and Paul Guttry as the Mad Psychiatrist Joel Cohen conducts Original Song List Prior to Cuts editAct One edit How Sweetly Friendship Binds Over in Europe Mayor Men and Women Democracy Advancing Minny Belle Men and Women Up Chickamauga Hill Grandpa Joe Men and Women Democracy Advancing Reprise Minny Belle Mayor Men and Women Interlude Johnny s Melody Orchestra Keep The Home Fires Burning Aggie s Song Aggie Oh Heart of Love Minny Belle Farewell Goodbye Minny Belle Your Country Needs Another Man And That Means You Captain Valentine s Tango Part I Captain Valentine Democracy March Orchestra Captain Valentine s Tango Part II Captain Valentine Army Interlude Orchestra Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag The Sergeant s Chant Sergeant The West Pointer s Song West Pointer and Soldiers A Light That Lighteth Men Their Way Farewell Goodbye Interlude Johnny s Song Underscore Orchestra Song of the Goddess The Statue of Liberty Act Two edit Lead Kindly Light Song of the Wounded Frenchmen Nous Sommes Blesses Wounded French Soldiers There Is One Spot Forever England The Tea Song An English Sergeant and English Soldiers Oh the Rio Grande Private Harwood Johnny s Dream Oh Heart of Love Minny Belle Song of the Guns The Guns If Thine Enemy Hunger Music of the Stricken Redeemer Orchestra Tis Not So Deep As A Well But Tis Enough Twill Serve Mon Ami My Friend A French Nurse In The Multitude Of Counselors There Is Safety The Allied High Command The Allied High Command Dance of the Generals We ll All Be Home For Christmas The Allied High Command and Johnny Still Stands Thine Ancient Artifice The Battle with Reprise of the Dance of the Generals Johnny American and German Soldiers There s Many A Mangled Body A Blanket For Their Shroud In Time Of War and Tumult Almighty God Almachtiger Gott English and German Priests Dulce et Decorum est pro patira mori Song Of The Wounded Frenchmen Reprise Orchestra Hail Mary Full of Grace Reminiscence Orchestra Act Three edit Is There No Balm in Gilead Is There No Physician There The Psychiatry Song Dr Mahodan Out Of The Mouth Of Babes And Sucklings Asylum Chorus Members of the Debating Society Hymn to Peace Round Members of the Debating Society Asylum Chorus Reprise Orchestra Whither Have Ye Made A Road Johnny s Song Johnny1956 recording song list editThis is the version with Burgess Meridith in the title role Soloists are listed Side 1 Overture Over in Europe Thomas Stewart Democracy s Call Up Chuckamauga Hill Hiram Sherman Johnny s Melody Aggie s Sewing Machine Song Jane Connell Oh Heart of Love Evelyn Lear Capt Valentine s Tango Scott Merrill Johnny s Speech Burgess Meredith Song of the Goddess Jean Sanders Song of the Wounded Frenchmen Side 2 Cowboy Song The Rio Grande Bob Shaver Johnny s Dream Evelyn Lear Song of the Guns Music of the Stricken Redeemer Mon Ami My Friend Lotte Lenya The Allied High Command The Laughing Generals In Times of Tumult and War Battle Johnny s Arrest amp Homecoming How Sweetly Friendship Binds The Psychiatry Song Hiram Sherman Johnny s Song Burgess Meredith1971 revival song list editAct 1 Over in Europe Democracy s Call Up Chuckamauga Hill Johnny s Melody Aggie s Song Oh Heart of Love Farewell Goodbye The Sergeant s Chant Valentine s Tango You re in the Army Now Interlude Johnny s Oath Song of the Goddess Song of the Wounded Frenchmen Tea Song Cowboy Song Johnny s Dream Song of the Guns Music of the Stricken Redeemer Act 2 Mon Ami My Friend Allied High Command The Laughing Generals The Battle Prayer In Times of War and Tumults No Man s Land Song of the Goddess Reprise The Psychiatry Song Hymn to Peace Johnny Johnson s Song How Sweetly Friendship Binds Oh Heart of Love Reprise Johnny s MelodySee also editList of anti war songsReferences edit Speak Low when you speak of love The Letters of Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya A Southern Life Letters of Paul Green 1916 1981 p 258 Moor Paul Weill s Johnny Johnson Gets Another Premiere The New York Times January 17 1996 Johnny Johnson at Guide to Musical Theatre synopsis roles scenes musical numbers Johnny Johnson 1936 37 IBDB com Internet Broadway Database Johnny Johnson IOBDB com Internet Off Broadway Database Johnny Johnson 1971 IBDB com Internet Broadway Database Johnny Johnson Theatricalia Retrieved 2014 09 14 Johnny Johnson review by John Thaxter The Stage June 15 2009 Estelle Parsons Stages Free Concert of Kurt Weill s Johnny Johnson De www playbill com Archived from the original on 6 September 2012 Retrieved 2 February 2022 http www backstage com bso reviews movie tv reviews 2011 memorable new york stage performances 1005792152 story bare URL External links editDonald Oenslager set design and diagrams for Johnny Johnson 1936 held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johnny Johnson musical amp oldid 1168137739, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.